A member of Pioneer High School's Class of 2025 is heading off to the prestigious Ivy League after graduation.
Ava Rae Moss, daughter of Raymond and Rochelle Moss of Eagle, is the class valedictorian. She said she was pleasantly surprised to hear of her acceptance at Harvard in late March. She and several friends had applied to Ivy League colleges on a whim last summer.
"I applied to Harvard and Princeton but I didn't expect anything to happen. I was wait-listed at Princeton, which meant they couldn't immediately accept me," she said.
When Harvard expressed an interest, Ava Rae was interviewed by a Western New York-area Harvard alum last fall as part of the application process. Later when she learned she had been deferred from the first of applicants, she submitted a letter of continued interest to Harvard. It seems to have made a difference.
"I remember I was eating ice cream when I got the email from Harvard. It took me about 30 minutes before I opened the message," she said.
She said she and her parents are excited and planning a family visit to the Boston-area campus soon. Ava Rae said she will study Cellular and Molecular Biology, with a goal of becoming a scientific researcher or professor.
Pioneer Guidance Counselor Judi Emerling said she is proud of Ava Rae. "Over the past four years as Ava's school counselor, I have had the unique privilege of watching her grow from a bright, determined freshman into an exceptional young woman. From the very beginning, I recognized her potential—her curiosity, her academic drive, especially in the areas of science and math, and her quiet but confident leadership."
Mrs. Emerling added, "She has excelled across the board, not only achieving admission to Harvard but also distinguishing herself as a dedicated athlete and an active, respected member of multiple clubs. Her recent success in getting accepted to Harvard is a testament to her resilience, intellect, and unwavering commitment to excellence. I look forward to hearing about what amazing things lie ahead for her!"
Ava Rae is believed to be the first Pioneer grad headed to the Ivy League since Walker Darling attended Princeton University in 2014.