Round Rock
High School
2023
Top 10
As graduates across Round Rock ISD prepare to begin the next chapter of their lives, we take a moment to recognize the Top 10 students from each campus. The Top 10 students were asked to answer a series of questions about their journey through Round Rock ISD and their next steps.
Shruti Vykunta – Valedictorian
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Great Oaks Elementary, Cactus Ranch Elementary, Walsh Middle School, and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
The school trips I have had the opportunity to participate in have created some of my best memories. As a member of the orchestra, I was able to travel to and perform at THE Carnegie Hall in New York. I will never forget being chased by seagulls or memorizing the layout of LaGuardia Airport after being stranded there for nearly 24 hours. Whether I was making music with my closest friends or trying to find a source of water, so that we did not die of dehydration, I was able to form some of my core memories with my orchestra family.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
All my teachers have had a huge impact on my life. However, I have to thank Mr. McKinney and Mr. Smith, in particular, for being my most influential teachers. I could always count on Mr. McKinney’s door to be open for anything and everything. He would always stop me at the door and ask if I was doing okay, which never failed to make my day a little bit better. Whether I was complaining about a test or ranting about my personal life, Mr. McKinney was always there to listen. Mr. Smith taught me how to love a subject that I initially despised: English. He showed me that the world was so much more complex than it appeared, which opened up a whole new world of interests for me. Additionally, his stories and calmness always helped me start my day off on a positive note. Both Mr. Smith and Mr. McKinney were my rocks during the latter parts of my high school career.
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
In the fall, I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin where I will be double-majoring in Plan II Honors and biochemistry on the pre-med track.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
After college, I hope to attend medical school and eventually practice as a physician.
Kripa Philip – Salutatorian
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Cactus Ranch Elementary, Walsh Middle School and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
My best memories of Round Rock ISD are centered around the genuine friends I have made since the moment I joined the District. Whether it was playing tag together at recess, playing cards in the library, or singing at football games, I cherished every moment. I most remember our recent DECA trip to Dallas where my friends and I ran around the Hilton hotel, eagerly exploring each floor, giggling as if we were just little kids again. We celebrated together, cried together, and grew together- for that, I am truly grateful.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
Over the past four years in Round Rock ISD, I’ve had the privilege to be taught by amazing teachers including Ms. Lestik, Mrs. Lopez, Ms. Smith, Mr. Smith, Mr. Janssens, and Mr. Adams. Ms. Lestik and Mrs. Lopez have fostered my love for science and taken a genuine interest in my personal and academic endeavors. Ms. Smith has been one of my biggest supporters in the past year and has encouraged me to explore various healthcare careers. Mr. Smith and Mr. Janssens have both taught me the value in making mistakes, and Mr. Adams has been a consistent positive light amid the stressors of high school.
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin and studying neuroscience in the Polymathic Scholars Honors program.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
After college, I hope to pursue a career in healthcare.
Jocelyn Lee – No. 3
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Patsy Sommer Elementary, Walsh Middle School, Cedar Valley Middle School, and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
My favorite memory would be the grand opening night for the CO-OP. I recall bustling back and forth between the register and the main floor, attending to customers as they poured in. It felt so surreal to see what a once cluttered storage room had transformed into. All of the days spent coming to school early and staying late, troubleshooting, and making urgent phone calls felt worth it in that moment.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
“Thank you Ms. Jones for always being there to listen and for being such a fun & thoughtful person!”
“Thank you Sra. Goodman for being such a real & down-to-earth teacher—you never fail to make me laugh.”
“Thank you Ms. Smith for always making class so fun—I appreciate all that you do to help us do well.”
“Thank you Mr. Chaverria for giving me the opportunity to run the school store and for pushing me to be a stronger leader.”
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin to study business and pre-med.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
After college, I plan to go to medical school in order to eventually pursue a career in pediatrics. I hope to open my own pediatric clinic one day!
Prajith Velicheti – No. 4
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Spicewood Elementary School, Elsa England Elementary School, Walsh Middle School, Cedar Valley Middle School, and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
The experience I’ve enjoyed most at Round Rock ISD is teaching the Round Rock High School Math Team. I’m always excited to prepare a lesson before a Math Team meeting (my favorite one was preparing the lecture on ZFC and infinity!). It feels awesome to see people have a “Eureka!” moment of understanding after I explain a topic or a solution, and encouraging people with the message “learning math is for everyone” will be a lasting part of my identity.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
I’ve been lucky to have fantastic teachers all throughout my Round Rock ISD journey.
“Thanks to Mrs. Sanders, who has always encouraged my involvement in teaching the Math Team. Her continuing passion for the Round Rock High School Math Team is inspiring, and she has constantly provided me support and guidance as I was involved in teaching the Math Team, motivating me to major in math in the first place!”
“Thanks to Mr. Stoetzer for being an awesome AP Physics C teacher, making it the most enjoyable class that I’ve taken! He has always been extremely detailed in his walkthroughs, providing passionate and beneficial explanations.”
“Thanks to Mr. Mobley for guiding me on my journey as a musician and a person overall. For four years, being in the Round Rock High School band has been teaching me life lessons that extend beyond the marching field—and Mr. Mobley has been a key player in building that environment.”
“Thanks to Mr. Rolofson for sparking my now immense interest in history through his extremely well-structured AP US History course and insightful class discussions—after I took his class, US history has been a common topic in my conversations with friends.”
“Thanks to Mr. Janssens, whose hilarious puns, impromptu jokes, and clever Star Wars references kept me engaged and motivated throughout class. May the force be with you!”
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be studying mathematics at the University of Texas at Austin.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
I hope to do research in math and physics and eventually contribute to the community as a professor.
Sucharitha Gotham – No. 5
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Patsy Sommer Elementary, Walsh Middle School, Cedar Valley Middle School, and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
I have made unforgettable memories in Round Rock ISD. Some of my most memorable experiences come from 9th grade debate, where we’d hang out while preparing for competitions and stay up until 1 a.m. at tournaments. Playing in orchestra throughout high school was very rewarding as well; I remember when our class had to march in the 900 halls singing and clapping and the UIL competitions and events such as the Orchestra Games. However, I think my most cherished memories are the ones that seemed most insignificant: the jokes I’d laugh at with my friends, the late nights spent on school trips for DECA state and HOSA state, and the times in off period where we always thought we’d finish our work but never even started it. All of these experiences have shaped me into who I am, and I will carry them with me as I step into the future to encounter new people and make new memories.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
In Round Rock ISD, I have encountered many exceptional teachers who have uplifted me and helped me become the person I am today. Ms. Lestik instilled in me an everlasting passion for chemistry and taught me to persevere through her motivating words and enthusiastic demonstrations. Mr. Janssens made AP Statistics a class to remember with his humor and outstanding effort. I will always appreciate Mr. Smith’s patient explanations and his ability to make 18th century poetry seem fascinating, along with Ms. Elander’s invaluable life advice and significant encouragement. Lastly, I would like to thank Ms. Smith for her unconditional support and the way she taught me to believe in myself and my ability to overcome any challenge.
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin to study biochemistry.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
After college, I hope to attend medical school and pursue a career in obstetrics.
Ankhi Banerjee – No. 6
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Cactus Ranch Elementary School, Walsh Middle School (6th grade), and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
My favorite memories from Round Rock ISD are probably traveling for DECA conferences. Participating in DECA taught me a lot about communication, problem-solving, and leadership. From late night karaoke and conversations, visiting amusement parks and aquariums, great food, and amazing people, I’ve made tons of unforgettable memories!
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
Though every single one of my teachers have helped me grow, I’ve particularly enjoyed having Ms. Lestik, Ms. Cunningham, Ms. Sarlls, Mr. Howell, Ms. Shaffer, and Ms. Sanders because of their contagious enthusiasm, encouragement, and willingness to help us learn!
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be attending Rice University to major in CS and potentially Bioscience!
What do you hope to pursue after college?
I would love to pursue research at the intersection of genetics and technology but I’m still exploring!
Maggy Ma – No. 7
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Fern Bluff Elementary, Cedar Valley Middle School, and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
While it’s difficult to encapsulate the entirety of my unforgettable experience here at Round Rock, I will never once forget the memories I gained from DECA ICDC 2023 and Student Council TASC 2022. At ICDC, the wonderful people around me made the experience undoubtedly memorable, from the elaborate schemes and jokes only remotely funny to us, to our late night ramen extravaganzas and half asleep room checks. And, of course, I will always cherish the memories and laughter that I’ve shared with my Student Council Executive Officer team from participating in various leadership activities to being able to see the incredible impact we made together. So, although college is said to be the time to make lifelong friends, I know I’ve already made a few here, at Round Rock High School.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
There have been so many teachers at Round Rock ISD who have shaped me into the individual I am today, and I am so grateful for all of them, but I would have to say my two most influential teachers have been Ms. Renfroe and Ms. Lestik. Ms. Renfroe’s constant drive and ambition to always better and improve herself, Student Council, and Round Rock HS as a whole is incredibly inspiring, and I want to say thank you to her. Thank you for always pushing me to be the best version of myself and for teaching me the insightful life lessons that I will carry throughout the rest of my life. And to Ms. Lestik, thank you for always being so supportive and understanding of my high school career and college ambitions. Regardless of whether the subject was adv. chemistry, ap chemistry, or geoscience, I truly fell in love with the subject while learning in your classroom. I’m so tremendously thankful to have been given the opportunity to learn from both of you, and I will never forget the positive influences you’ve had on shaping my character.
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin and studying either finance or management information systems through the Canfield Business Honors Program.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
After college, I hope to pursue a career in either product management or investment banking.
Dylan Deadmon – No. 8
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Cactus Ranch Elementary School, Walsh Middle School, and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
My favorite memories in my time at Round Rock ISD have come from my time in band. Band has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people who I have spent some of the best moments of my life with. I will never forget huddling up like penguins during freezing football games, screaming as loud as we physically could after hearing that we made BOA San Antonio finals, or planning the perfect route through the Animal Kingdom at a hotel in Disney World. I can’t express how grateful I am for the saxophone section for being a second family to me and I know I will miss the chaotic section traditions such as drinking milk before almost every competition, chanting saxes on 7 before a long day of summer band, and choosing a freshman to wear the infamous sax mum on the day of Homecoming. Band truly made my time in RRISD unforgettable and I can’t wait to watch from the sidelines as both the Walsh Band and Dragon Band continue to achieve at the highest level.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
During my time in Round Rock ISD, I have gotten the opportunity to learn from so many incredible teachers. First, Mr. Conrad managed to make online AP World History incredibly engaging and memorable, and through his answers to questions it was easy to tell that he was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the content that he was teaching. Mr. Janssens made AP Calculus AB and AP Statistics understandable and always made class interesting with his witty sense of humor and themed lessons. Lestik brought a contagious energy to class everyday and made AP Chemistry, a class I was initially terrified of, a fun and comprehensible subject. Lastly, both Mrs. Bergeron and Mr. Mobley, my band directors at Walsh and Round Rock HS respectively, have taught me so much about leadership and dedication, always inspiring me to become a better person.
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be attending the University of Texas at Austin to major in biology.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
After college, I hope to attend graduate school and pursue a career in biology research.
Mallika Jade – No. 9
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Round Rock High School
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
Some of my best memories have been the many late nights spent at debate tournaments. From hurriedly preparing for my next round with a huddle of my teammates around me to running around campuses and finding random debate rounds to watch to eating cold pizza at 12 a.m. while talking about the different opponents we were against that day. The RR debate team was truly a family to me.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
So many of my teachers have deeply impacted academic journey and these are just a few:
Mr. McKinney, my Calc AB teacher, who was not only dedicated to seeing his students thrive in his class but also outside of it, always offering advice on Calculus, college, and anything beyond.
Mrs. Elander, my English teacher, for creating a class I can look back on and say with certainty that I would not be the writer I am today without it.
Mr. Rolofson, my Seminar teacher, for his deadpan delivery of the funniest jokes and willingness to always engage with his students as we debated even the most ridiculous topics.
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
I will be studying International Business as a part of the World Bachelor in Business program, a joint program between the University of Southern California, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and Bocconi University.
What do you hope to pursue after college?
After college, I hope to work at the intersection of social impact and business by working as a corporate social responsibility consultant.
Avery Hsu – No. 10
What campuses in Round Rock ISD did you attend?
Great Oaks Elementary School, Cedar Valley Middle School, and Round Rock High School.
What’s the best memory you have of your time in Round Rock ISD? Why?
I will never forget the bus ride home from a Round Rock Volleyball playoff game in my freshman year. With our adrenaline high from a big win and stuffing our face with pizza, we laughed until our voices went hoarse. I am thankful for these light-hearted memories where our biggest worry was who was going to sit in the window seat.
Who has been your most influential teacher in Round Rock ISD? Why?
Undoubtedly, Señora Goodman, my Spanish teacher and NSHS sponsor for 4 years, is someone that has positively impacted me today. Sra. Goodman never failed to foster a remarkable learning environment from her willingness to go above and beyond for her students. Additionally, her charisma, storytelling abilities, and playful jokes always put a smile on every face. I am so thankful for all the laughs we have shared from simply looking each other in the eyes. I would have never had the same sense of community or growth at Round Rock ISD without Sra. Goodman and other special teachers to mentor me.
What college will you be attending next year? What will you be studying?
The University of Notre Dame will be my home for the next four years. I plan to study biological sciences on the pre-medicine track!
What do you hope to pursue after college?
Although I am uncertain about my plans, I undoubtedly want to devote myself to public service. At the moment, my hope is to further my education at a medical school after college and later become a physician.
