Pioneer High School held its 2010 graduation ceremonies June 3 in the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center. The class had 690 graduates.

Stephanie Bielek

Parents: Pascale Bielek and Mark Bielek Activities and Awards: Stephanie was a member of the Soulfege A Cappella Group. She volunteers at the University of Michigan. Plans after graduation: Stephanie plans to spend next year in England after which she will return to study nursing at the University of Michigan.

Zidi Chen

Parents: Guoan Chen and Tianju Liu Activities and Awards: Zidi is a National Merit Scholar and was a member of the National Honor Society. She was a member of the Pioneer Symphony Orchestra, the Michigan Youth Symphony Orchestra and was a Pioneer Concerto Competition winner. Zidi has been involved with the Pioneer Orientation Guides and received the Harvard Book Award. Plans after graduation: Zidi plans to attend the University of Chicago.

Nour El-Kashlan

Parents: Hussam El-Kashlan and Noha Amin Activities and Awards: Nour was a member of the National Honor Society. She was a Peer mediator at Pioneer. Nour works at the University of Michigan Hearing Rehabilitation Center. Plans after graduation: Nour plans to attend the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan.

Mary Fitzgerald

Parents: Brian and Debra Fitzgerald Activities and Awards: Mary was the editor-in-chief of the Optimist, Pioneer’s school newspaper. She was a 4-year varsity letter winner in women’s swimming. Mary was a member of the National Honor Society and a 2010 Ann Arbor Junior Rotarian. Plans after graduation: Mary plans to attend Hillsdale College on a Presidential Scholarship to pursue either pre-med or pre-dental studies.

Sachi Gianchandani

Parents: Roma and Yogesh Gianchandani Activities and Awards: Sachi was a four-year member of the Pioneer synchronized swimming team and captain for the 09/10 season. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the Global Improvement Society and the Pioneer Symphony Band. Sachi has studied Baratanatyam (classical Indian dance) for many years. Plans after graduation: Sachi will attend the University of Michigan School of Kinesiology to study movement science. She will be a member of the University’s Shipman Society.

Molly Gordon

Parents: Michael Gordon and Candace White Activities and Awards: Molly was a member of the National Honor Society. She volunteered at S.O.S. Community Services. She plays soccer and enjoys horseback riding. Plans after graduation: Molly plans to attend the University of Michigan in the fall.

Lydia Hiller

Parents: Steve and Wendy Hiller Activities and Awards: Lydia is a National Merit Finalist. She has participated in over a dozen productions of the Pioneer Theatre Guild, serving in many capacities. She was a member of several Pioneer choirs and has been a four-year member of Peace Jam. Lydia was a two-time winner of the Michigan Shakespeare Festival’s High School Monologue Competition. Plans after graduation: Lydia will be attending Michigan State University on a Distinguished Freshman Scholarship.

Miriam Holzman Parents: Liz and Larry Holzman Activities and Awards: Miriam has participated in cross-country and track for the last four years, and this year she was captain of the cross-country team. She was All-Academic in cross-country her junior year and named to the All-State team both junior and senior year. Miriam was a finalist in the Ann Arbor Youth Poetry Slam. Plans after graduation: Miriam will be attending Barnard College in New York City.

Mariyam Isa

Parents: Shay and Paula Isa Activities and Awards: Mari was a four-year varsity swimmer and 2009 captain of the Pioneer swim team. She was recognized as an Academic All-American swimmer (2009) and Academic All Honors for water polo (2008). Mari volunteered at Dicken Elementary and worked as a lifeguard and swim instructor. Plans after graduation: Mari plans to attend Michigan State University - Lyman Briggs Residential College where she received an Alumni Distinguished Scholarship. She will swim for MSU.

Zesi (Max) Jin

Parents: Qiming Jin and Ronghua Hao Activities and Awards: Max is a National Merit Finalist and a member of the National Honor Society. He has been a member of the Pioneer crew team for four years and was on the US Rowing 2009 Scholastic Honor Roll. Throughout his high school career, he has volunteered at the University of Michigan dental school and hospital. Plans after graduation: Max will attend Duke University where he will major in biomedical engineering.

Bala Naveen Kakaraparthi

Parents: Venu Kakaraparthi and Revati Kakaraparthi Activities and Awards: Bala Naveen was the president/captain of the Pioneer Science Olympiad. He participated in Men’s tennis and the Indian Student Association. He won first place in Cell Biology and Ecology at Science Olympiad Regionals. He volunteers at the University of Michigan Hospital and is a Red Cross YCAT. Plans after graduation: Bala Naveen plans to attend the University of Michigan to major in cell and molecular biology and neuroscience.

Katherine Keller

Parents: Paul and Kimberly Keller Activities and Awards: Katherine has sung in the Pioneer choirs for the last four years and also takes private voice lessons. She has participated in several Pioneer clubs such as China Bridge and the French Literature Club that she formed. Having exhausted the French language classes at Pioneer she created the club with some other students to continue using their French. Plans after graduation: Katherine will attend the University of Michigan in the fall and plans to study neuroscience with plans to become a psychiatrist.

Ruth Kershaw

Parents: Martha Kershaw and David Kershaw Activities and Awards: Ruth has served on the Safehouse Teenvoice educational group. She has volunteered with Food Gatherers at the Delonis Center. Ruth works at the Dairy Queen. She won first place for Book Cover Design at the Kerrytown Book Fair. Plans after graduation: Ruth will attend Macalester College for pre-med and an undecided major.

Daniel Kriz

Parents: Yulin and Igor Kriz Activities and Awards: Daniel is a National Merit Finalist and a semifinalist in the Presidential Scholar Program. He was a silver medalist in the United States Mathematical Talent Search and the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition. He is a second-degree black belt, has a level X certification in piano, and played violin in the Michigan Youth Arts Festival Honors Orchestra. Plans after graduation: Daniel will attend Princeton and major in mathematics.

Leah Anne Latterner

Parents: Dan and Laura Latterner Activities and Awards: Leah is a National Merit Finalist and Scholarship winner. She was a US Presidential Scholar candidate. Leah is a pianist in Cobahshi Trio, winner of the 2009 DownBeat Magazine award for Best High School Classical Group in the nation. She is the founder and co-president of Musicians United to Serve In the Community (MUSIC), an organization that presents concerts at local retirement communities and hospitals. Plans after graduation: Leah was accepted to both Harvard and Yale. She will attend Yale and study mathematics and music.

Meekyoung Lee

Parents: Sangho and Moonyoung Lee Activities and Awards: Meekyoung was the principal flutist in the Pioneer Symphony Band and Orchestra. She is the recipient of the Jack Kent Cooke Young Artist Award and the Hannah Lahti Flute Scholarship. She plays with the Detroit Symphony’s Civic Youth Ensemble. She is a member of Musicians United to Serve In the Community. Plans after graduation: Meekyoung will attend the University of Texas at Austin to study with Butler professor of flute, Marianne Gedgian at the Butler School of Music.

Wenjie Luo

Parents: Yuefeng Luo and Xiaojing Wang Activities and Awards: Wenjie is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. She was a member of the Pioneer Tennis Team and was a Pioneer Orientation Guide. Wenjie plays the violin. Plans after graduation: Wenjie will be majoring in biomedical engineering at Cornell University.

Karen Matsuo

Parents: Nair and Eduardo Matsuo Activities and Awards: Karen has participated in the Pioneer Band Program throughout high school. She was a board member of Pioneer’s Interact Club. Karen was also the captain of the Pioneer Women JV Tennis Team. Plans after graduation: Karen will attend the Honors College at Michigan State where she received a STATE scholarship and a Professional Assistantship.

Megumi Matsushita

Parents: Uyen Tonnule and Keiichiro Masushita Activities and Awards: Megumi participated in the Pioneer High School Symphony Band and Orchestra. She is the recipient of the International Trumpet Guild’s Young Artist Award. Plans after graduation: Megumi plans to attend Carnegie Mellon University.

Miriam Michaels

Parents: Gloria Helfand and Harvey Michaels Activities and Awards: Miriam has been involved in 20 productions of the Pioneer Theatre Guild in the roles of lighting, lighting design, stage management, representative and secretary of the Theatre Guild Executive Board. She has been a member of the Pioneer Concert and Symphony Bands. She participates in Habonim Dror, a Jewish Youth Organization. Plans after graduation: Miriam plans to spend a year in Israel then will attend the University of Michigan for liberal arts and stage management.

Ayui Murata

Parents: Masumi and Takayuki Murata Activities and Awards: Ayui was involved in several school clubs, Community Volunteer Club since fall 2008, Global Improvement Society since fall 2009, China Bridge and Interact Club since spring 2009. She makes baked goods for Avalon Housing’s Bakery Brigade. Ayui enjoys working with children with the Pioneer Trailblazers Program and babysitting as a part time job. Plans after graduation: Ayui will be attending the Honors Program at the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan.

Helen Murphey

Parents: Dan Murphey and Yi Lu Murphey Activities and Awards: Helen was the news editor of the Pioneer Optimist. She volunteers at the Leslie Science Center and Ten Thousand Villages. Helen won first prize in the Tapestry of Bronze Poetry Contest. Plans after graduation: Helen will be attending the University of St. Andrews where she will study history.

Katherine Niemann

Parents: Thomas and Melinda Niemann Activities and Awards: Katherine was a member of the National Honor Society. She was an Orientation Guide and a youth group co-leader. Plans after graduation: Katherine will work as a volunteer for the Christian Appalachian Project in Kentucky for a year before going to college.

Tess Postema

Parents: Stephen and Christina Postema Activities and Awards: Tess had participated in Pioneer Women’s Soccer for three years and Club soccer for four years. She has traveled to Mexico for the Broadreach language immersion and volunteer trip and with the Spain Pioneer trip 2008. She is a volunteer tutor through the University of Michigan PALMA program. Plans after graduation: Tess will attend Kenyon University where she received a Distinguished Academic Scholarship.

Elizabeth Qian

Parents: Fang Dong and Jianming Qian Activities and Awards: Elizabeth is a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and the webmaster for the Pioneer National Honor Society. She was vice-president of the Pioneer Symphony Orchestra. Elizabeth had an internship at an aerospace engineering lab. Plans after graduation: Elizabeth will be attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Salman Rajput

Parents: Manzan Rajput and Shanila Khan Activities and Awards: Salman had been president of the Class of 2010 for the last three years. He is the founder and president of the Global Improvement Society. Salman interned for the Obama Campaign and was an intern in the Public Defenders office. Plans after graduation: Salman will attend Dartmouth College in the fall.

Luke Stevens

Parents: Michael and Deborah Stevens Activities and Awards: Luke is a National Merit Scholar. He was on the sound crew for the Pioneer Theatre Guild for 3 years. He was a member of Pioneer’s Bicycle Riders Society. He has held a job since sophomore year. Plans after graduation: Luke plans to travel to South America to do volunteer work and improve his Spanish. He will attend college in 2011 to study chemical engineering at either Northwestern University or the University of Michigan.

Ruby Summers

Parents: Donna Ainsworth and Joe Summers Activities and Awards: Ruby was a member of the National Honor Society and Orientation Guides. She had been deeply involved with the Pioneer Theatre Guild serving in multiple positions on the student board including co-president senior year. She had been stage manager, an actor, and a makeup crew head. She has received numerous awards in the Michigan Interscholastic Forensics Association Theatre Festival. Plans after graduation: Ruby plans to attend the College of Wooster.

Amy Thompson

Parents: Nigel and Jane Thompson Activities and Awards: Amy has been a member of Youth Dance Theatre of Michigan for ten years, with active participation in the Pre-Professional division of the company. She has served as Student Representative on Youth Dance Theatre’s Board of Directors. She received the Presidential Scholar in the Arts Award from George Washington University for dance. Plans after graduation: Amy will attend George Washington University to study International Affairs and Dance.

Kelsey Thompson

Parents: Ramona and Greg Thompson Activities and Awards: Kelsey was the captain of the four time state champion Pioneer Varsity Field Hockey and was captain of the Varsity lacrosse team. She was a member of the National Honor Society and a student council representative. Kelsey is the founder and president of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes club at Pioneer. Plans after graduation: Kelsey will attend Northwestern University where she will play field hockey on scholarship.

Madeline Vermeulen

Parents: Nancy and Chris Vermeulen Activities and Awards: Madeline participates in dance four days a week. She performed at retirement centers and choreographed for a benefit concert through Dance Body at Community High School. She participates in mission trips with her church youth group and helps out in the preschool room every Sunday at church. Plans after graduation: Madeline plans to attend Kalamazoo College in the fall.

Steven Walker

Parents: David and Noreen Walker Activities and Awards: Steven is an assistant Karate instructor. He has a 2nd Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon do. He received the University of Michigan Regents Merit Scholarship. Plans after graduation: Steven will attend the University of Michigan School of Engineering.

Diane Wang

Parents: Jane F. Wang and Luen-Cheng Wang Activities and Awards: Diane is the founder and president of Community Volunteer Club as well as a co-chairperson of the Pioneer Orientation Guides Program. She has been a student representative on student council for four years. Diane plays violin in the orchestra and piano outside of school. Plans after graduation: Diane plans to attend the University of Michigan in the LS&A Honors Program where she will be a pre-med major.

Xiao Wang

Parents: Yanzhuang Wang and Baorong Shi Activities and Awards: Xiao is a National Merit Finalist and Scholarship winner. He played the flute/piccolo in the Symphony Band and Orchestra and is co-president of Musicians United to Serve In the Community. Xiao had been active on student council, Orientation Guides and Trailblazers. Plans after graduation: Xiao will attend the Honors Program at the University of Michigan.

Wen-Ching (Ruth) Wei

Parents: Lian-pang and Chen-Long Wei Activities and Awards: Ruth is a National Merit Finalist and was a member of the National Honor Society. She received the SEC All Academic Award and was a 2010 MLK Health Sciences Writing Contest Finalist. Ruth was active with the Pioneer Student Council and the Global Improvement Society. Plans after graduation: Ruth plans to pursue pre-med studies at a yet to be determined college.