Budding software/electrical engineer credits “one of the best high schools in Michigan” for hopeful future.
When asked whether he would go to Notre Dame if he had to do it all over again, NDP senior James Pillot said of course he would.
“I've been keeping up with how some of my friends have been doing at the other schools I could have gone to and I truly feel that NDP has prepared me for the future better than any of my other high school options could have,” he said. “The healthy mix of academic rigor, options for electives, clubs, sports and a Christian theme all make this one of the best high schools in Michigan.”
It certainly seems that Notre Dame and Pillot have been tailor-made for each other.
Pillot wants to be an electrical engineer and/or software engineer. He has applied to Stanford, U-M, Georgia Tech, Purdue and Kettering for his post-secondary academic career with a letter of acceptance from Purdue hitting his mailbox. And as one of Notre Dame’s student ambassadors, Pillot serves as a great example for students and their parents who are considering an NDPMA education.
When he gets to college next fall, Pillot wants to do a double major in electrical engineering and computer engineering. “I’ll also try to fit in some Chinese classes since another goal of mine is to one day be fluent in Chinese,” he added.
Pillot says a career in electrical or software engineering is in his future.
“I definitely want to be an engineer and work on embedded systems, meaning the computers that control hardware in cars, robots and rockets,” he said. “It really doesn't matter in which industry I work, but aerospace would be nice. Companies like Boston Dynamics and SpaceX are very appealing options, though.”
Lofty aspirations, to be sure, but ones definitely within his grasp given his high school career so far and the fact that his favorite class all-time at Notre Dame is Advanced Placement Calculus. Yep. . .AP Calculus.
“My favorite subject has been math all throughout my years at Notre Dame with my favorite math class being Mr. McCaskey's AP Calc class,” Pillot said. “However, in a close second would be Mr. Smith's American Culture class that included looking at the evolution of music throughout the years and then watching footage from Woodstock, which was absolutely great!”
Pillot saves his biggest NDPMA shoutout for the time he’s spent with the school’s robotics program.
“NDP has given me so many opportunities that I wouldn't have had if I hadn't gone here,” he said. “However, the most fruitful part of my experience has been my involvement with the Killer Bees. Our mentor/coordinator Jim Zondag and the other engineers who work with us along with some of the team's alumni have truly guided me toward what my desired career choice is as well as my major. And many of my favorite memories would probably be the numerous ’a-ha’ moments I've experienced when developing something new at robotics.”
Ambassador program benefits school and student
Since he was in 10th grade, Pillot has served on Notre Dame’s student ambassador program, which takes many of the school’s outstanding students and makes them true advocates for the school.
Student ambassadors are "responsible for projecting and fostering a warm and welcoming atmosphere for anyone interested in Notre Dame, which could be both on or off campus," according to the program application. Potential ambassadors typically are nominated by the school’s faculty and staff.
But the ambassador program does not just benefit the school, though. Those chosen also derive many benefits themselves, especially when many are at a point in school when big decisions need to be made about colleges and careers. Program administrators say college recruiters pay keen attention to extracurricular activities like Notre Dame's ambassador program, which looks really good on a résumé when applying for the next level. Ambassadors also gain leadership and communication skills and because they are working so closely with admissions people, they are always on the inside track of what’s new at Notre Dame.
The admissions department typically takes nominations for the program from faculty and staff throughout the school year, but student nominees are required to complete an application and submit it around the first week of June. Simon says he tells applicants it's a big deal to even be nominated. "We tell them that as a recipient of a nomination to join the program, they should feel very honored. The nomination reflects the very high esteem in which the Notre Dame faculty holds them."
NOTE: Check out the video below, which was made when Pillot was a sophomore member of the student ambassadors. In it he says he likes being an ambassador for the school, not the least of which is because of the cool threads he gets to wear!
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About Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy
Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy is a private, Catholic, independent, coeducational day school located in Oakland County. The school's upper division enrolls students in grades nine through twelve and has been named one of the nation's best 50 Catholic high schools (Acton Institute) four times since 2005. Notre Dame's middle and lower divisions enroll students in jr. kindergarten through grade eight. All three divisions are International Baccalaureate "World Schools." NDPMA is conducted by the Marist Fathers and Brothers and is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and the North Central Association Commission on Accreditation and School Improvement. For more on Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy, visit the school's home page at www.ndpma.org.