Welcome to a celebration of academic excellence, where students diverse abilities are showcased from all corners of the school. Each profile highlights the unique achievements, passions, and ambitions of students who excel in their studies, from outstanding grades to groundbreaking projects.
GABRIEL KALIHER
Syrus Sweetwine
Celina Quach
As the Rangeview community continues to grow and evolve, one individual has played a pivotal role in shaping leadership opportunities for women in STEM. Senior Celina Quach has consistently broken barriers throughout her
high school career, using service projects and nationally recognized clubs to empower and inspire others.
A notable position Quach has held is as president of the national program StellarXplorers. Through this program, she has dedicated countless hours to ensuring her team continuously improves their critical thinking skills and builds a strong sense of community. Without her unwavering support, the team would not have achieved such success in a competitive environment.
A key mentor who has consistently nurtured Quach’s passion for STEM is retired Rangeview STEM teacher, Tom Brown. Her affiliation with Brown began as she recalls: “He was my engineering teacher freshman year, and at that time, I was not interested in STEM. But after his class, I enjoyed it so much that I decided to come back for another year, then another, and never looked into another field.”
From that moment on, Quach made it a continuous goal to break barriers in STEM—not only as a woman but also as a first-generation Asian American woman.
As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field, Quach faced numerous struggles to earn the position she now holds. One of the greatest challenges was, “It can be difficult to relate to them and find commonalities.” Nonetheless, her charisma and ambition became her superpowers, as she learned to use different techniques to connect with everyone in her community, regardless of race, gender, or sexuality. When asked specifically how she connects with the men in her field, she shared a technique that has been essential in building relationships with her peers. “Something that made it easier for me was growing up with brothers. I found it easier to understand men and how their brains work because of my brothers and how I grew up around mostly men.”
In the college admissions process, Quach completed all the rounds of the nationally acclaimed program QuestBridge and is set to begin the Fall 2025 semester at Duke University. When asked what made her stand out among the thousands of applicants, she noted, “Specifically being an Asian American woman in STEM made me stand out as an applicant because we are underrepresented in the STEM field. So, I was definitely at an advantage for the QuestBridge scholarship, as colleges are actively seeking diversity in both identity and perspective, and I brought both to the table.”
As Quach moves on to the next chapter of pursuing a higher education, she will leave behind a legacy for many young women in STEM to follow. Through her hard work and dedication, she has paved a path not only for herself but for every young girl who aspires to pursue a career in STEM. There is no doubt that she will continue to broaden and impact the lives of others in substantial ways.
Anderson Sinaga
Anthony Andrew
With over 60% of Rangeview High School students being economically disadvantaged and 50% or less proficiency rate in both math and reading, it is not surprising that Rangeview is viewed how it is. However, when you only look at the statistics it doesn’t show the truth of some students. Junior Anderson Sinaga is exact proof of this.
While Sinaga is economically disadvantaged he doesn’t let that affect his life and be a part of the stereotype. Sinagas peers would say theyve never heard him complain about the situation that he is in, only finding the best out of his situation. Since coming to Rangeview he expalins, “I feel like I surround myself with better people and grew as a person.” This is how you break the cycle of underprivileged kids in bad situations, you surround yourself with good people just like Sinaga has done.
Although, Sinaga lives in the Aurora Central district he makes the 20 minute drive to Rangeview every day, so he could “make his own path” saying, “All my siblings went to Hinkley but I feel that I’m just my own person and I wanted to be able to grow into myself.” Although he came to Rangeview to discover his own path, he also created new opportunities for himself along the way. Sinaga said, “I am able to take college classes as a highschool student and be able to graduate with my associates degree.” While having the ability to graduate with an associates degree Sinaga has taken 5 total AP classes and has 4.7 gpa being ranked 8th in the class of Junior’s. So at the end of next year when you see the top 10 students don’t see Sinaga as another kid who was expected to be there, but see him as a kid who broke the stereotype and a trailblazer.
KNOWLES BALUSI
Jeddy Murithi
Knowles Balusi is currently an 11th grader here at Rangeview High School. She is a committed student to her academic and
extracurricular activities. Knowles is also part of Black Student Alliance, National Honors Society, student leadership and has endless amounts of community service. Knowles is in the top 15 students in the class of 2026 of Rangeview high school. She is currently on track to graduate highschool with her associates, taking all CCA classes for her core classes except for science. Rangeview plans on adding a CCA chemistry class which she plans on taking, to complete her associates degree.
Balusi immigrated to America with her parents and older sister in 2014 when she was 6 years old. She gives all gratitude to her parents stating, “My parents have provided me with the opportunity to reach my goals and dreams and that is why I work hard.”
Knowles has always been a shy and reserved person, but wanted to change that this year by being involved in school. “Joining leadership this year has really helped me step out of my comfort zone and take up leadership roles.”She stated, “ Leadership this year has honestly been really fun and has encouraged me to be more involved in extracurriculars and just a social person in general.”
English teacher, Mrs. Praterelli, says that “ Knowles is super dedicated and an awesome student to have. Sometimes she hides that behind being a quiet person, but she is always super thoughtful and engaged.”
She is also part of the CU Boulder Pre Collegiate Development Program that was founded to provide students in minority and underrepresented families with opportunities and scholarships for students who complete the program at any University of Colorado campus. They intend to help first generation students prepare for education after high school. “The pre collegiate development program has opened me to academic and non academic opportunities that I wouldn’t have known about before.”
After highschool, Knowles Balusi plans on getting her bachelor’s degree and attending medical school to either be an anesthesiologist or a neurosurgeon.
Cody Huynh
Brenden Pohanic
Cody Huynh is currently a sophomore and a great friend to many at Rangeview High School with great ambitions and a passion for volleyball, using that passion to drive Rangeview’s volleyball team to success.
Huynh plans for the future are “going D1 in volleyball by the time I’m a senior. I might try to go to the University of Colorado in Boulder for college so I can go down my own path.” Cody described himself as a “friendly and sometimes outgoing person” who “doesn’t care about what other people think, I do me,” adding on the fact that he likes to be around people who don’t judge him for who he is. He also listed some interesting things about himself, mainly his passion for Volleyball, stating, “It makes me who I am as a person.” and his love for fashion clothing and brands, hoping to become a model for fashion clothing someday.
He shared his story about his involvement with Rangeview. His arrival here was set in stone when his two older brothers came and graduated here as straight-A students, so Huynh decided to go here as well because his parents decided that it would be the best option for him so that he could follow in their footsteps. Huynh shared why he is at Rangeview, stating “I’m here at Rangeview for my friends, to make my parents proud, and to get through High School.”
Lidia Mulugeta
Bezael Tsehaye
Lidia Mulugeta, a senior at Rangeview High School, is a dedicated student who recently matched with Northwestern University through QuestBridge, a national nonprofit that connects high-achieving, low-income students with
top colleges. Her application stood out due to her passion for global health, strong leadership skills, and commitment to community service.
The QuestBridge application has two main steps: the initial application and the finalist stage. “The initial application is pretty lengthy,” she explains, “with family information, extracurriculars, short answers, and essays.”
After submitting, applicants rank up to 15 schools. If selected as a finalist, they have two weeks to complete supplemental essays for each school. “It was stressful because of the short timeline, but not too bad.”
On Match Day, Mulugeta found out she’d been matched with Northwestern, one of her top choices. “I was really excited!”
Her extracurricular activities were central to the application. She was actively involved in Interact Club, a community service organization, where she helped organize events aimed at assisting those in need. Mulugeta also gained hands-on experience in healthcare through the Medical Career Collaborative at Children’s Hospital Colorado, underscoring her dedication to pursuing a career in medicine. Additionally, her leadership in revitalizing the UNICEF Club at Rangeview showcased her initiative and passion for making a difference.
Mulugetas’ drive is fueled by the immense support she receives from her family, friends, and teachers.”I want to be worthy of that support!” she says.
Time management has been key to balancing her schoolwork, extracurriculars, and personal life. With careful planning,
Mulugeta has been able to stay on top of everything. As Ms. Pratarelli put it, “She likes trying, likes doing good, likes getting better, and likes learning about new things,” which reflects her dedication to continuous self-improvement.
Looking ahead, Lidia is excited about Northwestern’s campus life, particularly the chance to join clubs like the Ethiopian-Eritrean Student Association and Rotaract, as well as exploring the school’s competitive sports scene. Reflecting on her journey, Lidia emphasizes the importance of finding balance and taking time for self-care. Her advice to younger students: “It’s okay to step back and breathe when things get tough.”
Anneliese Nevarez
Kirchers Leday
Senior Anneliese Nevarez is much more than a pretty face. With a 3.4 GPA, involvement in STARS [Students Teaching About Relationships and Success], running a food bank, and involvement in college track, a bright future
awaits her.
Anneliese is motivated by her goal to become a first-generation college graduate. She has been influenced by her father, and community to put forth her best effort in school so she can create the best opportunities for herself. She is currently deciding between Regis University, Colorado State University Fort Collins, and Colorado Mesa University with acceptance letters from all 3.
“I obviously want to do well in school and graduate college to make money, but I also want to be able to provide for the family I want. It’s also just a major personal goal of mine to get a degree.”
After a long day of keeping up with the same old, her preferred method of relaxation is watching Gilmore Girls from the bed with water and snacks after a long hot shower. It certainly isn’t easy keeping up good grades, good friendships, and a good mindset, yet she does it all.
Being part of Rangeview’s diverse community has given Anneliese the opportunity to have friends of all backgrounds and encouraged her open-minded positive attitude towards others.
“I think we’re all more alike than we think we are, and it makes me look at everyone similarly; I want to give people the same grace I’d hope they gave me.”
One of her biggest inspirations is Rangeview’s own Sarah Gasior, who constantly motivates her to be the better student and a better version of herself so she can reach for the clouds.
Friends of Anneliese see her in the same light as her community. Her best friend, Tiana Roberts describes her as “ dedicated, independent, and a confidant friend who I can always trust.. She works hard for what she wants, and I’m sure others think of her as helpful and as caring as I do. She’s easy to get along with and she’s also very funny.”
As Aneeliese continues to grow and elevate, it is certain that her drive and positivity will take her very far. Whether in the classroom, in friendships, or in the community, she will only grow stronger, and the best is yet to come.
