Special to the Herald

There's the Oscars, the Grammys, the Emmys, and the Tony's, but on Thursday, May 16, the Cranston East auditorium was filled with the best of the Class of 2024. And, instead of a statue or trophy, they walked off the stage with scholarships, awards and recognition.

All winners in their own rights, these students achieved success in academics, sports, foreign languages, arts, business and music to name a few.

With total scholarship and grant money totaling more than $500,000 these students truly worked hard for their rewards.

The ceremony was started when the Assistant Principal for Academic Affairs at East introduced the students and the proceeding down the aisle.

Sisters, Alexia and Aubree Josephson sang the National Anthem, and the Cranston East JROTC performed the Presentation of Colors.

The first speaker of the evening was school principal, Tom Barbieri.

“This is a great, great day for Cranston East,” he said proudly.

Barbieri had the students give their families and friends a round of applause for their support and love over the years.

“Tonight, 114 students will be recognized,” he said. “You make me proud to be your principal.”

Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse told the students she was challenged to find the right words to capture her thoughts on the evening.

"You have shown hard work and dedication to your studies,” she said. “You should truly relish this moment.”

Nota-Masse presented the Superintendent's Scholarship to senior Genesis Marion.

“As I drive around the City, I see all these signs, ‘We are East,’ ‘We are Bolts.’ I love it. The pride, the community," said Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins.

Junior Joaquin Hernandez was the recipient of the Mayor's Scholarship.

School Committee member, Keith Catone was the last speaker, and he offered his congratulations to the students.

“I've been in education for 25 years,” he said. “I am very impressed by the community, unity and comradery shown here this evening.”

Catone lightened the mood a little by apologizing for wearing crimson colored regalia robes.

Jeselin Marizan, from the Class of 2024, presented the Class gift.

"We have planted shrubs and trees around the building," she said. “We added natural beauty to our campus. We left a message saying ‘your life is a garden, tend it well.’”

Starting with the Academic Awards, 107 students received their blue graduation cords, a certificate and pin from Rhode Island National Honor Society, all with GPA's of 3.25 or higher.

The National Honor Society Award was given to 46 students and they received gold cords, a pin and certificate.

Six students received the National Honor Society Spirit of Excellence Award for performing over 50 hours of community service.

The Seal of Bi-literacy awards were given to 10 students: seven in Spanish, one in Armenian, one in Turkish and one in Khmer.

Barbieri made the announcements of Class Salutatorian. He has a 4.8 GPA, is involved with many school and outside activities, and will be attending BU in the Fall.

Max Schleifer was presented with the Salutatorian medal and an engraved pen and pencil set.

Valedictorian, Olivia Tomaselli has maintained a GPA of 4.9 and will be off to Georgetown in September.

Barbieri also presented her will the Valedictorian medal and the engraved pen and pencil set.

Twelve students were inducted into the National Art Honor Society and they received red and green cords.

The eight students who were inducted into the Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society received blue and gold cords. Pink cords were presented to 13 students in the Tri-M Music Honor Society.

There were 57 scholarships given out from local businesses, families, past classes, in memorial of lost East graduates as well as school clubs and organizations.

The Picerne Family awarded 20 scholarships, and Former East graduate, Mark Ross and his wife, Donna presented 20 scholarships.

For the first time ever, Barbieri presented The Outstanding Alumni of the Year Award to Mark Ross.

Cranston High School East Convocation 2024

National Anthem: Sung by seniors Aubree and Alexia Josephson

Presentation of the Colors: Cranston East JROTC

Principal’s Remarks: Thomas Barbieri

Superintendent’s Remarks: Jeannine Nota-Masse

Mayor’s Remarks: Kenneth Hopkins

School Committee Greetings: Keith Catone

Class Gift: Class of 2024 Class Treasurer Jeselin Marizan

 

 Rhode Island Honor Society:

Isabella Acevedo

Charles Adams

Ariana Alicea

Daniel Alvarez

Toni Ann Andreoli

Emmett Billings

Julio Cabrera Mendoza

Busra Can

Rachel Castillo

Donal Castillo Angulo

Jael Cea

Wilson Chavez Chingo

KeeNorah Chin

Roman Chum

Harold Croft IV

Mia Curiel Ramirez

Aliyah Dominguez

Kamila Donis

Sophie Eccleston

Jaylene Fabian

Ashanti Fauntleroy

Cameron Felici

Euan Lorenzo Flor

Eston Fowler

Alivia Free

Luzbell Garcia

Melanie Garcia

Katherine Garcia Mendez

Kevin Gillen

Alissa Gonzalez Silvestre

Genesis Marion

Lily Guyon

Kenneth Huynh

Jessica Ixcuna-Tomas

Diana Jean-Louis

Brainer Jimenez

Mya Jiminez

Junior Joaquin Hernandez

Melvin Marc Jolito

Simon Jones

Aubree Josephson

Alexia Josephson

Damion Juan

Kurtis Kong

Lyhorng Leng

Mylay Lim

Harlenys Lopez

Edgar Lopez Maldonado

Imani Machado

Elianny Maldonado

Alivia Marrero

Karinne Marte

Gabriel Mathew

Kirsten McConnell

Mariah Means-Waldorf

Ryley Menard

Niavony Monteiro

Sittny Montufar

Evan Morel

Angelica Mota

Gustav Mottram

Brynn Murphy

Brandon Natareno Tinoco

Juan Nunez Torres

Nayla Pamphile

Sofia Parada

Sasha Parada

Jenali Pare

Jamarre Parrott

Carolina Paz

Renesse Powell

Khaiya Proeung

Connor Pyne

Jake Ranone

Nizel Rodriguez

Marcus Rodriguez

Ivan Rodriguez

Giannah Rodriguez

Alyson Rosales

SarahJean Sainristil

Saira Sandoval

Guilberth Santana

Angel Santana

Kenneth Santos

Max Schleifer

Prince Sheriff

Jackson Sigler

Anastasiia Smirnova

Sean Som

Josiane Sylva

Jailianna Taveras

Madison Tolentino

Olivia Tomaselli

Gabriel Torres Mercedes

Lucius Torsiello

Jessica Tran

Samantha Vernancio

Idalia Villalobos Guevara

Darius Vongnikone

Sophie Vorperian

Xingyu Wang

Ahmed Waqas

Andy Wu

Timothy Yean

Larry Yin

Daniela Zapata

Brian Zhu

 

National Honor Society:

Isabella Acevedo

Charles Adams

Emmett Billings

Julio Cabrera- Mendoza

Busra Can

Wilson Chavez- Chingo

Ashanti Fauntleroy

Cameron Felici

Eston Fowler

Katherine Garcia Medez

Lily Guyon

Diana Jean-Louis

Mya Jiminez

Junior Joaquin Hernandez

Alexia Josephson

Aubree Josephson

Kurtis Kong

Mylay Lim

Karinne Marte

Kirsten McConnell

Mariah Means-Waldorf

Sittney Montufar

Evan Morel

Brynn Murphy

Sasha Parada

Sofia Parada

Jenali Pare

Connor Pyne

Nizel Rodriguez

SarahJean Sainristil

Saira Sandoval

Max Schleifer

Prince Sheriff

Jackson Sigler

Josiane Sylva

Madison Tolentino

Olivia Tomaselli

Jessica Tran

Samantha Vernancio

Darius Vongnikone

Sophie Vorperian

Xingyu Wang

Andy Wu

Timothy Yean

Larry Yin

Brian Zhu

National Honor Society Spirit of Excellence Award:

Alexia Josephson

Aubree Josephson

Mylay Lim

Xingyu Wang

Andy Wu

Timothy Yean

Seal of Biliteracy:

Dylan Brightman- Silver, Spanish

Luzbell Garcia- silver, Spanish

Melanie Garcia- Silver, Spanish

Mya Jiminez- Silver, Spanish

Junior Joaquin Hernandez- Silver, Spanish

Karinne Marte- Silver, Spanish

Daniela Zapata-Silver, Spanish

Sophie Vorperian- Silver, Armenian

Busra Can- Silver, turkish

Lyhorng Leng -gold, Khmer

National Art Honor Society:

Donal Castillo

Genesis Marion

Dennis Maynard

Sittny Montufar

Gustav Mottram

Lily Papa

Sasha Parada

Sofia Parada

Max Schleifer

Samantha Vernancio

Emilia Vidal Castillo

Mariah Means-Waldorf

Outstanding Business Student: Jailianna Taveras

Excellence in English Book Award: Jackson Sigler & Nizel Rodriguez

English Appreciation Book Award: Mya Jiminez & Lily Guyon

Megan A Farrell Memorial Multilingual Learner Award: Mylay Lim

Melania Tejada Memorial Award for English Learners: Morhuns Ulysse

Melania Tejada Memorial Spanish Award: Juan Nunez Torres & Donal Castillo Angulo

Excellence in Italian: Luzbell Garcia

Excellence in Spanish: Ivan Rodriguez & Idalia Villalobos Guevara

Order of the Sons of Italy Award: Julio Cabrera Mendoza

US Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award: Jeremiah Martinez & Busra Can

US Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award: Samantha Vernancio & Max Schleifer

US Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Excellence in Music Award: Eston Fowler & Madison Tolentino

American Mathematics Society Excellence Award: Anastasia Smirnova

Excellence in Statistics Award: Xingyu Wang

Mu Alpha Theta Mathematics Honor Society:

Cameron Felici

Junior Joaquin Hernandez

Aubree Josephson

Max Schleifer

Anastasiia Smirnova

Olivia Tomaselli

Xingyu Wang

Andy Wu

MIT Nest Science Award:  Andy Wu

Tri-M Music Honor Society:

Emmett Billings

Rachel Castillo

Eston Fowler

Aaliyah Furtado

Alexia Josephson

Aubree Josephson

Jeremiah Martinez

Katherine Garcia Mendez

Kenneth Santos

Madison Tolentino

Olivia Tomaselli

Lucius Torsiello

Kenneth Huyhn

Excellence in History: Xingyu Wang

Excellence in Social Sciences: Aubree Josephson

Lieutenant Governor Sabrina Matos Leadership Award: Jeremiah Martinez

RI Future Educators Award:

Isabella Acevedo

Kamila Donis

Mya Nunez

Superintendent’s Scholarship: Genesis Marion

Mayor’s Scholarship: Junior Joaquin Hernandez

Esther Glackman Blacher Humanitarian Award: Busra Can

CHSE Principal’s Achievement Award: Genesis Marion & Jeremiah Martinez

Robert & John Walkup Scholarship: Brian Zhu

Paul Bucci Memorial Community Service Award: Wilson Chavez Chingo

GFWC Cranston Community Women’s Club Scholarship: Busra Can

Honey Dew Donuts Scholarship: Sophie Vorperian

Student Council Scholarship: Timothy Yean

Farnum Memorial Scholarship: Aubree Josephson & Alexia Josephson

Byron Linson Holsombach Jr. Scholarship: Busra Can

Visual Art & Design Award: Lily Guyon

Rhonda Beth Goldstein Award: Sittny Montufar, Alissa Gonzalez Silvestre, Gustav Mottram, Sofia Parada

Stevens Daigneault Visual Arts & Design Scholarship: Alissa Gonzalez Silvestre

National Art Honor Society Scholarship: Max Schleifer

Thunderbolt Alumni Scholarship: Lily Guyon, Diana Jean-Louis, Kirsten McConnell

Jamiel Family Scholarship:Connor Pyne

Abbie Hoisington Memorial Scholarship: Gabriel Torres Mercedes

Cranston Association of School Administrators Scholarship: Jenali Pare

Class of 2018 Scholarship: Sophie Vorperian

Class of 2020 Scholarship: Karinne Marte

Class of 2021 Scholarship:Connor Pyne

Class of 2022 Scholarship: Jeselin Marizan

Ted Scripsack Memorial Scholarship: SarahJean Sainristil

Meaghan McGonagle Memorial Scholarship: Jessica Tran & Larry Yin

Earl Tasca Memorial Scholarship: Samantha Vernancio, Junior Joaquin Hernandez, Katherine Garcia Mendez, Josiane Sylva, Jessica Tran

Leo Castiglione Jr. Memorial Scholarship: Larry Yin

Kristen Coutu Memorial Scholarship: Lyhorng Leng

Thunderbolt Sports Media Scholarship: Charles Adams and Timothy Yean

Joyce Wicks Corrente Scholarship: Lyhorng Leng

Edward & Helen Sawin Award: Jessica Tran & Evan Morel

Paul C Reed Cranston Firefighters Local 1363 Scholarship: Eston Fowler

Aramark Scholarship: Harlenys Lopez

Stebbins Memorial/RIIL Fund: Samantha Vernancio & Cameron Felici

Denis Cushing Memorial Scholarship: Mya Jiminez, Cameron Felici & Isabella Acevedo

Cranston First Responders Scholarship: Sophie Vorperian & Andy Wu

Christy Family Scholarship: Euan Lorenzo Flor

Alison Fracassa Memorial Scholarship: Harold Croft & Niavony Monteiro

Nancy Carlotti Memorial Scholarship: Angelica Mota

Cranston Hall of Fame Scholarship: Mariah Means-Waldorf

Arthur Martone Scholarship: Timothy Yean

Cranston High School Athletics Scholarship: Samantha Veranancio & Eston Fowler

Dina Frappier Memorial Scholarship: Diana Jean-Louis

Cranston Teachers Alliance Scholarship: Olivia Tomaselli & Lily Guyon

Holly Charette Memorial Scholarship: Samatha Vernancio

Agnes Mead Tramonti Scholarship:

Katherine Garcia Mendez

Lily Guyon

Diana Jean-Louis

Josiane Sylva

Sophie Vorperian

Andy Wu

Mariah Means Waldorf

Keenorah Chin

Cranston East Class of 1972 Scholarship: Josiane Sylva

Cranston Veterans Memorial Fund Scholarship: Daniel Alvarez, Mylay Lim, Jessica Tran

Bernard McLaughlin Memorial Scholarship: Cameron Felici

James Weber Memorial Scholarship: Karinne Marte

Vincent D Morgera Memorial Scholarship: Xingyu Wang, Evan Morel, Jackson Sigler, Connor Pyne, Kirsten McConnell

Beverly Caparco Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Tomaselli

John Caparco Memorial Scholarship: Emmett Billings

Alice Hall Allen Class of 1935 Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Tomaselli, Max Schleifer, Andy Wu, Junior Joaquin Hernandez

Picerne Family Scholarship:

Charles Adams

Daniel Alvarez

Busra Elif Can

Wilson Chavez Chingo

Luzbell Garcia

Melanie Garcia

Megan Hunt

Mya Jiminez

Alexia Josephson

Aubree Josephson

Edgar Lopez Maldonado

Prince Sheriff

Gabriel Torres Mercedes

Jessica Tran

Idalia Villalobos Guevara

Larry Yin

Mr. & Mrs. Mark and Donna Ross Scholarships:

Charles Adams

Jessica Ixcuna-Tomas

Diana Jean-Louis

Junior Joaquin Hernandez

Alexia Josephson

Aubree Josephson

Karinne Marte

Kirsten McConnell

Evan Morel

Angelica Mota

Connor Pyne

Max Schleifer

Jackson Sigler

Josiane Sylva

Olivia Tomaselli

Samantha Vernancio

Sophie Vorperian

Xingyu Wang

Andy Wu

Timothy Yean

Thunderbolt Outstanding Alumni of the Year:

Mr. Mark Ross Class of 1960