ALLENTOWN, Pa. (WFMZ) — A Dieruff High School senior makes history after he was accepted to several Ivy League schools on full scholarships.
Taking on challenges is nothing new for Christopher Dwornicki.
“I try to push myself in school. I choose the hardest classes I can. It comes to me naturally, I guess,” Dwornicki told 69 News.
Dwornicki said he always knew he wanted to go to college, following in the footsteps of his older sister and brother who are first generation college students.
His parents came to the Lehigh Valley from Poland.
“My parents both immigrated here when they were in their 20s so I guess they just really wanted to give us the American Dream and focus on getting our education. It’s always been something I’ve dreamt of doing since I was young. My mom is a cleaning lady and my dad works at Sharp Industries,” Dwornicki explained.
When Dwornicki applied to multiple Ivy League schools for Mechanical Engineering, he wasn’t sure what to expect.
“The first three I opened were all rejections so I was so scared and then I opened Princeton and it said accepted and it was crazy. So much washed over me. Then I opened the next one and I got in. And the next one. I got into Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Stanford,” Dwornicki said.
Dwornicki was shocked. All four schools offered him a full ride.
“The number he got into is unprecedented. His true talent lies in his ability to take a model that’s he’s just learned the specifics of, a complex physics model, and really understand the nuances of it and then apply it to a novel situation. It’s an unusual skill and talent and he’s really good at it,” said Tyson Sprayberry, who oversees Dieruff’s Science Department and teaches A.P. Physics.
Sprayberry taught Dwornicki and his two older siblings.
Dwornicki, who is a member of the National Honor Society, Debate Club, Scholastic Scrimmage and Swim Team, said it’s all about following your dreams and putting in the work.