Senior Jethro Torczon excels in the classroom and finds time to stay involved in student activities, too. Over the summer, he took just a little time for rest and relaxation before diving into a new set of activities to enrich his high school experience.
Less than two weeks after the 2012-2013 school year ended, Torczon, along with classmates Rhys Bergeron, Paul Bothwell, Jerome Delgaudio traveled to the campus of Radford University to participate in Boys State of Virginia, a program that gives rising seniors throughout the state the opportunity to simulate the state government. Participants are sponsored by their local American Legion post and are selected based on academic and leadership qualities.
Torczon distinguished himself from the 690 other outstanding students at Boys State. First his "city" elected him to represent them in the Boys State senate, then he won the oration contest for the honor of speaking during the graduation ceremony at the end of the week. His speech at the ceremony in front of his fellow students, parents, and members of the American Legion drew two standing ovations. Torczon credits Mrs. Wentzel's public speaking class at O'Connell with his successes at the podium at Boys State.
After returning home from Boys State, Torczon boarded a plane for his next summer adventure. Earlier in the school year, he had applied for and been accepted to Harvard University's Summer School Program. This seven week program allows students to take two classes for a total of eight college credits. At Harvard, Torczon took a computer science course in programming and a government course called the American Presidency.
He has returned to O'Connell this fall and he continues to focus on his studies, while making time to pursue his outside interests as well. Torczon is a member of the Young Men's Executive Club and the National Honor Society. He also plays ice hockey and hopes to start up a new Stock & Finance Club with classmate James Klein this year.
When asked about college on the horizon, he focuses less on the names of the schools and more on his interests, hoping to pursue studies in engineering and business.
Photo - Jethro Torczon speaks at the Boys State ceremony this summer.