Student of Distinction
SPONSORED BY
Ashley Peralta
January 2020
Cathedral High School
Ridgewood, New York
Ringing in the New Year with an
exceptional student is a pleasure.
This year’s fi rst Student of Distinction
has distinguished herself academically
and via participation in many
enrichment programs. Ashley
maintains a 97 average, which
encompasses such diffi cult studies
as Chemistry and Physics as well
as Advanced Placement courses.
She has been inducted into both
the National Honor Society and the
Principal’s Honor Roll at Cathedral
High School.
Since seventh grade Ashley had
set her sights on Cathedral High
School according to Toni-Lynn
Santoro, High School Coordinator
of Saint Matthias Catholic Academy.
Santoro recalls, “She worked
her way up to a 92 average and
maintained First Honors during her
attendance here. Attending Cathedral
High School was her goal,
and, through her studies, she made
certain she was prepared for that
next phase of her life.”
Among the many programs
Cathedral offers is the prestigious
Gateways to Health program. Ashley
has a natural inclination toward
and talent in the Sciences and was
accepted into the Gateway course
of study and internships. Her commitment
included the opportunity to
intern at Wyckoff Heights Medical
Center, where she gained fi rst-hand
experience into the hospital’s everyday
operations over the course of
150-plus hours of service.
Volunteer Services Supervisor,
My is
Ashley Peralta
Larissa Rivera, expressed, “We
found her to be a mature, highly
motivated, and well-organized
individual tackling all assignments
with dedication and a smile. She is
creative and consistent with a bold
personality. Her communication
skills, both written and verbal – and
her effi cient follow-through on all
tasks – ensure that the job gets
done.”
Ashley also received praise from
Lisa Delgado who supervised her
during Wyckoff’s Summer Youth
Employment Program. Ms Delgado
notes the student is a quick learner,
diligent, detail-oriented, and willing
to go the extra mile to do things
the right way. Delagado added,
“One of her greatest strengths is her
adaptability; she not only accepts
constructive criticism and instruction
wholeheartedly, but is also open to
adapt her work-style to cater to the
demands of the workplace.”
In addition to Gateways to
Health program, Ashley was accepted
into Fordham University
STEP (Science and Technology
TIMESLEDGER | QNS.14 COM | JAN. 24-JAN. 30, 2020
Entry Program). STEP is a rigorous
academic enrichment group of studies
preparing students for careers in
Science, Technology, Engineering,
Mathematics (STEM), Health and
the licensed professions. As a STEP
scholar at Fordham University one
commits to a six-day school week
during the academic year.
As reported by Shantay Ownes,
Assistant Director of Fordham University
STEP, “Ashley demonstrated
the ability to work well independently
and in group assignments,
exhibiting the aptitude and joy of
learning one hopes for in students.
She has strengthened her academic
skills, been exposed to a variety
of targeted professions, and has
matured with the understanding that
excellence comes from discipline
and hard work.”
Profound interest in the medical
fi eld and desire for hands-on experience
motivated Ashley to apply to
NYU Camp Cardiac, where she
was accepted. While at Camp
Cardiac she studied the heart and
interacted with different types of
cardio specialists.
Enviable test scores in both
Chemistry Honors Regents (97)
and Physics Regents (98) are clear
markers of her strength in the Sciences.
Svetlana Sverbeeva, Science
teacher at Cathedral, enthuses,
“Her excellent academic and
interpersonal skills make her the top
student in Chemistry Honors and
Physics. She has a unique ability to
deliver clear, concise, well-thought
explanations.”
She possesses passion for business
and government studies, too.
As President of Future Business
Leaders of American Club, Ashley
attends lectures hosted by entrepreneurs,
"#$%
enhancing her knowledge
of business nuances. Guidance
Counselor Danielle Tourdo explains,
“Business leaders assisted Ashley
and other members of the Future
Business Leaders Club for the Junior
Achievement Business competition.
The team’s business design to help
reduce plastic in the environment
was a contender through to the
Quarter Finals.”
Originality in design and
thought also fi nds expression during
classroom discussions and debates.
Stephen Yozaites, Ashley’s History
Teacher, notes “she consistently
showcases originality in her
schoolwork, and her ability to think
quickly and critically is a testament
to her passion, preparation, and
hard work. An excellent writer,
she crafted an advanced research
paper on historical and textual
interpretations of the Unites States
Constitution; this assignment showed
her precocity and was an achievement
that would prove diffi cult for
many college undergraduates.
“Similarly, she shows her
strengths of her convictions on a
daily basis in class,” he adds. “She
is unafraid to confront and debate
historically controversial or intellectually
challenging content. A strong
public speaker, she is engaging,
articulate, and holds herself to
rigorous ethical and academic
standards.”
These high standards are a
family strength. She is the daughter
of immigrant Latino parents and
embraces her heritage fi ercely,
drawing on it to emulate the strong
work ethic of her parents. Clearly
this emulation of her role models
bodes well for a brilliant future!
By Sherri Sanders
!