Tabb High School - Class of 2025

Joshua Namkoong

1. GPA: 4.9387
2. High School Extracurricular activities: KidWind Team Captain, Student Council Association, Triple Helix Robotics Team member, NASA Research Mentorship, Independent research and Science Fair, Virginia Aerospace Science and Technology Scholar
3. Community Involvement: York County Youth Commission, YStreet Leadership Team Member
4. College attending: Princeton University
5. Studying/Major: Aerospace Engineering
6. Tell us about a person or experience that has had a significant impact in your life? Malini Dharni and I have been friends since freshman year, and we first bonded over the stress of participating in science fair. Since then, she's become one of my closest friends and has always been there for me whether I'm dealing with school stress, friend drama, or anything else.
7. If you could give one piece of advice to rising high school students, what would it be? Don't be afraid to ask. Ask for extra credit, ask your friends to hang out, ask that person to homecoming. The worst thing that can happen is they say no.
8. What's one class you wish had been offered or you had been able to take in high school? I wish there was a planetary science or astronomy class offered as a physical science option. I didn't realize I wanted to pursue space science until my NASA research mentorship during junior year. A greater variety of elective courses would give students the opportunity to explore different fields and discover their passions early on.
9. What school tradition or experience will you miss the most? The experience of being on student council has been my favorite so far in high school. Planning events for the class, creating fun videos and media for the class page, and helping behind the scenes during pep rallies have all become some of my favorite high school memories. But the best part of being on SCA has been the lifelong friendships I've made working with other members and sponsors.
10. What is your most memorable experience or highlight from your high school years? One of my favorite memories is traveling to Minnesota and Colorado for KidWind Nationals and Worlds. Traveling with my team, staying up late in hotel lobbies preparing for the competition, meeting people from all over the world, and exploring new states together made it an unforgettable experience. Winning big awards definitely made it even more fun and totally worth it.

Malini Dharni

1. GPA: 4.8571
2. High School Extracurricular activities: High School Research Intern at Hampton University and Jefferson Lab; Founder and President of Tabb High School's Operation Smile Chapter; Secretary General of Tabb High School's Model UN Delegation; President of Medical Club; Co-Captain of Tabb High School's Girls Varsity Tennis Team
3. Community Involvement: York County Youth Commissioner; Junior Volunteer and Student Ambassador at Riverside Regional Medical Center; Operation Smile Volunteer
4. College attending: University of Virginia
5. Studying/Major: Biomedical Engineering
6. Tell us about a person or experience that has had a significant impact in your life? Joshua Namkoong has been a close friend of mine since Freshmen Year. From going out to lunch before Gov. School, staying up for late-night study sessions, and traveling to new cities together, I can't imagine going through high school without him.
7. If you could give one piece of advice to rising high school students, what would it be? Don't forget to prioritize yourself. Between juggling school, athletic commitments, service projects, work, and social events, high school can be a lot. Taking time off for yourself, whether it be your physical/mental health, picking up a new hobby, working towards a goal, or just learning how to be more comfortable with yourself can go a long way in making your high school experience memorable.
8. What was your favorite class you've taken in high school and why? I really enjoyed taking APUSH my junior year. Mrs. Terndrup, my APUSH teacher, always had the most interesting stories about different historical figures to share, which sparked funny and intense discussions amongst my classmates.
9. What school tradition or experience will you miss the most? I will miss the pep rallies and Homecoming traditions the most. Dressing up with my friends for spirit week and cheering for my class during the pep rallies were always things I looked forward to each school year.
10. What is your most memorable experience or highlight from your high school years? A standout experience from my time at Tabb has been the long bus rides I took with my tennis team for our away matches. The feeling of screaming Black Eyed Peas and Pitbull while sharing snacks and playing games with my teammates is something I will never forget.