The most recent class to complete the School for Science and Math at Vanderbilt were recognized during commencement exercises May 13, 2017, at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of education and human development. And the newest cohort of rising high school freshmen chosen to participate in the program have been announced.
Twenty-four Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools seniors celebrated completion of the four-year honors program at May 13 at an event attended by families, friends and community members. Karl Dean, former Nashville Mayor and Tennessee gubernatorial candidate, delivered the commencement address. MNPS board member Mary Pierce was a distinguished guest and speaker.
Throughout high school, the SSMV students meet each week at Vanderbilt for an entire class day to participate in a research-based, hands-on, interdisciplinary curriculum. They learn from Vanderbilt instructors, collaborate on research projects and participate in prestigious national science and math competitions. There is also a summer component. Students graduate after four years, having earned seven honors elective course credits.
College-bound graduates
Following are the list of 2017 SSMV graduates and their intended colleges and universities:
- Anagha Ashokan, Hume-Fogg Magnet, Johns Hopkins University
- Mehul Asthana, Overton High School, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Naureen Azeez, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, Vanderbilt University
- Duncan Broadie, Hume-Fogg Magnet, University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Sophia Chen, Martin Luther King, Jr. Magnet, Northwestern University
- Divya Dayanidhi, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, Duke University
- Taylor Duncan, Hillsboro High School, Rhodes College
- Safa Figal, Hume-Fogg Magnet, Wesleyan University
- Micah Foster, Hume-Fogg Magnet, New York University
- Alice Irizarry, Hillsboro High School, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Anna Ledeczi, Hume-Fogg Magnet, Columbia University
- Kenneth Liao, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
- Helena Makendengue, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Anveetha Matta, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, University of Alabama, Birmingham
- Fiona Murphey, Hume-Fogg Magnet, American University
- Aaron Oates, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, Howard University
- Kunj Patel, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, Vanderbilt University
- Abigail Rafter, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, Carnegie Mellon University
- Anna Reside, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, Yale University
- Aditya Srivastava, Hume-Fogg Magnet, University of California, Berkeley
- Vamsi Subraveti, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, University of California, Berkeley
- Zachary Taylor, Hume-Fogg Magnet, Yale University
- Emma Tennent, Hume-Fogg Magnet, Carleton College
- Lawand Yaseen, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Newest Entering Class
Twenty-six MNPS students from 13 area middle schools have been chosen for SSMV’s 11th cohort to begin this fall. The rising freshmen were chosen from from a pool of more than 150 applicants on the basis of test scores, grades, personal essay, teacher recommendations and in-person interviews. The students selected for SSMV this fall are:
- Cindy Ajualip-Hernandez, Kipp College Prep
- Rionna Anderson, Oliver Middle Prep
- Anaya Beard, Liberty Collegiate
- Tyler Bullock, Meigs Magnet Middle Prep
- Anna Chen, John Early Museum Magnet Middle Prep
- James Craddock, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School
- Lindsay Damon, Meigs Magnet Middle Prep
- Sana Fatah, STEM Prep Academy
- William Gulden, Donelson Middle Prep
- Genevieve Jean-Pierre, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School
- Trent Jones, Meigs Magnet Middle Prep
- Helana Khalif, Intrepid Prep
- Anish Krishnan, Meigs Magnet Middle Prep
- Aleyna Loughran-Pierce, West End Middle Prep
- Parwan Machingal, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School
- Katie Madole, John Early Museum Magnet Middle Prep
- Josue Matos-Lopez, Intrepid Prep
- Milen Negasi, Meigs Magnet Middle Prep
- Kartik Rachakonda, Meigs Magnet Middle Prep
- Cooper Sacks, West End Middle Prep
- Garrett Scott, Meigs Magnet Middle Prep
- Juliana Shoun, Lead Prep Southeast
- Andrew Spencer, Bellevue Middle Prep
- Nancy Tennent, Martin Luther King Jr. Magnet School
- Lesli Thune, Rose Park Magnet Math and Science Middle
- Xiyan Zhu, Rose Park Magnet Math and Science Middle
Four-year learning experience
SSMV is a joint venture of the Center for Science Outreach at Vanderbilt’s Peabody College of education and human development and Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools. The program offers high school students a four-year, interdisciplinary, research-centered learning experience at one of the nation’s most prestigious universities, where internationally recognized faculty are leading the way in diverse fields of science.
SSMV has received support from a National Institutes of Health NCRR Science Education Partnership Award, Vanderbilt University, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools and other generous donors.
For program information, contact:
Angela Eeds, director
(615) 322-7132, angela.eeds@vanderbilt.edu