School News

Homestead High School is pleased to announce that senior Ethan Wang has been named one of 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. Owned and produced by the Society for Science and sponsored by Regeneron, the Science Talent Search focuses on identifying, inspiring, and engaging the nation’s most promising young scientists who are creating the ideas that could solve society’s most urgent challenges.

This year’s Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,804 applications received from 603 high schools across 46 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and eight other countries. Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking, and promise as scientists as demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays, and recommendation. The 300 scholars hail from 185 American and international high schools in 37 states, China, Switzerland, and Singapore, including three homeschools.

Wang’s project is entitled: Efficient Cauchy Distribution-Based Quantum State Preparation by Using the Comparison Algorithm.

“If we look at what we have today, computers are essential to our entire modern life, and quantum computers are the next step forward,” Wang said about his project. “If we develop those, they are going to replace the whole purpose of supercomputers. So, if I could develop that or help develop that, I can be a part of something much bigger than myself and change society, and that’s really cool.”

Wang will receive $2,000, and Homestead will also receive $2,000 to use toward STEM-related activities. Wang could also be named as one of 40 Finalists, who each receive $25,000 and participate in the final competition in March. The top prize for the most promising emerging STEM leader in the United States is $250,000. The top 40 finalists will be announced on Thursday, January 20. In total, more than $3 million in awards will be distributed throughout the Regeneron Science Talent Search, which includes the awards to finalists as well as the $2,000 provided to each of the top 300 scholars and their schools.

“On behalf of Homestead High School, we are so proud of Ethan for his efforts in receiving this award,” said Homestead High School Principal Eric Ebert. “Without a doubt, his talents are noticed by all at Homestead as he helps drive the level of learning up in each of his classes."

To learn more about the Society for Science, visit: www.societyforscience.org

Beginning Wednesday, Dec. 23rd, the MTSD's COVID-19 testing location will have reduced hours for the holiday break. The site will be open on Dec. 23rd from 8 a.m.- noon, and on Dec 27 & 28th from 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. It will re-open for regular hours from 8:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Monday, January 3rd. For more information or to register for a test, visit: https://www.mtsd.k12.wi.us/covid-testing

This school year, the Mequon-Thiensville School District has implemented layered COVID-19 mitigation strategies approved by the MTSD Board of Education in August 2021. The MTSD COVID-19 Mitigation Levels are based on the level of community transmission (burden) in Ozaukee County provided by the Washington Ozaukee Public Health Department (WOPHD) on its public-facing COVID-19 dashboard. MTSD uses this information, along with our internal positive case data, as a guide in determining whether the district should undergo a shift in mitigation strategies as outlined by our COVID-19 Mitigation Levels chart. 

Internally, the District is managing the highest number of positive cases across our school buildings that we have seen since the start of the school year. Additionally, on the evening of Tuesday, December 14, 2021, the WOPHD dashboard indicated that the level of community transmission has reached 419.2. This means that beginning on Thursday, December 16, face coverings are required indoors for all individuals in the school environment regardless of vaccination status or grade level.

As a reminder, per updated guidance provided by the WOPHD, quarantine is not required for students who are identified as close contact to a positive case of COVID-19 when both students are wearing a face covering. Close contacts will continue to be documented and communications will be sent. In order to drop back down to the HIGH-risk level and optional face-covering requirements in Grades 7-12, the Ozaukee County burden level would need to register below 350 for 14 consecutive calendar days. Appropriate communication will be shared accordingly as that date is tracked.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this shift in mitigation level, please contact your building principal directly for support. We are grateful for your cooperation and understanding as we continue navigating the ongoing pandemic, together.

Homestead High School is pleased to announce that junior Abigail Horwitz has been selected as one of two students from the state of Wisconsin to represent the state as a delegate to the United States Senate Youth Program. The program has shifted to an online format from an in-person event in Washington D.C. due to the ongoing pandemic and instead will take place virtually from March 6-9, 2022.

Horwitz has always had a lifelong love of history, but her interest in government was piqued in middle school when she became fascinated by the structure of politics in our country, and how much of an impact government has on the lives of its citizens. As part of the program, Horwitz will get firsthand experience of the inner workings of our government, in addition to a $10,000 college scholarship for undergraduate studies.

To be considered as a candidate for the Senate Youth program, a student has to first be nominated by his or her school. In Wisconsin, one student per high school is allowed to apply. In October 2021, Horwitz worked with Principal Eric Ebert to engage in the process of submitting her application which included a resume, letter of recommendation from Homestead, and several essays of varying length. One specific requirement is that applicants need to have held an elected position in one’s school or community, which is necessary to apply nationally. From there, ten top applicants from each state are selected for an interview.

“Abigail has an awesome opportunity ahead of her,” said Homestead Principal Eric Ebert. “She is more than well-prepared, given her impressive academic achievement and civic involvement so far. I am excited to see what she gains from this experience and the ways in which the program will more deeply enforce her passion for public service.”
Though Horwitz is currently a mid-year junior, she has already taken several of the AP social studies courses offered at Homestead High School.

“Overall, Homestead has done a wonderful job preparing me for this opportunity,” said Horwitz. “My freshman year, I took AP Human Geography, which gave me a solid introduction to the workings of American politics on a national level. Last year, I got to take AP U.S. History, which has been one of my favorite classes so far. I do not think I would have applied to this program if I had not taken that class, because it significantly furthered my interest in politics. In addition, I am currently taking AP US Government and Politics, which is perfect timing because I will be completing the course just as the program begins.”

In addition to her impressive academic repertoire, Horwitz plays varsity tennis, is a co-founder and current president of Homestead’s Environmental Club, is the current president of Ayuda (a service-based club at Homestead), a vice president for UNICEF club, and also serves as Student Council Treasurer. When asked what she hopes to take away from the experience, Horwitz said, “I am hoping to gain better knowledge of the inner workings of American government, and learn directly from the senators who lead it. I think it would be really interesting to learn about the daily life on Capitol Hill and try to gain an understanding of how politicians lead their lives. I also cannot wait to build connections with other student leaders across the country and share our experiences.”

Horwitz’s postsecondary plans include attending college on the east coast and studying genetic engineering and philosophy. She is also considering law school, preferably in Boston, where she can work on a variety of political campaigns.

Horwitz is the second Homestead High School student to be selected for the United States Senate Youth Program in the last three years. Isabel Klemmer (Class of ‘20) was nominated for and participated in the program during the 2019-2020 school year.

To learn more about the United States Senate Youth Program, please visit: https://ussenateyouth.org/

Homestead High School (HHS) is proud to announce that junior Isaac Bloomgarden earned a perfect score on his college-level Advanced Placement (AP) Computer Science A Exam in spring 2021. 

Bloomgarden not only received the top score of 5, but was also one of only 356 students in the world to earn every point possible on the AP Computer Science A Exam, receiving the maximum score on each portion of the exam.

"Isaac's achievement is a well-deserved honor for the amount of work he has put into his programming,” said Mr. Palzewicz, computer science teacher. “He is constantly trying to improve and is always open to new, increasingly difficult challenges. As proud as I am of his latest achievement, I am even more proud of the person he has grown to be over the last few years here at Homestead."

Homestead High School currently offers 25 AP courses in a variety of subjects. Students who succeed in AP are not only more likely to succeed in college, but have the chance to save a significant amount of time and money by earning college credit or placement. 

"Isaac's perfect score is quite impressive," said current Homestead computer science department chair, Ms. Kathy Connelly. “As a department, we saw Isaac's passion for learning and curiosity in the CS field during his work with Ms. Manal Roumani in Honor's Advanced Programming (Java) and with Mr. Palzewicz in AP Computer Science Principles. Isaac is currently excelling in a Computer Science Independent study with Mr. Palzewicz. I'm so proud of Isaac’s achievement, and of our department's ability to support him in his coursework.”

Bloomgarden is involved in Math Club, DECA, and Computer Programming Club. In addition to the Independent Study course he is working on this trimester, he is also taking a course facilitated by MIT Opencourseware. “I definitely want to go into computer science as a major (ie. computer programming, application development, etc.) and likely applied or pure math as a dual major, as they have a lot of overlap.

Right now I'm looking at MIT as a dream school with Carnegie Mellon and Cal Tech as close seconds,” shared Bloomgarden.

Colleges and universities around the world receive AP scores for college credit, advanced placement, and/or consideration in the admission process. To learn more about AP, please visit exploreap.org.

Homestead High School (HHS) is excited to announce that junior Ilia Mikhailenko recently scored a perfect 36 on the ACT exam. The ACT is a national college entrance exam that tests in the areas of English, reading, math, and science. 

“We are thrilled for Ilia in achieving this incredible accomplishment,” said HHS Principal Eric Ebert. “He is a great student who consistently commits to doing his best in and out of the classroom. We are so proud of his contributions to the Homestead community.”

In addition to excelling in academic achievements, Ilia plays both volleyball and tennis for Homestead at the varsity level. Additionally, he is on the executive board for the Wisconsin Junior Classical League, a statewide student organization involved in the classics, and he is also a member of HOSA, a club for students interested in a career in health care. Ilia is interested in neuroscience and health care and plans to pursue a career in the medical field.

Nationally, three-tenths of one percent of students who take the ACT earn the top score. In 2020, fewer than 6,000 students from a group of over 1.67 million earned a composite score of 36. 

The National Merit Scholarship Competition (NMSC) recently announced the names of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 67th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Homestead High School is excited to announce that eight of our senior students have qualified as National Merit Semifinalists. Those students include: Alexander Cai, Adam Garsha, Sophia Ho, Siyu Li, Jacob Schmidman, Margaret Sehnert, Eric Wan, and Ethan Wang.

These academically talented seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of competition. Scholar designees are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments, and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

“The level of academic excellence demonstrated by this group of seniors is truly outstanding,” said Homestead Principal Eric Ebert. “We are so proud of their accomplishments not only as they start their final year of high school, but throughout their academic careers. By maintaining such a high level of dedication to their coursework and goals, we know these seniors will continue to do great things in college and in their chosen careers.”

High school juniors entered the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2020 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), which served as an initial screen of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists, representing less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors.

Students who qualify as Semifinalists based on their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT are the only program participants who have an opportunity to advance to the Finalist level and compete for National Merit Scholarships. From the approximately 16,000 Semifinalists, about 15,000 are expected to advance to Finalist level, and in February will be notified of this designation. All National Merit Scholarship winners will be selected from this group of Finalists. Finalists will be announced beginning in April 2022.

Find more information about the National Merit Scholarship Corporation at www.nationalmerit.org

The College Board, which administers the national PSAT and SAT assessments, recognizes academic excellence through its National Recognition Programs. We are proud to announce that Homestead High School senior Blair Martin has received the designation of National African American Recognition Program Scholar by the College Board. Students selected for this prestigious honor have excelled on their PSAT/NMSQT, PSAT 10, or AP Exams and in their classwork.

“We’re thrilled to learn that Blair earned this recognition. We are very proud of her for her outstanding achievements in the classroom and on College Board assessments. On top of that, Blair is as equally good a person as she is a student,” said Homestead Principal Eric Ebert.

Martin is one of 32,000 students from across the country to earn academic honors from the College Board’s National Recognition Programs. These National Recognition Programs grant underrepresented students with academic honors that can be included on college and scholarship applications and connect students with universities across the country, helping them stand out during the admissions process. Colleges and scholarship programs use these honors to identify students from underrepresented groups through College Board’s Student Search Service.

Martin is applying to several highly-selective universities and plans to major in journalism or English. During her high school career, she has participated in orchestra, forensics, publications, and the “Jack and Jill” community leadership program.

“Blair will be a phenomenal addition to any college campus,” said Kris Besler, Director of Counseling at Homestead High School, “We are all so proud of her, and know that she has great things in her future.”

Congratulations to all of the seniors that were honored this morning during Homestead High School's annual Awards Program! A video recording of the presentation can be viewed here.
 

Click here to view the presentation slideshow.

Click here to view the full list of scholarship recipients.