Four named Jan. students of the month
Westford » Kelly Cannizaro and Isabella Raposo, both from Pepperell, have been selected as January’s Students of the Month at Nashoba Valley Technical High School.
Kelly Cannizaro, daughter of Marc and Kate Cannizaro, is a senior in the Early Childhood Education program. She is a highhonors student who plans to attend college to become a special-education teacher for elementary grades. She is looking into the University of Maine Farmington.
Kelly was nominated by both of her Early Childhood Education instructors. Christine Diaz wrote: “She is an excellent student and all-around wonderful young lady who has a bright future ahead of her. She has a ton of school and shop spirit and has shown it in so many ways throughout her years here.”
Colleen Hogan-mazzola added: “She is conscientious, hard-working, polite, creative and one of the kindest people I have met. She is going to be an excellent teacher one day, and her students will be so fortunate to have her.”
Isabella Raposo, daughter of Victor and Virginia Raposo, is a senior in the Health Assisting program. She is a high-honors student and a freshman mentor. She will be inducted into both the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society this spring, and she has been selected to receive a Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award. She competes for the lacrosse and volleyball teams at Nashoba Tech and is a co-captain of the cheerleading team. She is also a figure skater at the Wallace Figure Skating Club in Fitchburg.
Isabella was accepted to all 11 colleges she applied to and plans to attend either Northeastern University or the University of Tampa to study health science. She was nominated by guidance counselor Jessica Lamond, who wrote: “Bella is an extremely humble and caring individual. She will continue to do wonderful things in her future as a health-care professional.”
Health Assisting Instructor Vicki Ann Poulin added: “I have watched Isabella grow into an outstanding individual who excels in both her academic
Cannizaro
Ackerman Desjardins and personal pursuits. As Isabella’s clinical instructor, I have witnessed her extraordinary organizational skills and bedside manner firsthand. Her ability to stay calm in a stressful atmosphere is particularly impressive. She used this take-charge attitude and was one of the first in her class to take advantage of a paid externship with a nursing home and gain invaluable experience as a nurses’ aide while maintaining above-average grades in all her classes.”
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Darien Ackerman of Pepperell and Kyle Desjardins of Townsend, both hockey players, have been selected as January’s Athletes of the Month.
Darien Ackerman, son of Eric and Jenny Ackerman, is a senior goaltender for the Vikings. He is a highhonors student in the Advanced Manufacturing program. He plans to attend college to study either mechanical or manufacturing engineering.
Hockey coach Bob Callahan wrote: “Darien is a fantastic student and a stalwart in net. He made over 35 saves in a recent game against Essex Tech. He has been a four-year member of the hockey program and is a great teammate.”
Kyle Desjardins, son of Craig and Beth Desjardins, is a senior defenseman and captain for the Vikings. He is in the Robotics & Automation program, is a freshman mentor and is currently attending college full time through Nashoba Tech’s Dual Enrollment program. He also plays lacrosse.
Coach Callahan wrote of Kyle: “He plays almost half the game for the team and is a calming presence on our blue line. He plays a tough brand of hockey and helps out on the offensive end as well.”