2025 Outstanding Young Citizens
Congratulations to our Outstanding Young Citizens!
Darcy Vilkner
Upper St. Clair High School, 12
Parent(s)/Guardian(s):
Gregor Vilkner
Nicole Vilkner
Academic Achievement
National Honors Society, Member – 2 Years
AP Scholar With Distinction, Honoree – 2 Years
Congressional App Challenge Winner—Project exhibited at U.S. Capitol Building for 1 year, Winner – 1 Year
VEX Robotics Competition—State Finalist (’24), States Qualification (’25), Excellence Award (’24), Lead Programmer – 2 Years
PMEA Honors (District 1 & Senior) Orchestras—Top 15 cellists from Western PA, Member – 1 Year
Extracurricular Activities
Robotics—VEX Robotics Competition, Lead Programmer – 2 Years
Robotics—FIRST Robotics Competition, Lead Programmer – 3 Years
Cellist, Orchestral and Soloist, Member of High School Orchestra, Regional Honors Orchestras. Studied privately for 7 years – 4 Years
Upper St. Clair Rowing Team—Competed at junior varsity and varsity level, Member – 2 Years
Upper St. Clair Fencing Team, Member – 2 Years
Community Involvement
theCoderSchool—McMurray, PA, Curriculum designer and Python instructor for middle school students – 1 Year
Coding Instructor for Neurodivergent K–5 Students, Curriculum designer and instructor – 1 Year
Founded Weekly Physics Help Desk at High School, Founder and Physics Tutor – 1 Year
Robotics Community Outreach, Mentored coders on other teams. Led demos at schools & fairs. – 3 Years
Tutoring—AP Calculus, Precalculus, AP Statistics, AP Physics C, President – 1 Year
Plans
In college, I plan to major in computer science with a focus on robotics. In my career, I intend to create digital twins for technology like self-driving cars. Testing unusual or high-risk traffic scenarios with physical vehicles can be expensive and even dangerous. Simulations offer a safer, more efficient alternative. In college, I will deepen my knowledge of engineering so that I can develop new technologies that are safe, sustainable, and improve the quality of life for humanity.