Mayor honors Cranston's 'Best & Brightest'

By PAM SCHIFF

Posted 6/5/19

By PAM SCHIFF For the past 11 years, Mayor Allan Fung has invited Cranston seniors from high schools all over Rhode Island to visit City Hall and be recognized for the academic achievements. It really makes me feel old. I've gotten to watch so many of"

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Mayor honors Cranston's 'Best & Brightest'

BOLTS PRIDE: The “Best & Brightest” students from Cranston East include Sama Abbas, Dylan April, Emma Boucher, Julie Chen, Adriany Cruz, Joshua Deland, Lia Dietrich, Gerilou Ebrada, Emily Fontes, Griffen Hill, Monaye Hinds, Jack Hanouer, Shuichi Kameda Almeida, Bernadette Ann Linsangan, Sokpearoun Lorn, Delia Maguire, Paul Maguire, Aileen Membreno, Andrea Miranda Duarte, Sarah Murphy, Noah Rennick, Emily Santiago, Liberty Williamson and Nichalos Yau.

HARD-WORKING HAWKS: The honored students from Bishop Hendricken were Anthony Cardello, Michaelangelo Coppa, Ryan Mallozzi, Edward Ruggieri and Brian Schattle.

RAMS ON THE ROSTER: Students from La Salle Academy included Dylan Bonin, Andrew Flaherty, Michael Fusco, Victor Paiz Jr., Olivia Sepe and Daniel Wong.

SAINTS MARCHING IN: St. Raphael’s Academy was represented by Elizabeth Fera, Isabelle Lucca, Emma McDonough, Aurelie Sylva, Alexis Washington and Ying (Kitty) Wu.

BUILDING HER FUTURE: Kristal Brown from the NEL/CPS Construction & Career Academy was among the “Best & Brightest” honorees.

FLYING FALCONS: Cranston West was represented by Kaitlyn Anderson, Logan Chin, Cory Dottor, David Fang, Sarah Hobin, Leah Lancellotta, Jake Levin, Haley McCrystal, Olivia Perrotta, Virak Pond-Tor, Leah Ragosta, Andrew Saillant, Lauren Smith, Sarah Sylvia, Jessica Tennett, Michael Tortolani, Matthew Tortolani and Will Walmsley.

DESIGNING THEIR FUTURES: Students from the Cranston Area Career & Technical Center included Benjamin Ainley, Thomas Barbieri, Katelyn Blake, Anthony Cardi, Constantine Coclin, Rachel DeBlasio, Juliana Ferranti, Sofia Mancini, Melissa Murphy and Maria Vose.

WONDROUS WARRIORS: The Wheeler School was represented by Sophia Baziotis, Braeden Cannon, Harvey Lee and Will Spurrell.

KNOWLEDGEABLE KNIGHTS: Alison Carranza and Miranda Heard from Providence Country Day School were among the honorees.

BEAMING BENGALS: The honorees from Bay View were Alyah Achabi, Kateri Bajer, Caitlin Connallon, Shannon DiIorio, Olivia Granatiero, Abigail Kuzman and Laurent Tetreault.

Posted Wednesday, June 5, 2019 1:05 pm

By PAM SCHIFF

For the past 11 years, Mayor Allan Fung has invited Cranston seniors from high schools all over Rhode Island to visit City Hall and be recognized for the academic achievements.

“It really makes me feel old. I’ve gotten to watch so many of you grow up. But it makes me feel proud to see where you've come along,” the mayor told this year’s “Best & Brightest” honorees during a recent ceremony.

Fung said 83 students from 14 high schools were recognized this year.

“This is special,” the mayor told the students. “You are the second highest total of students we have ever honored. You almost beat out a class from a few years ago. That shows me that Cranston has a great number of talented leaders in our community.”

In order to qualify for the “Best & Brightest” roster, a student must be in the top 5 percent of their class. The GPA for these students is typically well over 4.2.

The honored students will be attending higher learning institutions such as Northeastern University, the University of Rhode Island’s engineering and pharmacy programs, Brown University, Vassar College, Boston College, Connecticut College, Syracuse University and others.

“You run the gamut. You excel in the classrooms, you are accomplished musicians and athletes,” the mayor told the students. “Your community service hours are in record numbers, and your volunteerism ranges from Special Olympics, Eagle Scouts, Unified Sports, Best Buddies, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, MADD and may numerous walks, runs, bake sales and fundraisers.”

Fung reminded the students to thank and appreciate their loved ones.

“The recognition … you receive tonight, their names are on them just as much as yours, because they’ve been on this journey with you all along," he said.

Fung presented awards to students from St. Mary Academy-Bay View, Bishop Hendricken, Cranston Area Career and Technical Center, Cranston High School East, Cranston High School West, La Salle Academy, New England Laborers’/Cranston Public Schools Construction & Career Academy, St. Raphael Academy and The Wheeler School.