10 students to watch for in 10 years

Rob Novit

Nov. 9, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Today the Aiken Standard resumes its new feature, "10 in 10."

Each month the newspaper is highlighting 10 area teenagers -- high school seniors and juniors -- that their schools foresee as becoming highly successful in the next decade.

This group includes a future engineer, a businessman, a psychologist, a farm owner and a future chef who has overcome a family tragedy to remain in school and excel.

Selected students in the coming months are liked to include those achieving academically and/or athletically and those who are contributing in special ways to their schools or communities. Pedro Lopez de Victoria

-- Age: 17

-- School: South Aiken High School

-- Family: Pedro and Luz Lopez de Victoria; sister Kelsey.

-- Post high school plans: Will major in something left-brained and practical (business) or right-brained and risky (philosophy or music).

-- In 10 years I hope to: Find my niche in the world of comfortable employment; create a musical masterpiece that celebrates the shared human condition and the tenacity of love; witness the end of genocide in Darfur; and learn how to juggle.

-- Besides my family, the person who has been my greatest inspiration has been and why: Confucius, for teaching me that fortune and misfortune are as natural as the changing seasons and are never a reason to surrender your passions.

-- An interesting fact: "When I was a freshman, I was a summer counselor for young kids. It was here the kids taught me how to be young again and how to burp the alphabet."

-- Favorite class: U.S. government.

-- Favorite book: "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac.

-- Favorite TV show: Anything on the Food Network.

-- On my iPod: Chopin, David Bowie, the BeeGees, Beirut, Neil Diamond

-- My ringtone is: Distracting.

-- Comments: From senior guidance Bruce Wheelon: "Pedro is a very dependable young man. He has a great personality and is well-respected by his peers and faculty. He will go a long way in life."

-- Richard Droghini

-- Age: 17

-- School: Aiken High School

-- Family: Mother Deborah, father Gary, stepmother Kerry, brother Matthew and dog Chimo.

-- Post high school plans: Double major in music and something biological and possibly medical school after that.

-- In 10 years I hope to: Still be alive, not going bald and doing something that makes me and other people happy.

-- Besides my family, the person who has been my greatest inspiration has been and why: "John Lennon. Not only was he so original and ground-breaking, he stood up and gave all he had for what he believed in too."

-- An interesting fact: "I play the tuba, guitar, piano, mandolin, harmonica, violin and kazoo and am (not really) People Magazine's 'Sexiest Jupitalinadian' (Japanese-Italian-Canadian).

-- Favorite class: Band

-- Favorite book: "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger.

-- Favorite TV show: "Scrubs" and "Flight of the Conchords."

-- On my iPod: Lots of Beatles and random things like Veggie Tales songs.

-- My ringtone is: Just good ol' "ring, ring, ring."

-- Comment: From guidance counselor Linda Strojan: "Richard Droghini is one of the most creative students with whom I have worked. His wonderful sense of humor, strong intellect and general good nature have made him particularly fun. He's a young man who does what he says he will do, an invaluable trait in today's world."

-- Nicole Bush

-- Age: 17

-- School: Aiken County Career and Technology Center (home school North Augusta High)

-- Family: Mother Denise Butler, father Tony Bush and brother Michael.

-- Post high school plans: Major in athletic training or physical therapy in college and possibly medical school.

-- In 10 years I hope to: Own my own sports medicine/physical therapy facility.

-- Besides my family, the person who has been my greatest inspiration has been and why: My godmom, Tara Gardner. She has always been there for me when I needed her. She's always there to give me advice and lead me in the right direction.

-- An interesting fact: I'm a varsity cheerleader at North Augusta and am one of three captains. I love football!

-- Favorite class: Math

-- Favorite book: "The Twilight Series" by Stephenie Meyer.

-- Favorite TV show: Anything on the Disney Channel

-- On my iPod: All types of music

-- My ringtone is: "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus.

-- Comments: From Career Center teacher Steve Lee: "Nicole has been an excellent computer networking student. She has had a straight "A" average since day one. I see great things happening in her future."

-- Matthew Barron

-- Age: 17

-- School: Aiken Performing Arts Academy

-- Family: Parents Chris and Cindy Barron; siblings Stephanie Derrick, Kristen Barron.

-- Post high school plans: Major in computer science in college.

-- In 10 years I hope to: Have a career in Internet security, live in a nice house out of town and maybe start a small family of my own.

-- Besides my family, the person who has been my greatest inspiration has been and why: "I have always admired Eric Clapton. Born a penniless outcast, he was world-renowned by his 30's.

-- An interesting fact: "I play guitar in jazz band and serve as a yearbook photographer."

-- Favorite class: Jazz rehearsal.

-- Favorite book: "Trader."

-- Favorite TV show: "Warehouse 13."

-- On my iPod: Almost all kinds of music.

-- My ringtone is: "Leyla" by Eric Clapton

-- Comments: From Keisha Lloyd-Kennedy, director of APAA and the Lloyd-Kennedy Charter School: "Matt has been with our LKCS/APAA family since middle school. He was always bright and engaging. As he has grown, Matt has impressed us with his knack for all things technological and he is the go-to guy" or lights and audio when we put on productions or events."

-- Bryan Hadden

-- Age: 17

-- School: Midland Valley High School

-- Family: Parents Wayne and Rita Hadden; brother Josh.

-- Post high school plans: Play Division I football.

-- In 10 years I hope to: Have a successful career in business with my family.

-- Besides my family, the person who has been my greatest inspiration has been and why: "Coach Rick Knight, because I have known him my whole life, and he has always looked out for me.

-- An interesting fact: "I worked with World Changers in Cherokee, N.C. in the summer of 2007 and with Mission Service in New Orleans, La., in the summer of 2008."

-- Favorite class: Advanced composition

-- Favorite book: "To Kill a Mockingbird," by Harper Lee.

-- Favorite TV show: "College Gameday."

-- On my iPod: Jeezy

-- My ringtone is: "Day and Night" by Kid Cudi

-- Comments: From guidance counselor Allison Crow: "Bryan is a wonderful young man who is well-respected by his peers and teachers as well as in the community. He maintains his outstanding grade-point average as well as being involved in athletics and numerous service organizations."

-- Casey Evans

-- Age: 17

-- School: South Aiken High School

-- Post high school plans: Hope to attend Furman University or Oglethorpe University.

-- In 10 years I hope to: Possibly live in Atlanta, working as a psychologist while I complete a master's in this field.

-- Besides my family the person who has been my greatest inspriration has been and why: "Our president, Barack Obama, shows that you can be whatever you want through hard work and determination.

-- An Interesting fact: "I am in Interact, Serteens, Mu Alpha Theta and FBLA. I try to get involved in many activities, like experiencing new things."

-- Favorite class: Calculus.

-- Favorite book: "The Invisible Man," by Ralph Ellison.

-- Favorite TV show: "The Tyra Show."

-- On my iPod: I listen to Rihanna and Boys Like Girls.

-- My ringtone is: "Could You Be Loved" by Bob Marley and the Wailers.

-- Comments: From English teacher Ginger Dunker: "Casey is destined for success due to her diligence, persistence and vigilant pursuit of knowledge."

-- Andrew Wyckoff

-- Age: 18

-- School: Silver Bluff High School.

-- Post high school plans: "I plan to go to a culinary arts college."

-- In 10 years I hope to: "Have my own business successfully operating."

-- Besides my family the person who has been my greatest inspriration has been and why: "My culinary arts teacher, Susan Few, because she has influenced me to open and operate a culinary business."

-- An interesting fact: Andrew writes poetry as a way to work through hardships in his family.

-- Favorite class: English IV

-- Favorite book: "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer.

-- Favorite TV show: The Food Network.

-- My ringtone is: "Sissy's Song."

-- Comments: From guidance director Cathy Neal -- "Andrew has overcome tremendous hurdles to stay in school and be in good standing to graduate with the class of 2010. As the 'man of the house,' he struggled to hold his family together while his mother was dying of cancer. Selflessly, he thought of his family first, taking care of his younger sister, performing daily household chores and caring for his terminally ill mother. Andrew would miss school in order to drive his mother to chemotherapy treatment, giving her the support that she desperately needed. The average student would have quit school to lessen his personal burdens. Since her death, Andrew's poetry now reflects his inner feelings of his lose for the mother that he loved so dearly. Through his faith and his mother's wish for him to graduate, he stuck it to and is currently enjoying his senior year. He misses his mom, but he continues to strive to be successful."

-- Drake Yon

-- Age: 17

-- School: Ridge Spring-Monetta High School.

-- Family: Parents Kevin and Lydia Yon; siblings Sally and Corbin.

-- Post high school plans: Attend Clemson University and major in agricultural economics.

-- In 10 years I hope to: Manage the family's seedstock Angus (OOTC:ANGSF) cattle farm.

-- Besides my family the person who has been my greatest inspiration has been and why: "God, because no matter how bad I mess up, He is always ready and willing to forgive me."

-- An interesting fact: "I am an active member of the Ridge Spring Volunteer Fire Department."

-- Favorite class: History

-- Favorite book: "Fallen Angels" by Walter Dean Myers.

-- Favorite TV show: "NCIS."

-- On my iPod: Everything from classic rock to country.

-- Comments: From principal Mason Cummings: "Drake has been one of the brightest and entertaining achievers I've had the pleasure to teacher and watch. I'm eagerly awaiting what I know will be a great contribution to society and our community. He's simply a great kid!"

-- Katie Chew

-- Age: 17

-- Family: Parents Kenny and Lounette Chew; sister Crystal Creel and nephew Dalton.

-- School: Wagener-Salley High School

-- Post high school plans: Enroll at Clemson or Vanderbilt University to pursue a degree in nursing or psychology.

-- In 10 years I hope to: "Have a good career that I love and enjoy doing. I hope to be financially stable and have a wonderful family."

-- Besides my family the person who has been my greatest inspriration has been and why: "God is the one person that is constantly influencing me. He is always there pushing me forward towards my dreams when I feel like giving up, and without him, I would not be the person that I am today."

-- An interesting fact: Katie has volunteered with a canned food drive, Angel Tree, a tutoring program and a back-to-school bash.

-- Favorite class: Biology 2

-- Favorite book: "A Child Called It," by Dave Pelzer.

-- Favorite TV show: "Army Wives."

-- On my iPod: Mostly country music.

-- Comments: From principal Pat Keating: "Katie excels at everything she tackles. She leads by example and academically, she is No. 1 in the senior class."

-- Emeka Okafor

-- Age: 17.

-- School: North Augusta High School.

Family: Parents Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth Okafor; siblings Ndidi and Ifeanyi.

-- Post high school plans: To enroll at the University of Florida or the University of South Carolina and major in bio-medical engineering.

-- In 10 years I hope to: Become a cardiovascular surgeon and start my own real estate agency.

-- Besides my family, the person who has been my greatest inspiration has been and why: "Mrs. Holiday, because she taught me to strive for my goals and dreams regardless of what people say or do not say."

-- An interesting fact: "I am Nigerian, and I am the student body president."

-- Favorite class: Physics.

-- Favorite book: "Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass."

-- Favorite TV show: "The Game."

-- On my iPod: Rap, hip-hop, R&B.

-- My ringtone is: "Down" by Jay Sean.

-- Comments: From English teacher Carol Creamer: "Emeka is a wonderful student, a bright and focused young man and a highly moral individual. It is such a pleasure to work with him! I know that he will be successful in life."

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