This Week's Student Spotlight: Skyler Dale

School: Nanuet High School

Age: 17

Skyler Dale has been awarded the title of Nanuet High School's Class of 2012. With a weighted average exceeding 100 percent, Dale has shown excellence in the classroom as well as being active in extracurricular activities. 

After graduation on June 24, 2012, Dale will begin preparing to head to Cornell University. He was faced with a tough choice after being accepted to George Washington University, University of Maryland, Johns Hopkins University, and Boston University. He was even awarded scholarships to almost all of these schools, making his decision even tougher. 

"I actually was planning on going to George Washington University and I paid the deposit but then I was accepted into Cornell off the wait list and I decided to go for it," said Dale.

During his high school years at Nanuet he played basketball, baseball and ran cross country. He was in the orchestra, where he played the violin which he started lessons in second grade. A much earned credit to Nanuet's music program. He was also the editor of the school newspaper run by his English teacher, Mr. Mitchell.

In his spare time, he and a friend wrote a 70,000 word novel.

"It's a bit of a secret as to what it's about, but I will tell you that's it's written in chapters that alternate perspectives between a boy and a girl. I'm still editing it on and off but I'm not really sure if I'm going to try to do anything with it."

He's been attending the same sleep away camp for years. He started out as a camper and now this summer will work there as a counselor.

"I won an award for athletic ability and sportsmanship at my camp called the Jeff Herman award."

Obviously coming in second out of about 150 students means you're smart. Dale has taken AP English Literature, AP English Language, AP Calculus, AP Biology, AP French, AP European History, and AP US History. He's also been inducted into the National Honor Society, Math Honor Society, and French Honor Society.

At Cornell, Dale plans on studying Communications. Not a surprising choice since he really enjoyed his position as editor of the school newspaper. 

"I've always had an interest in writing and I think one of my better characteristics is my creativity so I've always thought that communications would be a good major for those two aspects."

Upon reflecting on his time at Nanuet High School, Dale's most fond memories will be of his friendships both old and new.

"My best experiences have really come from the times that I've widened my social circle. I had a difficult time on middle school, so high school has been an experience in which I've gotten to know the people in my grade better and made friendships with some people whom I never thought I would have made friendships with. So, instead of one specific time I would say it has been the culmination of many hangouts with friends."

Congratulations Skyler Dale! Best of luck at Cornell University next fall.