Senior Standouts

(Joshua Singer)

Meley Ghermay

Senior Meley Ghermay was volunteering at Georgetown Hospital last summer when she saw a woman and her baby having trouble finding directions in the surgical waiting room. The woman spoke Spanish and was not fluent in English, but Ghermay, who was preparing for AP Spanish, knew how to make sure she was directed to receive the proper care. This passion for service enabled senior Meley Ghermay to make history this year as she was accepted into 18 out of the 20 schools she applied to, breaking years-long streaks of WJ rejection from Harvard and Stanford in the process. Ghermay, who will be attending Harvard, has been the class of 2025 president since her sophomore year and is the president of six other clubs this year as well. Last summer, in addition to volunteering at Georgetown University Hospital, she interned at NIH’s NINDS prestigious high school program researching hypopituitarism, a condition her grandmother suffered from. Ghermay’s main advice to underclassmen is to find passions rather than stat-pad. “Don’t do things just because you think they’ll look good for college,” Ghermay said. “If you do things that you genuinely enjoy, it’ll come across. I feel like every single one of the activities I’ve done, I’ve genuinely enjoyed, and I’m glad that I did them.”
Courtesy Emily Ashman

Emily Ashman

Among the students of the Walter Johnson Music Department and WJ STAGE, Emily Ashman has been an integral part. Whether teaching the students of Pop Fly! choreography or leading the a cappella group Vanilla, or acting her heart out in WJ STAGE musicals, music and performing have always been a part of Emily’s high school experience. Emily got her start in the music scene at WJ her freshman year, but was also drawn to WJ Music through her brother and former WJ student, Matthew Ashman, a known member of WJ choir, and the a cappella group Red Velvet. “I already knew I was going to join, but seeing his involvement and enjoyment was just more of a reason to [join],” Ashman said. Being in choir for all four years has made Ashman love taking the same classes over again even more. “Seeing and making connections with underclassmen has been rewarding. Watching traditions being passed on to people passionate about the same things is incredible.” Through her participation in WJ STAGE, Ashman has cemented herself as both a role model but also the source of a new take on the process of putting together WJ productions, having blocked and choreographed parts of WJ’s production of Sweeney Todd most recently. “Bringing in my experience and new perspective to the things I’m involved in has been one of my biggest impacts, and being able to bond with people,” Ashman said. Though the WJ Choir and WJ STAGE community have constantly changed over the years, both places still feel the same to Ashman. “People graduate, but the community and environment have stayed the same, supportive place I came to four years ago.”
Courtesy Mwape Sokoni

Mwape Sokoni

While you might not know her personally, chances are you’ve seen Mwape Sokoni. You might have seen her dancing front and center at one of STEP team’s performances, participating in (and organizing) one of WJ’s cultural assemblies, or playing alongside the other members of the Jazz Ensemble. Mwape was new to Bethesda when she first walked through the double green doors of WJ as a freshman, but that hasn’t stopped her from becoming a passionate member and leader of many of WJ’s communities. She currently leads the Black Student Union, WJ STEP team and Film club. “I’m very proud of how some of those clubs have grown in the years since I’ve joined,” Sokoni said. “In STEP, we went from having about four members to having around 14 or 15, and I’m really proud about the community that we built.” Sokoni credited her growth as a leader and a person to being willing to push herself to go beyond her comfort zone and try new things. “My best advice, as cliche as it sounds, would be to recognize what your comfort zone is and start getting comfortable with stepping out of it,” Sokoni said. “You’re really not going to go too far staying in your comfort zone, because you’ll always just stay where you are.”
Courtesy Asher Coelho

Asher Coelho

Asher Coelho stands out in WJ’s senior class as not only an outgoing and hardworking student but also as an extremely talented digital artist. In addition to performing well in standard classes, he attended a magnet art program at Albert Einstein High School, where he solidified his passion for art. “For my final senior project there, I directed, wrote, and animated an entire short film,” Coelho said. “I think I’m more proud of that short film than anything else.” Coelho will be attending the University of Southern California’s animation program in its School of Cinematic Arts, the #1 film school in the world. At WJ, he found joy in working with and helping friends and classmates, as well as connecting with teachers. “I think coming into school with a good attitude rubs off on people,” Coelho said. “They see eagerness and energy, and take it to heart.” His obsession with and dedication to animation are truly inspiring, as he admiringly values the process of collaboration and artistic talent that goes into every film. “My goal is to one day work on an animated feature like the ones that inspire me,” Coelho said. “To me, animation is life, it’s cinema and I cannot wait to get started.”
(Josh Hananel)

G Fradet

Seamlessly flowing between different clubs, friend groups and academics, there’s one distinct person who seems to both connect to others easily while bringing others closer together. Whether you hear throughout the hallways “What’s up my G?!” or “Hey it’s G!”, you’re bound to have heard of Guillaume “G” Fradet. Born in Misawa, Japan, G has lived all over until finding his place here at WJ, moving here his freshman year. “I’m most proud of the clubs I've grown, especially robotics and culinary,” Fradet said. “They started with little to nothing, but grew to large clubs where students who likely wouldn’t have met each other became close friends.” G is most well known for his ability to create spaces where social connections are easy, as well as make those spaces flourish with his lighthearted and kind personality. “The way I can talk to so many different groups of people and create spaces where others can meet each other is my biggest impact,” Fradet said. G will be attending the University of Pennsylvania next year, continuing his lifestyle of creating a web of connections with anyone lucky enough to be near him. “Don’t be scared to get involved and try new things,” Fradet said. “You have to get out there and meet new people.”
(Rhea Noumair)

Noah Mills

Noah Mills has always had a passion for music which began when hearing it. “When I listened to it, I knew I wanted to do that and being able to make something that sounds good that people would want to listen to sparked my passion,” Mills said. He has done more with his fondness for music than most. After being turned away from Jazz Band freshman year, Mills pushed himself to be better working tirelessly so he would eventually make it. This has led him to continuously pursue his passion for music and wanting to grow as a musician which allowed him to finally succeed his senior year. Although he is also academically driven, his musical accomplishments have made him stand out throughout the years. He not only plays the drums in Drumline, which performs at games and pep rallies, but has also been in the classic pit orchestra, jazz band and is a member of an active small band, Tiny Room, featuring Macie Redmond, Thomas Scanlon, Daxxon Duncan and Meyer Gordon. They have performed at BabyCat Brewery and are planning upcoming gigs in D.C. The dedication he has towards improvement has not only made him a better musician but also pushed him to inspire others who share that same passion. He has given tools and made himself available to those in need of help by showing them success is a possibility. “I once gave my drum set to a kid I want to see make a Jazz Band and I hope that I have made people want to be better,” Mills said. He plans on continuing to pursue music throughout college and hopes to work in the industry.
Courtesy Maddie Simmons

Maddie Simmons

Over the past four years, Madeleine Simmons has left her mark on the WJ athletic department in many remarkable ways. She has contributed to numerous WJ state championship titles, beginning with girls’ cross country in her freshman year and ending with girls’ swim and dive in her senior year. Simmons has also won several individual and relay state titles during her time on the swim team. While sticking with both swimming and running throughout high school was challenging at times, Simmons is glad she decided to see them both through, emphasizing how relationships that she found on both teams will always be important to her, even after graduation. As for next year, Simmons will attend and swim at Northwestern University. “I can’t pick one best WJ memory, but every state championship we ever competed in felt so special. Even the ones we didn’t win were really inspiring for me, and I feel so lucky to have gotten the chance to do such cool things with so many amazing girls over the past four years,” Simmons said.
Courtesy Jack Potash

Jack Potash

As his senior year ends, Jack Potash’s influence and impact in the athletics department will live on. He has stood out amongst the crowd of amazing athletes as he competed in three different sports for WJ, football, hockey, and lacrosse, playing every season of the school year. “I am proud of having the opportunity to start on all three sports teams I played on and being a contributing player,” Potash said. As he heads toward college to continue his academics at Ohio State, Jack carries the lessons he’s learned over the years and wants to share with those in years below him. “My biggest impact on WJ is contributing to the three sports and serving as a role model for younger student athletes. The advice I would give is no matter what your grades are or how well you are playing, it can be stressful, but you’re going to make it through and everything will be okay,” Potash said. He found joy in the goals he succeeded in reaching, paying off for his hard work. “My fondest memory of WJ is winning the hockey state championship and having the first assist of the game,” Potash said.

Stories Using This Infobox

Senior Standouts

The Pitch

The Pitch

The Pitch

The Pitch