Gabe DeScipio, North Pocono High School
Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?
A: I am most proud of my research through the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science (PJAS). Over the past four years, I have had the opportunity to delve into the aerospace field with a concentration on propulsion physics. This work has allowed me to explore both my passions in engineering and space. At the regional level I have earned four first-place awards, including two perfect scores. At the state level I have received three perfect scores with the goal of earning a fourth this upcoming May. I have also been honored with the Physics Excellence Award for the highest physics score in presentation, as well as the Advisory Board Award for achieving the highest score across all projects in conjunction with repeated excellence. What makes these accomplishments most meaningful to me is the time, effort and passion I put into them.
Q: Whom do you most admire and why?
A: The people I strongly admire are two of my closest friends, who I am honored to say have also both earned this same recognition. My friendship with Billy and Aaron started at the beginning of high school and has only grown stronger with every passing year. From countless group projects, and late nights studying together to sleepovers and everything in between, we have truly been through it all. What I admire most about them isn’t any single achievement or award but is instead the way they carry themselves. Their combination of passion, drive, tenacity and compassion is genuinely hard to find in not only one but two individuals. Being around people like that has a way of slowly working its way into you. I have always believed that who you surround yourself with shapes who you become. They make me want to be better, not out of competition, but because watching them show up every day with that kind of energy is invigorating. I am ever grateful for their friendship pushing me not only to be a better student but to be a better person
Q: What were your most rewarding school or community activities? Why?
A: The most rewarding activity that I have the pleasure of being a part of is the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA). RYLA is a weeklong summer camp sponsored by local Rotary clubs in which students are sent from across the area to grow and sharpen their leadership skills. I first attended this camp as a conferee but was later selected to return as a Junior Counselor. In that role, we focused on creating an environment where growth came through experience and self-exploration, allowing conferees to broaden their understanding of what it means to be a leader. The most rewarding part as a JC was watching students go from being initially quiet and unsure to becoming confident and supportive leaders over the course of a week. Being able to directly facilitate that same growth that I had experienced the year prior was something that I didn’t take lightly. Watching conferees leave camp with a sense of confidence and purpose, even if I played a small role, was more rewarding that anything I could have earned for myself.
Q: What do you do in your spare time?
A: I enjoy staying active both in and out of school, especially through athletics and the time I spend outdoors. I am the starting varsity center for the North Pocono football team, a varsity shooter for the North Pocono rifle team, and a captain and defensive starter for the North Pocono lacrosse team. Outside of school, I love spending my time mountain biking, hiking, camping and skiing. I also enjoy hunting and fishing, which allow me a chance to slow down and appreciate the outdoors. I also enjoy working with my hands, whether that involves rebuilding a go-kart engine or making a new set of cornhole boards; I love creating new things.
Q: What are your plans after high school graduation? Why did you choose this path?
A: After high school, I plan to study aerospace engineering at Purdue University. My passion for physics and hands-on problem solving has always pushed me to pursue a field in which I could build, design and push the boundaries of what’s possible. I am drawn to the aerospace industry, where I hope to contribute to the future of spaceflight and exploration. Alongside that, I have a deep love for motorsport, and my dream is to ultimately work as a Formula 1 engineer working and competing on a global stage. The idea of traveling the world while doing work that I am genuinely passionate about is something I refuse to let stay a dream. To me, engineering is not just a career; it is the perfect intersection of curiosity, creativity, discovery.
Q: What is your advice to younger students?
A: My advice to younger students is simple: Now is the best time to take risks, explore freely, and discover who you truly are, don’t waste it playing it safe. As Richard Branson, founder of commercial space travel company Virgin Galactic, quotes: “The brave may not live forever, but the cautious do not live at all.” Hesitation and complacency are some of the quietest but most destructive forces in our lives. They slowly steal and stall our hopes and dreams in the name of comfortability. When you’re young, the cost of failure is low, but the cost of never trying will forever be a lingering presence. Embarrassment is an underexplored emotion; make a fool of yourself and learn something while you do it. Push the limits of what you perceive is possible, do what excites you, and most importantly have fun. Take risks and never compromise on your dreams or who you are, because at the end of the day you are the captain of your own ship.
Q: Finish this sentence: The most interesting thing about me is ..
A: I don’t think I have ever owned a lunch box in all four years of high school. After I lost my fifth one over the course of a month, it was strictly brown paper bags from that point forward. Remembering small things like my keys and phone has never been my strong suit, because I have always been caught up with my next big idea. Whether it is dreaming about Formula 1 pit lanes, or working on a project with my best friends, I have found what motivates and excites me. Along the way I have found my purpose, passion and people — everything besides a lunch box.
A little about Gabe DeScipio
Gabe DeScipio of North Pocono High School aims to be a Formula 1 engineer and worked toward that goal by earning multiple perfect scores at the Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science. The educator who nominated him described him as “one of the most driven, intelligent, and well-rounded students I have ever met.”
The Roaring Brook Twp. resident is the son of Joe and Patty DeScipio.
In addition to academic honors, Gabe is proud of co-founding the school’s finance club. He was executive president of the student council. Gabe’s other leadership roles include being captain of the rifle, Cyber Patriots and lacrosse teams. He is also involved in football, Future Business Leaders of America, Mathletes, the National Honor Society and his church.
Gabe DeScipio (COURTESY OF GABE DESCIPIO)