STEPHANIE HERZOG

In the fierce struggle to excel in the world of academics, staining friendships with other students can be a challenge greater than any equation. High schools become more competitive as the whirlwind of college looms closer each semester; in the rush to beef up one’s transcripts, it is easy to become isolated in school work. In this setting of young up-and-coming adults, the true challenge is to not only succeed, but also to help others succeed.

At Vero Beach High School, four students have become companions on the arduous road to academic success. Ryan Zerega, Evan Mackay, Patricia Portmann and Michael Gallagher started out their freshman year as school friends who all immediately got involved with the math team. As they became the four members of Vero Beach High School’s Theta/Algebra 2 math team, the teens developed a deep and sustaining bond.

As freshman teammates, the foursome competed at numerous regional, state and national math competitions, winning eighth place in Boston at the Mu Alpha Theta National Convention and all taking home individual awards over the course of their freshman season. As they have worked their way through their high school years together, the team has maintained their closeness and continued competing in various math competitions, this year in the Mu (calculus) division.

With Michael serving as this year’s VBHS Math Team President, and Patricia, Ryan and Evan as Vice Presidents, these talented students have made great advances together, such as being hired as Mu Alpha Theta test writers for future National Conventions. Even with their responsibilities to the math team, Evan, Patricia, Ryan and Michael are intensely dedicated to their core studies.

Utilizing their camaraderie to motivate each other, all four students tackle heavy AP course loads while maintaining 4.0 GPAs. Their hard work and success were rewarded this past summer when they were each named National AP Scholars, an award given to students who earn consistently high scores on all their AP exams. Additionally, all four of them were inducted into the National Honors Society their Sophomore year and are all currently National Merit Scholar semi-finalists.

Patricia, Michael, Evan and Ryan are also highly involved in various extracurricular endeavors, ranging from the arts to athletics and school clubs. Patricia and Evan are both serious swimmers, serving as this year’s captains for the girls’ and boys’ swim teams. Patricia is also a formidable tennis player, having gone to the FHSAA state tournament twice, first with her sister in doubles and then with her team this year. Her team placed seventh overall, with Patricia herself taking home second place. She has been hand picked twice to be on the All-Area First Team (she will be a returning captain this season), and has been an individual District Champion twice.

Evan has competed in the science fair every year, and each year has taken his project to the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF). He has won several monetary awards and scholarships, as well as the rare accolade of having a meteor named in his honor. He won first place in Zoology/Animal Sciences at the ISEF, and his research is currently in the process of being published. Evan is also serving as Student Government Association President for this year’s senior class, with Ryan serving as Vice President and Michael as Treasurer.

Ryan, Michael and Evan are also members of the VBHS Masterminds team, a trivia focused competition, and Evan participated in this year’s Commissioner’s Academic Challenge with the Indian River County team. Ryan has a unique extracurricular passion; he is a member of the Verocious Ultimate Frisbee Team, which won third place at the state championship last year.

On top of their impressive individual achievements, these young men are also talented musicians. Evan is the Orchestra Captain while Michael is the Orchestra Manager, and the two are co-section leaders of the viola section. Ryan has been a percussionist, a drum line section leader and principal percussionist in the band program, as well as being elected the executive officer position of Second Lieutenant this year. Although the band and the orchestra are typically independent organizations, the three close friends say they especially like the occasions when they are able to play together in the Symphony Orchestra, which is comprised of select string, wind and percussion players.

Despite the almost innumerable accreditations these four gifted young adults have earned in their high school careers, Patricia, Evan, Ryan and Michael all affirm that their friendship is their most valued achievement. With so many challenges conquered already, and so many more that lay ahead, it’s nothing short of inspirational that these four will meet their futures head on-together.