Hampton City Schools announces top students in the Class of 2023 at Kecoughtan High School

Hannah Marie Bunting - Valedictorian

Hannah’s activities include mentorship/internship at Sentara CarePlex Hospital with research project and shadowing experiences, Scholastic Bowl (captain), Statewide Battle of the Brains All Star Team member, Youth in Government (treasurer and president), field hockey, swim team (captain), Pre-Health Sciences Club, Student Advisory Board at Governor’s School for Science and Technology, Art Honor Society (president), Rho Kappa (president), Mu Alpha Theta (co-president), French Honor Society, National Honor Society, Science Honor Society, and English Honor Society. She also served as a Virginia Senate page in 2019.

Hannah was accepted to Christopher Newport University as a Presidential Scholar, College of William & Mary as a Monroe Scholar, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, University of Richmond as a Presidential Scholar, University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University as a Provost Scholar with a guaranteed medical school slot, Roanoke College, Virginia Tech, and Old Dominion University as a Dominion Scholar. Hannah will be attending Virginia Commonwealth University in the fall to major in neuroscience and political science. After college she plans to attend medical school to become a neurologist.

Fondest high school memory:

“(My fondest high school memory is) participating in the many Youth in Government activities, especially the Model Judiciary Program, the Model General Assembly, and the Congress of National Affairs.”

A tradition at your school you will miss:

“(I will miss) team dinners at teammates’ houses before high school swim meets.”

An achievement you are most proud of:

“I am really proud of my achievements in the Youth in Government Program. I have been selected as a Virginia representative for the Conference on National Affairs twice, and I will serve as the House Speaker Pro Tempore at the 2023 VA YMCA Model General Assembly in Richmond.”

I am proud to be an HCS graduate because:

“(I am proud to be an HCS graduate because) I have been able to earn over 60 college credits and my Associates of Science during high school, preparing me well for college and early medical school acceptance.”

If you could thank a teacher who had the greatest impact on you, who would it be and why?

“I would like to thank Mr. Mingee. He has supported me as a teacher in ninth and 12th grade, and he has also been an excellent Youth and Government club sponsor over the course of my high school career and far before.”

Ilyas Choukri – Salutatorian

Ilyas’ activities include Scholastic Bowl Team, Rho Kappa, Mu Alpha Theta, Math Competition Team, and French Honor Society.

He was accepted to Christopher Newport University, James Madison University, Old Dominion University, Seton Hall University, Virginia Tech, and University of Virginia. Ilyas will attend Virginia Tech in the fall and plans to double major in biochemistry and biology. After college graduation he plans to attend graduate school to work towards a career as a medical researcher where he hopes to conduct research on cures for various diseases.

Fondest high school memory:

“My fondest high school memory is hanging out with friends and drinking hot chocolate, while volunteering at the Wythe Exchange Christmas tree lot.”

A tradition at your school you will miss:

“A tradition I will miss are ‘Friday Funnies’ from AP Human Geography and AP US Government. Every Friday Mr. Mingee tells a random joke, and it is always a good laugh.”

An achievement you are most proud of:

“On top of being salutatorian, the achievement that I am most proud of is completing two marathons in March of this year after months of consistent training.”

I am proud to be an HCS graduate because:

“I am proud to be an HCS graduate because HCS has provided me with so many amazing educational opportunities. Through HCS, I was also provided the opportunity to learn from so many wonderful teachers who truly care about their students. I have been part of HCS since kindergarten, and it has been truly amazing to watch it evolve over time.”

If you could thank a teacher who had the greatest impact on you, who would it be and why?

“I would like to thank Mr. Lieberum. Mr. Lieberum truly brought US History to life through his lectures, and you could always tell he enjoyed his subject. Prior to his class, I was never greatly interested in US History, but I walked away with a new found interest. Mr. Lieberum was also a fantastic Scholastic Bowl coach, who always motivated us to do our best even against some of the tougher teams that we faced.”