Mars Area graduates Deepayan Patra and Nathan Walker have been named valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2018, respectively.

Patra served as president of Mars Area High School’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) Club. He was a member of National Honor Society, Film Club, and the school’s Science Bowl, Hometown High-Q and Boys Varsity Tennis teams.

He served as a peer tutor; and his team of Mars Area High School technology students earned first place overall at the third annual Shaler Area STEAM Competition.

Patra was named a finalist in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. He received the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award and the High School Service Award.

He will attend Carnegie Mellon University, where he plans to major in computer science.

Walker was a member of National Honor Society, Key Club, STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) Club; as well as Mars Area High School’s Forensics and Boys Varsity Tennis teams.

He received the U.S. Navy Outstanding Scholar Award and the Mars Area High School Chemistry, Engineering & Mathematics Scholarship.

Walker will attend Carnegie Mellon University as a chemistry and Spanish major.

For more information on the valedictorian, salutatorian and honors selection process, call (724) 625-1581 or visit https://highschool.marsk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=808546&type=d&pREC_ID=1189727.