Meet Nazareth's "Whiz Kid" Alex Huynh

"Whiz Kid" Facts:

• Name: Alex Huynh
• Grade: Soon-to-be graduate of
• School Activities: Blue Eagle Ambassadors, Principal’s Student Advisory Board, Math League, Science Olympiad, Future Business Leaders of America, NAHS Marching Band, NAHS Concert Band and NAHS Wind Ensemble
• Sports: NAHS Track & Field, NAHS Ultimate Frisbee Club, Lehigh Valley Ultimate Frisbee Summer League

"Whiz Kid" Accomplishments:

• The highest academically ranked student -- the valedictorian -- of the soon-to-be graduating class of 2011
• National Honor Society, High Honor Roll

"Whiz Kid" Key to Awesomeness:

With graduation set for 7 p.m. on June 8 -- tomorrow -- Alex Huynh is busy honing the speech he will read to Nazareth Area High School's class of 2011.

Alex is the highest academically ranked student in his class -- the valedictorian.

In his speech, Alex plans to tell his fellow classmates -- about 400 of them -- that after graduation, it's their time to help mankind. Previous generations have made technological advances that have helped countless numbers of people, Alex explained, and "now, it is our turn to help."

Alex and the class of 2011's salutatorian, Brooke Charlie, have been vying for the coveted top spot throughout high school.

“She was first [in the class] our freshman and sophomore years,” Alex explained, adding that during their junior year, he moved into the top spot.

And you won't find any hard feelings here -- the two top-ranked students, of course, remain friends.

But back to our "Whiz Kid."

Looking back, Alex can now say that his favorite activity in high school was marching band. But during his marching years, the trumpet player explained, he wouldn't have agreed with that statement because it was "a lot of work and a lot of time."

Alex has many fond memories from his time with the band, but one memory in particular jumps out: when the Blue Eagle Marching Band regained first place in Group IV at the 2010 in Annapolis, Md.

Alex was a member when the band took first place in USSBA competition two years in a row when he was a freshman and a sophomore, but in 2009, his junior year, the band faltered slightly and came in third place.

To take back first "was very satisfying," according to Alex, who also performed in the high school's concert band and wind ensemble.

Academically, the soon-to-be graduate enjoys math and science. Among his favorite classes were advanced physics, advanced placement chemistry, advanced placement biology and advanced placement calculus.

“I really liked all of the teachers in those classes,” he said. “They are very passionate about their subjects. You can see that they enjoy teaching, so that made it worth the while.”

Alex said he didn't become valedictorian by studying really hard, but instead, by paying close attention in class and concentrating on what was being taught.

“If you concentrate a little, it’s really not that bad,” he said.

Alex plans to major in mathematics -- on a pre-med track -- at , and because of his academic success, he earned a full scholarship.

“You can’t beat free college,” Alex joked, adding that he will still have graduate school to cover.

The day before Alex is set to graduate from Nazareth Area High School, he believes he will pursue a career as an optometrist.

Alex plans to live on campus, but likes the idea that home isn’t too far away. His younger brother, Jacob, will enter his sophomore year at Nazareth High come fall 2011.

Graduating is a new start and Alex already knows that he will miss his friends, but he's also aware that he will make more and new friends in college.

And Alex won't be completely alone. David Yearger, a close friend of Alex's, will also attend Moravian College. David was the drum major of the Blue Eagle Marching Band and he ranked third -- just behind Alex and Brooke -- in the graduating class of 2011.