(Updated 11:30 a.m., July 19)
Male students top Class of '09
By Fred Sherwin
Orléans Online

Andrew Bitar is the top graduating student in the east end having earned a 98.6 average in the International Baccalaureate program at Colonel By Secondary School . Fred Sherwin/Photo

For the first time in recent memory more male students have finished at the top of their school's graduating class than female students.

Of the seven English language high schools in the east end, five males finished at the top of their class compared to just two females. That's a complete role reversal from previous years when young women dominated the Honour Roll.

The student with the top graduating mark in the Ottawa District School Board, and very likely the entire city, however, is a young woman from Colonel By Secondary School.

Nadia Huytan-Maruschak racked up four 99s in Calculus, Biology, Chemistry and Communication Technology on her way to earning a 99 per cent average in Colonel By' s International Baccalaureate program. Her lowest mark was a 94 per cent in Exercise Science.

Students enrolled in the IB program are expected to write a 3,500 word in-depth research paper, do volunteer work, participate in athletics and engage in a creative activity on a regular basis over the final two years of their high school career.

Huyan-Maruschak's father Konstantin Huytan describes his daughter, who is currently vacationing in Europe with her mother, as self-motivated, focused, and somewhat of a perfectionist.

"Her goal at the beginning of the year was to get 100 per cent in every subject. She's very driven and worked extremely hard," says Huytan.

In order to complete the Creativity, Action and Service component of the IB program, Huytan-Maruschak played on the school badminton team and studied piano. She's also a voracious reader and a fan of the Food Network which ties into her other passion -- baking.

While she is interested in history, philosophy and politics, she plans to attend McGill University in the fall where she has enrolled in the neuro-science program.

Nadia Huytan-Maruschak earned the top average at Colonel By Secondary School and the top average in the Ottawa District school Board with a 99 per cent. Photo supplied

But while Huytan-Maruschak, who lives in the Mooney's Bay area, is the top student in the ODSB, she's is not the top student in the east end. That distinction goes to Andrew Bitar, who earned an 98.6 per cent average which placed him second at Colonel By and third at the board.

Bitar is the epitome of a well-rounded student. Besides having outstanding grades, he also possesses a black belt in tae-kwondo, he did close to 100 hours in volunteer work, including working as a tutor, and he plays guitar and piano.

"I always found it important to have a balanced life. (If all I did was study) I'd probably go insane," says Bitar.

Going into Grade 12, Bitar had his mind set on getting the highest grades possible in order to get into the university of his choice and earn the highest scholarship possible. In the end, the University of Ottawa offered him the most money -- $23,000 over four years -- to study electrical engineering.

Bitar credits his academic success to his parents who he describes as "very smart", and a series of "really great math teachers".

"I was fortunate to get math teachers who really knew their stuff," says Bitar who believes that everyone has the potential to get good grades. "It's all about how you go about it. You have to set your priorities and you have to stick with them."

The second highest graduating mark among the seven English language high schools in the east end belongs to Adam Gregory who got 97.66 per cent at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School.

Gregory plans to go to the University of Waterloo in the fall where he will be studying computational mathematics which involves solving math problems using computers.

The 17-year-old Fallingbrook resident listed chemistry, physics, math and computer science as his favourite courses. His weakest subject was English which is not uncommon among students who are strong in maths and science because of its subjective nature.

One top student who didn't have any trouble with English is Josh Bloess who earned the English Award at Lester B. Pearson High School where he received a 95.9 per cent average.

"In Grade 11 English was my weakest subject, so this year I knew I had to work extra hard to bring my mark up so it wouldn't effect my average too much," says Bloess who will be going to the Royal Military College in Kingston in September to study mechanical engineering.

Like Bitar, Bloess prides himself on being a well-rounded student. Besides playing house league soccer, he was on the school's rugby team; he was a member of the stage crew for the school play for which he earned a Cappies Award; and he was on the grad committee. The secret to his success academically was in maintaining his studies as his number one priority.

"It's all right to have other interests and have fun as long as you remember what your priorities are and knowing what has to get done," says Bloess.

The east end's other top students are Ian Dimock who received a 97 per cent at Gloucester High School; Courtney Briggs, who earned a 96 per cent average at St. Matthew High School; Adam Tomas and Omar Anjum and Nadin Hassan who each earned a 94 per cent average at Cairine Wilson Secondary School.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)

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