MKA Students Enjoy Early Success in College Acceptances
Over one-quarter of The Montclair Kimberley Academy Class of 2010 had something to celebrate during the recent holiday season as their college searches came to a successful early conclusion.
Five seniors were admitted to the University of Pennsylvania under its binding early decision plan, including two to the Wharton School’s Business program. Other seniors made early decision commitments to Duke University, Columbia University, Vassar College, Williams College, Cornell University and Tufts University among others.
Headmaster Thomas Nammack attributed this early success to the overall strength of the class and to the school’s uniquely low student-to-counselor ratios, noting “our four full-time counselors and two part-time associates in athletics and the arts began to work with this class of 97 students when they were freshmen. By senior year, they have close counseling relationships with every student and their family.” Director of College Counseling Alan Fraker added, “low student loads provide us with the luxury of time for the in-depth identification of those universities that provide the best ‘fit’ for each student’s aspirations.”
The college athletic goals of seven seniors, also became reality in December. Eric Cirangle will play baseball at Union College next year, nationally ranked fencer Christine McIntosh will fence for Cornell, Joseph Mallock will placekick for Williams College and Mallory McDonagh will play field hockey at Michigan State. Three defending state champion softball players will also continue to play: Laura Placentra at the University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School), Andrea Huelsenbeck at the University of Connecticut and Devon Keefe at Smith College.
Other MKA seniors who have made final matriculation decisions through one of these early acceptance options include: Oyinda Adefioye – University of Pennsylvania, Rebecca Bauer – Vassar College, Paloma Colon – Boston University, Michael Custode – Villanova University, Tyler Daniels – George Washington University, Alexa Franco – Duke University, Christina Gonsalves – Columbia University, William Johnson – University of Richmond, Burke Kusnierz – Lafayette College, Amanda Maggiano – Susquehanna University, Alexandra Marino – Arizona State University, Harsha Mirchandani – Tufts University, Emily Olshefski – New York University, Zachary Opperman – University of Pennsylvania, Zachary Schatz – Syracuse University, Elana Stern – University of Pennsylvania, Kelsey Taylor – University of Pennsylvania, and Adam Wetzel – Bucknell University.