By Chelsea Martin
West Chandler resident and Horizon
Community Learning Center senior Manu
Kondapi says she never thought twice about
getting involved in her school or her community.
She did both, and between participating in
countless school programs and dedicating herself to
volunteering around the community, school officials
say Kondapi was the perfect pick for Horizon’s class
of 2014 valedictorian.
Horizon spokeswoman Melissa Hartley said
that through her leadership skills and ambitions,
Kondapi became president of the National Honors
Society, Choir Council and Environmental Club;
secretary of Student Council; a member of Key Club;
and a graduate of the Valley Teen Leadership, among
other accomplishments.
The enterprising teen also filled her spare time
with volunteering at Chandler Regional Medical
Center, high school math tutoring and interning for
ASU’s SCENE Research Program, along with other
diverse activities.
Kondapi has been recognized with the
President’s Scholars Program Scholarship at Harvey
Mudd College, which she will attend on scholarship
in the fall, and the National Security Language
Initiative for Youth scholarship.
Of Horizon’s 78 graduates, 72 percent will go
on to a university; 17 percent will attend community
college and transfer to a university; 8 percent will
attend community college or tech school; 2 percent
will join the military; and 1 percent will enter the
workforce. Total scholarships this year reached a
total of $5.7 million, according to Hartley.
