Aiesha Pradhan will attend Cornell University and major in Biology and Society.

NAPILI — Out of hard work comes success. Maui Preparatory Academy is proud to announce that 100 percent of its senior class has been accepted to a diverse range of colleges and universities, both across the country and internationally, which is consistent with the school’s record for the last five years running.

Two of those seniors, Aiesha Pradhan and Peyton Gillespie, will be attending Ivy League universities in the fall. Over the course of their careers at Maui Prep, Aiesha and Peyton have truly embodied the saying, “Life is what you make it,” taking advantage of every opportunity that Maui Prep has to offer — and then some.

They are shining examples of how Maui Prep facilitates growth, challenges students to reach their full potential and provides support for students’ individual passions.

Pradhan, who was born and raised in Lahaina, received the Pueo Pilot Scholarship in 2017 and has sought out and grasped every opportunity that has come her way.

Starting her freshman year, she distinguished herself as an academic leader by maintaining a high grade point average, preparing herself for the rigor of multiple Advanced Placement courses and Dual Enrollment her junior and senior year.

She has become an active participant in her local community through her roles as Rotary Interact president, National Honor Society president, Admissions Ambassador, Global Issues Network secretary, and Student Senate treasurer.

In addition to a rigorous course load with various extracurriculars, she competed in canoe paddling and tennis, ranking number one seed in the school.

Her intellectual curiosity propelled her to pursue various internships centered around her interest in medicine. In the 11th grade, Aiesha shadowed Dr. Melissa Hessel to gain real-world work experience, additionally preparing her to give a keynote address about infant vaccinations at a local learning fair.

Similarly, Aiesha served as a mentee to Dr. Ma’Ann Sabino to compose an extensive research paper centered around the use of telehealth during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Her ambition, determination and grit led to her acceptance to Cornell University, where she received a $240,000 scholarship and will major in Biology and Society with the goal of using her degree to work with nonprofit organizations such as Doctors Without Borders to drive real change in the complex world of healthcare.

Gillespie came to Maui Preparatory Academy from Molokai in the tenth grade after receiving the Pueo Pilot Scholarship.

His goal was to attend an institution that would allow him more expansive opportunities in academics, the performing arts, athletics and extracurricular activities. Peyton has since taken on almost every opportunity and challenge in his reach; for instance, he continued his passion for acting by participating in two annual school musicals, one of which he played the lead role.

Peyton continued his passion for playing music by becoming an active member of the 7AM Band, learning to play bass guitar, electric guitar, acoustic guitar and saxophone.

Additionally, he honed his leadership skills through his roles as vice president of the Rotary Interact Club, vice president of the Maui District Student Council Organization (MDSCO), Student Senate MDSCO representative, Admissions Ambassador, Boarding R/A, and social chair of the Global Issues Network Club.

Peyton continued his passion for competitive swimming at Maui Prep and had the opportunity to anchor the boys relay team at the state championships last year. He was also a member of the track and field, cross country and tennis teams.

This year, Peyton received an internship with Rep. Amy Perruso of the Hawaii House of Representatives, where he is exploring the legislative process and getting a head start on pursuing his dream career.

Peyton will be attending Brandeis University on a full-ride scholarship ($304,000 over the course of four years) and Humanities Fellowship in the fall, where he will major in Political Science as a pre-law student with the goal to attend law school, work as a lawyer and eventually run for political office.

Maui Prep continues to pursue rigor and excellence in its educational programs to equip students in their academic pursuits. If you are interested in learning more about one of the top educational institutions on Maui, visit www.mauiprep.org or contact Director of Admissions Liz Turcik at admissions@mauiprep.org or (808) 665-9966 to set up a tour.