'He is truly the cream of the crop': Jordan Schwartz of Alliance named Star Student
Jordan Schwartz emerged from the coronavirus pandemic’s two-month shutdown of Alliance High School with renewed urgency to get involved.
On a whim, the then-rising sophomore joined Alliance High School’s newly established speech and debate team in the summer of 2020 because it sounded fun.
“And it was more than a little bit fun,” Schwartz recalled. “It has sort of dominated my winters for the rest of my high school career, which, unlike some people, I was quite happy about. It was a fantastic experience.”
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Schwartz found that he loved the challenge of thinking quickly about a wide range of topics and finding a way to present his arguments clearly and convincingly.
He's loved it so much that it has led him to the national stage for two consecutive years. He was named the 2022 national champion in the extemporaneous debate category, defeating a field of more than 859 national qualifying debaters. He will return to the national stage in June to compete in the Lincoln-Douglas Debate, a category he was a national qualifier for last year as well.
Speech and debate also has changed his career goals. Before the pandemic began, Schwartz had planned to study engineering or astrophysics and possibly become an aerospace engineer. He now plans to attend Harvard University this fall to study political science.
"By doing the various issues and learning more about them, I realized pretty quickly that’s what I was most interested in,” Schwartz said, “and I like being able to make a difference and see all the things that are possible.”
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Schwartz is a Star Student
Schwartz, 17, has been named one of this year’s three top Star Students. He was selected from more than 100 graduating seniors. The annual program by The Canton Repository, Akron Beacon Journal, The Record-Courier and The Daily Record recognizes the region’s outstanding high school graduates.
“He is truly the cream of the crop,” wrote Alliance school counselor Allison Morrison in her nomination letter for the Star Student award. “In academics and community involvement, and in character and personality, he exemplifies all of the qualities of a top-notch student.”
Schwartz, whose mother, Gwen, teaches at the University of Mount Union and whose father, Gary, is a teacher at Alliance City Schools, has been impressing his teachers since elementary school.
Alliance High School science teacher Amy H. Miller recalls the high caliber of Schwartz’s work when he was 9 years old. Schwartz had been traveling with his family on a six-month, cross-county camping trip and collected soil samples in every state they visited as part of a science assignment. He logged the location, soil type and other measurements for each sample, and then submitted work where he made predictions of soil types based on plant material and the climate of the area.
“I found his completed project impressive even by advanced high school standards,” said Miller, who continues to use his collected soil samples for her forensic science class soil unit. “He was meticulous in his work to consistently collect data.”
Miller said Schwartz’s work has continued to be exceptional in high school, where he was a student in her Advanced Placement Biology class this past year.
“This is my 34th year of teaching advanced biology in various districts, urban and suburban, and Jordan is the most gifted student I've had the privilege to work with,” Miller wrote in a letter recommending him for scholarships.
Schwartz excels in academics at Alliance High School
Schwartz’s high school academic resume is filled with other standout moments and recognitions.
Schwartz, who carries a 4.5 weighted GPA, graduated first in his class of 216 students at Alliance High School. He earned a perfect score on the ACT college preparatory exam as a sophomore, a near-perfect score on the PSAT and was named a National Merit finalist. He’s earned perfect scores on five different Advanced Placement exams, earning recognition from the College Board. He has received numerous high school awards, including awards in precalculus, calculus and AP Psychology, Design 1 and Spanish II. He’s served in various leadership positions, including senior class president, National Honor Society president, a member of the student senate and science fair team captain. He’s also helped lead the school’s Academic Challenge team to the national competition.
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Schwartz also has challenged himself beyond what Alliance High School could offer. When he wanted to study AP Physics, which is a course that Alliance doesn’t offer, Schwartz, then a junior, worked with school officials to enroll and complete the course online through Johns Hopkins University.
Schwartz has excelled in cross country, track, band
Beyond academics, Schwartz has been recognized as an Eastern Buckeye Conference scholar-athlete in both cross country and track and was named to the All Stark County Second Team for cross country as a senior. He’s also been named Alliance High School’s Runner of the Year and Distance Runner of the Year.
In band, Schwartz has served as senior band president, alto sax section leader, marching band squad leader and first chair for alto saxophone in concert band. He’s earned superior ratings at local solo and ensemble competitions.
Schwartz also seeks to help the next generation improve. He has been a coach for the Alliance Youth Running Camp for the past three years, and a student coach for Project On-Balance Debate camp for the past two years. The free virtual camp seeks to give all novice debaters access to resources to help them improve their performance.
Alliance High School English teacher Chris Schillig said one of Schwartz's most impressive traits is what he calls Schwartz’ “quiet” leadership and the way he seeks to improve the overall team, even if it means allowing others to have the spotlight.
“Jordan is also one of the most humble, kind students I have ever taught,” Schillig wrote in a scholarship referral letter. “He knows how to make and take a joke and how to lend a helping hand to classmates who are struggling. It is this humanity that separates him from many other top scholars, some of whom sacrifice their compassion for competitiveness. Jordan never does.”
Schwartz’s advice for others: Get involved
When asked what type of advice he would give younger students, Schwartz recommends getting involved.
“Do everything you can – sometimes you won’t love it, sometimes you will,” he said. "But you will never know if you don’t try. Step out of your comfort zone.”
He especially recommends trying speech and debate because the skills they’ll develop will benefit them throughout their careers.
Once you’ve found what you love, Schwartz recommends doubling down and focusing on it.
“It’s a good thing to be balanced but, at the same time, if you know what you love and want that to be the No. 1 thing, then do it. You only have four years of high school and four years of college, get the most out of them now.”
Reach Canton Repository writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com.
On Twitter: @kweirREP
About Star Student Jordan Schwartz
High school: Alliance High School
College/post-high school choice: Harvard University
Intended major: Political science
Social media sites you use the most: Instagram and Twitter
TV shows you binge watch (or plan to binge watch): "The West Wing," "Friends," "Marvel/Star Wars" shows
Favorite subject in school: Government
Person (other than a parent) who has been the biggest influence on you and why: Mr. Duncan, my debate coach, has been the biggest influence on me. He introduced me to the activity that came to define my high school experience and changed what I plan to do going forward. He has also been incredibly supportive through three years of long Saturday tournaments and countless practices.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years? I hope to either be working in politics or practicing law.
Briefly describe your favorite high school memory: Winning the 2022 NSDA national championship in extemporaneous debate (a category with only 30 minutes of prep time before debating each topic, which changes each round) was hands down my favorite memory. I was able to work closely with friends from nearby schools and stretch my mind to the limit, and it paid off. The whole experience was surreal.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance High School senior Jordan Schwartz named Star Student
