SCHOLASTIC SUPERSTARS 2026: Thomas Nowak, Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences

Thomas Nowak, a standout student at Hazleton Area Academy of Sciences, cites Bucknell University acceptance as a milestone toward a civil engineering path. He notes pride in being a finalist in the KidWind state wind turbine competition, which advanced him to the international round, and in the tecBridge high school business competition where he developed Shadow Reality, an immersive virtual reality platform for career exploration. He also highlights a GPA that exceeded his own expectations, emphasizing persistence, creativity, and a willingness to tackle new challenges as core drivers of his success. Among his most rewarding activities, Nowak cites Junior Leadership Hazleton, which connected him with the community and sharpened communication and leadership skills, and the engineering club, where hands-on problem solving reinforced teamwork. Outside school, his hobbies include fishing, dirt biking, trap shooting, and hiking in spring and summer; he also enjoys Spikeball, basketball, and soccer, along with hunting and fur trapping in season. He values winter skiing and family travel, and his post-graduation plan centers on studying civil engineering at Bucknell and continuing to grow as an engineer and leader.