Imani was nominated by Connelly for the Register's annual top graduate article. Imani also received the Head of School award at the Class of 2012's graduation June 10. She plans to major in chemical engineering at Washington University, St. Louis.
Read the June 22 article on O.C. graduates who will change the world. Or go to the OC Register Website and read the story.
Read the detailed list of the 10 top OC graduates and an honor guard of eight students (including Imani) who received honorable mentions in the 2012 top graduates awards. Or click here to go the story on the OC Register web site.
What's Imani up to since graduation?
Imani is currently interning at the Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach through the Bank of America Student Leaders Program. She recently participated in the American Association for the Advancement of Science Conference in Boise, Idaho. She and her project partner (Imani is on the right in the photo) won third place in the division of Oral Biology and Dental Medicine. "It was very exciting for us, because we were competing against college students, some of whom have been working on their projects throughout their undergraduate careers," said Imani.
Connelly's nomination of Imani to the Orange County Register read as follows:
We at
Cornelia
Connelly
School believe Imani Smith has only just begun to change the world. As a student who is academically strong, athletic, and a natural leader who leads with integrity, Imani has so much potential. She is eager to take on the world as an engineer and entrepreneur.
Imani has a 4.46 weighted GPA and a rigorous schedule of Honors and AP courses. She is dynamic, charismatic and always smiling. Her passion to help others blossomed into her founding of the Random Acts of Kindness Club on campus four years ago. The popular club led collection drives at Christmas to fill boxes with toys and school supplies for needy children, volunteer efforts with local charities and efforts on campus to appreciate the achievements of her peers. As president of the club, she led an effort to randomly select students each month to be honored at assemblies. Her commitment to helping others also extends outside our campus and into the community. Imani founded an annual book drive that has donated more than 1,500 books within the last four years to the Long Beach Miller's Children's Hospital. She also served as a senior youth aid - working with children ages 5 to 13 from under-represented communities - at the Long Beach Summer Youth Outreach Program.
Imani is a selfless leader who doesn't seek praise, but acts altruistically and we know that her potential to give back and inspire others to change the world with her is immeasurable. She won't shy away from the challenge either. She recently participated in an E-zine focusing on sustainable development, a project she contributed to as an editor-in-chief. She has guided the project in concept development, writing articles, website development and as a creative team leader. The final product was presented in from of an evaluating panel and audience of more than 100 people.
Her coaches describe her as a "true and compassionate leader who leads by example." She had a very integral part in Connelly's soccer success and in making it to the CIF playoffs. Her social science teacher, Dr. Cathleen Rauterkus wrote, "I have always felt that with Imani I was in the presence of greatness. She seems destine for a bright and successful future."
