On the hot afternoon of June 14, after many speeches, songs, and walks, the members of the Class of 2024 will throw their graduation caps in the air as they have one of the last moments on GA campus to celebrate many years of hard work.
These students will go off to college and pursue many different careers. But, some of these students’ paths stand out from the rest by being different from the classic four-year college pathway. As these seniors leave to embark on these unique journeys, it is important to highlight their stories and what brought them to choose a different path. One such senior who has decided on a unique path post-graduation is Danika Staples ‘24.
Staples has elected to enroll in the Webb Institute in Glen Cove, New York, where she will pursue a Bachelor of Science in naval architecture and marine engineering. At Webb Institute, all enrolled students have a full tuition scholarship. The Webb Institute is a small, private, engineering-focused college with starting class sizes of under 30. Staples will enroll in a class with 28 students.
The debt-free education and prestigious and super-specialized nature of the Webb Institute align with her career goals, especially since many top employers reserve seats for Webb Graduates. Additionally, it combines her passions of maritime industry and sailing with engineering
“You do winter work [and] internships, so you spend like a month in the winter working every year, and so a lot of times you get job offers from those companies,” Staples said. “If naval architecture is a career you want to go into, Webb sets you up very well.”
Danika Staples is indeed extremely passionate about sailing and the maritime industry. During her time at GA, she has spent her summers and weekends sailing, even starting the very first sailing club at Germantown Academy.
“Danika is one of the most driven and deeply passionate people I know,” Mel Shen ‘24 said. “I think she is really capable and will definitely succeed at the Webb Institute.”
Another such senior is Maggie Borek ‘24, who will attend USNA, the United States Naval Academy. One of the main reasons behind Borek’s decision to attend USNA is the unique postgraduate path it offers.
“Not only will I be attending classes and playing lacrosse, but I am also training for the military,” Borek said. “I will strengthen my leadership skills and ultimately be an officer in the navy.”
Another reason Borek is excited to attend USNA is centered around her experience playing lacrosse.
“Ever since I was a young girl, I dreamed of playing lacrosse in college,” Borek said. “When I received a call from Head Coach Cindy Timchal asking me to come play for her, there was no question in my mind that I wanted to play anywhere else…At Navy, I will play for a top 20 Division I program in the nation.”
Overall, Borek also just is happy to give back to the community.
“Going to the Naval Academy will be a valuable experience because I have the opportunity to give back to my country for all that it has done for me,” Borek said.
Staples and Borek are examples of how passion can lead students to non-traditional educations and career paths after high school.