As seen in the annual ‘Terrific Teens’ issue of West Hartford Magazine, 2014.

By Lisa Lelas

Katherine Gianni. Photo by Todd Fairchild, ShutterbugCT.com

While the list of bright and competent students from West Hartford seems endless, we have selected a small handful of dedicated young men and women, all recent graduates from each of the five West Hartford High Schools, to represent this year’s ‘terrific teens’ to watch in our community.

Not only are they teens with dreams, but they are already acting on them. Each of them has the desire to make a difference. To create a positive change in the world. They are, without a doubt, great role models to represent our community.

Congratulations. We look forward to watching you blossom as you now go out into the world to inspire us all. Today we put the spotlight on Katherine Gianni:

As an identical twin, Katherine Gianni, a graduate of Kingswood Oxford High School, is now attending a different school from her sister, Sarah, for the first time in her life. Katherine is a political science/communications major at Boston University.

“My sister and I are very close. Being a twin really has shaped who we are. Now that we are both attending different colleges, it marks the first time we have spent more than two days apart from each other in our lives!”

Katherine aspires to do something in journalism in the future. “I managed the school yearbook as editor and worked on the school newspaper at KO. I have lots of great memories from high school.” Interestingly, both of her parents were also graduates of the Kingswood Oxford school.

“Political science in my senior year was my favorite class,” she goes on to say. “Doc [Dr. Ann Serow] inspired me to include poly-sci in my college majors. I was never bored in that class as Doc would weave stories into the class lessons. She is an amazing teacher!”

Katherine is grateful for her time as a community volunteer. “My sister and I volunteered at the Boys & Girls Club of Hartford. We would chaperone young kids on trips to museums and theme parks and help them with reading, writing and computer skills,” she says. “When you meet kids with a shaky foundation at a young age it affects your own confidence. It makes you strong and appreciative of your own life, and knowing that I was a part of re-shaping how they look at life is what I feel best about!”

Katherine was on the volleyball and squash teams in high school. When she has free time back in West Hartford, she loves hanging out with friends at Bar Taco. Her favorite food is raspberries and her favorite possessions are her computer and dog, Karah.

Her biggest role model in her life? “My grandmother, Jean. Her spirit never grows old. She is fun-loving and always encouraging. She tells me and my sister to partake, always get involved, and make good use of every opportunity to be a positive influence.”

The BU freshman is now enjoying her first year away from home and is grateful for the summers she spends with her family each year on Martha’s Vineyard. “I’m always reminded to make good decisions by the last thing my grandfather said to me on his deathbed. He said, ‘Don’t do anything stupid.’ A lasting lesson to me and my cousins!”

Please check back every Tuesday and Friday to see another teen spotlight! To view our full teen story please view West Hartford Magazine here.