Owego graduate named salutatorian of Utica University
John 'Jack' Hrustich III maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout his time at Utica University and was recently named salutatorian of the Class of 2025.
Hrustich graduated from Owego Free Academy in 2021. He then attended SUNY Broome before transferring to Utica to major in cybersecurity and minor in computer science.
Hrustich plans to pursue a cybersecurity career in the private sector before eventually pursuing an advanced degree in cybersecurity.
Congratulations from News 34!
Owego graduate named salutatorian of Utica University
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Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
These Toronto students have 100% averages. Born just as the iPhone came out, here's how technology shaped their studies
Born just as the first iPhone launched, the Class of 2025 has also never known a world without YouTube, Facebook or Twitter. Yet despite growing up with ever-present distraction, four Toronto students have graduated with 100 per cent averages — a testament to discipline and smarts, but also to an ability to navigate the digital world that shaped them. Sheena Qin, Andrew Peng, Sowmya Ramanan and Safiya Vohra-Bangi are the Toronto District School Board's top scholars, besting 22,400 of their Grade 12 peers. Each earned perfect marks in advanced functions, calculus, chemistry, biology, physics and at least one other course. In English they scored above 97 per cent. Qin, Peng and Ramanan, all friends from Bloor Collegiate Institute downtown, were enrolled in TOPS, an enriched math and sciences program. 'Grades didn't directly bring us together,' said Qin, 'but we're all people who like STEM and work hard.' They will all study computer science in September, with Qin and Peng off to the University of Toronto and Ramanan to the University of Waterloo. Vohra-Bangi, who graduated from Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute in Scarborough, will study engineering at U of T. Raised on touchscreens, hashtags and endless scrolling, their lives have spanned social media's rise and, more recently, the arrival of ChatGPT. The Star spoke with them about the tech they rely on, the habits that help them focus, and whether cellphones have been truly banned from Ontario classrooms . Andrew Peng , 18 Andrew Peng What digital tools helped you learn? I'm a curious person and often get lost down Wikipedia rabbit holes. It's an easy way to get a lot of niche information that otherwise would be quite difficult to access. With distraction a touch away, how do you maintain focus? I tend to not get distracted easily. I have a relatively high level in piano, the Royal Conservatory of Music, ARCT, so that means I spent a lot of time playing piano when I was a kid. You have to be disciplined and not distracted to reach that level. What about free time? When I was a kid, I played games until my tablet was out of battery. But now, I don't really play games. I do competitive programming or research. I like to go on runs and bike rides. Have you had to limit tech use? No. But I must say that my study strategies are probably not the best. Sometimes I take a 'due' date to be the 'do' date and then I have to speed through it. I can somehow pressure myself into focusing. How has AI impacted your education? I use it as a tool to greatly boost my efficiency. ChatGPT is basically a search engine on steroids. Instead of me needing to scour a bunch of forums, websites or research papers, ChatGPT just does it for me. And it can do other things well, like formatting a formal email. How would you describe learning in the digital era? In two words: efficiency and laziness. How effective was the new cellphone ban in the classroom? That's the official policy, but 90 per cent of my teachers didn't follow it, which I believe is the correct decision. If you can manage the usage of technology then it makes learning much more efficient. You shouldn't ban it for 100 per cent of the people just because five per cent abuse it. What is your relationship to failure considering your average is perfect? My motto in life is I just try my best. I'm not striving for perfection. So even if I fail, I don't get sad or give up since I know there is nothing I could change about it. Sheena Qin , 18 Sheena Qin With distraction a touch away, how do you maintain focus? For STEM subjects, especially, I try to do as much of the homework in class as possible, and I try to go to libraries because I want to establish certain spaces as a workspace to feel less distracted. I also try to turn the distraction into something good: me and my friends use (voice, video, text platform) Discord to communicate, but a lot of times we'll sit in Discord and talk about what we're studying so we learn from each other. What about free time? I like to play a lot of video games, like Pokemon or Civilization VI or Genshin Impact. How has AI impacted your education? In English, instead of giving us an essay to write at home, the teacher had us write it in class, with pen and paper. What technology is school not addressing? AI isn't ever going to disappear. So I think (schools should) teach us how to use it properly. Also, I feel like the computer science curriculum could be enriched because now it's relatively easy to self-learn it all. How would you describe learning in the digital era? The process of getting something or writing your ideas down is simpler, but the thinking is still there. How effective was the new cellphone ban in the classroom? Most teachers didn't really care, as long as you were not using it the entire time. I would use (my phone) to play (game-based learning platform) Kahoot! or take pictures of a lesson if I couldn't write it down fast enough. What is your relationship to failure considering your average is perfect? It doesn't feel good, obviously, but maybe it was just down to chance. Maybe this job just had too many applicants. I try not to dwell on it. Sowmya Ramanan , 17 Sowmya Ramanan What digital tools helped you learn? I do a lot of practice quizzes online. I also use Quizlet for flashcards to help me study. It helps me review the subjects and make sure knowledge is being reinforced. With distraction a touch away, how do you maintain focus? I put time limits on all my social media apps, otherwise I do find I get pretty distracted by them. I'll set a one-hour limit, mainly for Discord. What about free time? I watch YouTube videos, pretty random ones. I play the piano and swim, (and did) badminton for a little while. I learned how to solve Rubik's Cube. What's the digital tool or app you can't do without? Discord. It's the main way I talk to my friends. But also to collaborate — hopping on calls and sharing worksheets and hearing other people's ideas on how they would solve things. I don't think I would have gotten a hundred per cent without that. How has AI impacted your education? I found it very helpful. It takes a bunch of the info from the internet and summarizes it and it can answer really specific questions — rather than reading through a bunch of websites, which I could do, but it would just take a lot longer. And I can also ask it for a source so I can be sure that it's not completely false. I'm able to ask a lot of follow-up questions. It's very quick and efficient. How effective was the new cellphone ban in the classroom? I had one teacher who was very strict, and others weren't as strict. In that one class ... it definitely helped me stay on track and focused. Do you use any analog techniques? Writing it out helps (for memorization), not all my notes, but sort of like a mind-dump of key concepts. What is your relationship to failure considering your average is perfect? One of the failures I've had is not finding a job. It was very disappointing. Both inside and outside of school, (failure makes me) work harder, to make sure I get better. Safiya Vohra-Bangi, 17 Safiya Vohra-Bangi What digital tools helped you learn? If I don't understand something, I'll watch a YouTube video. Let's say your teacher glazes over a topic and you want to learn more, then I'll ask one of the AI tools to explain it. And before a test, you can ask it to make you a practice quiz. What about free time? I do calligraphy. I started when I was in Grade 6 because I started bullet journaling and I just loved it. I also play recreational hockey sometimes, hang out with my friends a lot and watch Netflix. Have you had to limit tech use? In the last semester of Grade 12, I took computer science, calculus, chemistry and physics. So I tried to delete Instagram for a few months, but I would still get distracted by other stuff. What's the digital tool or app you can't do without? I think I could live without any of them. iMessage doesn't count, right? What technology is school not addressing? They should incorporate technology more in the curriculum. Coding would also be a really useful class that everybody should take, just to understand algorithms. It would open up your mind. How would you describe learning in the digital era? It's a lot quicker. Knowledge is a lot more accessible. What is your relationship to failure considering your average is perfect? Academia is not the only way to experience failure. You can experience failure in friends sometimes, not for me personally, but you can. And with sports or at competition or maybe you don't get a job. If you're a high achiever, maybe you'll be hit a little bit harder by it, you might be a little bit more sensitive to it. And even if you try really hard, sometimes something's just not for you; it's just not your thing. These Q&As were edited for clarity and length. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Forbes
24-06-2025
- Forbes
How To Strategically Use AI To Launch Your Career In 2025
Welcome to the workforce, class of 2025. Here's how to leverage AI effectively in your job search. The class of 2025 should use AI in their job search Landing your first full-time job is an impressive feat at any time, but today it's becoming even more of an accomplishment. Between the current economic uncertainty and the AI-ification of the workforce, the class of 2025 is struggling to find their place in a fast-changing world. A study released today by iCIMS found that although entry-level hiring is up 6% over last year, there are still far too many candidates waiting in the wings. For every entry-level job opening, 36 people applied—compared to 29 applicants per entry-level job opening last year. Gen Z applicants are also dealing with the disconnect between companies' professed skills-first hiring strategies and how they actually hire. iCIMS found that although 95% of recruiters say they use skills-based practices, when assessing entry-level candidates they rank experience (37%) and education (34%) above skills (28%) as the most important factors. Yet for all this, there are still great opportunities out there for persistent job seekers. 'While the job market is highly competitive, graduates who remain adaptable and resilient in their job search efforts can find meaningful opportunities,' says Jake Gomez, Head of NA Vertical Strategy, ManpowerGroup. 'The job market is evolving, not closing, and job seekers must adapt accordingly.' I recently connected with Gomez to discuss the current state of entry-level hiring and how new grads can optimize their chances in a shifting employment landscape. Here's what we covered. 3 major challenges in today's job market Gomez sees three major hurdles that this year's college graduates must overcome to launch their careers. All of this adds up to a growing pessimism as the Class of 2025 surveys its hiring prospects. And it's not all in their heads. 'The job market challenges are evident, coupled with a 1.6% higher unemployment rate for new graduates compared to the current unemployment rate,' says Gomez. 'Even in our just released ManpowerGroup Employment Outlook Survey (MEOS), U.S. hiring intentions declined slightly to 30%, a 4% drop from the previous quarter.' Standing out In today's job market, Gomez estimates that it will take most graduates 4–6 months to find work—and upwards of 8 months for certain degrees. And they'll need to go beyond the basics. 'They need to make themselves relevant and stand out from the crowd,' he says. To help differentiate yourself, Gomez believes you should: 'And network like it's your job because until you find one, it is.' How AI is affecting the job search AI is a two-edged sword: while it can help young job seekers, it can also hurt if overused or not used properly. Gomez points to ManpowerGroup's latest research on AI in the workplace, which shows that 85% of employers now use AI in hiring processes. Most, however, recognize its limitations. One-third (33%) say AI can't replicate ethical judgment, while 31% cite customer service as uniquely human. 'Yet the research reveals a nuance that while AI won't replace people, people who can leverage AI will have more value than people who don't,' says Gomez. 'These findings underscore a growing consensus toward AI as a tool for augmentation, not replacement.' So where can AI be a help, not a hindrance? Where should you be cautious of AI? Gomez says it can often be too generic. 'Overreliance on AI-generated content without personalization can make applications feel unauthentic,' he says. AI may also add skills that don't reflect your actual capabilities. 'This can backfire in an interview if the job seeker can't speak to the skills,' he warns. Finally, it's all too easy to become overly dependent on AI. 'AI can become a crutch and hamper growth in critical skills,' says Gomez. To make the best use of AI in your job search, says Gomez, you should co-create with AI to generate a starting point or framework. 'But you must edit and ensure it reflects your voice,' he says. 'Make sure your answers stay 'you.' Ensure you stay true to who you are, embracing your strengths, values, and interests.' Job searching beyond AI While AI is now a big piece of the employment puzzle, it's not the only tool you can use to get hired. Gomez identifies three key actions you can take to improve your employability: It's true, the current job market isn't an easy one to break into—but the class of 2025 has already achieved so much. 'By focusing on skill development, networking, and flexibility, new graduates can navigate this landscape and find rewarding career paths,' says Gomez. 'And most importantly, control what you can control—your effort and attitude. Don't give up, ask for help, and be kind to yourself and others. 'You will succeed.'
Forbes
18-06-2025
- Forbes
Graduating Into Uncertainty: Why Skills-Based Hiring Matters
As organizations continue to face growing skills gaps, HR teams are starting to rethink what a 'qualified' candidate looks like. By Lara Albert, Chief Marketing Officer, SAP SuccessFactors Graduation season is here, and for the Class of 2025, the usual mix of excitement and anticipation comes with an added layer of anxiety. These grads are entering one of the toughest job markets in recent memory, marked by economic uncertainty, hiring slowdowns, and rising competition for junior roles as AI displaces entry-level positions at an accelerated rate. But uncertainty is nothing new for the Class of 2025. These students applied to colleges during a global pandemic, spent formative years learning in hybrid or remote classrooms, and are now witnessing AI reshape the future of work in real time. According to research, of the 57% of seniors who entered college with a 'dream job,' fewer than half have that same goal today, and more than half report feeling pessimistic about starting their careers in the current economy. This wave of uncertainty presents an opportunity for both employers and graduates to adapt. For HR teams, it's a chance to rethink how early talent is identified and supported, shifting the focus from traditional credentials to skills and long-term potential. For graduates, it means continuing to build new skills post-graduation, especially those that AI can't easily replicate, and staying agile in a fast-changing job market. As organizations continue to face growing skills gaps, HR teams are starting to rethink what a 'qualified' candidate looks like. Traditional markers like degrees, GPA, or prior experience don't always reflect someone's true potential and can unintentionally screen out capable candidates, especially those who've followed nontraditional paths. That's why leading organizations today, like Capgemini, Grundfos, Frit Ravich, and SAP are investing to adopt skills-based hiring. By evaluating candidates based on their capabilities—what they can do, not just what they have done—organizations can uncover hidden potential, expand their talent pools, and open doors for candidates who may not follow a conventional path but offer tremendous value. In turn, skills-based hiring helps organizations build a workforce that's resilient and future-ready. In fact, two-thirds (64.8%) of employers surveyed by NACE reported that they already use skills-based hiring practices for new entry-level hires. By focusing less on resumes and more on real-world potential, grads gain a better shot at landing roles where they can grow and thrive, and organizations benefit from employees who can adapt and drive ongoing innovation and business success. A skills-first approach creates a more equitable and effective way to identify talent —highlighting ability over background, and uncovering value both externally and within your existing workforce. Here's how to get started: Rethink job requirements: Start by identifying the core skills needed for success in open roles. Many job listings include degree or experience requirements that may unintentionally exclude qualified candidates. Focus on must-have skills that will drive performance. Use skills-based assessments: Integrate practices like case study exercises or skills assessments into interviews rather than relying solely on candidates' resumes, educational background, or screener interviews. Increase skills visibility: Equip hiring managers with technology that makes it easy to see the skills a candidate has and where they align with organizational needs at scale. This allows for faster and more strategic hiring decisions. If you're graduating this year, don't let uncertainty hold you back. You may be entering a shifting job market, but your resilience, adaptability, and fresh perspectives are skills and qualities employers value. Here are a few ways to stand out: Lead with transferable skills: Communication, critical thinking, adaptability, and collaboration are among the most valued and transferable skills. These skills are in high demand and are often hard for AI to replicate. Show, don't tell: Use internships, job assignments, or volunteer work to demonstrate real world applicability of your skills. Portfolios, personal websites, or even social media content can bring your experience to life and give employers a tangible sense of what you can do. Embrace life-long learning: Learning doesn't stop when you graduate. Show prospective employers you're committed to growth by taking advantage of free or low-cost courses that help you build valuable new skills. Be flexible: Your first job is a steppingstone, but it doesn't define your career path. Stay open to opportunities that help you gain experience, even if they don't perfectly align with your dream job aspirations. This year's graduates are entering a job market in flux, but with the right tools and mindset, both HR teams and early talent can turn uncertainty into opportunity. Discover how SAP SuccessFactors helps organizations adopt skills-based hiring strategies.
