Student of the week ranks at the top of her class

FOREST PARK, Ohio - Our student of the week for Nov. 5, has only been living in the United States for about seven years, but she’s already a leader and a role model at Winton Woods High School.

Winton Woods guidance counselor Evelyn Gibfried says Ahou "Marie" Koala, is more than an excellent student.  Academically she has maintained a 4.66 GPA and is ranked 1 out of 260 students in her class. 

"She has completed a rigorous course load by taking honors as well as advanced placement courses and she continues to do so her senior year. She became a member of National Honor Society during her junior year and continues to do so in her senior year," Gibfried wrote in an email to 9 News. "She became a member of NHS during her junior year and she continues to contribute her time with community service activities that are required. Her personality combined with her respect for education and people skills have produced a student who will have a positive impact on our school as well as to our society."

Koala’s involvement in her school and community is admirable, Gibfried added.  Koala has participated in and continues to participate in Key Club, Student Council, and stage crew, Warriors for Christ, Women Leading Tomorrow, Academic Quiz Team and NHS. Outside of school, Koala is involved with an organization called Building for Hope and she does a Christmas gift run and she participates in a Greenhills neighborhood clean-up.

"In all of these activities [Koala] has proven that she is able to maintain the highest GPA in her class while balancing extra-curricular activities," Gibfried said.

Koala said she works hard to balance her courses and extra-curricular activities.

"I try to excel in everything that I do and I guess she saw that in me. I'm very self-disciplined," Koala said. "She saw that I'm dedicated and willing to work, I guess she saw that with school I'm not just come in and go out."

"When I came to the U.S. I saw that as an opportunity. If I could go further in my education, I saw that was my key to being whatever I wanted to be.

After graduating high school, Koala wants to study international law, and eventually work for the United Nations.