Discus Award Winner
Nicole Kulakowski
12th Grade, NY
ATTRIBUTES
Academics
As a senior in high school, most students take the easy way out with average or lower level classes, minimum requirements, lots of study halls and extended lunches. Academically, I chose a hard route for my senior year. I do not have any lunches or study halls. Instead I take AP classes, tutor other students, and challenge myself. This year alone I'm taking Physics, AP Chemistry and AP Calculus. I've been taking AP classes since my sophomore year, starting with European History, and I have not recieved a score lower than 3 on any AP exam. I have been on the honor roll since I was in the 6th grade, and I have achieved around a 3.85 GPA in high school. I was inducted into the National Honor Society my junior year, and now tutor other students in several subjects.
Arts
Although I do have a pretty good drawing hand, my true artistic passion and talent lies with music. I've been playing piano for ten years now and just joined the school band about 8 months ago, learning how to play the tenor saxophone. I am currently first chair. In 7th grade, I made the school's select choir, and then into the high school's select chorus my sophomore year, the earliest year you can join. Beginning my senior year, I made it into my school's swing chorus, a select group of 20 singers. Last year, I recieved a perfect score on my NYSSMA solo, qualifying me for NYSSMA Area All-State and Conference All-State this year. While participating in Area All-State, I recieved the only solo on the program, and I was the only chorus representative from my school at Conference All-State.
Athletics
Freshman year, I joined track with the intent of keeping busy, getting healthy, and learning something new. I started out as a sprinter, taking part in JV races. But after my coach threw me into a 400m race, my track career changed. I won my first 400 with a time ot 69 seconds, and opened my sophomore season training for 400m races. I qualified for ECIC's and Sectionals sophomore year for the 400m and 4x4 relay, and have continued to compete in those events on a Varsity level ever since. In the summer and fall, I also participate in marching band as a member of the color guard. I joined color guard my sophomore year, and caught on quickly to spinning flags, rifles, and sabres. At the end of the season, I was throwing sixes on rifle and recieved the Rookie of the Year award.
