The hard work and talent of Richardson High School classmates Benjamin Le and Jennifer Rayman landed both members of the Class of 2025 among the school’s Top 10 graduates in class rank. Valedictorian Le is headed to Yale University in New Haven Connecticut where he intends to study computer science and linguistics. Independent of Le’s decision, RHS Class of 2025 #5 Rayman also chose Yale University and plans to pursue computer science and environmental engineering.
In an interesting twist, both students began their Richardson ISD careers at Yale Elementary School, where their foundations for academic success and work ethic were established. The student recently shared some thoughts on their past and future Yales:
Given your academic record, you could have attended just about any school in the country – why Yale University?
Le: “I chose Yale because I love the culture, location, and community there. As someone who plans to major in a STEM-y field but still finds much joy in the humanities, Yale’s focus on exploration and a liberal arts perspective makes it a perfect match.”
Rayman: “I honestly committed to Yale before fully knowing it was the right school for me. But after having recently visited, I completely fell in love with the culture of the student body and can’t picture going anywhere else. I really enjoyed how strongly Yale encourages exploration of arts alongside academics – something I find personally important.”
What is your favorite memory or teacher from Yale Elementary?
Rayman: “My favorite memory from Yale Elementary was participating in various plays, dances, and performances in music class. The organized productions that Mrs.Graham put together made the third grade me feel like a professional on the stage in our cafeteria.”
Le: “My favorite teacher from my time at Yale Elementary would either be Mrs. Williams, my sixth-grade teacher, or Mr. Zellman, my REACH (gifted) teacher in grades 4-6. Mrs. Williams was sweet and funny, and I remember always having fun in her class. Mr. Zellman was great at introducing complex topics to elementary school kids. He made me feel like I could understand anything. My favorite memory was going to Sky Ranch in fifth grade.”
Congratulations to both students and all of their peers in RISD’s Class of 2025 – the RISD Community is incredibly proud of you!
