This Week's Student Spotlight: Kevin Tsao

Age: 17

School: Nanuet Senior High School

Kevin Tsao's resume is so extensive and impressive it's difficult to choose where to start.

He is very involved in the clubs and activities offered at Nanuet High School. He is in the Math League, Academic League, Debate and Oration Club, the Badmitton Club, and he works on the "Knight Times" which is the Nanuet High School newspaper.

"For the Debate and Oration club we compete against other schools and we try and get practice in by competeing against each other," said Kevin Tsao.  "Oration is in the first half of the school year and debate is in the second half.  For oration there are several different events such as prose, poetry, dramatic monologue, impromptu with about 15-25 students per event.  I've competed since freshman year mostly in prose. For debate, we resolve a problem by coming up with our own plan.  We debate both for our own plan and against other people's plans depending on which side we're on. I have competed in debate since sophomore year."

He is also the captain of the Science Olympiads for the high school team. However, Kevin is not just all academics. He is quite talented musically.

He is part of the orchestra and the chamber orchestra, has participated in the school plays and he plays piano outside of school as well.

"The orchestra is an elective class and the chamber orchestra is a smaller more selective group and meets outside of school as well as during school time.  Both the orchestra and the chamber orchestra put on a winter concert, a spring concert, string fest, and a pops concert.  Orchestra has class every single day whereas chamber orchestra meets about one or two times per week.  The pit orchestra is part of plays.  I've been part of the pit orchestra for sophomore and freshman year and I plan on being part of it this year.  I play the cello in both the orchestra and chamber orchestra and in pit orchestra too."

In fact Kevin has participated in NYSSMA for both Cello and Piano scoring over 90 for both at level six for piano and All-state NYSSMA for Cello.

At Science Olympiads he competed in building events such as Towers, Elevated Bridge, and Electric Vehicle.  Winning two 1st place medals (one in high school, one in middle school), one 2nd place medal, and two 5th place medals.

One of his major achievements is being awarded a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student. This is a nationally recognized program that only accepts the top students based on PSAT scores. Approximately 1.5 million students across the country enter the program with only about 34,000 recognized as commended students.  

It is no wonder that Kevin is on the High Honor Role, Member of Mu Alpha Theta, the National Honor Society, the Foreign Language Honor Society and the Tri-M Honor Society.

Kevin is an AP Scholar, as he has scored a five on all three courses: AP Euro, AP United States History, and AP Environmental Science. He is currently taking AP Calculus AB, AP English Literature, AP Biology, and Advanced French, which is an online AP level course.

Between his AP level courses, his dedication to orchestra and all the clubs he is involved with, it is amazing that he can still find time to volunteer.

"At Nyack Hospital I volunteered in the transportation department where I wheeled patients from one place to another or to their car if they're being discharged.  I also volunteered in the environmental services department where I helped organize some store rooms and took care of patient surveys."

He also has participated and volunteered in the Music Marathon which is run by the United Hopice of Rockland.

"As a child I participated in playing for music marathon repeatedly over the years.  When I went to volunteer, I helped set up the equipment and take it down.  I moved microphones and cables around and managed sound as well."

Kevin has been able to shape his talents and focus on what he is interested in studying after high school. In fact, it was one of his AP courses that has had an impact on what he would like to study in the future.

"I want to major in business and economics in college, focusing on an international aspect.  This choice has been heavily impacted by my history classes especially AP Euro and AP US history, where we discussed a lot about current events and what's going on in the world.  Also, I was part of the Center for Talented Youth program and one year I took a class on 'Global Politics: Human Rights and Justice'. Learning about what goes around in the world really shaped my aspirations."

Kevin has already had a very successful and well-rounded high school experience.  His academic record thus far shines so bright that his future looks extremely promising.

You have made Nanuet proud, enjoy the rest of your senior year!