The Rotary Club of Kent students of the week are Kentlake seniors Mason Bouffard and Melissa Steffan, for their achievements in mathematics and science.
Bouffard is the son of Rick and Jean Bouffard of Covington.
A self-described “literal thinker,” Bouffard started taking accelerated math classes in seventh grade, and has taken honors and advance-placement classes all through high school. He took the AP calculus exam last year, scoring a 5 — the highest possible score.
Bouffard also excels outside math class as a varsity swimmer. A member of the varsity swim team throughout high school, Bouffard has qualified for district meets every year, and twice has gone to state. This year he placed fifth in state for the 100 meter breaststroke, and set school records for several other swimming events.
Upon graduation, Bouffard plans to attend a four-year university to study science — possibly physics or electrical engineering. He has been accepted by the University of Washington, the University of Portland and the University of California, Davis, and is waiting to hear from the University of California, Berkeley.
Steffan is the daughter of Mark and Deann Steffan of Kent.
Steffan’s math achievements include earning high scores on the AP statistics test, and two AP calculus tests. She scored a 5, a perfect score, on one of the calculus tests. She has also maintained the highest math grade point average in her grade, while at the same time taking every math class offered at Kentlake.
Apart from math, Steffan has been involved at school in various communications-related activities, including editing Kentlake’s “Falcon Flyer” student newspaper and serving as senior class vice president. In 2007, she participated in a German-American exchange student program.
For the past four years, Steffan has volunteered as an after-school math tutor.
Outside of school, Steffan is involved in church activities at Lake Sawyer Christian Church.
Steffan plans to attend Seattle Pacific University, where she wants to study communication with a focus on journalism. She also wants to continue her German studies, and to travel abroad again.
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