Peter Laanisto
School: Hammond High School
Hometown: Columbia
Age: 17
Peter has a 3.7 grade point average taking primarily Gifted and Talented and Honors courses.
At Hammond, Peter is an avid runner and captain of the cross country team. His interests range from running in cross country to indoor track, lacrosse and band. He is president of the National Honor Society at school, was on the Principal's Honor Roll, plays trumpet in the Hammond Jazz Combo and was Math Team captain. He has also been an active member of the Class Council and was Homecoming chairperson. "Peter's intellectual qualities and academic work place him in a select group of the gifted. The personality of this fine young man is as positive as his academic assessment," said Colleen J. Rodberg, senior class sponsor. "Peter balances athletic commitment with course work and at the same time has a typical social life."
Outside school, Peter performs with the jazz combo at private parties and grand openings. He also volunteers at a soup kitchen in Baltimore.
Plans: He would like to pursue bachelor's and master's degrees in engineering. Peter was recently accepted at University of Maryland.
His comments: "I'm a person who has to be active," said Peter of his varied interests. "I can't be on one thing at a time. I am interested in a lot of things. It keeps me from being bored and gives my life some variety."
Send nominations to Jill L. Kubatko, Student Standout, The Sun for Howard County, 5570 Sterrett Place, Suite 300, Columbia 21044. Please enclose a brief description of the student's activities and a phone number to reach the student.