The Maine Township High School District 207 Board of Education honored three students in the area of academic achievement naming them “207’s Best” at a recent meeting. Taisiia Mazur from Maine East was honored for her determination, adaptability and curiosity.
The following information was written about Taisiia Mazur as part of the nomination by Maine East principal Dr. Melissa A. Pikul.
TAISIIA MAZUR, MAINE EAST
It is my pleasure to recognize Taisiia Mazur as Maine East’s recipient of the 207’s Best Award for Academic Achievement. Taisiia’s remarkable academic record is impressive on its own, but it is even more meaningful when considered alongside the significant transition she made after moving to the United States from Ukraine.
Taisiia completed ninth grade in Ukraine before arriving at Maine East during the second semester of her sophomore year. While she had spoken both Ukrainian and English throughout her life, adjusting to a new country and a very different educational system still required tremendous adaptability. In Ukraine, students typically follow a prescribed schedule of courses, while at Maine East Taisiia has experienced greater choice, a wider variety of classes, and significantly more extracurricular opportunities.
Rather than simply adjusting to these differences, Taisiia has embraced them. She especially values the relationships she has developed with her teachers, noting that at Maine East she feels comfortable sharing feedback and details about her life and appreciates knowing that her teachers genuinely care about her success. She has also enjoyed meeting students across many different classes and exploring opportunities in areas such as music and the arts. Taisiia immersed herself at Maine East beyond the classroom. She has been an active participant in choir, jazz band, our V-Show, Pride in the Community Club and music honors society.
Throughout this transition, Taisiia has maintained the exceptionally high academic standards she has set for herself since childhood. She describes herself as motivated and driven, someone who always wants to give her best effort. The results speak for themselves: Taisiia has earned straight A’s in every course she has taken at Maine East. She also achieved an outstanding ACT composite score, including a perfect 36 in mathematics.
Taisiia continues to be especially passionate about English and physics, two subjects she also loved in Ukraine. As she considers her future, she is interested in pursuing a physics or engineering-related field that might also allow her to incorporate her creativity and love of drawing.
Taisiia’s story reflects extraordinary academic talent, determination, curiosity, and resilience. We are incredibly proud that she is a member of the Maine East community and honored to recognize her as one of 207’s Best.