By Dan Murphy
Meet the valedictorian and salutatorian from Yonkers Middle-High School for 2018. Valedictorian Melody-Susan Kulaprathazhe and Salutatorian Tiffany Gonzalez are graduates of the school’s now famous and nationally ranked International Baccalaureate program, and both are headed to the Ivy League for college.
Kulaprathazhe will graduate with a 101.8 grade-point average, leading all graduating high school students in all the Yonkers high schools for 2018. Her favorite educators include Christopher Rader, who teaches 11th grade IB English – “He and I have a huge passion for reading and writing,” she said; and Jael Rivas-Lopez, who teaches IB world religions. “I enjoyed learning about diversity and she is easy to learn from,” she said of Rivas-Lopez.
Kulaprathazhe’s favorite subjects include anthropology, world religions, history and English. She has completed nine IB courses and one advanced placement course.
In addition to her stellar academic career at YHS, Kulaprathazhe has found time for a long list of extra-curricular activities, including interning at the New York State Division of Human Rights, acting as president of the DNA Learners Club, editor of the YHS newspaper, a member of the YPS bowling team, a member of the Yonkers Partners in Education Fellows Program, and a volunteer at the Sherwood House with the Yonkers Historical Society.
Her volunteer and community service has also included work with Habitat for Humanity, the Science Barge, and at St. Peter and Paul’s Church in Fleetwood.
Kulaprathazhe had one college that she dreamed of going to – the University of Pennsylvania, or Penn – an Ivy League school located in Philadelphia. “Philadelphia is a vibrant, diverse city and Penn has the oldest sociology department that will provide me with maximum opportunities,” she said.
She applied to only one college – Penn and was accepted and received a full scholarship. Kulaprathazhe plans to major in sociology with a concentration in global and international studies. “I hope to work for a large non-profit that is devoted to the cause of human rights,” she said. “Eventually, I hope to work at the UN.”
Kulaprathazhe said she is grateful for the teachers she’s had at YPS, as early as pre-kindergarten (Gibran school), who helped her learn English, and then to PEARLS school, where both she and the salutatorian attended. Her parents and her older sister have also served instilled in her the importance of hard work, sacrifice, and education.
Kulaprathazhe’s advice to future YPS students included: “Improve, achieve and succeed,” based on a quote from Ben Franklin, the founder of Penn.
Salutatorian Tiffany Gonzalez will graduate with a 101.45 GPA. Her favorite teachers are “all of them” at Yonkers High School, including the many IB teachers, and courses that she has completed (two AP courses, seven IB courses). Her favorite subject is biology. “Biology amazes me how things happen in our bodies and plants, and how we got here,” she said.
Gonzalez added that IB biology teacher Dr. Lesia Kaszczak “always engages me and I love her quizzes.”
Gonzalez’s list of extra-curricular and volunteer activities, in addition to her perfect average, include serving on the YPS lacrosse team, as a Yonkers Historical Society volunteer, in the DNA Learners Club, and the Columbia University Science Honors program, where she spent two summers learning and experimenting in neuroscience and math, and in student government in the ninth and 10th grades.
Ever since the eighth grade, Gonzalez had one college in her mind that she wanted to attend: Harvard. “I kept a Harvard teddy bear near my bed and that motivated me every day to get out of bed and keep learning and working to get there,” she said. “I knew early where I wanted to go.”
Harvard accepted Gonzalez’s application and gave her a generous scholarship to help pay for the $72,000 yearly tuition and board. She plans to concentrate in history of science and become a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon. “I want to become a doctor and study the social aspect of medicine,” she said. “It will help me connect better to my patients after I attend Harvard Medical School and complete my residence in Boston.”
How did she get to this point in her high school education?
“Being salutatorian wasn’t my goal,” said Gonzalez. “My goal was to give 100 percent. My mom has been my biggest cheerleader and insisted on hard work and maximum effort. She made me feel I could do anything.”
Gonzalez thanked Yonkers High School, the IB program and YPIE for their assistance and encouragement. “Yonkers High School has afforded me more opportunities than other schools; it was the best for me,” she said. “The IB program is passionate about learning and most important, all subjects connect with each other. And YPIE’s guidance counselors and mentors helped me with my college applications.”
Advice for future students?
“Learn to love the path that you have taken and put your all into your education,” she said. “It’s easy to get distracted.”
