National Merit Scholarship Finalists
Novi High School is proud to recognize the 39 seniors named National Merit Scholarship Finalists in February 2021.
These academically talented high school seniors competed for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million.
“This is a testament to the tenacious work ethic and determination or our incredible students, our innovative and engaging teaching staff, our supportive Board of Education and our engaged parents and guardians," said Novi High School Principal Nicole Carter.
Novi High School's National Merit Finalists are listed below, in alphabetical order.
Click the name of each student to reveal a bio that includes a photo, a list of school-related activities and achievements, favorite teacher, favorite quote, advice to future Novi High students and what the student enjoyed most about Novi High.
- Ashwin Balaji
- Ashwin Balaji
- Seoyun (Katie) Chang
- Lisa Dai
- Ashwat Dhamotharan
- Katherine Dong
- Joseph Dougherty
- Elena Elkin
- Annick Gardon
- Pallavi Ghosh
- Jacob Huang
- Aditya Iyer
- Saipranav Janyavula
- Waris Khan
- Meghana Lanka
- Justin Levine
- Eric Li
- Sunidhi Majalikar
- Uzair Mohammed
- Varad Mulay
- Mahek Nasser
- Varun Nimmagadda
- Vasudha Nimmagadda
- Jenya Patel
- Rohan Patel
- Sanjit Pingili
- Adina Qu
- Abhi Reddy
- Alexander Roznowski
- Sian Tian
- Ritika Tiwary
- Shrinivas Venkatesan
- Adithi Vijayaraja
- Omkar Vodela
- Alexander Wan
- Irene Wang
- Sarah Yee
- Brandon Zhang
- Chris Zhang
Ashwin Balaji
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA regional finalist and state qualifier, Science Olympiad Officer since 9th grade and Vice President of Materials/Build events, National Honor Society.
Favorite teacher: This is a hard question because I feel that I had many teachers that I really liked, but if i really had to pick one, it would be Mrs. Franchi. I had her for computer programming freshman year and AP Computer Science junior year. I always liked computers and technology so naturally I really enjoyed Mrs. Franchi's classes as it expanded my knowledge on these. Furthermore, her personality and teaching style really helped me grasp the concepts much easier and enjoy the class.
Favorite quote: "I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." - Thomas Jefferson
Advice for future students: My advice for future students is just to work hard and pace yourself throughout the year. NHS has so many courses, extracurriculars and opportunities to offer, make sure to take advantage of them. Also, plan ahead so you can be prepared for standardized tests and college apps.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I love the atmosphere at Novi High School. The diversity, personality, and interaction among students is amazing. Also I feel that Novi High School just sets students up for success, with their highly qualified group of teachers, quality education, and varied extracurriculars, and this is personally what I love about NHS. I feel immensely grateful that I was able to attend such a great high school that gave me so many memories and skills that will benefit me in the future.
Ashwin Balaji
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA, first place at State Conference and International Leadership Conference for Creative Problem Solving and Parliamentary Procedure.
Favorite teacher: Ms. Szkrybalo teaches an engaging and interesting class. I really enjoy the relatability of the content she teaches and the way she approaches the subject matter.
Favorite quote: "And I knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, I had no idea what to do." - Michael Scott from The Office
Advice for future students: Start preparing early and don't overthink anything.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The uplifting and engaging community of students and faculty.
Seoyun (Katie) Chang
School-related activities and achievements: Recycling Club President, Marching Band Section Leader, HOSA Event Captain, National Honor Society, Chinese Korean Club Vice President.
Favorite teacher: Over the course of high school, I met many teachers that were so amazing, both to learn from and simply talk to. One of my favorite teachers is Mrs. Bonacorsi, my AP Lang teacher in junior year because she had a great, fun, outgoing personality that made learning AP Lang so fun. I also felt like I could always reach out to her easily and talk to her about anything that was on my mind.
Favorite quote: "Just because your path is different doesn't mean you are lost."
Advice for future students: Believe in yourself and don't compare yourself to others because everyone is different for a reason. Find what makes you happy and do that at least once a day, no matter how small.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: It is filled with students that are very motivated and always looking for ways to improve themselves. Being in this environment is very inspiring.
Lisa Dai
School-related activities and achievements: AP Scholar with Honors, Cross Country, Track and Field, Recycling Club, Games Club, HOSA.
Favorite teacher: Mr. Ryan! I always looked forward to going to his class for his positive energy.
Advice for future students: You don't have to know what you're going to do yet. Also, don't kill yourself over work. It's really not worth it.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: There's a variety of different classes and clubs that you can join.
Ashwat Dhamotharan
School-related activities and achievements: Robotics and e-NABLE, HOSA, DECA, National Honor Society, Science Club, Math Club, Econ Club
Favorite teacher: This is a hard question because I had so many great teachers. If I had to pick the most recent one it would be Mr. DiDio. He teaches really well and I always found his class interesting so I had a really good time.
Favorite quote: "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now." - Chinese proverb.
Advice for future students: Branch out of your friend group. I hung out with the same 20-30 people and now I wish I had met a lot more people.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The people make the school what it is. You won't get this experience anywhere else.
Katherine Dong
School-related activities and achievements: Novi HOSA Chapter Co-Vice President, HOSA International Leadership Conference 1st place (Biomedical Laboratory Science), Novi Science Club & Olympiad Vice President of Publicity, Novi Detroit Education Society Chapter Vice President, Varsity Track and Field, Varsity Cross Country, National Honor Society, IB Diploma Candidate.
Favorite teacher: Mr. Zuk. He has a cool dog.
Favorite quote: "Never memorize something that you can look up." - Albert Einstein
Advice for future students: Never memorize something that you can look up unless you're being tested on it. (modified from Albert Einstein's quote)
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I enjoy sharing experiences with friends.
Joseph Dougherty
School-related activities and achievements: Spanish Club, Marching Band, Winter Drumline, DECA, Orchestra, National Honor Society.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Henderhan because she taught me how to develop as a writer and I enjoyed the social/academic activities we did in her class.
Favorite quote: “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing. Keep proving other people wrong and proving myself right.” -- Conor McGregor
Advice for future students: Get involved in activities you’re passionate about and always work to get better every day.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: Having the ability to build long lasting friendships while taking challenging coursework.
Elena Elkin
School-related activities and achievements: Class of 2021 Secretary of Student Council, Art Club, Girls Swimming and Diving, KLAA Scholar Athlete.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Catrine. She was my first math teacher in high school and she's a lot of the reason I like math now, so thank you for making class funny and for putting up with me talking too much everyday. Also, Mrs. Franchi for making computer science social and collaborative. Thank you for your constant help and for introducing me to more opportunities outside of the classroom.
Favorite quote: "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt
Advice for future students: Don't worry about other people's opinions. Wear what you want and do what you like!
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The people! School would be a lot more difficult if my friends weren't there to support me and make me laugh.
Annick Gardon
School-related activities and achievements: DECA, Varsity Swimming, Link Crew.
Favorite teacher: Mr. Franchi because he appreciates the value of a good meme
Favorite quote: “You’re strong, you’re a Kelly Clarkson song, you’ve got this” -Jonathan Van Ness
Advice for future students: Make sure to enjoy your time at the high school! It really does fly by, so try not to spend all of your time studying or stressing. Grades are important, but so are all of the memories that are waiting to be made!
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I love the school spirit, as well as all of our amazing teachers :)
Pallavi Ghosh
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA (3rd place regionals, 3rd place states, top 20 ILC, event captain). Member of Indian American Student Association, National Honor Society, Recycling Club, Diversity Club, Detroit Education Society.
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher would probably have to be Mr. Ryan, my AP Bio teacher from sophomore year. I remember struggling pretty much every day with the subject, getting especially lost when it came to the very details, but Mr. Ryan was always there to help me and others get through all of it. I always asked him questions every single day, especially in the weeks leading up to the AP test, and he was never bothered by any of it. In fact, he essentially made sure everyone felt assured no matter what they were going through. His class was a very safe environment— he always tried to make us laugh, and his personality in general was very welcoming. Not to mention, he was the only teacher that I knew of who made his students a pancake breakfast on the day of the AP test.
Favorite quote: “The birds work for the bourgeoisie.” - Kendrick Smith.
Advice for future students: Try to get to know your teachers. Not only would they be extremely helpful and easier to approach if you have questions, it may pay off in the future to get on their good side, besides being ideal choices for your rec letters. It also makes the class that much enjoyable.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: Novi has an extremely diverse student body, something that most suburban high schools in the Midwest may not be able to attest to. It’s very refreshing to see people of different ethnicities under one roof, and it makes it easier for me, as well, to share common experiences with other Indian-Americans.
Jacob Huang
School-related activities and achievements: DECA International qualifier, HOSA International champion, Michigan Math Prize Contest Top 100, Varsity Tennis, National Honor Society Activities Director, Varsity Quiz Bowl, Marching Band
Favorite teacher: Mr. O'Leary, for single-handedly fixing my sleep schedule by making sure I would never fall asleep in 1st hour.
Favorite quote: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." - Tim Notke.
Advice for future students: Don't take school so seriously, do what you enjoy.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: Getting to spend time with my friends.
Aditya Iyer
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA, First Place at International Leadership Conference 2019, DECA, Quiz Bowl state champion, AP Chemistry tutor.
Favorite teacher: One of my favorite teachers was Ms. Stawasz, because she was extremely helpful to clear up any doubts.
Favorite quote: "When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor."- Elon Musk
Advice for future students: Whenever school overwhelms you with work, your ability to stay calm and do each task one at a time will determine your success.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: Getting to participate in a wide variety of activities with a lot of amazing people.
Saipranav Janyavula
School-related activities and achievements: Programming group lead for Frog Force 503.
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher is probably Mr. White, because he makes his class really "fun" and enjoyable. Though he teaches history, he uses lots of memes, analogies, and other stories to connect everything back to the present and things that are going on in our lives, which I feel like has allowed me to "know" history beyond just names, dates, and events.
Favorite quote: “Fast, Cheap, and Good…pick two." Attributed to Jim Jarmusch.
Advice for future students: Don't be afraid of making a mistake or trying something new, because you'll learn a lot more from things that go wrong than from things that go right.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I think my favorite thing about the school is just the variety of things you can do. Part of this is just from the literal size of the school, but it is also due to the Administration and School Board, who developed new programs and classes over many years. There are tons of different classes and clubs available, so there's a lot of cool/new things you can do and experience in your four years.
Waris Khan
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA event captain (top 10 nationals 9th and 10th grade), DECA, Orchestra, Volunteer at Orchard Hills, Kids Are Scientists Too.
Favorite teacher: Gina Bonacorsi, because her class was always a fun environment to learn in and I was able to be myself in that class. She also greeted us with a warm welcome every day and always was entertained by my jokes, even if they weren’t funny at times.
Favorite quote: “In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take." -- Lewis Carroll.
Advice for future students: Do your best in school, but also try to remember to live your life. You’re only in high school once and it is one of the best experiences you’ll ever have.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The teachers for sure, they were one of the reasons I always looked forward to the next days at school and they always made learning fun and manageable.
Meghana Lanka
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA 1st place at States and Internationals (2019, 2020), Kids Are Scientists Too President of Administration and Engagement, National Honor Society.
Favorite teacher: Too many to choose!
Favorite quote: "That sign can't stop me because I can't read" -D.W.
Advice for future students: Take it one day at time and prioritize process over results.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I enjoy the encouraging and friendly environment. I also love that there is always something going on!
Justin Levine
School-related activities and achievements: Second place finisher twice at HOSA regionals in Medical Innovation; Member of National Honor Society since 10th grade and elected Senior Class Secretary; Member of Novi Ski Team; KLAA Academic Award, MHSSCA Scholar Athlete Award; MHSSCA 2nd Team Academic All State Honors twice year; Ski Team's Scholar Athlete Award winner in 11th grade.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Bonacorsi. I had her for English 10 and AP Lang, and my writing really improved over those two years. She's a really good teacher. She gives honest constructive feedback, and always pushed me to be the best writer I could be. She also gives students a huge amount of freedom on assignments whenever possible, so I was able to work on things that I cared about. Most importantly, she's kind, fun, and easy to talk to. Some of my favorite memories from her class are having fun doing things as simple as discussing our favorite books or Netflix shows.
Favorite quote: "All in all is all we are" - Kurt Cobain
Advice for future students: Always make sure to set aside some time to do what you want to do.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The people.
Eric Li
School-related activities and achievements: Varsity swim captain, Wind Ensemble principal bassoonist, Marching Band trumpet, National Honor Society, Robotics member
Favorite teacher: Mr White; he's a fun teacher.
Favorite quote: “A fine quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool.” — Joseph Roux
Advice for future students: Don't forget stuff you learned in class.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The academic culture at NHS is fairly competitive. It's a good environment for growth and challenging oneself.
Sunidhi Majalikar
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA state and national qualifier, Chemistry Tutor, Chinese-Korean Club, Social Justice Fellow.
Favorite quote: "The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything."— Albert Einstein
Advice for future students: Even if you are feeling pressure to do a lot of things, keep in mind that your health is of utmost importance and try your best to choose what is best for it. You might feel that every little thing matters but, honestly, it will just be a little thing in the future, so take it slow and don't put pressure yourself too much.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The growing responsiveness of teachers to students' needs. I think that more and more I can feel that teachers are really looking out for us and care to walk us through things if necessary. Big props to our teachers!
Uzair Mohammed
School-related activities and achievements: Middle School and High School robotics, HOSA state qualifier, Swimming and Diving.
Favorite teacher: In our school, I love the enthusiastic and interactive teaching style of Mrs. Franchi. I learned a lot from AP computer science, and I was impressed at how she intuitively explained concepts from a subject where many of us had zero background knowledge. I also admire a lot of prominent teachers around the world and throughout history, like Richard Feynman and Grant Sanderson.
Favorite quote: "Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known." - Carl Sagan
Advice for future students: In my opinion, high school is your time to explore. Take a variety of classes and get involved in all the activities you're interested before you decide on a path for your future.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The best way to improve is to surround yourself with good people. One aspect of our school I enjoy is the hard-working and intellectual community of students that we have. Without knowing it, we encourage each other to challenge ourselves and get better at what matters to us.
Varad Mulay
School-related activities and achievements: DECA International Finalist and Michigan DECA State President, Debate League Finalist and Team Captain; Quiz Bowl Vice President of Fundraising and National Qualifier.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Forster, her method of teaching makes the content very interesting and engaging
Favorite quote: "Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right" - Henry Ford
Advice for future students: Don't be afraid to try something just because you might fail.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I love being able to work with other students and spend time with my friends both inside and outside of class.
Mahek Nasser
School-related activities and achievements: Novi Red Cross Officer, DECA Nationals qualifier, Awkward Pause member, Choir.
Favorite teacher: Mrs.Schurig!! She's been my choir teacher for the past four years and her class is always welcoming and enjoyable. She cares a lot about her students and makes sure to create a safe and fun environment every year!
Favorite quote: "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel" - Maya Angelou
Advice for future students: Don't stress too much about the PSAT, but try your best while taking it because it's very similar to the full length SAT, so it's a good indication of how you would perform on the real SAT in the spring of your junior year.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I really like how we such a diverse groups of students because it has helped me meet so many new people and understand a lot of different perspectives.
Varun Nimmagadda
School-related activities and achievements: DECA (Top 20 Finalist at International Career Development Conference; Two-time ICDC Qualifier); HOSA (1st at International Leadership Conference; 1st at State Leadership Conference); Math Club, Mi Mathematics Prize Competition and & AIME Qualifier; Detroit Education Society, AP Chemistry Help Room.
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher was Mr. Helmkamp because he helped me, a freshman with zero interest or background in chemistry, gain a passion for science. He also helped me develop the work ethic and skills needed to succeed in all my future AP/IB classes.
Favorite quote: "The inner machinations of my mind are an enigma" -- Patrick Star.
Advice for future students: Use your freshman and sophomore years to explore and find your interests. Join whatever clubs you want, volunteer, try new things, etc. Then, once you know where your interests lie, pursue activities that can help build experience and knowledge within that field. Understand the Sunk Cost Fallacy and don't fall for it.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: What I enjoyed most about NHS was the wide variety of extracurriculars and clubs available to students. There is something for everyone and even if there isn't, you can start a club to find people with similar interests.
Vasudha Nimmagadda
School-related activities and achievements: DECA International Qualifier, HOSA State Champion and two-time First Place International Champion.
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher is Mrs. Pohlonski. I've had the pleasure of having her for both Genetics and Medical Careers. She always works so hard to incorporate new things into our curriculum to make each day special. She's very approachable and is clearly very passionate about teaching. I've learned, and continue to learn, so much in all of her classes.
Favorite quote: "Keep it simple"
Advice for future students: Don't obsess over a score. It is helpful to have a target goal in mind, but it isn't worth excessively worrying over. It's easy to get caught up in comparing yourself to everyone around you, but the most important thing is that you tried your best.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I like the way that classes are run. Overall, the teachers are very communicative and efficient making the learning process all the more interesting. Everyone is always pushing each other to do their best.
Jenya Patel
School-related activities and achievements: Student Council Vice President, National Honor Society President, Varsity Tennis, DECA ICDC Qualifier.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Schurig has made choir a place of positivity and fun for me these past 4 years. She is always looking out for me and is very understanding, sweet, and funny!
Favorite quote: "Your difference is your power."
Advice for future students: Work hard but remember to have fun and do the things you really enjoy!
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: At NHS I love all of my friends and how my peers make every class and activity so enjoyable.
Rohan Patel
School-related activities and achievements: Boys varsity tennis captain, Class Treasurer, National Honor Society Activities Director, Novi Singers, Scholar Athlete, Two-time HOSA state qualifier.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Schurig because she is the nicest person on the planet and she makes choir so fun and stress free.
Favorite quote: 'Manners Maketh Man" - William of Wykeham.
Advice for future students: Don’t stress about something that won’t matter in five years.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: Being in an academically strong environment.
Sanjit Pingili
School-related activities and achievements: Debate Club Wayne-Oakland Debate League top 15, Marching Band, Tennis, HOSA ILC 9th place, DECA ICDC Qualifier, Detroit Education Society, National Honor Society.
Favorite teacher: Ms. Stawasz. She's the GOAT. I had a blast in her class.
Favorite quote: "I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying" - Michael Jordan
Advice for future students: Have a balanced lifestyle in which you are having fun but not overworking yourself.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: My favorite part of NHS was seeing my friends every day in classes, having fun with them, and making several memories each day.
Adina Qu
School-related activities and achievements: Marching Band, HOSA, Interact Club, Math Club, CALM Club, Link Crew, Student Mental Health Committee.
Favorite teacher: Mr. Langley. He makes class interesting and engaging and actively checks in on everyone to make sure they all understand the material being taught.
Favorite quote: "Never regret anything that made you smile." – Mark Twain
Advice for future students: Do what you believe you have to do, not what everyone else is doing.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I enjoy all the academic and extracurricular opportunities available at NHS.
Abhi Reddy
Favorite teacher: Ms. Stawasz.... we had great times and conversations with Ms. Stawasz whether it was related to physics or not.
Favorite quote: "I'm just trying to pick up as much as I can everyday"- Matthew Stafford
Advice for future students: Focus on what makes you happy, not what other people are doing.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The teachers are always there to help you even outside of class and we all push each other to strive to be the best students we can be.
Alexander Roznowski
School-related activities and achievements: Qualified for Chemistry Olympiad test at Michigan-Dearborn, scored a five on the AP Chemistry and AP Calculus AB test, Orchestra.
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher is Mr. Helmkamp because he was serious but not unpleasant and made AP Chemistry feel way easier than it should have.
Favorite quote: "If you set your goals ridiculously high and it's a failure, you will fail above everyone else's success." - James Cameron
Advice for future students: If you don't procrastinate things feel so much easier. You will have much less stress and difficulty on tests, homework, etc.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I like that the school just looks nice in general (especially the new wing).....I also like how you can get pizza every day.
Sian Tian
School-related activities and achievements: Honor Roll (Grades 9-11), HOSA Regionals first place, National Honor Society member, Interact, Recycling Club officer, Parkview elementary volunteer, Chemistry tutor.
Favorite teacher: I have always shared a bond with my visual arts teacher, Mrs. Schnurstein, that exceeded the traditional relationship between teacher and student. She has continued to support me with unending kindness and consideration, from 8th grade through senior year.
Favorite quote: "We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." - Oscar Wilde
Advice for future students: Don't stress too much!
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: The driven, engaged atmosphere at Novi High School motivates me to continue to grow and strive for the best as a student. My peers are diverse, supportive, and excel in a multitude of fields and aspects. Novi has cultivated an enriching environment where learning opportunities are present at every corner.
Ritika Tiwary
School-related activities and achievements: Novi Genes In Diseases and Symptoms Chapter President, Novi Student Mental Health Committee Social Media Leader, Novi Varsity Debate, HOSA Nationals Qualifier, National Honor Society.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Henderhan! She is always willing to talk to students and help them out whether it relates to her class or not. She is also really understanding and super funny! She has some hilarious stories and made class so fun for us with nerdy word games on Friday and a day off on National Play Day!
Favorite quote: “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” - Audrey Hepburn
Advice for future students: Make sure to take time to de-stress and have fun. Mental Health is super important and although it might seem like you need to compete with everyone all the time, you really don't. All that matters is if you try your best. Don't compare yourself to anyone.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: One of the best things about NHS are the people I met there. I have such an amazing new group of friends that are so supportive and encouraging in every aspect of my life.
Shrinivas Venkatesan
School-related activities and achievements: Two-time regional finalist and state qualifier with HOSA, Robotics Assistant Group Lead, Science Olympiad Event Captain, Students Promoting Unity and Diversity, Politics Club.
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher at the high school has to be Ms. Stawasz. Her ability to make the class entertaining, informative, and interactive not only helped me ace the AP Physics course but also allowed me to grow as a person.
Favorite quote: "You will face many defeats in life, but never let yourself be defeated" -- Maya Angelou.
Advice for future students: The most important tip to be successful in high school is to stay organized and on top of your assignments and extracurriculars. Almost all teachers have a daily agenda on Schoology where one can keep track of the daily tasks and assignments posted for their courses.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I feel truly blessed about the environment and student composition at NHS. We get to interact with students of all ethnicities and backgrounds, enabling us to cherish these high school memories. This atmosphere invariably allows the students to exceed their potential and become successful adults.
Adithi Vijayaraja
School-related activities and achievements: Snare drum player for Marching Band, DECA International Conference qualifier and finalist, National Honor Society, AP Chemistry tutor.
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher was Mr. Helmkamp for AP Chemistry. He taught very well but also made us put in the work to learn the material.
Favorite quote: “You shouldn’t give circumstances the power to rouse anger, for they don’t care at all.” – Marcus Aurelius
Advice for future students: Get eight hours of sleep.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: My friends and amazing teachers!
Omkar Vodela
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA Nationals, Orchestra, Relay for Life, Quiz Bowl.
Favorite quote: "Success is not final; failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston S. Churchill
Advice for future students: “Over stressing leads to negative effects in the long run.
Alexander Wan
School-related activities and achievements: 2018 & 2020 International Science and Engineering Fair Finalist, including 1st and 3rd in Michigan. National Silver medal, three regional golds and honorable mention Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for poster and logo design. Volunteer at Parkview Elementary, Math Club and Science Olympiad.
Favorite quote: “It's fine to celebrate success, but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” - Bill Gates
Advice for future students: Find something that you're even remotely interested in and put a ton of time into it. You don't need to have a "passion" or anything like that, but high school is a really good time to be developing a skill.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: How ambitious everyone is. Everyone else around being really smart and motivated has encouraged me to be more involved.
Irene Wang
School-related activities and achievements: Art Club Vice President of Publicity, Recycling Club, National Honor Society, HOSA, Japanese Club Secretary, Volunteer at Parkview Elementary
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Harbar, her classes provide a very open and fun learning experience
Advice for future students: Enjoy high school while you can :)
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: I enjoy that there is a large variety of clubs that cater to all interests
Sarah Yee
School-related activities and achievements: HOSA, Interact Club, National Honor Society, IB Diploma Candidate, Marching Band.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. James, because she is so caring, understanding, and supportive. I always enjoy and look forward to her class and I have loved having her as my teacher these past couple of years.
Favorite quote: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” - Christopher Robin to Winnie the Pooh
Advice for future students: High school is too short to worry so much. Do your best, meet as many people as you can, and don’t dwell on mistakes you’ll forget a year later.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: My teachers are all very kind and supportive; they make the learning environment at school one I can do well in.
Brandon Zhang
Favorite teacher: My favorite teacher is (Mr.) Helmkamp because his teaching style makes topics that kids at other schools struggle with relatively easy and he's fair and honest with students.
Favorite quote: ""According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible." The Bee Movie.
Advice for future students: Being successful and understanding the reason for success are separate skills. Losing your sleep schedule is much easier than getting it back.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: Only having six classes a day, having homework be for completion, and having a lot of homework be optional.
Chris Zhang
School-related activities and achievements: DECA Vice President of Tech, Student Council Representative, Varsity Tennis.
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Maguire, because she was such a good role model, teaching me important life skills as well as ELA. I felt like she genuinely cared about how I did, as she always pushed me to do better.
Favorite quote: "Two steps forward, one step back."
Advice for future students: At the end of the day, you only have four years of high school. So enjoy it while you can.
What do you enjoy most about attending Novi High?: Popcorn Chicken Friday.