Five Vermont Presidential Scholars from Burlington High School and the Burlington Tech Center were honored for their achievements at a recognition ceremony at the State House Monday, January 22. Biographical information below provided by the Burlington School District.

Ayowunmi Adewuyi (SBHS), Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education

Ayowunmi has gone above and beyond to make a positive difference in her community, while also excelling academically.  She is active in serving people who face discrimination, and celebrating diversity through school service clubs, her church community, and as a volunteer for community organizations. Ayowunmi took Anatomy and Physiology I at the college level over the summer (earning an A) in order to join the Health Sciences Academy at BTC and has demonstrated an ability to understand course material at a deeper level with a strive for mastery that fuels her passion for medicine.  Ayowumni looks forward to being a health provider who improves the medical system for those marginalized by the medical system, and those with financial hardship. 

She was nominated by Health Science Academy teachers, Monica Beard Raymond and Stacey Ladd.

Sarah Ali (BHS), Presidential Scholar

Sarah is a senior in the Design and Illustration program. She has demonstrated leadership both at school and in her community. Last spring she won Youth Leader for Burlington and subsequently, Youth Leader for Vermont. A talented artist, Sarah has won Scholastic awards and local competitions for her photography. She works and volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club, spending 12 -18 hours a week working with kids as young as 5, and she also volunteers there all summer. Sarah is an advocate for the importance of speaking out about the importance of mental health and that has been a pivotal platform in her community engagement. 

She was nominated by Design and Illustration teacher Ashley Stagner.

Kennedy Desautels (CVU), Presidential Scholar in Career and Technical Education

Kennedy is academically achieving, kind, generous and outgoing, service oriented, curious and a fabulous representative of not only the Health Sciences Academy, but also of BTC and her home high school of CVU. After one of her recent clinical shadows, the provider took the time to email about the experience stating “I was extremely impressed with the level of questions she asked and interactions we had. Her questions  were the best, most relevant questions any student out of any rotation has ever asked me.  This student really stands out to me as a very motivated and very focused individual that definitely displays great potential.” He ended by thanking us for allowing him the pleasure of helping to mentor Kennedy.

She was nominated by Health Science Academy teachers Monica Beard Raymond and Stacey Ladd.

Greta Ketterling (BHS), Presidential Scholar of the Arts

Greta is a senior in Design and Illustration whose artwork focuses on the topic of girlhood and childhood. Referencing her Zen Buddhism faith, her works are intricately detailed and follow her health and illness. Her watercolor and pen and ink drawings are small, and the detailed cross-hatching required has become a meditative drawing process for Greta. Stylistically, Greta is influenced by Japanese contemporary artists such as Aya Takano. Greta, in her drawings, wants to replicate sentiment and strong senses of emotion. She is also influenced by old Japanese manga from the 70s and 80s – “Akira” and “AstroBoy” – for their fine line work.

She was nominated by Design and Illustration teacher Ashley Stagner.

Apolina Mbeleci (WHS), Presidential Scholar of the Arts

Apolina is a 12th grade, Digital Media Lab student focusing on photography. Her work focuses on the lives of teenagers in the African community living in Chittenden County and her faith. She is a leader in her after school work with the Unheard Stories, which is a media and performance project at WHS focused on global majority student experiences, and as leader of the girl’s group and African Cinema Project at AALV. In speaking with Apolina, she is impacted by her community, her faith, and her ability to connect with others in her daily life for inspiration, for counsel, and for guidance. Her prayer group, her youth groups, and her city group in Winooski each contributes to guide her sense of self, her purpose, and her commitments.