On April 15, Cranston High School West seniors Daniel Marella and Rachael Perrotta learned via email they had both been awarded the title of Presidential Scholar by the U.S. Department of Education.

Both were nominated by their guidance counselor, Deana Golini, for exemplary leadership and educational achievements. Each received the life-changing news around the same time.

Friends since middle school – they met at Western Hills – the pair have been supportive of one another, both emotionally and academically, for years, and naturally continued that vital support during the application process for this honor.

“When I got the email, I was extremely shocked, because I honestly didn’t expect it to come to fruition,” Marella said. “I did try on the application, but I didn’t expect much to come out of it, because the odds are so small, and there are so many people who applied. The moment I opened the email, I was like ‘Whoa, this is crazy!’ It was definitely a big shock for me.”

Rachael Perrotta, West’s current Student Council president, said, “When I got my email, I automatically texted [Dan]. I was like, ‘Oh my God, did you get this?’ I was so excited to learn that we had both gotten in, because I had known we both tried really hard to get it. It was really exciting to both be chosen, especially from the same school. It’s an honor to be chosen in general, but two from the same school is really a big deal.”

Of the 94 Presidential Scholar candidates nominated from Rhode Island, a total of seven were awarded, and two of those students were from Cranston West.

Golini emphasized just how impressive their success is.

“It’s such a small state, two from the same school,” she said. “When you look at that list of the seven kids, and the seven high schools, we were floored that we had two. We’re so excited.”

Cranston West Principal Tom Barbieri agreed and expressed his pride.

“Both students have made us so proud,” he said. “In times when we can all use good news, they have both done that for our educational community.”

These honors are not without requisite sadness, however, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep their class apart.

Marella, senior class president, acknowledged being “bummed” about the cancellation of Honors Night – which usually recognizes around 150 students – as well as the traditional prom and graduation celebrations. He explained he has been in meetings with other students and administration about socially distant or virtual ways to come together.

Perrotta, in her capacity as Student Council president, has also been participating in these discussions.

“Recently, Dan and I have been working with administration to catch up with different ways to hold all the different events, either semi-virtually, or virtually, or in other ways,” she said. “That’s been a little stress-relieving, because even though it’s not the ideal situation, just working to come up with an alternative solution is really helping me.”

“We want that sense of closure,” Marella said. “We want that graduation, the Honors Night. We want all these ceremonies, prom.”

“Rachael is Student Council president and Dan is senior class president,” Golini said. “I feel like they have this sense of obligation, that hasn’t gone away, to try to help their class, work with administration to come up with some sort of end-of-the-year festivities. They’ve both worked really hard and have really been model ‘spokestudents’ on behalf of their class. It’s been impressive.”

Perrotta – who has recently accepted admission at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, double concentrating in psychology and cognitive studies – said she has not yet stepped foot on campus.

“I actually didn’t get to visit the school because of this whole thing,” she said, “because I was actually scheduled to visit the day quarantine started for me. Instead, I did their virtual tour several times.”

She added: “Having not visited, I feel so accustomed to the school. I never thought I could feel this comfortable with a school without haven’t ever been within the state the school was in.”

Marella, who earned his Presidential Scholarship in the category of Career and Technical Education, plans to attend Brown University in the fall, double concentrating in engineering and mathematics. He said that right now, Brown is still hoping to hold an in-person academic year.

The two students continue to press through their senior year, with an eye toward creating meaningful, yet safe, end-of-the-year festivities, with the help of fellow students and school administration.

Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse said: “These students exemplify the most distinguished scholars throughout the country. It is quite an honor to have one student from Cranston in a year chosen for this, it is truly remarkable to have two students chosen, especially from one school. I am extremely proud of these students and their accomplishments. Both Dan and Rachel go above and beyond what is expected of our students and this recognition is well deserved.”