Making a difference one student at a time!
Emmanuel Odekunle ’19
Emmanuel was accepted to Princeton, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Duke, Johns Hopkins, NYU and the University of Rochester, Emmanuel plans to major in biology and become a doctor.
Emmanuel Odekunle is an industrious, multi-talented senior at Bloomfield High School. When he is not studying for a test or working on a special project for an AP class, he is prepping for the spring production and learning his acting lines and dance steps!
Accepted to Princeton, Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, Brown, Duke, Johns Hopkins, NYU and the University of Rochester, Emmanuel plans to major in biology and become a doctor. He says things would have been very different for him without the funds from the Bloomfield Educational Foundation’s Pride in Educational Excellence Campaign. Born in Nigeria and moving with his family to Scotland before coming to the U.S., he has a younger brother, a sophomore, and a sister in seventh grade. Emmanuel is grateful for the Bloomfield Educational Foundation’s Bengal Pride in Educational Excellence contributions which have allowed him to take as many AP classes and tests as he wished, at an average of cost of $90 per test. In junior year, he took AP Statistics, AP Language and Composition, AP US History and AP Physics. This year he is enrolled in AP Literature and Composition, AP Biology, AP Computer Science and AP Calculus. He scored high enough on his junior tests to gain college credits and is hoping to do the same this year.
“These opportunities have helped me grow to be experimental and diligent in my approach to life and success so that I may empower and inspire those around me. My time management skills are sharper and I feel ready for the vigor’s of a university classroom,” he noted.
To prepare for his medical school career, Emmanuel was accepted to shadow at Bronx Lebanon Hospital over the winter break of 2018. There, he sat in with doctors and assisted with daily patient checkups. While there, he saw firsthand how vital technology was to the patients’ care. This experience has him now thinking about a double major in biology and computer science. With both disciplines, he is hoping to integrate more computer science into the medical world. His newly created website, Connected Medicine, highlights advances in technology and medicine, and his blog reaches over 100 readers each month. He expects this will grow as so many are searching for this information.
“I know there are many underserved countries without access to tools and medicine. It is my hope to bring them information about advancements in technology to improve their quality of life. He is also concerned about the health of children locally. Over the summers, Emmanuel has volunteered at Hackensack Meridian Hospital and with the Charles Seller Foundation, where he raised funds for young children in Bloomfield who were ill. He says membership in his church, Winners Chapel International in Maplewood, NJ, keeps him motivated to help others. As the elected head of the church’s Youth Technical Department for their NJ branch, he attended meetings and helped with media, videos and a live Facebook page to spread the word about the work the church is doing. In his leadership role with the children’s dance team, he also oversees performances for 1200-1300 congregants weekly.
Emmanuel is a National Honor Society member and the vice president of the BHS Math Club. He and his fellow members set up tables at Brookdale Shop-Rite and offer math tutoring to elementary school children. Emmanuel says it is rewarding to help students understand a concept or become more proficient at problem solving. His other passion is the BHS Theater Department. He appeared in “The Pajama Game” as a freshman, “The Wiz” as a sophomore, and “Cinderella” as a senior. He plans on keeping dance and the theater as a part of his college life. His goal is to open a practice in a large city and then move to a rural area of the United States, or maybe a foreign country, to continue his medical career.
Haley Patel ’19
Haley’s accomplishments are numerous and she is quick to tell you that her successes have been because she was able to work with those who share her enthusiasm for academics and community service. She has been accepted to Rutgers and Temple and is wait-listed for Northeastern.
Haley’s brilliant smile and willingness to share the spotlight with others are the first two things that you notice about her. Her accomplishments are numerous and she is quick to tell you that her successes have been because she was able to work with those who share her enthusiasm for academics and community service. And anything she does, she does to the fullest extent. Case in point, not only is she a member of the Key Club, but a member with Distinction, logging in over 20 hours annually as a volunteer. She is VP of The National Honor Society and a Student Council member. Chosen for the Senior Leadership Program, Haley was one of 30 selected, out of 75 applicants. The Senior Leadership Program students go into the freshmen classes and talk to the students about getting involved and the importance of trust, kindness and communication. Does this make a difference to a freshman student? Yes, Haley heard from a freshman who said it made all the difference in the world to have a senior there and ready to help out and solve problems.
The Leadership students also travel to Shop-Rite and set up tables to tell elementary students about good nutrition and how to create a personal nutrition plan. When Haley isn’t in class (in addition to her regular classes she is taking AP Computer Science, AP BC Calculus, AP Literature and Composition and AP Language and Composition) she volunteers at Second Home in Passaic. There she works with the senior citizens and helps with clerical duties in four-hour intervals. She enjoys hearing the seniors’ stories of when they were young and likes helping them to feel cheerful and optimistic.
Haley said the SAT Prep classes were very helpful and she feels she did better on the test because of them. Her AP Statistics class broadened her horizons and helped her realize a career path that she wouldn’t have discovered had she not taken the class. She has done well enough in her Junior AP classes to earn college credits and hopes to do the same this year. She has been accepted to Rutgers and Temple and is wait-listed for Northeastern. She also applied to NYU, Stevens Tech., Drexel, Lafayette, and Cornell. Haley has an older sister in college who also benefitted from the SAT Prep and AP Test programs. Her Dad is a recruitment manager and Mom is an RN.
Chloe Ratte ’19
Chloe has been accepted at Cornell, Rochester Institute of Technology, Wellesley, and Lehigh, in the specialized IDEAS program. She is wait-listed at Tufts, Northeastern and Swarthmore.
Chloe Ratte is an exceptional young woman full of talent and drive. In school, she is a member of the National Honor Society, an Italian-speaking member of the World Language Honor Society, the vice president of the BHS Book Club and is taking AP Comparative Government, AP BC Calculus, AP English Literature and Composition and AP Statistics in addition to her regular course load. Outside of school, she is mastering the piano with daily practice and annual recitals, is involved in her church and is working as a front desk assistant at a dentist office in Montclair. She enjoys the challenge of mastering the piano, the instrument that her grandfather played for 70 years. As an active member of the Union Congregational Church of Montclair since age 5, she currently serves as the Youth Representative to the church council, a singer in the youth choir, and an enthusiastic participant of the youth group. Her job at the dentist office involved turning over the patient rooms, cleaning the tools, filing and pulling files for the next day’s appointments and helping at the front desk, all of which she does with efficiency and a smile.
Creative writing has been a part of her life since elementary school and she has participated in weekly writer’s workshops since the 8th grade. This summer she plans to intern a three-week writer’s workshop hosted by the same organization for approximately seven hours each day. A budding artist, Chloe also carries a drawing tablet for her many renderings and illustrations.
It was during her sophomore year Introduction to Java class that Chloe discovered a new discipline…computer coding. Seeking to learn more, she attended a seven-week coding intensive with Girls Who Code at Adobe in New York City. She and her team produced a website focused on nutrition, and Chloe was involved in setting up the front end. The Adobe classes found her wishing other girls would have the opportunity to explore the world of coding. And so, with Oakview Elementary School Principal Mary DiTrani’s help, she set up a coding club for fifth-grade girls. The club began in October with Chloe and a friend serving as the instructors. They used information from a website called “Scratch” and the girls worked on the Chromebooks that each student had been given by the district. The club was so popular they plan on continuing it next year.
For a career she’d like to pursue the computer scientist path, with concentrations in software engineering and video game design to employ her creative and coding skills. She plans to be always writing and drawing, and hopes one day to author a novel or a graphic novel.
Chloe has been accepted at Cornell, Rochester Institute of Technology, Wellesley, and Lehigh, in the specialized IDEAS program. She is wait-listed at Tufts, Northeastern and Swarthmore. She sets a wonderful example for her brother who is a seventh grade Bloomfield Middle School student and her parents, both therapists, are very proud of her accomplishments.
Joe Bumpus ’18
Joe was accepted at the University of Rochester where he will major in mechanical engineering and minor in audio engineering and plans to run track. Joe was drawn to the university’s Eastman School of Music since he has played the alto sax in the school band since the 5th grade.
AP Experience
Joe has also taken 8 AP classes. “I took the AP courses not only for college but to challenge myself,” said Joe. “Earning college credit and a higher GPA for applications is certainly fantastic, but feeling more challenged in the classroom motivates me to continuously work hard.
“I can also definitely say there is no way we could have paid for all of the tests associated with the AP classes,” said Joe. “These classes made school more enjoyable and made my dream of college possible. If I hadn’t taken the AP classes, my college applications would not have been so strong. But the most important result for me was a newfound love of the sciences. Up until the 11th grade, science was my least favorite subject. This was immediately followed by history, which actually ended up enjoyable because of my teachers. When I took AP Physics with Dr. Doyle, I became extremely interested and would now consider physics as a possible future career,” said Joe.
“In all likelihood, without help from the BEF, I would have had to budget my money and decide which AP courses I thought were the most important,” said Joe. “However, if I had done this, I may have never experienced the classes that I now know sparked new passions and motivated me day in and day out.”
Advice to fellow students
“To future upper classmen, I would say if you are seriously considering AP classes, then in all likelihood you have the self motivation to make it through the class. Push yourself and stay disciplined and you will succeed. Also, the teachers I’ve had along the way were the best part. All the teachers I’ve had here are great, and the AP teachers’ passion is a cut above and makes it worth it,” said Joe.
Additional interests
In addition to Joe’s academic and music resume at Bloomfield High School, he is captain of both the track and football teams. Joe was chosen as a finalist in the NY Giants Heart of a Lion competition. Every high school in NJ, NY and CT named a player for consideration. This initiative is sponsored by NY Giants, USA Football and The Hospital for Special Surgery.
Joe has an older brother who attends Bloomfield College majoring in English and animation. His Mom works at Our Lady of the Presentation Parish, and is a PhD candidate at Felician College. His Dad, according to Joe, did not finish college.
Daven Howard ’18
Daven was accepted Early Action to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He plans to major in math and science and pursue a career in nuclear science.
As our high school students compete for college acceptance, one of the things that makes them stand out to college admissions staff is taking Advanced Placement (AP) courses during their high school years. In addition to creating a strong academic resume, AP classes can be applied towards college credit and therefore give students a head start on their college career. However, due to the cost of taking the AP final exam, many of our students either can’t afford to enroll in AP courses, or can only afford one. The other piece to a strong college application is high SAT scores. For the past fours years, the BEF has funded SAT prep courses for all high school students. Scores have risen appreciably due to this effort.
The Bloomfield Education Foundation recognized these needs and initiated a program to diminish these financial obstacles to academic achievement by covering the cost of AP course exam final exams and SAT Prep courses. Here are the stories of just three of our students where this initiative had a huge impact.
Daven was accepted Early Action to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He plans to major in math and science and pursue a career in nuclear science.
AP Experience
Daven has taken a total of 8 AP classes. “I feel the AP classes helped make my college applications stronger. Although I had done well in school up until that point, I wanted the challenge. My friends pushed me in a good way, and I knew colleges look at AP classes. This is a good environment for me to be with people with similar goals and puts me in with students who have a college mentality. There is friendly competition that I enjoy and the AP teachers are some of the best.”
“Sophomore year I took US History 1 and 2; junior year I took English, Physics; and Calculus BC. I took 4 AP tests by the end of my junior year. I got 5s in Physics and Calculus 4s in English History. This year I am taking English, Chemistry, Computer Science and Statistics. AP tests with scores of 3 or higher often translate into college credits, so that will help me save on tuition costs as well.”
“Not having to pay for the AP tests has been great,” said Daven. “Having taken eight in total, it gets expensive. If the BEF had not been there to help me, I would have wanted to take these classes but would have taken less because the cost is prohibitive.”
Advice to fellow students
“For students coming up the ranks, I would definitely say heavily consider taking AP classes. Think about your strengths and if you think you are up for the challenge then do it.”
Additional Interests
Rounding out his high school resume, Daven runs cross-country and plays the cello in the orchestra. He has played the cello since 5th grade and plans on taking it with him to MIT.
Daven’s Mom is a preschool teacher and his Dad works for Port Authority as a police officer. He also has a younger sister in high school for whom he is “trying to be a good role model.”
Eventually, Daven’s career goal is to work for the government. “I feel like in a government environment, you are working with the latest technology and you can serve your country at the same time. I am leaning toward energy right now.”
Tulsi Patel ’18
Tulsi received an $18,000 scholarship to attend the University of New Haven where she will major in political science. She attributes her success to the BEF-sponsored SAT prep classes and resulting 1260 SAT score.
AP experience
Tulsi took 6 AP classes. “To be able to take as many AP classes as I could handle, knowing the exams were paid for by the BEF, gave me the experience to see what I will be doing for the next 4 years,” said Tulsi. “The AP classes helped me to realize that I want to explore and gain a deeper understanding of our government. I want to continue to pursue a master’s degree in political science and then attend law school and become an attorney.”
“The AP classes gave me a new perspective on learning. They opened my eyes and I found my passion. I learned so much and got a real sense for what college will be like. This year I took AP Comprehensive and Government, Statistics and English. My junior year I took AP Physics and US History 2. Sophomore year I took US History 1.”
“In addition, I greatly benefited from the BEF-sponsored SAT prep classes,” said Tulsi.. “These complimentary classes are non- existent in many of my friend’s schools. I could take a placement test in a comfortable, familiar environment. I felt safe and it was a good environment for doing well.”
“Without the help from the BEF, I would not be able to take every AP class or test,” said Tulsi. “My family could not afford to do that. I also could not have taken the SAT multiple times. I felt prepared each time I took it.”
“The BEF made my experience so much better and much easier than some of my friends in other schools,” continued Tulsi. “I hear from my friends how they don’t have this support and I am proud to talk about our school and the BEF support.
Advice to fellow students
“To students making a decision to take an AP class, I would say that AP seems scary at first but, try it. It changes how you learn. Take the SAT prep classes, as they will help to raise your SAT scores. The teachers here know we have other interests in addition to the academics. They work will with you,” said Tulsi.
Additional interests
Tulsi plays the violin and plans to continue this music interest in college. She has a younger brother who is a sophomore at BHS. Her parents grew up in India where her mother finished high school.
