{"id":188477,"date":"2026-05-10T05:56:07","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T05:56:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/188477\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T05:56:07","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T05:56:07","slug":"meet-scholastic-superstar-william-barker-north-pocono-high-school-scranton-times-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/188477\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet Scholastic Superstar William Barker, North Pocono High School \u2013 Scranton Times-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

William Barker, North Pocono High School<\/p>\n

Q: What accomplishments are you most proud of and why?<\/p>\n

A: One accomplishment I\u2019m very proud of is being selected as a Coca-Cola Scholars Program Semifinalist. Only 1.12% of more than 100,000 applicants nationwide are selected to advance to the semifinalist round, and I\u2019m extremely honored to be recognized for my leadership and commitment to community service. I\u2019m also incredibly proud of my team of fellow Scholastic Superstars Aaron and Gabe, for we\u2019ve had lots of success in FBLA the past two years, and it\u2019s been absolutely wonderful spending time working on projects with them. Last year, we placed sixth at the state competition for the data analysis event, and we are competing at the state level again this year, hoping to qualify for nationals. Lastly, I am proud that I was selected for the Morgan Stanley Finance Academy this past fall. I was one of around 150 students selected nationwide to participate in this five-month career development program where I was given the opportunity to explore my interest in finance. I learned about business and leadership from Morgan Stanley professionals and collaborated with a team to pitch a bond issuance strategy to Southwest Airlines executives.<\/p>\n

Q: Whom do you most admire and why?<\/p>\n

A: I admire each of my three siblings, Xavi, Katie and Luisa, the most, as they each have honorable qualities that inspire me to become a better person. Xavi, my little brother, has always been by my side and we do almost everything together. I especially admire how disciplined he is, as he is very hardworking and much more productive than me, and he even wakes me up for school most days. Katie, my older sister and the other middle child, will never fail to make you smile. She is the kindest person and I greatly admire her empathy and optimism. Her example inspires me to strive to be kind to others and to have a positive outlook on life. My oldest sister, Luisa, is admirable for her grit, as she is the most hardworking person I know. She is always supportive of me and is one of the coolest sisters anyone can have. She reminds me that no matter how hard things might be, you will always get through them.<\/p>\n

Q: What were your most rewarding school or community activities? Why?<\/p>\n

A: My most rewarding activities are definitely leading my Finance Club and doing volunteer work for multiple organizations. As president of the Finance Club, I take pride in educating my peers about financial concepts and bringing in guests to speak about their own careers in finance, hoping to inspire students who want to follow a similar path. Each year we take about 40 people on a trip to New York City where last year we took a tour of Wall Street, and this year we got an inside tour of the Federal Reserve. This trip is one of my favorites because I love seeing how excited my friends get to explore the different parts of New York. I also dedicate many hours to community service through the Interact Club, Moscow Borough, and other organizations. This includes roadside trash cleanups, library fundraisers, food bank volunteering and much more. I find it extremely rewarding to give back to others and interact with various types of people in my community.<\/p>\n

Q: What do you do in your spare time?<\/p>\n

A: In my spare time I love to play soccer or tennis with my friends and my brother, and I enjoy snowboarding in the winter. I also love to hike and kayak when I get the chance to. One of my interesting hobbies is my love for fragrances. I\u2019m very particular about which scent I wear each day and love to try new fragrances any opportunity I get.<\/p>\n

Q: What are your plans after high school graduation? Why did you choose this path?<\/p>\n

A: University of Minnesota to pursue a career in finance. A major factor in choosing this path was inspiration from my older sister, Luisa, who decided to major in finance at Temple University and now works in investment banking. I\u2019ve always been more of a math-oriented person, and a job in finance would allow me to use those skills in a setting where I can interact with other people and learn about the business landscape. I\u2019m also passionate about computer science and tech, so I hope to find opportunities in the future where I can explore the intersection of finance and technology.<\/p>\n

Q: What is your advice to younger students?<\/p>\n

A: One piece of advice I have for younger students is to keep your head high and know that everything will eventually work out. Through my experiences in high school, I\u2019ve found that a negative mindset never gets you anywhere and that you should always try to look on the brighter side of things, no matter how hard it may be. School can be very stressful at times, so it\u2019s also important to make sure you set aside time to do the things you love most and spend time with people who care about you and support you. I personally would not have accomplished nearly as much as I did if it weren\u2019t for my family and amazing group of friends who I can always count on to be there for me. Lastly, be kind to others and don\u2019t expect anything in return. You\u2019ll find that it\u2019s extremely rewarding to do good things for other people, whether that\u2019s doing them a favor or giving them a compliment, and it will really pay off in the long run.<\/p>\n

Q: Finish this sentence: The most interesting thing about me is \u2026<\/p>\n

A: Before moving to Pennsylvania, I used to model in New York City. I would travel from New Jersey to New York on the train with my mom to go to auditions and photo shoots. My most memorable gigs involved being on the cover of an Earnshaw\u2019s Kids magazine and being in a PBS Sprout TV commercial.<\/p>\n

A little about William Barker<\/p>\n

William Barker of North Pocono High School is a science and math standout who already operates his own tech consulting business. A school administrator described him as \u201cone of the most innovative, driven, intelligent, and compassionate students I have ever met.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Jefferson Twp. student is the son of Maria Barker and Bill Barker.<\/p>\n

Some of his honors include: Coca-Cola Scholars Program semifinalist, AP Scholar with Distinction Award and many Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science honors. He is senior class president. William was a three-year captain of the soccer team and founder of the Finance Club. His other activities include Mathletes, Future Business Leaders of America, the North Pocono Buddies Club and the Moscow Borough Young Visionaries Committee. He is a dedicated Rotary Club volunteer.<\/p>\n

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