Teacher Student Stories

Salutatorian headed to NJIT to study chemical engineering

CLIFTON — Clifton High School's Class of 2011 salutatorian seems to have things all figured out. He will study chemical engineering at New Jersey Institute of Technology and then work with hydrogen fuel cells and alternative energy.

While most would break out in a cold sweat at the thought of chemistry and engineering classes, Kevin Lorenc, the student with the second best grades in this year's graduating class, feels it's his thing.

"It's always been the sciences for me," Lorenc said, adding "When I got to high school it became chemistry."

The new graduate said his love of chemistry comes from the fact that "everything has something to do with it. Chemistry's the one subject which connects everything together and that's what is so fascinating about it. Things collide and things dissolve and that's how we get fuel for example."

Science teacher and science team coach Mr. Chilowicz, Lorenc said, was his favorite teacher.

"Not only is he a great guy he just knows how to teach the subject well. He makes it fun and also tells little personal anecdotes to make things interesting as well. And he teaches some life lessons which are definitely things I'll carry around with me [in the future]. "

His favorite teacher said he would always remember Lorenc and valedictorian Vetri Velan.

"I'll always remember Vetri and Kevin as my Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid. They were a great one-two punch. You get a great kid every once in a while but to have the valedictorian and salutatorian be in your class is something else. The bottom line is these are two superior kids who are humble and staying in New Jersey for college."

Lorenc and Velan have been friends since 6th grade and will both study chemical engineering in college.

"We've known each other for so long that there is no sense of rivalry or competition like other valedictorian/salutatorian. I am so glad that I have been his friends the past seven years," Lorenc said.

The only child of parents who moved from Poland in the 1970s, Lorenc said his parents are his inspiration.

"They pushed me a lot when I was younger, but when I got older and more independent they trusted me enough to push myself. After I got to middle school they saw that I had my act together. I put a lot more pressure on myself than my parents," Lorenc said.

"First of all my parents worked hard all their lives and they instill that sense in my life. Without them and all the work they've put in I wouldn't be where I am today," he said.

A Small Happy Update - ...and other stories

The only consistent way to identify myself is as a writer. My repertoire includes poetry (I hold a master's degree in this field), diaries, short stories, letters, recent attempts at creative non-fiction, and random scribblings. My other passions are travel and Alaska--obviously a category of its own.

I've also been known as student, assistant, teacher, and retail worker. I'm currently looking to add to this list.

The only consistent way to identify myself is as a writer. My repertoire includes poetry (I hold a master's degree in this field), diaries, short stories, letters, recent attempts at creative non-fiction, and random scribblings. My other passions are travel and Alaska--obviously a category of its own.

I've also been known as student, assistant, teacher, and retail worker. I'm currently looking to add to this list.

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