Student Highlights

MARGUERITE DEMARCO ’21

Marguerite DeMarco was awarded the prestigious American Society of the French Academic Palms Scholarship, a sought after annual award granted to one American high school student with an enduring and deep interest in the French language and Francophone cultures. The award allowed Marguerite to spend four weeks in Paris, Aix en Provence, Brittany, and the French Alps, studying French culture and language. The program is fully immersive, so she spoke French throughout her stay and lived with a host family. Marguerite shared that her interest in the French language started when she was about six years old. Her brotherʼs teacher was from New Orleans and told her the name Marguerite was French for daisy. That immediately sparked her interest in learning more about the language. At St. Lukeʼs, she was able to learn the language offi cially. “I am so grateful to have been able to pursue my passion,” Marguerite said.

MACKENZIE NELSON ’23

MacKenzie Nelson was selected as one of 10 girls for the inaugural Jr. NBA Court of Leaders, an NBAsponsored leadership council for 15-and 16-year-old basketball players. The Storm guard impressed spectators on and off the court while playing for her AAU basketball team, Empire State Blue Flames, at the Jr. NBA Global Championship in 2019. The Jr. NBA Court of Leaders provides promising young men and women with the resources to develop as leaders and a platform to amplify their voices within their communities and across the youth basketball landscape. MacKenzie was grateful to be given the opportunity: “It is such an honor to be a part of the Jr. NBA experience. Going to the Jr. NBA is a once in a lifetime experience. However, I got the opportunity to go twice. Now, on top of that, I get to be a part of this leadership group. This is an amazing experience and a tremendous honor to be selected from among many other great players.”