Top Digital Harbor students make their assistant principal proud

Note: The Class of 2007 is an annual feature in which local high schools nominate students whom they feel have been particularly outstanding, for recognition.
by Mary Helen Sprecher
newsroom@baltimoreguide.com

To paraphrase Shakespeare: “Two students, both alike in dignity, in fair Digital Harbor where we lay our scene…”

Kaitlyn Stalnaker and Denis Magallan couldn’t be more different—or more alike. Stalnaker grew up in the Brooklyn area of the city, has been valedictorian of her class all four years, and would like to pursue a career in medicine. Magallan hails from Peru, is waiting on U.S. citizenship and wants to own his own civil engineering firm in Florida.

And yet they’re both residents of Baltimore, both graduates of Digital Harbor, and both examples of self-made students.

“Both of these students are the sort of examples of the way you can succeed at this school,” said Dr. Andrea Bowden, assistant principal at Digital Harbor. “Each has taken a different path but has managed to take advantage in their own way of what the school has to offer. They are both excellent role models for others. They are strong students and very capable in anything they try. We are just very proud of them.”

The class of 2007 is Digital Harbor’s second group of graduates in as many years. The building has changed since it housed Southern High School, and since Digital’s students were the new kids on the block.

The school is now dedicated to technology education through four different pathways (Programming/Software Development, Information Systems/Support Services, Interactive Media/Video Production, and Networking Systems) and according to an informational brochure, has a 92 percent attendance rate.

Magallan has taken the Information pathway in his journey through high school, and was named the 2007 Pitroff Outstanding Technology Student. He just finished taking his MicroSoft Office Systems certification exam and has been a member of the National Honor Society for several years. Next year, he’s off to CCBC.

Not bad for someone for whom English is a second language. In fact, it was only five years ago that Magallan moved to America with his family, and only four years ago that he started attending Digital Harbor. And yes, it was a change.

“In my country, teachers used to come to our class and teach—you didn’t go to different rooms. And we carried our books with us, we didn’t have lockers.”
The changes, the differences and the culture shock led him to enroll in the Mi Espacio program, in which Hispanic students could get help with homework, and with interpreting school materials. Before long, he was mentoring and tutoring students, and had been selected for the Hispanic Youth Symposium held at UMBC and hosted by then-Governor Robert Ehrlich.

“Denis is the student people go to when they want something interpreted, or when they don’t understand something,” said Bowden. “Kaitlyn is the one people go to when they need help with something.”

Stalnaker, the straight-A student, took the Media pathway through Digital Harbor. She’s wait-listed at Johns Hopkins, and plans to attend UMBC in the fall, then transfer into her chosen school to study medicine.

Just don’t write her off as a bookworm. This is one student with a broad range of extra-curricular interests.

“I initially started in the anime club here, but toward my junior year I started getting away from that. I went out for lacrosse and this year was the varsity lacrosse captain.”

Her ultimate career goal, she said, is to become either a neurosurgeon or a disease pathologist.

Disease pathology?
“I’ve always been interested in diseases. I remember being eight years old and concerned about smallpox.”
And neurology?
“I guess it’s the fascination with the unknown.”

Both Magallan and Stalnaker have acted as tour guides in the school, taking prospective students and their parents through the facility. Both have been volunteers in clubs and activities, including a recent blood drive.

Both are proud of their accomplishments, and both are looking toward the future. The paths they plan to take couldn’t be more different. Magallan sees himself settled in Miami, working as a civil engineer. Stalnaker believes that a decade from now, she’ll probably still be in school, pursuing her medical degree.

They do agree, however, on the quality that got them this far. It’s the quality that continues to serve them.

“Determination,” said Stalnker, without hesitation.

Magallan looked up. “That’s it,” he said firmly. “Yes.”

Bowden looks satisfied. “We’re proud of them. Extremely proud.”