Q. Please provide the first names of your family members: parents, siblings and pets.

A. My family includes my dad David Ruyak, mom Erin Ruyak, brother Ben Ruyak and our dog Moose.

Q. Having recently completed Emmaus High School, do you have any special plans for this summer?

A. I am working as a sleepaway camp counselor at a summer camp in the Poconos.

Q. What was your favorite class at EHS? Why?

A. My favorite class I’ve taken at EHS is humanities. This class not only had amazing teachers, but also provided so many amazing lessons about the world around us and how to be aware and knowledgeable members of society for the future.

Q. Have you received any special awards or recognition?

A. I have received numerous accolades and school awards, but most notably I have received my Girl Scout Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. I have also received The Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award, Excellence in Earth and Space Science, Excellence in Senior Humanities and Academic Excellence at EHS – to name a few.

Q. Were you involved in any extracurricular activities? How has being involved in these organizations impacted your high school experience?

A. At EHS, I was involved in numerous different clubs and activities. I was most notably involved in the EHS Theater Department where I served as vice president and stage manager within the department. The theater department at EHS has brought me most of my friends that I have now after graduation and it has shaped me into the person I am today. It has pushed me, encouraged me and brought me some of the best memories of EHS.

At EHS, I was also a part of the symphonic band, brass ensemble, wind ensemble and marching band. I also participated in the Lehigh County Band this past February. Band at Emmaus has allowed for me to grow as a person and a player and has pushed me to pursue my instruments in ways I never considered before. I also participated in our schools Envirothon team, helping to lead Emmaus to two consecutive Lehigh County wins – taking EHS to states two years in a row. At EHS I also participated in EHS Show Choir, EHS Gardening Club and my own club I started this past year – Catalyst for Change.

Q. What do you consider your biggest challenge to date?

A. My biggest challenge to date has to have been deciding to stop playing high school soccer and join the marching band in my senior year. It was a hard decision to make, but I knew I wanted to try something new my senior year – and was up for the challenge. It took countless hours of practicing on my own and working on marching band techniques to prepare myself for the season. I was constantly afraid I was going to fail at marching band – having never done it before – but that fear, that challenge pushed me to succeed.

Q. What is your next goal after high school?

A. After high school my next goal is to complete college to earn my degree in environmental science and enter the workforce as an environmental specialist.

Q. If you could spend an evening conversing with an historically significant person, whom would you choose? Why?

A. If I could spend an evening with one historically significant person, I’d choose Nathaniel Greene. I’d love to be able to sit down and talk to him about what is was like to lead a group of spies during the Revolutionary War. I also just feel like he’d be a great guy to sit down and talk to.

Q. For what would you like to be remembered?

A. I’d like to be remembered for my hard work and determination not only within the activities I do, but in every part of life.

Q. Do you have any advice for your peers?

A. Don’t take your time at EHS for granted. It won’t be until you take off your cap and gown after graduation, or you finally unpack your things in your college dorm – that you will finally realize how your time in high school shaped you for the rest of your life.