Cape High seniors named Secretary of Education Scholars
Three Cape High seniors are among 90 Delaware public school students from the Class of 2021 to be named Secretary of Education Scholars.
Riley Keen, Riley Klopp and Emily Monigle were among students recognized by Secretary of Education Susan Bunting for outstanding achievements. All three Cape High students have excelled in the classroom and on the playing field.
"These seniors have accomplished much during their high school careers,” Bunting said of all awardees. “Their outstanding academic achievements and leadership records both in and out of the classroom are extremely impressive."
Students have persevered, even though COVID-19 forced them to learn and work differently, Bunting said.
“They have succeeded due to their hard work and the support of their families and educators,” Bunting said. “Congratulations to these students and those whose support enabled them to achieve so much.”
Riley Keen, daughter of Tammy and Todd Keen of Lewes, has maintained above a 4.0 grade point average throughout a challenging schedule, including dual enrollment and AP courses in every core subject.
Keen participates in numerous community service projects including a breast cancer awareness walk and Polar Bear Plunge. She also coaches younger players in lacrosse and field hockey, and has been a member of state championship teams in field hockey and lacrosse. She plans to major in biochemistry at University of Delaware.
“I am inspired by competition,” Keen said. “I use others to push myself toward success. Without having competition, I would not push myself nearly as hard. I encourage myself to learn from others and develop my own strengths. Working hard and competing with others to succeed is much more rewarding than just being handed something.”
Riley Klopp, daughter of Geoff and Lynnette Klopp of Lewes, has maintained one of the highest GPAs in her class while being involved in a multitude of activities in and out of school. She has taken six AP classes and numerous dual-enrollment options.
Klopp is treasurer of her class and an officer in other organizations. She is a member of state championship field hockey teams and has won awards through FFA and the Girl Scouts. Klopp plans to attend Franklin & Marshall College.
“Hard work and perseverance are the most fruitful qualities a person can possess,” Klopp said. “Hard work and applying myself has allowed me to face trying situations and continue through them to find the lesson at the end of the struggle. Without hard work, that lesson may go undiscovered and my mistakes may be repeated. Therefore, both my academic and athletic success can be attributed to hard work and the mysteries of self-improvement uncovered through perseverance.”
Emily Monigle, daughter of Kerry and Sandy Monigle of Rehoboth, has earned over a 4.0 GPA while taking eight AP classes and several dual-enrollment courses. An elite athlete, Monigle has been a varsity lacrosse and field hockey player since ninth grade, and has won several state championships between the two sports. She plans to attend Penn State University.
Monigle is a major contributor to the community, including tutoring young children and working as an intern at an orthopedics office.
“Learning adds a quality to my life that nothing else does,” Monigle said. “Striving to meet my goals is a learning process. From failure to success comes self-discovery. I encourage myself to face challenges wide-eyed and willing. I am eager for the future, and I know that what is to come depends on how hard I work. It inspires me that the limits of my mind are yet to be discovered or explored, and I cannot wait to make an impact.”
The state has named Secretary of Education Scholars every year since 1984. The number of scholars from each school is based on enrollment. Principals select students based on academic records and community service.
