Michaela Uzoukwu

Michaela Uzoukwu is a senior at St. Vincent Academy in Newark, New Jersey, and an alumna of the Rutgers Upward Bound Program. Throughout her high school years, she has distinguished herself through a strong commitment to academics, leadership, and community service.

As Co-Captain of the Track and Field and a member of the Cross Country teams, Michaela Uzoukwu has cultivated discipline, perseverance, excellence and time management while maintaining strong academic performance. Her induction into the National Honor Society stands as a testament to her unwavering commitment to its four pillars of the National Honor Society, Scholarship, Service, Leadership, and Character.

Michaela Uzoukwu’s involvement extends beyond athletics and academics. As a member of the Ecology Club, she has championed environmental awareness through sustainability initiatives on campus.

Through the Drama Club, she has collaborated with peers on performances that sharpened her creativity, confidence, and communication skills. As a Student Ambassador, she has represented St. Vincent Academy at school events, welcomed new students, and supported school programs, further developing her leadership and interpersonal abilities. Michaela is civically engaged in her community, as an Elections Poll Clerk, she ensures that voting is fair, inclusive and accessible for all.

Her achievements have not gone unrecognized. Michaela Uzoukwu is a recipient of the College Board National Recognition Program Award (2025), Rutgers Newark Center for PreCollege TRO Saturday Program Commitment and Growth Award (2025) and NABA’s Certificate of Achievement for her participation in the 2023 ACAP–NJ program. She has earned Honor Roll distinction in the second semesters of both 2024 and 2025, and Dean’s List recognition in the third and fourth semesters of 2025. For three consecutive years 2022, 2023, and 2024, she has been honored with the Honey Babees Inc., Service Award, a testament to her sustained dedication to community service and leadership.

This fall, Michaela Uzoukwu will attend The College of New Jersey as a member of their Chemistry (Biochemistry Specialization Program). Her goal is to become a pharmacologist, studying the effects of drugs on the body in order to develop treatments that address health disparities in underserved communities.