![Setter Emma Lee (9) sets the ball to the middle during the match against Pinewood on Sept. 12. “[I’m looking forward to] getting more skilled, learning more about my position and also becoming better friends with all of my teammates, Emma said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/DSC_4917-2-1200x795.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasnt been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but Ive had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. Theres so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesnt exist, you can build it yourself, Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“Animation just clicked in a way. I had been interested in art, but that felt different. [Animation] felt like it had something behind it, whereas previous things felt surface level. I wasnt making that crazy of things, but just the process of doing it was much more enjoyable, Carter Chadwick (22) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Screen-Shot-2022-08-16-at-9.44.08-AM-900x598.png)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and its played such a major role in who Ive become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something Im [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala (21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“Im not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that theres a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyones so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you arent going to get those championships if you arent fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
Student athletes sign off to future in ceremony
Committed senior athletes pose for a picture at signing day, wearing their respective college apparel. They took photos with family, friends and audience members after the ceremony.
May 3, 2023
Nine seniors were honored by the upper school athletic department during the college signing ceremony in the Zhang Gymnasium at 12:45 p.m. on April 25.
Upper School Athletic Director Dan Molin started the ceremony by commending the seniors for their devotion to their respective sports and noting the significance of their recruitment.
“We all admire any individual that pursues a passion in life,” Molin said in his speech. “These young men and women are fortunate enough to be able to pursue their athletic passion at the collegiate level next year. At this point in their young lives, they will get to experience something not many are able to do, which is to compete at the collegiate level.”
Following his speech, each of the seniors announced their names and the school they were signing to. They also thanked the various individuals who helped them along their athletic careers. Claire Chen expressed her gratitude to those who helped her achieve her goal of furthering her golf career beyond high school.
“Playing D1 golf is a dream come true,” Claire said during the ceremony. “And I owe all my thanks to my parents who have fully supported me the entire time, my sister who reminds me of all the good, Harker girls golf [who] taught me what it feels like to be part of a team and lastly, my friends for always being there for me even with all the countless times I’ve had to say ‘sorry, I can’t go, I have to golf.’”
Kyra Hawk noted her excitement for starting college, as she will continue lacrosse and also form new relationships along the way.
“I’m really excited to further my lacrosse career at Smith College and continue to participate in something I enjoy deeply,” Kyra said. “I’m also looking to meet new people who have different interests as me.”
To end the ceremony, each senior signed a piece of paper to represent the official shift from high school to college athletics. The seniors will officially graduate on May 18th.
Below are the recruited seniors, their sports and their universities:
Claire Chen will play golf at Georgetown University.
Andrew Fu will run track at Yale University.
Kyra Hawk will play lacrosse at Smith College.
Abhi Namala will play basketball for the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.
Emily Novikov will play tennis at Georgetown University.
Amrita Pasupathy will play soccer at Caltech.
Arman Thakker will run track at Columbia University.
Thomas Wisdom will play water polo at Santa Clara University.
Lexi Wong will play soccer for the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens.
