Collin County Future Mobility Oct 2023

PESH announces top two graduates

by | May 10, 2018 | Education

The goal of the valedictorian and salutatorian at Plano East Senior High School was not to claim the top two academic spots in the Class of 2018, but to improve and do their best.

Finishing their public school careers at the top were valedictorian Rahul Hayaran, posting a 4.68 grade point average, and salutatorian Mohit Gupta, with a 4.67 GPA.

“It never was a goal. Rank is just a number at the end of the day,” Hayaran said. “I just worked to keep improving.”

The valedictorian was ranked third in his class through his junior year, moved to second last fall and overtook Gupta this spring to earn valedictorian honors.

He will attend the University of California at Berkley in fall to begin work on a double major that combines technology (electrical engineering and computer science) and entrepreneurship. There were only 51 students accepted to the program.

“Berkley is one of the few schools that offers the program,” Hayaran said. “I am interested in entrepreneurship. Computer science teaches you how to build something and business teaches you how to sell it.”

The valedictorian is the son of Roma and Sanjai Hayaran and moved with his family to Plano in 2006. He was born in India and lived in Japan and the United Kingdom before coming to Texas.

At PESH he was captain of Whiz Quiz, a mentor in Laser science and engineering research club, secretary of Computer Science Club, Pan American Student Forum chairman in Spanish Club and a member of National Honor Society and Plano History Club.

He credits his academic success to a simple formula of working hard in every class.

Gupta will attend the University of Texas at Austin in fall to study electrical engineering.

“I want to work at a technology company developing machines that don’t exist today,” he explained.

The salutatorian was the top ranked student at PESH his freshman year, dropped to second as a sophomore and reclaimed the top spot until Hayaran claimed it late in their senior year.

“It is not what drove me to succeed,” he said. “I just wanted to do well.”

Gupta is the son of Anil and Poonam Gupta and attended school in Plano from kindergarten forward.

At PESH, he was a member of the percussion section in the band, a National Honor Society officer and History Club president.

The Class of 2018 contains 1,335 candidates for graduation. Commencement is set for 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 9, at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco.

 

Joe Reavis • [email protected]

 

For more stories like this, see the May 9 issue or subscribe online.

State Fair of Texas 2023 SFOT

0 Comments

Public Notice - Subscribe

Related News

Plans for WISD bond campaign presented

Plans for WISD bond campaign presented

The second regular trustee meeting of the school year on Sept. 18 had several recognitions, information on a new initiative, and a Bond 2023 update. Recognitions included the Wylie High School Theatre team for receiving an award of distinction by the Texas Education...

read more
WISD bond election specifics

WISD bond election specifics

At the first Wylie ISD Board of Trustees meeting of the school year on Aug. 21, the board unanimously voted to place a $298 million bond proposal on the Nov. ballot. The election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 7 and early voting is from Oct. 23 to Nov. 3. “The...

read more
New law mandates school security

New law mandates school security

Many school districts were scrambling to comply with a new state law requiring at least one security officer with a gun at every campus during regular school hours. The measure was a direct response to the worst school massacre in Texas history, the May 2022 fatal...

read more
School kicks into gear

School kicks into gear

After a summer full of administration changes and preparation, staff at Plano and Wylie ISD are ready to welcome students. The first day of the new school year for PISD students is Wednesday, Aug. 9 and Thursday, Aug. 10 for  WISD students. Students, parents and...

read more
Future facilities discussed by WISD trustees

Future facilities discussed by WISD trustees

Wylie ISD trustees are expected to consider a bond proposal at their regular August 21 meeting and will likely call an election for Nov. 7. Trustees were presented a Comprehensive Facilities Plan at a July 17 workshop that was developed over the past several months by...

read more
New year, new teachers

New year, new teachers

WISD recruits, welcomes 225 new teachers It’s crunch time for area school districts as they race against the clock to prep for the 2023-24 school year welcoming new students and new teachers. In Wylie ISD, new teachers — 225 in all — were celebrated at the annual “New...

read more
WISD budget adopted

WISD budget adopted

Wylie ISD trustees approved a budget for the upcoming fiscal year despite some uncertainty surrounding property relief and statutory requirements to raise teacher compensation in special legislative sessions. The overall budget was presented by Scott Roderick,...

read more
PESH Panthers become 2023 graduates

PESH Panthers become 2023 graduates

Plano East Senior High (PESH) Valedictorian Shriya Bhat recalled how COVID had cut short freshman year for the Class of 2023. “Our infinite spring break turned into a year of online school in our pajamas,” she told the 1,370 graduates. “At least we got TikTok from...

read more
Eight Murphy students win scholarships

Eight Murphy students win scholarships

The Murphy Chamber of Commerce Foundation has awarded $1,700 scholarships to eight high school seniors. The scholarships were available to career and technical education (CTE) students, home-school and private school students and college-bound Plano ISD and Wylie ISD...

read more
Public Notice - Subscribe