Eric Kugel graduated from Mayo High School and will be attending the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. He will be pursuing a combined BS/MS in Computer Science with a minor in Math. He is a US Presidential Scholars Program Candidate, National Merit Scholarship Finalist, and AP Scholar with Distinction. While in high school, he demonstrated leadership in violin as concertmaster of the school orchestra, an integral member of the theater program pit orchestra, a member of Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestras, and a member of the MMEA All-State Orchestra. He looks forward to joining the University Philharmonic Orchestra at UMN. He additionally loves playing piano and computer programming. Programming has also led to opportunities for leadership and community service: as a TA, collaborating on a unit-test-based Java grading app for CS teachers, and creating the website