Celebrating the newest Bearcats on Decision Day

Kaba’s interest in mathematics, numbers and problem-solving goes back to third grade when he first mastered multiplication. It was a simple achievement but it opened an important door for Kaba, now a senior at Aiken High School.

“It was the first time I realized how important something as small as understanding math could make me feel powerful, capable and curious,” explains Kaba, who is hoping to major in actuarial science in UC’s College of Arts and Sciences.

Kaba, who will be a first-generation college student, is part of Aiken’s National Honor Society and has been active in the school’s football program throughout his four years. He’s been a linebacker, defensive back and captain of the team. Kaba has also participated in outdoor track and the school’s wrestling team, serving as captains in both sports.

“Throughout high school, math has always been the subject that makes me feel most at home,” adds Kaba. “I love how every problem, no matter how complex, has logic behind it and can be solved with patience and reasoning. Actuarial science connects that same logic to real-world situations — using probability and statistics to help people plan for the future, manage risk and build stability. It’s a field that challenges me to think critically and creatively, and it gives purpose to my love of numbers.”

Kaba is a member of Speak Up Speak Out, part of the UC ambassador program and tutors other students.

“My experiences in football and wrestling have taught me perseverance and leadership, qualities I know I’ll carry into my studies and my career. Whether it’s recovering from a setback or working toward a common goal, I’ve learned that hard work and consistency are what build success — on the field, in the classroom and in life,” explains Kaba.

Roeper grew up in a household that encouraged a love of music.

He embarked on his own musical journey in fifth grade playing the saxophone in his school's band. He gravitated to a world of improvisation and a love of jazz, but the high school senior now at Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts, also respects and has been influenced by a variety of other music forms including R&B, soul, metal, hardcore, emo and hip-hop.

They all shape how he plays and performs for an audience. 

Roeper plans to study jazz at UC with hopes of some day becoming a composer and professional performer of music. He is a section leader for the Cincinnati Jazz Academy, a member of Scouting America and a patrol leader. Roeper was selected for the All-State Jazz Ensemble and will represent his high school at the Ohio Music Education Association Conference in January 2026, performing with the best young jazz musicians across the state.

“The feeling that I get from listening to music is what I fell in love with and what I hope to invoke in others with my own music,” explains Roeper. “Music has done more than just give me purpose and joy. It has influenced my values and the way I view the world. I hope to be that change for others. 

“When I went to my first live concert, I knew that I wanted to be able to connect with people the way the musicians on stage were connecting with me at the show. Through performing during my time in high school, I have found that music is the purest way for me to express myself to others and it is what brings me the most joy.”

Leary, a senior at Cincinnati’s Spencer Center for Gifted and Exceptional Students, has long been fascinated with the design and function of machines.

As a six-year-old she fell in love with roller coasters and wanted to be a roller coaster engineer. Her desire was to be someone who could “blend creativity with mechanical precision to design thrilling, safe and innovative rides.” 

Since then she constructed roller coasters with K’Nex, a toy system of rods and connectors used to build models. With 3D design tools like Tinkercad, Leary created customized wheel assemblies and tracks. She’s explored sophisticated coaster simulator games like Planet Coaster.

Leary learned engineering principles such as structural stability, prototyping and motion dynamics. Her love affair with roller coasters led her to testing out more than 100 roller coasters in amusement parks across the country.

“I saw firsthand how subtle design differences shaped each ride experience,” explains Leary. “Every dip and curve was intentional. Small choices determined the g-forces, created weightlessness and controlled the entire ride dynamic. Each new ride revealed how my exploration, research and experiences converged to deepen my understanding of roller coasters.”

She hopes to study mechanical engineering in the UC College of Engineering and Applied Science.

At the Spencer Center, Leary has put her creative talents to good use. She is co-founder of the Literature Club, a student ambassador, captain of the Ethics Bowl and has served as a vice president of the Spencer Center Junior Classic League.

Leary led a team of GE Next Engineers: Cincinnati Engineering Camp and has been a member of her school’s student council, poetry club, bike club and active in the American Coaster Enthusiastics and the FYE Coasters Club.

Leary says one of her highlights that provided real-world learning came when she worked with her father to restore a vintage machinist’s lathe.

“Disassembling and diagnosing the machine taught me about the wear and tear of different materials and the interplay of gears, motors and precision components. It also gave me a deep appreciation for craftsmanship in mechanical systems,” adds Leary.

Hobbins has the heart of a designer.

Individuality matters. And beauty appears to be found in everything for this senior at Cincinnati’s School for Creative and Performing Arts. 

She’s been a costume intern and a production management intern for the Cincinnati Opera and has supported her school’s theater/drama program by serving as a dresser, assistant director and crew chief.

Her plan is to study in UC’s College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning.

“I hope to contribute to my own personal history and the personal history of others, with the skills I learn in DAAP’s fashion design program,” explains Hobbins. “I want to be part of creating human history by creating my own clothing company and label focused on personal expression and my art, helping people to write their stories with their everyday choices transcending the rules of society. Personal expression has no limits and neither should fashion.”

Hobbins draws inspiration from picture books. One of her favorites is “The Gift of Driscoll Lipscomb.” The children’s book written by Sara Yamaka and illustrated by Heidi Kirn revolves around a young girl receiving a paintbrush and a pot of color with the power to create all manner of colorful things, with the gift of everyday rainbows.

“At the end of my freshman year I pushed myself to audition for the School for Creative and

Performing Arts, and ‘The Gift of Driscoll Lipscomb’ taught me to take my life’s colors and paint my own rainbow, see the world through my artistic eyes.

“The idea of picture books bringing stories to life visually, parallels my role at school and in life as a costume designer and stitcher,” says Hobbins. “I’m given a playwright's words, and I paint them in the form of concept sketches, mood boards, fabric and seams. With limited time and only the dialogue and stage directions, I build a person’s history, family, friends, all through their clothing in a matter of weeks.”

Hobbins explains she is building worlds and creating people and their lives from nothing but a couple of bolts of fabric and some thread, similar to the illustrators who create a picture book’s world with just the short sentences on each page.

Taylor is a problem solver by nature.

It’s why he’s drawn to information technology classes at Shroder High School, but that trait is also put to good use on the school’s football team. Taylor has served as a guard, tackle, defensive tackle and noseguard for much of his high school tenure.

Taylor is also part of Shroder’s Academic Team, serves as treasurer of the Senior Student Council and has worked with a nonprofit organization to mentor youth in tech and STEM fields. He also mentors youth to become better members of society.

“For the past four years, I’ve taken IT classes solving problems with creative approaches and constantly learning new methods in areas of technological concepts such as programming languages, managing datatables, web and app design, as well as building and maintaining networks,” explains Taylor.

“The field excites me because it focuses on problem solving, adaptability and

innovation. During summer 2025, I worked an internship as an IT tech intern where I would troubleshoot different hardware and software issues on PCs and laptops, assemble PCs and work as part of phone tech support,” adds Taylor. “Being able to actually gain experience in the IT field and having fun with my coworkers, made an incredible experience for me.”

Taylor also enjoys English and loves reading stories and uncovering deeper meanings. He has an interest in psychology and philosophy. He’s currently undecided about his area of study at UC.

“Whatever I choose to do, my ability to analyze problems, spot patterns and create unique solutions, as well as my motivation, interest and work ethic will help me,” he adds.

Ambrocio-Diaz hopes for a career in nursing.

“Since I was a child, I dreamed of becoming many things,” she explains. “But as I am now getting ready to start a new chapter in my life after graduation, I’ve realized that my dream has evolved into something more specific: to help mothers and their babies safely navigate a safe and healthy postpartum journey as a postpartum nurse.”

The senior at Western Hills University High School says she was inspired by the struggles of the many women who have shaped her life. She will be the first in her family to attend college.

Ambrocio-Diaz participates in a “school-to-work” program at a Cincinnati health system that allows her to connect with patients and learn about the medical field from professionals. She holds a part-time job to help with family finances and volunteers at Lockland Church of the Nazarene.

“My mother who has been the greatest inspiration, my motivator and my best friend, is the foundation of my dream,” explains Ambrocio-Diaz. “She has shown me what true strength and love looks like, even during the most difficult moments.”

Gajjar, a senior at Walnut Hills High School, hopes to be a research scientist someday.

He wants to study biochemistry in UC’s College of Arts and Science. Gajjar won the Ohio State University National Junior Book Award, was recognized by the College Board National Recognition Program and is an AP Scholar with Distinction.

His interest in the sciences grew listening to a high school AP biology teacher explain the intricacies of the cell cycle — the series of events that occur when a cell divides into two daughter cells.

“To me, the introduction of how cells metastasize into tumors and become malignant was something oddly fascinating,” explains Gajjar. “My teacher intently explained how the protein controls growing division. As irrelevant as that sounded to my fellow classmates, I was captivated by how that small protein could control your entire existence. 

“This new learning allowed me to find my purpose. I created my first study group where we would religiously meet every lunch, and our conversations many times resulted in late night video calls to discuss our misconceptions at length. I felt connected to something greater than me, something that made my mind become more curious,” says Gajjar.

Another love for Gajjar is music.

He is part of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and is a leader of the trombone squad and low brass section in the Walnut Hills High School Marching Band. He is a lead trombone player in the Jazz Academy Big Band in Cincinnati Public Schools and is an assistant principal trombonist in the Ohio Music Education Association All-State Orchestra. 

Gajjar is co-founder of Slides Eagles Trombone Quartet and is a trombonist with the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra. He is a student in the Mercy West Hospital Medical Explorer’s Program and attended UC’s Medical Sciences Summer Institute for Molecular Biology.

Eissa knows an understanding of chemistry isn’t just an academic exercise. It applies to everything around us.

“Chemistry, for example, is in our toothpaste,” explains Eissa. “Chemistry helps me recognize how everything around me is much more intricate than it appears. In chemistryexperiments, I saw how substances lost and gained electrons when powered by electricity.”

“Through understanding the interactions between molecules and the behavior of electrons, Icould better understand the contributions of the smallest members of our society: children. By understanding them, I can also help them,” says Eissa.

Eissa, a senior at Walnut Hills High School, wants to someday be an orthodontist. She wants children to smile with confidence.

“When I volunteer with children ages five to seven, I often see little ones with mouths full of rotting teeth,” explains Eissa. “I think maybe these kids are scared of dentists like I was, maybe they hate the taste of toothpaste or maybe they need better support. My goal is to give all children — and later their older selves — the confidence to smile. If any major area of study can give me the ability and tools to succeed in this goal, it’s chemistry.”

Eissa is a volunteer as an assistant teacher at Clifton Mosque, active in the Muslim Student Association at high school, a peer tutor in the Student Success Center at the school and a Muslim Girl Teen Club Member, MGTC at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati.

She is an honor student, member of a student club that studies Chinese culture and traditions and serves as an ambassador at her high school providing tours to new students. Eissa is also a sewist producing decorative quilts and bags.

Fevita Reynoso is considering a career in accounting.

Her interest in the field was piqued during a field trip to Deloitte, a global professional service network with an office in Cincinnati that offers organizations audit, consulting, tax, risk and financial advisory services.

“I was surprised by how numbers tell a story about a company’s future,” says Reynoso, who found she enjoys problem-solving and analytical thinking.

The Withrow University High School student would like to become a certified public accountant and help organizations make responsible financial decisions. She says the Lindner College of Business at UC has strong collaborative opportunities and will allow her to apply what she's learned in the classroom to real-world settings. She will get her chance with Linder’s cooperative education opportunities offered with companies that are local, national and international.

“Studying accounting feels like the best way to combine my analytical skills with my desire to give to accountability and honesty in business,” adds Reynoso. “Education is not just a path to achieve, it’s a way to create a change. It is the base that allows people to break free from poverty and build better futures for themselves and their families.”

Reynoso finds time for extracurricular activities. She has played soccer as part of her high school team for the past four years. She’s been captain, center back and forward on her time.

Greenwade is interested in computer science and electrical engineering.

The senior at John J. Gilligan Digital Academy wasn’t always a stellar student in elementary and middle school but he found his passion when he joined INTERalliance of Greater Cincinnati in high school. The student-run nonprofit organization is dedicated to helping youth explore the IT industry across Greater Cincinnati.

The organization empowers high school students with real experience through its INTERalliance Leadership Council and INTERnship programs and through events like TechOlympics. Greenwade is now part of the leadership council. He learned a lot about accountability, leadership and discipline.

“When I began showing up consistently, teaching, editing and delivering code, people started treating me like a leader instead of a problem,” says Greenwade.

He soon became a teacher who could translate complicated ideas into exercises that helped IT beginners.

“I learned patience through repetition and humility by watching others succeed,” says Greenwade. “As I grew into officer roles and the INTERalliance leadership team, my contributions multiplied. I planned and built competition projects with teammates, handled marketing and video editing and served as the IT liaison connecting students to mentors and resources,” adds Greenwade.

“My portfolio documents over three years of editing experience and the tangible reach of that work — more than 4.32 million views and 4.6k hours of watch time — proof that the media I create connects with people beyond my immediate circle,” says Greenwade.

Greenwade also works for park services at Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden and has volunteered to develop an interactive trivia game for the zoo’s website. He develops and programs mods and games for Roblox and Minecraft and is a content creator and editor on YouTube. Greenwade holds a part-time job to assist with family expenses.