Students in the News

North Royalton High School senior Naisha Chopra has been named the winner of the “Community Standout” category in the 2024 cleveland.com High School Standouts Awards.

Naisha Chopra

The impact Chopra is makingthrough her Share a Smile organization earned her the award.

Chopra’s Share a Smile Initiative is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides birthday boxes and organizes parties for low-income families.

“We aim to spread the joy of celebration to low-income children and families who would not have been able to celebrate otherwise,” said Chopra. “From homeless shelters to youth centers, our events reach countless families, regardless of racial or economic status.”

The organization’s primary goal is promoting economic equality by ensuring every child feels special on their birthday, regardless of their family’s financial situation. Through in-person celebrations and “party-in-a-box” kits, Share a Smile volunteers meticulously plan events, prepare decorations, arrange activities, and provide gifts and treats to make each child’s day truly memorable.

Chopra’s inspiration stemmed from personal experience when her uncle lost his job during the pandemic, and her family sent a birthday kit to bring joy to her cousins. “With that small effort, a little joy was brought into their family. This inspired me to create Share a Smile – and share that joy in my community with other families facing hardship,” she explained.

Beyond her remarkable nonprofit work, Chopra excels in various school clubs, including Mock Trial/Debate, Model UN, Student Council, Spanish Club, and Key Club. She also interns at organizations like Red Equity and Goodwin & Bryan LLP and volunteers with Youth Challenge, Girls on the Run, Safety Town, Cleveland Clinic, and Girls with Impact.

Chopra’s dedication to uplifting her community has earned her recognition from organizations like T-mobile, Ashoka, Hershey’s Foundation, The Awesome Foundation, and Youth Service America. As she prepares for college, where she plans to study business or education, her commitment to creating joyful moments for underprivileged children continues to inspire those around her.

On June 9, all of Northeast Ohio’s High School Standouts recipients, including Chopra, was honored in a special section published in The Plain Dealer and on cleveland.com, highlighting their exceptional achievements. Each winner received an award package with a certificate and recognition.

Fifteen high-achieving students from North Royalton High School were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center on April 17. The NTHS recognizes outstanding career-technical students who excel in academics, leadership, service, and character.The newly inducted members from North Royalton are: Oleksandr Antoniv (Digital Design), Thomas Armstrong (Construction Trades), Penelope Bly (Sports Medicine Exercise Science), Jack Buchholz (Electrical Systems), Joseph Calarco (Construction Trades), Glendalyse Fannin (Programming & Software), Mackenzie Ferber (Health Careers), Spencer Mills (Media Arts), Julia Mokriy (Health Careers), Rita Nakhle (Dental Assisting), Lilian Osborne (Construction Trades), Massimo Porter (Construction Trades), Zach Shroka (Fire & EMS Academy), John Steel (Programming & Software Development), and Blake Valley (Engineering Technology).

Bogdan Gura, a senior at North Royalton High School and student in the Programming and Software Development program at Cuyahoga Valley Career Center, will compete in the Business Professionals of America national competition in May. 

He will be working alongside Kaden Emrich, a senior at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School.

The duo created an educational website, inspired by Khan Academy, to empower teachers in establishing classes with the courses they developed. The system monitors students’ grades as they progress through lessons in these classes. The platform prioritizes security, requiring teachers and students to create accounts to secure access, utilizing their login credentials to re-enter the system.  Throughout the first semester, they dedicated significant effort to project, delving into back-end programming, particularly mastering PHP, to effectively store and retrieve data on a server–an undertaking that goes beyond the standard curriculum.  

The competition, which is in web application, will take place virtually.  At the state competition this past March, Gura and Emrich qualified for nationals and are in the top 10 of all students in the United States. 

North Royalton High School junior Eshaan Satyawada has been recognized for his exceptional mastery of the French language and culture at the 48th edition of the Maison Française de Cleveland annual contest.

Satyawada was awarded the first prize of $600 for his outstanding oral presentation and interview.

The rigorous competition invites advanced French students from schools across the region to present on an aspect of French culture that resonates with them and relates to their future professional plans. Following each presentation, a panel of judges conducts interviews to evaluate the candidates’ range and depth of proficiency in the French language.

In his winning presentation, Satyawada discussed his family’s visit to Paris during the summer of 2023, demonstrating his deep appreciation for French culture and his remarkable language skills.

“Félicitations au lauréat du Concours!” said Richard Emch, North Royalton High School French teacher. “Eshaan’s achievement is a testament to his dedication and hard work in mastering the French language and culture.”

Satyawada and Emch attended the Awards Brunch hosted by the Maison Française de Cleveland on April 28 at The Cleveland Skating Club in Shaker Heights. During the event, Satyawada was presented with his prize and certificate, and all winners had the opportunity to share their future plans in French.

“We are delighted to honor Eshaan and our other talented student winners,” said Dr. Martha Pereszlenyi-Pinter, Contest Coordinator for the Maison Française de Cleveland. “This competition showcases the exceptional language skills and cultural appreciation of our region’s young scholars.”

“Eshaan is an impressive young man,” said Principal Sean Osborne, North Royalton High School.  “He is an outstanding student who consistently pushes the boundaries of excellence, and we have no doubt that this accomplishment will propel him towards an even brighter future.” ∞