Max Sauberman, a 16-year old honors student in the 11th grade at Millburn High School, writes a weekly column for Millburn-Short Hills Patch, MHS Musings, about life as a busy high-school student at MHS. When he's not writing (or doing homework), he is involved in many other activities.

He has a passion for musical theater, playing principal roles in many musical productions at school, summer programs, and in the community. He is vice president of the MHS Drama Club, and recently starred in MHS' fall musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie, as Jimmy, and MHS' spring drama, Don't Drink the Water, as Walter Hollander.

Max spent a summer as a student at Paper Mill Playhouse's Summer Musical Theater Conservatory, and was featured in "New Voices of 2010: Pure Imagination" at the Paper Mill Playhouse. He documented his journey at the Conservatory in a weekly column for Patch, "Behind the Curtain".

Max has sang with the NJSMA New Jersey Region 1 Junior and Senior Choruses, sings in the High School's Miller Chorus, and is a proud member of the MHS Accelerated Music Program for voice (baritone) and for Bb Clarinet, which he also plays in the Millburn High School symphonic band and football pep band, where he is a student leader. Max sings with the MHS select Chorale and the Millburnaires. 

Max is president and musical director of MHS' premier a cappella group "Soulfege".

Additionally, Max is an Advanced Placement Chemistry, Spanish Language, US History, and US Government student for the 2011-12 school year. He was a Biology and Music Theory AP student last year. Max is also a leading competitor in the New Jersey Science League representing MHS.

During the year, he teaches and assists classes at religious school, and he is the leader of a community service group of children there as well, that has raised well over $3,500 since he founded the group. Max also directs the annual "Purim Shpiel" (play).

Max is a co-captain and leading member of the Millburn High School Forensics team, where he competes against other New Jersey high schools in a variety of forensics (speech and debate) competitions. He was named the state champion in Declamation & Oratory at the New Jersey Forensic League's Novice State Championship Tournament for 2010, and broke into the semifinal round at the 2011 Yale University Invitational (CT) in Dramatic Interpretation and the quarterfinal round at the 2010 Yale Invitational and 2010 George Mason University Tournament (VA) in Humorous Interpretation.

Max is also a Board Member Emeritus and one of the founding members for Autism Ambassadors, Inc., a national grassroots special-needs education service-learning program, which he helped start up with a few other students.

He was co-President of the Middle School's Leadership Council, and was a speaker at the Middle School graduation ceremony. He won a Peer Leader of the Year award from the middle school, and received a Faculty Commendation for his leadership. Max continues to be a valued member of the community as a peer leader at Millburn High.

Max spent this past summer at the University of Maryland as part of its Young Scholars Program, where he studied business and entrepreneurship.

In his (very little) free time, Max enjoys listening to his iPod, reality television, the Mets, and long-distance running.

He is looking forward to reporting about all kinds of interesting topics and musings as a columnist, writer and reporter for Patch.

If you have any questions or suggestions for an article, feel free to reach out to Max via email at metnts3@gmail.com