By Colin McEwen
Record-Courier staff writer
Ravenna High School has a trio of students at the top of the class this year, and all three have different interests and different plans for the future.
As they prepare their caps and gowns for graduation, they are all preparing for life in college with fond memories of high school behind them.
Matthew Hronek, Brandon Pesicek and Mischa Tirpak are this year's valedictorians at Ravenna High School, each finishing with a perfect 4.0 grade-point average.
"All of the stressful times around exams and staying up late to study really does pay off," said Hronek, who plans to study computer and information science at Ohio State University this fall. "I will miss the close interaction with teachers. I've heard at college, you really don't get to know the teachers well."
He hopes to use that education to one day work for the FBI in the computer crimes division.
"I like computers," he said. "I think it would be nice to put my computer skills to good use and leave my mark on the world."
Hronek's extracurricular activities at the high school included serving as presidents of both the Key Club and Student Council and as a member of the Ravenna Youth Council.
Brandon Pesicek, a football standout at quarterback for the high school team, plans to attend Case Western Reserve University where he will study technical engineering. He also is participating in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps through Kent State University, graduating from college as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force.
In addition to his football career, he also was the vice president of his senior class and the treasurer of the National Honor Society.
"I will miss being involved with everything here," Pesicek said. "I really felt like I was a part of a community here."
Once finished with college, he hopes to be involved in the Air Force aerospace program.
"I'm excited," he said. "Being able to go to college and specialize in what I want to do for the rest of my life is definitely exciting."
Mischa Tirpak plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh where she will major in pre-pharmacy. She said she chose Pitt instead of Ohio State University, in part, because it is closer to home.
Tirpak said she worked hard to become a co-valedictorian, spending hours studying, taking detailed notes and never missing a homework assignment. She found the time to participate in after-school activities such as National Honor Society, Leadership Club and 4-H.
"I didn't stop doing homework, and still had a life," she joked.
She said attending Ravenna High School helped her overcome her shyness.
"I came out of my shell a lot," Tirpak said. "I was very shy when I started school. I made a lot of friends."
She said she is most excited to become more independent after graduation.
"In college, I'm looking forward to picking my own classes," she said. "I look forward to doing what I want."
As the soon-to-be graduates lined up for the senior edition of the school's newspaper, Tirpak and Pesicek stood next to each other and smiled for the photographer taking the photo for the "Cutest Couple" distinction.
High school guidance counselor Lisa Kerin said she is proud of all three of this year's valedictorians.
"These are great kids," she said. "They're all very involved with the school. They all have different interests, but they are very committed to them."