HEADS OF THE 2017 CLASS
Boston Public Schools’ 38 valedictorians are facing the future, their dreams as bright as their gifts.
“Our tremendous valedictorians truly enrich all of our communities and are role models for other young people in what they can accomplish,” said Mayor Martin J. Walsh. “No matter what obstacles these students faced, they thrived. Congratulations to all valedictorians, and I look forward to seeing where your dreams take you.”
Nearly two-thirds will be the first in their families to attend college. Nearly half are immigrants, from 11 countries. Fifteen have been BPS students K-12. They’re going to Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Wellesley College, Northeastern University, Williams College, Tufts University, Brandeis University, the University of Massachusetts and elsewhere to become doctors, teachers, writers, dancers and more.
• JAMES NGUYEN of Another Course to College belongs to the Running Club, Community Service Club, the BUILD entrepreneurship program — where he manages his own business — and the robotics program, where he builds, wires and programs robots for competitions. He'll attend UMass Dartmouth.
• TAIJA REVERDES of Madison Park Technical Vocational High School has excelled in the health assisting/ certified nursing assistant vocation program at Madison Park, working with patients in nursing homes and at a local community health center. She will study biology at UMass Dartmouth.
• NATAN SANTOS of New Mission High School learned leadership at the Harvard Crimson Summer Academy, and took part in the High School to Teacher Program, the Mayor's Youth Council, and the Student Success Jobs Program. He also started his own clothing line, Son of King, to inspire young people to realize their own potential and to be kings and queens in their own right. • JESUINA LOPES FERNANDES of Boston International High School, since arriving from her native Cape Verde, is now a shining star at BI, active in student government, the girls' soccer team, and the model U.N. She'll attend UMass Boston.
• ZORAYA SCOTT of Jeremiah E. Burke High School participates in cheerleading and softball, is student council vice president, and completed a summer internship at State Street Bank. She has a full scholarship to Boston College in pre-med.
• THOMAS THERMIDOR of the Community Academy of Science and Health is a native of Haiti. He entered BPS as a ninth-grader at CASH. He took five Advanced Placement courses, as well as a computer science course through a dual enrollment program at Wentworth Institute of Technology. He also served as captain of the soccer team. He'll attend Union College as a part of the prestigious Posse Scholars Program.
• ALAINA VILLANUEVA of Mary Lyon Pilot High School was diagnosed with dyslexia in elementary school, but earned the Mayor Thomas M. Menino School Spirit award in 2013 and is a member of the National Honor Society. She will attend Emmanuel College and hopes to be a therapist.
• MANUEL MARTINEZ of Fenway High School, a first generation American, wants to create access and opportunity for others as an immigration lawyer. He is a Crimson Summer Academy Scholar and presented a business proposal at the National Council of La Raza in Orlando. He will attend Northeastern University.
• ROSAISELA MELENDEZ of McKinley Preparatory High School loves music and the arts. She will begin her college career at Bunker Hill Community College and hopes to transfer to Berklee College of Music to study violin. • TUYET PHAM of Boston Latin Academy will be the first in her family to attend college when she goes to MIT to study her passion — computer science. • DARAYMOND ANDERSON of McKinley South End Academy is in a job-training program sponsored by Jewish Vocational Services, and will be employed at an assisted living program in Dedham. He plans to work full time after graduation.
• CHANDA CARVALHO of the Henderson K-12 Inclusion School serves as president of the school's Best Buddies chapter and will be the first person in her family to go to college. She will attend the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and wants to be a pediatrician.
• IVY CHOW of the Horace Mann School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing has been the captain of the girls basketball team. She will attend Gallaudet University as recipient of a Gallaudet University Academic Recognition Scholarship Award.
• NATHAN HAN of Boston Latin School, described as an “intellectual powerhouse” by his teachers, took nine Advanced Placement classes and has participated in science fairs at the school, city, state, national and international level. Using statistics, computer science and biology, he is working to identify potentially cancer-causing mutations and assess genetic predisposition. His goal is to speed up cancer diagnoses in a less costly and more efficient way. He is headed to MIT.
• MASIAH JONES of Boston Day and Evening Academy has been working as a teaching assistant at BDEA since her graduation last December, while attending Quincy College. This fall, she will transfer to UMass Boston to study biology. • KEVIN DUONG of Excel High School took part in JROTC, Recycling Club, Math Club, Debate Team and Boston CARES. He will attend Northeastern University and plans to pursue a medical career.
• PAUL DAVIS of Community Academy worked exceptionally hard academically to become valedictorian. He is still weighing his options for after graduation.