Published in the June 1, 2017 edition.
By GAIL LOWE
WAKEFIELD — Last Thursday night more than 100 students from Wakefield Memorial High School’s graduating Class of 2017 walked across the stage at the Galvin Middle School to receive awards for outstanding achievement, scholarships and accolades for their contributions to the betterment of their school.
High School Principal Richard Metropolis commented that the Class of 2017 was “one of the most endearing classes” he had ever known.
Following his brief remarks, he introduced Terence J. Liberti and Gerrilyn Trafficante, assistant principals and A.J. Beebe III, director of Guidance, who were on hand to help pass out the awards. Students were then called to the stage to be recognized.
Vice President of the Class of 2017 Jackson Kehoe’s name was called no fewer than 11 times. Kehoe received the following awards: Excellence in English, Jerry Boisen Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music, Outstanding Contribution to the high school, Bill Spaulding Merit Award, the Dr. Stephen F. Maio Award, Jean-Louis “Jack” Kerouac Award for Best Poet, Biology Award, Wakefield Historical Association Prize, Guidance Appreciation and Principal’s Leadership Award. Kehoe was also recognized as salutatorian of his class.
Jenna Mello, also graduating this year, took seven awards, including the Bill Spaulding Merit Award, Dan Blanchard History/Athletic Award, Dr. Robert Dutton Scholar Athlete Award, Excellence in Spanish, Excellence in Latin, Massachusetts Foreign Language Association Award in Latin and the Environmental Award.
Also receiving awards: John Glendye, Excellence in Math, Bill Spaulding Merit Award, Achievement in Math Award; Timothy Hurley, Dr. Robert Dutton Scholar Athlete Award, Excellence in Spanish, Achievement in Math Award, Excellence in Justice and Criminology, Class Essayist and Guidance Appreciation Award; Louise Canavan, Achievement in Math Award, Anatomy and Physiology Award, The Love3Life Scholarship and Guidance Appreciation Award; Class President Theresa Fallon, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield Student Director, Instrumental Music Award, Excellence in Spanish, Descartes Award and Student Government Day Representative; Caroline Bennett, Bill Spaulding Merit Award, Achievement in Math Award, Active Motion in Physical Therapy Award, Guidance Appreciation Award and Student Representative to the School Committee; Gina DiMascio, Excellence in Theater Arts, Theater Performance Award, Wakefield Music Boosters Scholarship, Kyle Rush Scholarship; Hannah DiTonno, Wakefield Repertory Theatre Joe Green Memorial Award, The Center for Performing Arts Scholarship; Theatre Performance Award, Wakefield Music Boosters Scholarship; Brianna Cieniewicz, Bill Spaulding Merit Award, Achievement in Math Award, Descartes Award, Society of Women Engineers Highest Honors, Einstein Award in Physics, Guidance Appreciation Award and Valedictorian Ann Lee Award; Abigail MacDonald, Outstanding Contribution to WMHS, Highest Award Orchestra; Allison Lee, Excellence in American Government Award, Achievement in Math Award, l’Hopital Award, Modern Physics Award; Adam Roberto, American Legion Award, Charles J. Doyle Award for Outstanding Male Athlete, Guidance Appreciation Award and Class Marshal; Stephanie Pronco, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield Student Directors, Wakefield Basketball Association President’s Award and Excellence in Spanish Award; Cole Mottl, U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award and American Legion Award; Peter Crump, U.S. Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award, Band Highest Award, Wakefield Music Boosters Scholarship; Richard Stevens, Bill Spaulding Merit Award, Environmental Award, Two-Year Diversity Leader; Michael Raso, Excellence in Latin Award, Bill Spaulding Merit Award, Boston College Scholarship Award, Achievement in Math Award; Brigid Scanlon, The Scholarship Foundation of Student Directors, Student Council Officer, Student Representative to the School Committee and Morning Announcements; Christina Freni, Michael Angelo Sportsmanship Award, Catalyst Award in Chemistry and Two-Year Diversity Leader; Soren Helhoski, Highest Award Jazz, Achievement in Math Award and Einstein Award in Physics; Kelsey Czarnota, U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, Dr. Robert Dutton Scholar Athlete Award and Achievement in Math Award; Marissa Hoffman, Rhudine Johnson Unsung Hero Award and Excellence in Marketing; Emily Heil, WMHS Alumni Association Award, Society of Women Engineers Highest Honors; Ashleigh Farrow, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield Student Director and Excellence in Art; Jack Spicer, Mark Twain Award for Best Storyteller and Principal’s Leadership Award for Class Treasurer; Andrew DiCarlo, Excellence in Computer Science Award and Massachusetts Foreign Language Association Award for Excellence; Maeve Conway, James Jackson Jarves American Newspaper Editor Award, Principal Appreciation Award Character and Student Government Day Representative, Guidance Appreciation Award; William Holman, Rhudine Johnson Unsung Hero Award and Massachusetts Foreign Language Association Award for Excellence in Spanish.
Also, Molly Leach, Excellence in Banking Award, Massachusetts Foreign Language Association Award for Excellence in Spanish and Guidance Appreciation Award; Thomas Sellers, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield Student Directors, Excellence in Economics, Student Representative to the School Committee; TJ Sellers, Active Motion Physical Therapy Award and Guidance Appreciation Award; Michael Leven, Bob Crawford Unsung Hero Award, Massachusetts Foreign Language Association Award for Excellence in Spanish and Class Officer Secretary; Patrick Leary, Guidance Appreciation Award, Two-Year Diversity Leader; Abigail Harrington, Katherine Nichols Award for Most Outstanding Female Athlete and Genetics and Microbiology Award; Tania Smith, Wakefield Adult Mentoring Award, Joshua Hoare Scholarship and Guidance Appreciation Award; Michael Guanci, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield Student Directors, Coaches Award and Student Council Officer; Mark Chiodi, Wakefield Adult Mentoring Award and Ralph Waldo Emerson American Orator Award; Kylie Dube, Massachusetts Foreign Language Association Award for Leadership and Guidance Appreciation Award; Roxhana Margolis, Society of Women Engineers Honors and Two-Year Diversity Leader; Samantha Cross, Ceramics Award and Student Council Officer; Joseph Marinaccio, Boosters Award and Culinary Arts Award.
In addition, Carly Holbrook, Excellence in Visual Arts Award; Abby Chapman, Excellence in Business/Technology Award; George Simion, Excellence in Science Award; Leanna Staffiere, Excellence in Italian Award; Kimberly Wood, U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award; Emily Attaya, Julia Desrocher, Olivia Michaud and William Shea, The Scholarship Foundation of Wakefield Student Directors; Andrew Donnelly and Braedan Langlois, Wakefield Adult Mentoring Award; Jack Petitto, American Legion Award; Jack Stevens, Dr. Robert Dutton Scholar Athlete Award; Kobey Nadeau, Sports Medicine Award; Taylor Messina, Coaches Award; Daniel Sallade, Michael Angelo Sportsmanship Award; Emma Butler, Bernie Plansky Memorial Award; Alex McKenna, Marjorie Boyages Wakefield Basketball Association Award; Brianna Smith, Peter Gonnella Award; Megan Sullivan, Edgar A. Poe Award for Best Fiction Writer, Achievement in Math Award and Guidance Appreciation Award; Paul Ianuzzi and Carmen Sorrentino, Boosters Award.
Also, Olivia Jauk, Graphic Design Award; Grace Marando, Visual Arts Appreciation Award; Evan Burns, Anthony Denham, Matthew Murdocca and Benjamin Piercy, TV Producers Award; Noah Sellers and Amanda Zoll, Instrumental Music Award; Samuele Bianchet-David; James Parece, Theatre Production Award; Michael Williams, Wakefield Music Boosters Scholarship; Catherine Murphy, Spaulding Memorial Award; Madeline Leishman, Excellence in Human Geography Award; Isabella Ferraro and Joanne Gallardo, Excellence in Italian Award; Alexandra Hatfield, Oceanography Award; Devin Bergeron, Astronomy Award; Jenna Dunton, Achievement in Math Award; Brad Safner, Catalyst Award in Chemistry; James Sciarappa, Conceptual Physics Award; Blake Ronzio, Biology Award; John Murray, Community Service Award; Zachary Covelle, Excellence in Sociology Award; Ashley Newbegin, Freudian Award in Psychology; Emily Bertini, Frank Favarot Memorial Award; Daniel DiMeglio and Meaghan Longo, John Cerra Memorial Scholarship; Shahnawaz Anwar, Honey Dew Associates Award; Meghan Pesacatore, Gregg A. Sciabba Memorial Scholarship; Lelia Buonfiglio, Caitlyn Collins, Brianna Nardone, Eleni Rizos, Guidance Appreciation Award; James Connors and Madison Gouveia, Two-Year Diversity Award; Daniela Cora, METCO Excellence Award; Abbie Badgett, METCO Senior of the Year Award; John Stanfield, Student Representative to the School Committee; Zachary Carito and James Connors, Principal’s Appreciation Award Spirit; John D’Alessandro, Principal’s Appreciation Award Character; Alyssa Kirk, Class Banner and Commencement Cover Design and Nathan Dowdie, Presidential Education Award for Academic Achievement.
In addition to Metropolis, Liberti, Trafficante and Beebe, award presentations were made by Sergeant Benjamin Solomonsen, U.S. Marine Corps; Catherine Donovan, The Savings Bank; Robert Eldridge, director of Wakefield Adult Mentoring; Diane Lind; James Fitzgerald, Rotary Club of Wakefield; William Walsh, American Legion; Dr. Anita Loughlin, WMHS Alumni Association president; Brendan Kent, WMHS director of Health, Wellness and Athletics; Joy Schilling, Visual Arts Department; Meg McKenna; Jonathan Berecz; Chris Constantine; Thomas Bankert, director of Visual and Performing Arts; Lou Prosperi, Wakefield Music Boosters; Melanie Patterson, Wakefield Repertory Theatre; Susan Lacy, Allyson Houghton, Jacqueline Simmonds and Patricia Doren, Visual Arts Department; Ruben Reinoso, World Language Department coordinator; Lucia LiPetri, World Language Department; Paul Bavuso, Allen Drinkwater, Kimberly Margolis, Will Karvouniaris and Jessica Snow, English Department; William Hoover, Math Department coordinator; Kimberly Connolly and Kerri Macero, Math Department; Sheri Prosperi, Science Department coordinator; David Connell, Science Department; Robert Rozzi, Social Studies Department coordinator; Kathy Lopez, Social Studies Department; Marlissa Burke, Two-Year Diversity Leader and Joel Villegas, METCO director.
