As a student-athlete, excellence for me, often times means constantly trying to be better than I was the year before, and even the week before. Even though there are many challenges and setbacks, seeing improvement in myself makes it worth it. Running track allows me...

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Ask any group of people, and chances are, every single person will have a different interpretation of the word “excellence.” Over the course of my life thus far, I have heard countless interpretations of what it means to...

I founded a company called Lillypops (www.lillypops.us) that makes and sells gourmet lollipops. I have always wanted to start my own business and make a difference and what better way to bring a smile to people’s faces and help others than with a delicious sweet...

Tennis practice serves as respite from the stressful realities of high school. Every day after school I enter a separate world where for two hours I focus on one thing. Being a part of the Dwight-Englewood tennis team has been a cornerstone of my high school...

I try to seek excellence and find my voice in the creative arts, particularly film and poetry. My drive to find this voice stems from the impact that I see these artistic mediums can have in the world, and if I can effectively tell stories with a unique voice, I too...

Black history tells a story The story of the birth of excellence from oppression the birth of Beauty from ashesThe birth of Power from powerlessnessIt’s crazy how some like to criticize black people for talking about the pastSince “we’re all equal now” but can’t even...

Whenever I am at the track or in a race, I am the youngest. When I race professionally next year, I will be the sole teenage female professional sports car racer in North America. Being the youngest has always pushed me to do my best on and off the track. The more...

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Seeking excellence for me is about rowing. Ever since I fell in love with crew at Bergen County Rowing Academy in seventh grade, all I've wanted to do was row for my school. I wanted to share the strength, the escape,...

[vc_row][vc_column width="2/3"][vc_column_text] Of all the activity at D-E, I think volleyball has shaped my definition of excellence the most. Everyone on the team knows all too well how important the book Wooden is to us. Written by one of the most successful...

Throughout my journey at D-E, I have been taught the strong meaning of community.  The fall of ninth grade I joined a club on campus, Teens Connecting Communities (TCC). When I joined TCC, I immediately had a moment of realization that many communities aren’t as...