Pennsbury Highlights Top Scholars For 2025

Provided by the Pennsbury School District:

Pennsbury High School is proud to highlight the Top 20 Scholars for the Class of 2025.

Each year, the counselors at Pennsbury High School diligently monitor student progress across all grade levels. Based on mid-year GPA calculations, the Class of 2025 features 20 exceptional students who achieved straight A’s in all four core academic subjects—English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Studies—at Honors or Advanced Placement levels throughout their 9th to 12th-grade years. 

Name: Trevor Black 
Parents: Delora Hill and Kenneth Black 
Activities: PA-1 Congressional District Student Task Force, ASL Club (Co-President), Principal Superintendent Student Advisory Committee, Volunteer at the NJ School for the Deaf, Sending Sunshine Club (Vice-President), Pit Orchestra, Intramural Soccer 
Honors: Tulane University Book Award, AP Scholar with Honor, Academic Excellence in Social Studies (9th and 10th), NHS Member 
Plans: Swarthmore College 
Major: Economics

Name: Owen Block 
Parents: Todd and Julie Block 
Activities: Volunteer with the Pennsbury Athletic Association Magik Baseball Teams, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Pennsbury Athletic Association Baseball Team, PRBL Basketball Team, Pennsbury Athletic Association Baseball Umpire, PRBL Scorekeeper, Legion Baseball Team, PHS Freshman Baseball Team, Math and English Tutor 
Honors: National Honor Society, National Business Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Academic Excellence Award in Computer Science in 2022 and 2024, Academic Excellence Award in Business, Computers and Information Technology in 2023, Rochester Institute of Technology Computing Award in 2024, Lendo Fellowship Program Award in 2023 
Plans: Villanova University School of Business 
Major: Finance 

Name: Parker Bowman 
Parents: Melanie Bowman and Chuck Bowman 
Activities: In school: Falcons for Orphans (all of high school), UNICEF (10-12th grade), Reading Olympics (9-10th grade), Stage Crew for two Drama performances (10th grade), Mathletics (9th-11th grade) Outside of school: Volunteering at the Five Mile Woods preserve, Playing the electric bass, dishwasher at Maryanne’s Homestyle Cooking 
Honors: National Merit Scholarship Finalist, National Honor Society, National French Honor Society (11-12th grade), Certificat d’Honneur (Silver) for the Grand Concours, a national French exam, Elmira College Key Award, Certificate for the Arthur Lendo Fellowship 
Plans: Penn State University 
Major: Meteorology 

Name: Naima Doraiswamy 
Parents: Soumya Dharmavaram and Parthiban Doraiswamy 
Activities: Founder & Coordinator, County-Wide Used Pill Bottle Initiative; Cadet Chief Master Sgt/ 2x Flight Cmdr/ PA Officer, Civil Air Patrol, US Air Force Official; Intern, Ishanya India Foundation – School for Autism; Founder & Manager, Native Botanical Garden Initiative, Churchville Nature Center; Volunteer Music Therapist, Sunrise Senior Living – Assisted Living Company; Docent & Volunteer, Butterfly House, Churchville Nature Center; Violinist; Bucks County MEA, & Youth Orchestra of Bucks County; National Honors Society Liaison, Lower Makefield Township Youth Committee; President/ Social Media Manager, Pennsbury Science Discovery Club; Secretary/ Fundraising Manager/ Webmaster, Key Club 
Honors: National Merit Commended Scholar (2024); Chief Science Officer, Pennsylvania Ambassador, PA SEED Ecosystem Program (2024); Women in STEM Scholarship and Award (2024), Rochester Institute of Technology; Citation and Medal Award (2024), Veterans of Foreign Wars Non-Commissioned Officer; 2nd Place (2023); 3rd Place (2024), Bucks County Science Research Competition; 1st Place, Tri-state region (2023), Delaware Valley Science Fair Special Award (2023), American Psychological Association 1st Place, State & Region, (2022, 2023); 2nd Place, Region (2024), Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science Competition Regional and State; Silver Medal (2023), National Spanish Exam; Science Academic Award (2024), English Academic Award (2024); National Honors Society (2024); Sponsorship, Hugh O’ Brian Youth Leadership Conference (2023); Lendo Fellowship Award (2023 and 2024) 
Plans: University of Pennsylvania 
Major: Engineering 

Name: Braxton Furiness 
Parents: Dan and Laurie Furiness 
Activities: Pennsbury Lacrosse 4-year Varsity starter, Captain 11 & 12; Team 11 Travel Lacrosse, Selected for two National Club Lacrosse Teams; Assistant Coach and Personal Trainer, Lower Bucks and Arrowhead Lacrosse Clubs; Founder and President, Hunger Action Club; Leadership Intern, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Camp Invention; Trenton Area Soup Kitchen Volunteer 
Honors: Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award, National Business Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, AP Scholar with Honor Award, 2-time Lacrosse All League 2nd Team Defense 
Plans: Georgia Institute of Technology 
Major: Aerospace Engineering 

Name: Noam Gold 
Parents: Hillah Gold
Activities: In 9th grade, I attended a small yet rigorous ultra-Orthodox Jewish school, where I immersed myself in Jewish legal texts and took extra courses in secular studies. In 10th and 11th grade, I attended a larger religious school. By 11th grade, I assumed the co-captain position for the school’s tennis team. I founded my school’s competitive math team and led it through its early years, participating in tournaments such as the Math Majors of America Tournament for High Schools (MMATHS). I wrote and published two legal articles in a local publication focused on the application of Jewish legal principles. I led the marketing and direction of multiple Hackathon teams on behalf of my school as they developed their apps. I assisted with work and research on multiple ongoing patents in radio/audio electronics. And, of course, I spent a year at Pennsbury. During this time, I tutored dozens of underserved kids on SAT prep over the course of months through the Schoolhouse.world platform. I heavily contributed to the Pennsbury Mathletes, which won 2nd in the district. 
Honors: National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, MVP of the Kohelet Tennis Team 
Plans: University of Central Florida (UCF) 
Major: Engineering 

Name: Anwita Janga 
Parents: Kiranmayi Janga and Muralidhar Janga 
Activities: FBLA/DECA, Speech and Debate, Animal Awareness Club (Secretary), Falcons For Orphans Club (Events Coordinator), web development volunteer, Sunrise Senior Living volunteer 
Honors: Rochester Institute of Technology Business and Leadership Award, Excellence Award in Mathematics, National Honors Society, National Business Honors Society, National Spanish Honors Society, PHSSL States semifinalist (news broadcasting), NCFL National qualifier, FBLA/DECA awards 
Plans: Penn State – Schreyer Honors College 
Major: Data Science 

Name: Ashwika Janga 
Parents: Kiranmayi and Muralidhar Janga
Activities: Key Club (president, vice president, secretary), Animal Awareness Club (cofounder/president), Speech and Debate, DECA/FBLA, volunteer at senior center, Mini-THON member 
Honors: University of Pennsylvania Association of Alumnae Book Award, National Merit Commended Scholar, academic excellence award in science, National Honors Society, National Spanish Honors Society, National Business Honors Society, Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Ambassador, NCFL Qualifier, 4th place in PHSSL state tournament in News Broadcasting, DECA and FBLA state qualifier 
Plans: Georgia Institute of Technology 
Major: Electrical Engineering 

Name: Meha Koul 
Parents: Anil Koul and Shailja Kaul 
Activities: President: Falcons For Orphans, FBLA, DECA, SkillsUSA; Cofounder of nonprofit One for Orphans, Vice President Science Discovery Club; Co-author of bioinformatics paper with the University of Michigan; Computer Science Research Intern at UT San Antonio; Business Development Intern with skincare company 
Honors: PJAS Science Competition: 1st place in Biology 2x, Behavior and Social Sciences; Bucks County Science Competition: 1st place in Behavior and Social Sciences and Computer Science; UPenn Wharton Investment Competition Semi-finalist; DECA: 2nd place in Entrepreneurship, Finance FBLA: Top 10 Finalist in the State for Business Communications and International Business; National Center for Women and Informational Technology, Regional Winner Award; Presidential Volunteer’s Service Award; Academic Excellence awards in English, Computer Science, Microeconomics; University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology 
Plans: UCLA 
Major: Business & Economics 

Name: Michael Lynott 
Parents: Nicole Augustine 
Activities: Speech and Debate (Captain), Student Government (Historian), Key Club (Treasurer)
Lower Makefield Youth Advisory Board (Co-Treasurer), Robotics, Environmental Club, Jefferson Bucks Hospital (Volunteer), Clean Ocean Action Beach Sweeps (Volunteer) 
Honors: National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Harvard Book Award, 3x Pennsylvania High School Speech League State Commentary Finalist, National Catholic Forensic League Declamation Octofinalist, 3x National Speech & Debate Qualifier, National Honor Society, French National Honor Society (Levels 3, 4), Le Grand Concours (9, 10), Pennsbury Academic Excellence Award in Science (2022, 2023), Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Ambassador- PA East, Keystone Boys State Ambassador 
Plans: University of Virginia 
Major: Biology 

Name: Rishi Patel 
Parents: Sachin Patel and Komal Patel 
Activities: Sea Glide, Key Club, Mathletics 
Honors: Math award (9,10,11) and science award (9,11) 
Plans: Georgia Tech 
Major: Math and Physics 

Name: Gabriella Pearson 
Parents: KimberLee Pearson and Brian Pearson 
Activities: Girl Scouts, Cross Country (captain), Indoor Track and Field, Outdoor Track and Field, More to Give Club (secretary), Best Buddies, National Honor Society (historian), German Honor Society 
Honors: Girl Scouts Gold Award, Rachel Carson Healthy Planet Award, National Honor Society, German Honor Society 
Plans: University of Maryland 
Major: Environmental Science & Policy 

Name: Elyse Perez
Parents: Carol Perez and Leopoldo Perez 
Activities: Poll Worker, Bucks County Music Educators Association, Pennsbury Summer Music Program, Five Mile Woods, Anchor for the Pennsbury Channel, Falcons for Orphans Club, UNICEF Club, Do Something Club, Wink 4 Pink Club, Glee Club, Crochet Club 
Honors: National Honors Society, Elmira College Key Award, First Chair Flutist, National Society of High School Scholars, World Language Spanish National Honors Society, Pennsylvania Seal of Biliteracy for Spanish and English, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Performance among Pennsylvanians on the College Board SAT, Bronze Award for National Spanish Exam, TCNJ Honors Festival, 4 years for Bucks County Music Educators Association Flutist, Flutist for Elementary Choir Honors Festival, Academic Scholarship to Clemson University, College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program for Outstanding Academic Achievement 
Plans: Clemson University 
Major: Economics 

Name: Sean Ponento 
Parents: Kathleen Ponento and Gregory Ponento 
Activities: Pianist of Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band, center assistant at Kumon, Pennsylvania 4-H Archery 
Honors: Pennsbury High School Senior Symphonic Euphonium Solo Competition Winner, Youth Orchestra of Bucks County Concerto Trombone Solo Competition Winner, Elmira Key Award, Arthur Lendo Fellowship Award, National Honor Society, Pennsylvania Music Educators Association State Orchestra, French Honors Society 
Plans: Penn State Schreyer Honors College 
Major: Engineering and Music Education 

Name: Wesley Rittenhouse 
Parents: Jennifer Rittenhouse and Bill Rittenhouse 
Activities: PHS soccer, Key Club VP, NHS public relations officer, Best Buddies, student council senator, club soccer, more to give club
Honors: NHS, National Business Honors Society, National German Honors Society, AP Scholar Award, St Bonaventure University Bonnie and Reilly Scholarship Award 
Plans: Indiana University Bloomington – Kelley School of Business for Finance – Hutton Honors College 
Major: Business 

Name: Ayush Shah 
Parents: Nikhil Shah and Hetal Shah 
Activities: Jazz Band, Marching Band, Chess Club, Pit Orchestra, Summer Music Program, Camp Invention, Stanford Pre-collegiate Studies, Odyssey of the Mind 
Honors: Rensselaer Medal, Gold in National Spanish Exam, Junior Drum Major Award, Lendo Fellowship 
Plans: Georgia Institute of Technology 
Major: Math/Physics 

Name: Samantha Smith 
Parents: Lori and Michael Smith 
Activities: Yearbook Club (Senior Representative), German Club (President), Coding Club (Vice President 2023-2024), Pennsbury Girls Tennis Team (Varsity Player), Oakville Day Camp Counselor, Girl Scouts, Sesame Place (Lifeguard and Retail Ambassador), FCCLA (Member 2021), Student Ambassador Program, Words for Wellness Club, Prom Committee 
Honors: Rochester Institute of Technology Humanities & Social Sciences Award, National Honor Society, National German Honor Society (3H, 4H, AP), National Business Society, AP Scholar with Honor Award, Pennsbury High School Academic Excellence in German Award (Freshman, Sophomore, Junior), National German Exam Achievement Award, Mr. David’s APUSH Student of the Year 
Plans: Penn State University – College of Liberal Arts at University Park  
Major: Psychology 

Name: Andrew Thau
Parents: Missy and Gary Thau 
Activities: HACY Swimming, PHS Swimming, Special Olympics swim coach, Newtown Presbyterian Church Ruling Elder, Vice president of LMT Youth Committee, lifeguard 
Honors: HACY: National Team member, Sportsmanship award. PHS: 3D award (desire, dedication, determination) 2022, 2024, 2025, High point 2023, 2024, Outstanding Swimmer (2024), Qualified for districts all four years, attended for Freshmen, Jr, and Sr year. NHS, German NHS, Engineering Excellence (2022, 2024) 
Plans: Stevens Institute of Technology 
Major: Mechanical Engineering 

Name: Mark Wheeler 
Parents: Heather Matthias 
Activities: Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band, Marching Band, Chess Club, Pit Orchestra, Zaic Design Engineering Intern 
Honors: Departmental Mathematics 2x, Engineering, and Science, George Eastman Young Leaders Award 
Plans: Princeton University 
Major: Mathematics 

Name: Kevin Ye 
Parents: Hong Ye and Li Zhou 
Activities: Pennsbury Concert Jazz Band, Pennsbury Marching Band 
Honors: National Merit Scholarship Semifinalist, Rochester Institute of Technology Science and Math Award, Pennsbury Academic Excellence Award in Mathematics, Pennsbury Academic Excellence Award in Science, Pennsbury Academic Excellence Award in Instrumental Music 
Plans: New York University 
Major: Data Science