Burrillville High’s top students honored
BURRILLVILLE – Paige Desjardin is the valedictorian and Jacob Losardo the salutatorian of the Burrillville High School Class of 2017, Principal Michael Whaley has announced.
Both are members of the National Honor Society, where they uphold the standards of excellence in academia, leadership, community service and character. Desjardin
Desjardin, the daughter of Todd and Tammy Desjardin of 68 North Road, was president of the National Honor Society in her junior and senior year and was a member and team manager those same two years of the Robotics Team.
She was also president of the Creative Writing Club, Chess Club and DECA, where she placed third in restaurant management. She was also a member of the Science Olympiad and the Drama Club/Spring Play
Her many awards include being an Outstanding Student in Spanish II, World History, Physical, Earth, and Space Science, English, Spanish III, Biology, AP English Language and Composition, EEP U.S. History II, AP Statistics, Biotechnology and H Engineering.
Her work experience include library page at the Jesse M. Smith Memorial Library and private tutor.
Volunteer work included Book Buddies, where she helped younger children read and understand books and help make crafts, and the Jazz Band, where she spent 20 hours going to Burrillville Middle School after school to help the students in the jazz band better perform and learn how to play their instruments and rhythms.
She also volunteered at the NHS Boot camp, organizing a 2-hour fitness boot camp and raising around $350 for
pediatric brain cancer (Cory’s Crusaders); and Therapy Dogs for Midterms, where she organized a fundraiser during midterm week where therapy dogs were brought in to help ease anxiety and stress of students to benefit Burrillville Animal Shelter.
Desjardins also brought the Robotics Team’s state championship robot to demonstrate at Five Guys Burgers and Fries and Friendly Nursing Home; organized Dime Drive for Relay for Life and participated in walk; and mentored at the Harmony Library, where she was a chess mentor to children at Harmony Library Chess Club and helped put together and run Storytime.
Desjardin is planning to attend the University of Rhode Island to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in neuro- science and then medical school to pursue a doctoral degree with a goal of becoming a neurologist.
Losardo
Losardo, the son of Dino and Michelle Losardo of 427 Round Top Road, is an honors student with an Advanced Placement GPA of 4.2028/4.5.
He activities included football, wrestling, track and field, cross-country, swim team, tennis, concert band, wind ensemble, chess club and debate team.
His volunteer activities include Varsity Athletes Against Substance Abuse, Catholic Youth Ministry retreats, after-school peer tutoring, the Burrillville Farmers’ Market and Mother of Hope Day Camp.
Achievements include Honor Roll (Grades 9-12); Outstanding Student in con- cert band, enhanced writing, pre-calculus, physics, anatomy and physiology; Student of the Month in world history, physical science, anatomy and physiology, AP calculus, U.S. history II, and AP psychology, National Honor Society, Rhode Island Civic Leadership Award, Outstanding Student-Athlete, Division IV Football State Champions, JV Wrestling States, Varsity Letter in football, wrestling, track, crosscountry, swim and tennis.
His leadership activities include Junior Varsity co-captain of the football team, treasurer of the National Honor Society; and leader of VAASA talks to middle schoolers about substance abuse.
Losardo will attend Providence College as a music major.