Earlier this month, valedictorians and salutatorians from Lakota East and Lakota West were honored during graduation ceremonies at Miami University’s Millet Hall. All four students finished with grade point averages greater than 4.5 and will be attending some of the nation’s best universities.
Lakota East valedictorian Akash Umakantha (photo) graduated from high school with a 4.692 GPA and plans to major in computer science and mathematics at Vanderbilt University. He is four-time Greater Miami Conference Player of the Year in chess, a participant in National Honor Society, Study Government, No. 3 singles players for the boys’ tennis team and participated in computer science and math competitions throughout the state and the country.
Lakota East salutatorian John Brady finished high school with a 4.595 GPA and plans to major in bio-medical engineering at Columbia University, where he also will play football. At Lakota East, Brady was named to the All-GMC First Team for football and captained several of the school’s football and basketball teams. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, JETS Team, Student Athletic Leadership Team and of the J. Kyle Braid Leadership organization.
Lakota West valedictorian Stephanie Wang graduated from Lakota West with a 4.75 GPA and plans to study business at Northwestern University. While at Lakota West she has been involved in National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science Olympiad and the Symphonic Winds.
Lakota West salutatorian Amanda Buerger finished high school with a 4.67 GPA and plans to study biology at the University of Notre Dame. While at Lakota West, she was involved in National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Student Government and Junior Classical League. Buerger has also taught religion classes at St. Maximilian Kolbe Church and has volunteered at the Cincinnati Zoo.