By GAIL LOWE

WAKEFIELD — A pre-Christmas surprise was awaiting Wakefield Memorial High School senior Anna DeGregorio — a surprise she could not have imagined.

On Thursday, Dec. 11, a group of students from Wheaton College climbed aboard a bus from the Norton campus, wrapped gift box in hand and headed for Wakefield.

The surprise was all part of an “early decision” celebration and the visit was a way for the college to tell DeGregorio she had been accepted to the only college she applied to.

“It was an amazing experience,” DeGregorio said. “I was totally surprised and was so happy all my friends were there.”

DeGregorio said she and other singers in Ms. Morel’s chamber singers and chorale class were warming up just before she was called out of class.

According to Grant Gosselin, Wheaton’s vice president of enrollment and dean of admission and student aid, DeGregorio, age 17, was identified from a talented group of Early Decision candidates as a result of her exceptional academic and co-curricular talents.

“We were also looking for a student in the local area,” he said. “Wheaton’s students hail from 43 states and 67 countries but for the logistics needed for this delivery, geographic proximity played a role, as well.”

As it turns out, DeGregorio was the only student Wheaton surprised this year with a sweatshirt, which is what the gift-wrapped package contained.

“This was a first for us,” said Gosselin, “but based on the incredible response this has generated from people all over the country, it is something I would certainly consider doing again in the future.” (USA Today placed the video on its college site on Friday.)

Gosselin said about DeGregorio: “She is not only a gifted student in the classroom, but also has extraordinary talents on stage as a member of various theater, a capella and chamber singers. Last week, she was also named as one of the lead roles in her school’s winter performance of The Crucible.)

A  member of the National Honor Society, DeGregorio is described by members of her school as “a star in the making.”

Her guidance counselor Brian Robertson agreed with Gosselin’s assessment.

“Anna is a star performer,” he said. “Not only is she a great A student, she’s kind, bubbly and charismatic.”

DeGregorio’s parents are both educators and very supportive of their daughter, said Robertson.

He called it an “utter surprise” when he heard in early December that Wheaton students would be surprising DeGregorio.

“We were elated,” he said. “It was a heart touching moment.”

Robertson said though he helped her with her application to Wheaton she is self-sufficient and did most of the work herself.

On hand to witness the event other than Robertson was high school Vice Principal Dennis O’Leary.

Principal Richard Metropolis said, “We are really proud of Anna. We’re sure she will represent the high school well while at Wheaton. She’ll do a good job there and we all congratulate her on the good job she’s done her in Wakefield.”

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stephen K. Zrike also had praise for DeGregorio.

“Anna is so deserving of being recognized in such a special way,” Zrike said. “College acceptance day should be a memorable event for our students who have worked so hard for the next important step in their educational journey.  We applaud Wheaton College for partnering with our talented guidance staff, teachers and administration at Wakefield Memorial High School to bring us this heartwarming story.”

According to Wheaton College’s website, the school is a leading liberal arts college providing students a powerful combination of excellent academics and the real-world experience to translate learning into successful careers. Students benefit from 47 majors and 59 minors, ranging from historical strengths in the liberal arts and fine arts to innovative programs in business, new media and neuroscience and more.