STEVEN BAKER, VALEDICTORIAN
Church: Due West United Methodist Church
Favorite Bible Verse: “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:13, NLT)
College Acceptances: Georgia Tech, Duke University, Wake Forest University
Activities and Service: Beta Club, Eagle Robotics, Key Club, Mu Alpha Theta (president, senior year), National Honor Society (president, senior year), Peer Mentoring, Spanish Club, Spanish National Honor Society, Student Government Association, 11:1 Effect, Band, Summer Programs Leader
“To be ‘learning focused’ means learning for the sake of natural curiosity, motivated by the passion to grow in knowledge of the world that God created for us.”
When families entrust their child’s education to Mount Paran Christian School, the school aspires to develop a graduate who craves deeper faith; embraces intellectual curiosity; prepares completely; refuses to be a bystander; lives courageously; and reaches forward, pressing on toward the goal. Such is the case with class of 2022 senior and class Valedictorian Steven Baker, who pursues excellence in all he does.
Knowing that he desires to pursue a degree at Georgia Tech in computer science, Steven has poured into his passions throughout his high school career. Steven shares, “I've had a strong interest in technology and engineering throughout my life, exemplified through my enjoyment of competing in robotics throughout middle school and high school.” In addition to his successes in the MPCS robotics program, he took the initiative to secure a software development internship for a business intelligence startup, has learned eight programming languages, and even wrote the computer program that assigned carpool colors to MPCS families for the past two years. Steven has continuously mentored younger students in the MPCS robotics program, helping with the middle school and fifth-grade programs and leading efforts to host competitions at MPCS for middle school students.
An aspiring entrepreneur, Steven credits the MPCS approach to academics with helping to inspire his innate curiosity, providing opportunities that pushed his academic interests. “MPCS has provided me with countless opportunities to grow academically, socially, and spiritually in a way that makes me confident that I am well-prepared to head on to college and face the world,” Steven says. Throughout his high school career, Steven has taken rigorous courses – excelling in 17 AP-level credits – and challenged himself to learn well beyond what is required for high school graduation. Having completed the math course offerings at MPCS, Steven was dual enrolled at Georgia Tech his senior year, taking two college-level math courses – linear algebra and multivariable calculus. In addition to his computer science major, Steven intends to pursue a minor in Spanish at Georgia Tech. His goal is to become fluent in the language, driven by his enjoyment of upper-level Spanish courses taken at MPCS.
While Steven has excelled academically, it’s not all work and no play for this MPCS lifer, who has attended the school since Pre-K3. Some of his favorite school memories include advancing to the “World Championships” in Houston, Texas, with his robotics teammates, enjoying Friday night football games with friends, building school spirit with SGA, and mentoring students. “One thing I will absolutely miss about MPCS is the positive, supportive, Christ-centered atmosphere that is embedded within every aspect of our school community,” he shares. “Everyone knows everyone at MPCS, and teachers genuinely have a heart for supporting each of their students.”
Steven offers a few words of parting advice to MPCS students. He encourages students “to become actively involved in activities you're passionate about; keep stresses like school, grades, and social life in perspective; and trust who God created you to be.”
Steven Baker Accomplishments:
Class of 2022 Valedictorian
STAR Student
National Merit Scholarship Finalist
AP Scholar
Governor’s Honors Program
Honor Roll
UGA Certificate of Merit
AP + PLTW® Student Achievement
Eagle Robotics - Third Place Inspire Award, Think Award (grade 9)
Eagle Robotics - First Place Inspire Award, Winning Alliance Captain (grade 10)
Eagle Robotics - First Place Inspire Award (grade 11)
Eagle Robotics - Third Place Inspire Award, Innovate Award (grade 12)
