News
February 14, 2009
Two SCOB skaters called out for academic excellence
The US Figure Skating Scholastic Honors Team is to figure skating what Academic All-America honors are to traditional varsity sports. It honors those competitive skaters who, in addition to achieving excellence in the sport, also achieve high academic distinctions in their high school careers.
This year, two of the ten youths named by US Figure Skating to the 2009 Scholastic Honors Team represent The Skating Club of Boston. And to those who know these outstanding individuals, it comes as no surprise that they would be distinguished among their peers for their commitment to a wide range of academic and community pursuits.
Rachael Naphtal, a junior at Weston High School, competes with the Colonials junior synchronized skating team. She has participated in the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth for six years and is a Center Scholar. She received an NIH-funded three-year scholarship and summer research position at Johns Hopkins Medical School. Her application highlighted the role that figure skating has played in her life both on and off the ice, bringing to light the depth of her determination and persistence. She participates in Relay for Life and enjoys playing an active roll in Ice Chips because of its service to the community. She received the Weston High School Community Service award in 2007 and 2008 with more than 100 hours of service logged each year.
Curran Oi, a senior at Wellesley High School, was named to the Scholastic Honors Team for the second consecutive year. Oi completed a successful season on the 2008 Junior Grand Prix, winning the silver medal at JGP Italy and placing fifth at JGP Belarus. After placing sixth at the senior level at US Nationals, he will finish his season competing at the 2009 Junior World Championships. Off the ice, Oi is a 2009 National Merit Scholarship finalist and a 2008 National Honor Society inductee. He served as co-chair for the 2007 Greater Boston Food Bank and Rosie's Place food drive, and chaired a toy drive in 2006 to benefit Transition House. He is the recipient of the 2007 Mary Louise Wright Award recognizing outstanding achievements in academics and competitive skating.
While each of these skaters is a daily example of the focus and perseverance required to excel in their respective skating disciplines, it is important to recognize that they do so while simultaneously distinguishing themselves in the classroom and the community. Congratulations to Rachael and Curran on achieving this outstanding honor.
