IB Campus Updates

Principal's Notes: This is always an exciting time of year for our Seniors. To celebrate the many and varied accomplishments of the Class of 2024, we will be sharing special newsletters highlighting their achievements. This week we are celebrating Parth Patel and Fedora Cherelus.

Full IB Diploma Program student, Parth Patel has accepted the prestigious Presidential Scholarship for University of Southern California. USC is a highly selective school even for California residents. For Parth to earn this scholarship is an enormous achievement. While the Presidential Scholarship comes with 50% tuition, Parth has applied to the USC Marshall School of Business which will likely award even more financial aid. USC was so impressed by Parth's academic record, his service work in the community and life experiences, they included a fifth year of study so that Parth will graduate with an MBA.

99% of students at USC Marshall School of Business find good internship positions which often lead to full time employment right after college. Parth knew that Los Angeles is a banking center and that USC would be a way to network with a wide range of companies.

Parth shared that he believes his commitment to the full IB Diploma Program played a large role in him earning this scholarship. He was also offered a place at the University of Michigan, another highly selective school. Applicants to a selective school of USC’s standing have to stand out. Parth attributes his acceptance to the holistic nature of the Diploma Program with its emphasis on service in the community, high level research and independent thinking. Parth wrote his 4000 word Extended Essay in the area of Business Management, examining the merger between Sprint and T-Mobile, leading to T-Mobile being the largest telecommunications company in the US. For his CAS(Creativity, Action, Service) work, Parth started a Stem Club for younger students, worked his way to the semi finals of an investment competition affiliated with Harvard University and worked as a writer for the Borgen Project dedicated to raising awareness of poverty.

Full IB Diploma Program student Fedora Cherelus applied to Franklin and Marshall College because she learned the school highly regards students in the International Baccalaureate program. Never having heard of this college, Fedora visited the college and immediately fell in love with the beautiful campus, the quiet setting and lively atmosphere of the school. The price tag for this college is $87,000 a year. Fedora has applied for other scholarships which will likely cover the full price of attending this prestigious Liberal Arts College.

During her visit to Franklin and Marshall, Fedora spoke with students who shared their excitement about the 200 study abroad programs offered at the school. Fedora herself is interested in learning outside the US. She was also offered a place at the American School in Paris. Furthermore, if Fedora scores a 30 or higher on the IB Diploma, she will enter the school as a sophomore. Fedora is seriously considering studying government at the highly respected Patricia E Harris Center for Business, Government, and Public Policy at Franklin and Marshall.

Fedora decided to take on the Diploma Program partly because she knew the IB program would open doors so she could graduate from college free from debt. She wanted to challenge herself and see what she could do in an academically rigorous setting. Fedora says the Diploma Program is doable if you stay on top of your work and manage your time very carefully. Over the last two years, she has used an agenda to block out times when she needed to complete particular assignments. Fedora stresses the support of her teachers was crucial to her success. She never thought she could write a 4000 word essay. For her Extended Essay, Fedora took on the challenge of reading Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens. She examined Dickens’ critique of Victorian society through his humor and satire.

IB pushes you to go out into the community and learn new skills. For her CAS project, Fedora organized School Lane’s first ever Talent Show. She showed real initiative pulling this off. A donation of canned goods for the local charity Caring for Friends served as entrance to the show. Fedora also worked with the Merry Truck which goes out to underserved communities to host events for the families.