DEARBORN HEIGHTS — Many of Crestwood High School’s graduating class achieved high grade point averages and received praise from their school’s staff for their efforts in planning for their futures.

“I consider myself so fortunate to work with such a talented, intelligent, driven group of students,” said Yusra Hamadeh, counselor to the senior class. “This group of students invested the time and effort to the scholarship opportunities that were available to them, which totals over $16 million, breaking a record.”

Crestwood High School graduates were offered a total of $16.2 million in scholarships.

Nearly 100 percent of the seniors graduated and applied to post-secondary institutions.

“More significantly, they created countless post-secondary options, which allowed them to select the best college institution that suited their academic, career and personal goals,” Hamadeh added. “With the majority of the class attending a four-year institution in-state, we also have many who have committed to prestigious universities around the nation, in states such as New York, California, Texas, Colorado, Alabama, Minnesota and Ohio.”

Serena Touqan

Serena Touqan, the class valedictorian, plans to attend Macalester College, a private liberal arts school in Saint Paul, Minnesota, for religious studies. Macalester awarded Touqan, who graduated with a 4.5 GPA, the DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholarship. She said she hopes to become a professor or ethnographer.

Ali Elatrache, a class salutatorian, also graduated with a 4.5 GPA. He plans to study biology at

Ali Elatrache

the University of Michigan in hopes of becoming a medical doctor. He received an AP capstone research diploma and participated in student congress.

Ala’a Awada, another of Crestwood’s salutatorians, graduated with a 4.4 GPA. She plans to study education at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and become a teacher.

All three students are National Honor Society members and received Crestwood’s President’s Award for Educational Excellence.

Ala’a Awada

“We strive to encourage our students to stretch beyond their perceived limits and explore opportunities that could take their educational experience to new heights,” said Crestwood High School Principal Joel Fabris. “It is a pleasure to work with such an ambitious group of seniors who were truly engaged in the post-secondary planning process. I wish them the best of luck in all their future endeavors.”