DeAndre Scott
Circulation Manager
Senior Ben Killeen took AP physics as a junior but taught himself physics from the textbook as a sophomore.
He is now taking physics his senior year by studying electromagnetism for his independent study, which is the research of the physical interaction between electrically charged particles.
“I once saw him do a ton of physics and get it all the questions correct,” said senior Katie Hayes. “He’s probably one of the smartest and most creative people I’ve met in high school.”
Killeen plans to plunge deeper into physics and study either astrophysics or material science.
He has a nearly full ride scholarship to the University of Chicago and a full ride scholarship to Washington University.
Killeen has decided to major in physics and creative writing at Wash. U. this fall.
Killeen had a job at Wash. U. for about a year where he worked with Professor Mark Conradi on an experiment involving dielectric heat and different types of oil.
Killeen was paid by Exxon Mobil, the American multinational oil and gas corporation. In his free time Killeen writes short stories, and recently he has completed his novel that he’s been working on since freshman year.
The novel is called “Tinder in the Darkness,” which is about a burning man who fights against a maleficent kingdom called the Eastern Kingdom Gilidnox.
