WEST PALM BEACH — Herby Raymond is a Renaissance man. An accomplished pianist who plays European classical and jazz, Herby also scored a perfect 800 on his Math SAT. A basketball player, he also enjoys chess.
He’s president of the Wellington Chapter of the National Achievers’ Society, an organization established to encourage students, particularly minorities, to excel academically and culturally. He belongs to Kretzer Kids, a group of high school students who play piano around the county.
According to his principal, Linda Cartlidge of Suncoast High School, “Herby Raymond is the 21st century Renaissance man skilled in the arts as a concert pianist who plays such difficult works as Rachmaninoff. He also excels in the sciences as a Math, Science and Engineering student at Suncoast, while remaining a truly humble young man.”
Herby says he has always been determined to succeed in whatever he does, “However, I owe a lot of it to my family, friends, and community. My parents always push me to do my very best and I have very kind and supportive friends. Anybody can be determined, but it's ultimately the positive people around you that will give you that driving force for whatever you do."
Herby is headed to Yale University next fall with a weighted GPA of 5.08 and an unweighted GPA of 3.92. He is ranked 15th in his senior class and 49th in the county. A member of the National Honor Society, he has been on the honor roll all four years of high school. With numerous scores of 5 on his AP exams, he is a National AP Scholar and an AP Scholar with Distinction. A Regional Science and Engineering Fair winner, he is also a Math Brain Bowl State Tournament Champion, a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student and a National Achievement Scholarship Semifinalist.
Along with his outstanding academic record, Herby has more than 350 hours of volunteer and work experience. As a student of Haitian descent his community service work involving food and clothing drives for Haiti earthquake victims is especially important to him.
His other community service endeavors include volunteering in the Wellington Regional Medical Center cardiopulmonary area and emergency room and charity piano performances.
Raymond’s work experience includes a paid internship with the Palm Beach County School District’s Facilities Services Department. Chief of Division of Support Operations Joseph Sanchez said Herby was an outstanding intern, “He willingly took on complex projects, and quickly completed them. It was a pleasure having him working in my office. I'm sure he will do great at Yale and anywhere else life takes him.”
For more information contact Linda Cartlidge at 561-882-3400 or linda. cartlidge@palmbeachschools.org
Photo: Herby Raymond
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