HELLO, I'M
Danijela Doncevic
Soccer Player, Track Runner, Volunteer, Photographer, Science and Language Lover
Danijela Doncevic
Hawken School 2021
Soccer Forward
Track Sprinter
About Me
MY BACKGROUND
I was raised in a Croatian family and taught to appreciate other cultures, and by exploring Spanish, I have found ways to tie my passions together through service. I have participated in two service projects at The Holden Arboretum relating to education outreach and environmental surveys, and I translate letters and host fundraisers for students in El Salvador and Nicaragua. I started a club at Hawken, "The Hawken Homelessness Support Club," as a way to educate and emphasize the value of service through different organizations. I play soccer and run track, and am a captain in both sports senior year. I enjoy photography and have posted some of my work here.
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Browse my site to get to know more about me.
Athletic Career
SOCCER
TRACK
2017-2021
2018-2021
Member of the Varsity Hawken Girls Soccer Team
Member of the Varsity Hawken Track and Field Team
2020-2021
2020-2021
Captain of the Varsity Hawken Girls Soccer Team
Captain of the Varsity Hawken Track and Field Team
2009
Started playing soccer at Croatia Juniors Soccer Club
2014
Started playing soccer at Cleveland United Soccer Club
2017
May 2019
Quaified for The OHSAA State Track and Field Meet
June 2019
At the OHSAA State Meet, I placed 9th in the 4x100 overall, and 7th in the 4x400 State Preliminaries
Started playing soccer at CSA Impact United
Awards:
Chagrin Valley Conference Honorable Mention 2019
Awards:
Broke the 4x100 Hawken School relay record with a time of 48.05 seconds
OHSAA State Finalist 9th place in the 4x100, 7th in the 4x400
Awarded 2nd team Chagrin Valley Conference 2019
Awarded Most Promising Athlete 2019
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2019
Started playing soccer at Cleveland Futbol Club
Red Maple with a Dendrometer
Scientific Research - STEMM
In correlation with The Holden Arboretum
What was the project?
At The Holden Arboretum and through the STEMM Pathways Program at Hawken School, I did 170 hours of service and field work. Additionally, I collected data for over six different contemporary environmental research projects. My project used data collected from 5 months in the research season, and will be used in comparison for future studies on the same topic.
My project focused on the growth rate of three species of trees under certain environmental treatments. The other researchers and I used this data to predict how other species of trees would thrive under different treatments, and if they are beneficial to the overall population and growth of a healthy forest.
Tulip Poplar
Hypotheses and Research Questions/Ideas:
How does forest management impact the growth of mature forest trees?
Which species of target tree would have the largest growth?
Under what treatment would the different species have the most growth?
Awards:
Qualified to the Northeastern Ohio Science and Engineering Fair*
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Place in the top twelve out of 48 participants at The Hawken School Symposium
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Selected to present at the SEARCH Symposium with The Holden Arboretum
*Cancelled due to COVID-19
How did I execute my project?
By wrapping aluminum dendrometer bands around the selected trees at the beginning of the research season, I was able to keep track of their growth based on the band's expansion by using a micrometer to measure the space created.
Click here to read more about my project and to see an enlarged version of my poster:
Sugar Maple
Service Experiences
National Spanish Honors Society
President 2020-2021
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Since 2018, I have been a member of the SHH (Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica). In this club, I translate letters from students in El Salvador and Nicaragua to their scholarship sponsors in the United States. I am also the head organizer for our school's annual event, Battle of the Bands, where students perform their musical talents, and all proceeds go towards Seeds of Learning, and organization that grants students in Nicaragua scholarships.
Host for Panamanian Students
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In 2020, I helped two Panamanian students around school with classes and extracurriculars and with their English skills. I made new friendships and learned more about the Spanish language and Panamanian culture.
Altercare Nursing Home
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At a nursing home near my house, I spend time volunteering and helping organize their facilities. I frequently read cards for BINGO, read stories to the residents, or share magazines with recipes to patients with memory deficiencies, similar to that of my grandmother.
Saint Gabriel Church
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I used my connections with the church where I received my confirmation to do volunteer work at different places such as the YMCA, nursing homes, the St. Gabriel Food Bank, and many others.
School Experiences
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Through my school, I volunteered at many locations such as Med Wish, The Cleveland Food Bank, Frontline Services, community gardens in food deserts, The Humane Society, and many others. I continue to build on these experiences and have been able to volunteer at these locations outside of school too.
The Hawken Homelessness Support Club
Co- Founder and Co-President
I created a service club at Hawken Upper School, which focuses on fundraising, weekly volunteering, and spreading awareness about homelessness in the school and Cleveland community. We work with The Zelma George Family Shelter to take care of kids when their parents are busy. I applied for a grant from the Geller Fund and was awarded $500 to buy school supplies, clothes, toys, and book bags for underprivileged kids in Cleveland at the Zelma George Family Shelter. I have always been interested in service, and this club is a great way to connect students to different organizations. We are working to partner with Frontline Services, an organization that has supportive housing and other services for homeless individuals, or other organizations in Cleveland.
