Matthew Rudolph

Harrison High School proudly chooses Matthew Rudolph as one of this month’s Harrison Press Students of the Month. Senior Matthew Rudolph, the son of Mary and David Rudolph, is a high achiever inside the classroom and out. Angela Elsasser, the engineering teacher and robotics advisor, commented, “Matthew Rudolph is an exceptional student who consistently demonstrates a strong work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and a deep commitment to his community. His academic achievements are outstanding, reflecting his natural abilities and dedication to learning.” Andy Zureick, AP Chemistry teacher, echoed this sentiment, “ I think the real secret to his success is that everything he does he seems to do with tremendous enthusiasm and genuine curiosity, especially in Chemistry class. Those same qualities are also what make him such a pleasure to work with. He has been my student aid for two years and is always eager to help me out. It is great that has that attitude while at the same time being very competent. I know I can trust him to do things I might not trust many students to do. Matthew was the top student in Chemistry and AP Chemistry, scoring a 5 on the AP exam, which was no surprise.” Matthew is involved in a multitude of extra-curriculars including varsity cross country and swim, robotics, beatboxing for Harrison’s a cappella group, Symphonix, and drama club as the troupe vice-president, as well as being a 3x DECA national qualifier. Elsasser continued, “In Engineering class and on the Robotics team, Matthew is often observing patterns and drawing conclusions that many of his peers would miss, but he is always gracious and willing to explain his understanding and help his classmates. Outside of school, [he] works as a lifeguard, and he volunteers hundreds of hours with his church, showcasing his leadership skills and desire to make a positive impact.” Outside of school, Matthew also enjoys directing and working backstage at a local community theatre, in addition to sailing in the little free time he has. Zureick went as far as saying, “Matthew Rudolph is like a Swiss Army knife – he can do a lot of things, and he can do them well.” Post graduation this spring, Matthew hopes to continue his academic career in nano engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. He hopes to carry the message that “You get out of school what you put into it, so budget your days well. When you’re working on schoolwork, focus on only that work, then play after,” which is sound advice from such a busy and successful student.