Whiz Kid: A.P. Scholar Vanessa Cortes Preparing for Medical School

Name: Vanessa Cortes - Age 17

School: Miller Place High School - Grade 12

Accomplishments: Vanessa has been recognized by the College Board as an Advanced Placement (A.P.) Scholar with Honor. While a student at Miller Place High School, she's taken six A.P. courses and was on the high honor roll.  She was the recipient of her high school's award for General Academic Excellence, and the award for Excellence in Three Dimensional Design.

Vanessa is a member of the National Honor Society, Foreign Language Honor Society, Service Club, Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) and Mathletes.

Outside of the classroom, she was on the JV Lacrosse team in 9th and 10th grades, serving as team captain in the 10th grade and the recipient of the Coach's Award. For the past five years, she has been a volunteer coach for the Miller Place Girls Lacrosse program, coaching girls from Kindergarten to 5th grade. She is currently coaching a 5th grade team during this winter season.

Vanessa's career goal is to go to medical school to be a medical geneticist and she intends to major in biology this fall when she heads off to college.