Meet Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School's Top 10 graduates of 2023

TAUNTON — The following students were named to the Top 10 of Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School's class of 2023.

1. Melody Lowe, Valedictorian, daughter of Jeff and Carolynn Lowe of Rehoboth, is a Community Health student. She is the recipient of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. Melody has been a state champion at SkillsUSA and a national qualifier for DECA and HOSA. She is also a National Honor Society member and president of the National Technical Honor Society. Additionally, Melody has volunteered over 350 hours in many capacities, ranging from helping at the local food pantry to completing community-based projects to representing B-P as part of the Student Recruitment Team and as a Student Orientation Leader. She is a four-year varsity Cheerleader and member of the Track and Field team, which she now leads as Captain. Finally, Melody is a co-op student at Benchmark Assisted Living in Mansfield, where she works as Certified Nursing Assistant. In the fall, she plans to attend Northeastern University where she will be in the Honors Program and majoring in Health Sciences.

2. Anastasia Bettencourt, Salutatorian, daughter of Aimee and Jason Bettencourt of Rehoboth, is a student in the Biotechnology program. Anastasia has been a member of SkillsUSA all four years, was inducted into both the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society her junior year, and has been a two-year member of Health Occupation Students of America. Anastasia volunteers her time at a local hippotherapy center, supporting patients with their physical and mental health through equine assistance. Anastasia participates in the Bristol-Plymouth Cooperative Education program, where she is employed as a freight farm associate at the Boys and Girls Club Camp Riverside. Anastasia is also a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. This fall, Anastasia will attend Wentworth Institute of Technology to pursue Biological Engineering.

3. Brianna Marshall, daughter of Linda and Allen Marshall of Berkley, is a Biotechnology student. Brianna has been a four-year member of SkillsUSA, serving as the Historian in her junior year. She has participated in Health Occupation Students of America and DECA. During the past two summers, Brianna has been employed as the front desk assistant at Maplewood Country Day Camp and as a farm assistant in the hydroponic freight farm at Camp Riverside. Brianna finds time in her busy schedule to provide childcare services to families in her community. Brianna is the recipient of the Richard Gross Memorial Scholarship and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. Next year, Brianna will be attending Worcester State University to study Biotechnology.

4. Juliana Almada, daughter of Nelson and Angela Almada of Taunton, is a Community Health student. Juliana is a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams scholarship. She is a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, a Student Orientation Leader, and a strong Skills USA competitor in the area of Medical Terminology. Additionally, Juliana is a four-year member of the Bristol-Plymouth girls’ varsity soccer team and has been the team’s captain for the last two years. Juliana was named the Mayflower Conference MVP and All-Scholastic Athlete in 2022. She was also the captain of the New England Navigator’s Soccer Club and has volunteered extensively in the organization’s youth soccer programs. Juliana is certified as a Nursing Assistant and Paid Feeder and is certified in Basic Life Support, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, and Hand-in-Hand Dementia Care. She will be attending UMass Dartmouth, where she will be majoring in Nursing and working towards her goal of becoming a certified Nurse Practitioner.

5. Devin Ribeiro, son of Michael and Jessica Ribeiro of North Dighton, is a Business and Applied Technologies student, who is currently pursuing a micro certification in Accounting sponsored by a partnership with MassCPAs and Bristol Community College. Devin is also a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams scholarship. In addition, Devin is a member of the National Technical Honor Society, a mentor for the Photovoice Gambling Addiction Prevention Club, and a regional award winner and competitor at the national level for Business Professionals of America. He has been devoted to his school community by volunteering his time at many school-sponsored DECA events. Next fall, Devin plans to continue his education at Bryant University, where he has received the prestigious Dean Scholarship with plans to major in Management and Human Resources with a minor in Finance.

6. Nicole Widegren, daughter of Paul and Stacey Widegren of Middleborough, is an Electrical Technology student. She is a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams scholarship. Nicole is a Student Orientation Leader and member of the National Technical Honor Society and DECA.  She is a stellar three-sport athlete in Cross Country, Basketball, and Track, leading her Cross Country and Track teams as Captain for the last two years. Nicole holds a co-op position at M.D. Electric, LLC, where she works as an electrician apprentice while also working part-time at TJMaxx. Nicole plans to attend American International College in Springfield next fall, where she will be majoring in Business and continuing her athletic career in Track and Field.

7. Hailey Campbell, daughter of Jessica and Nicholas Campbell of Middleboro is a student in the Early Childhood Education program. She has been a four-year member of SkillsUSA, and she participates in the Bristol-Plymouth Cooperative Education program where she works at Loves Learning Childcare Center in Lakeville and volunteers her time at the Bridgewater YMCA in the child care center. Hailey is also driven to succeed by being the first generation in her family to attend college. Hailey received the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. She will attend the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, in the fall and intends to study Nursing.

8. Samantha Lynds, daughter of Billy and Shannon Lynds of Taunton, is a Community Health student. She is a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams scholarship. Samantha is Vice President of SkillsUSA and the Video Gaming Club; and Historian of HOSA. Samantha is also a member of the National Technical Honor Society and has won several medals at SkillsUSA, DECA, and HOSA, where she will be competing at the National HOSA Competition this June.  She has been employed at Hannaford’s Supermarket while consistently participating in community service as a volunteer at Ten Lives Cat Rescue in RI and competing with Mass Attack Roller Derby. Samantha is a Certified Nursing Assistant and Paid Feeder and is also certified in Basic Life Support, First Aid, Stop the Bleed, and Hand-in-Hand Dementia Care. She plans to attend Southern New Hampshire University, where she will dual major in Forensic Psychology and Creative Writing.

9. Eduardo Correia, son of Eduardo and Lisa Correia of Taunton, is an Electrical Technology student. Eduardo is a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams scholarship. He is a member of the National Honor Society and a Student Orientation Leader through which he has volunteered his time to serve his school community in various capacities. Eduardo is also a medal winner at the state and national levels for DECA. Since, his junior year, he has worked in a co-op position as an electrician apprentice at RALCO Electric, LLC. Eduardo is an accomplished baseball athlete playing for our varsity team since sophomore year and serving as captain for the last two. He has also been a Little League coach in the Garciaparra Baseball Group organization over the last two years.  Eduardo plans to further his education and athletic career in the fall at Mass Maritime Academy, where he will be majoring in Facilities Engineering and playing baseball.

Nicole Araujo, daughter of Imelda and Jose Araujo of Taunton, is a student in the Dental Assisting program. Nicole has participated in SkillsUSA all four years, competing in her junior year earning second place in Districts. She was inducted into the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society during her junior year. Nicole participates in the Cooperative Education program and has worked as a dental assistant at Dental Associates of Walpole since June 2019, as well as working part-time at The Paper Store. Nicole is dedicated to her Portuguese heritage, fluently speaks the language, and frequently partakes in cultural events. She is a Portuguese singer, plays the guitar and ukulele, and performs in a Portuguese band playing the trumpet. She has spent countless hours volunteering her time at Portuguese Feasts with the Bridgewater Portuguese Holy Ghost Society, raising funds for the Ryan Hazel Memorial Scholarship, and has attended several Bristol-Plymouth service events, like prom dress donations, pajama drive, and donations for Ukraine. Nicole received the William M. Trucchi Memorial Scholarship and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. She has committed to Regis College for the fall where she will pursue her studies in Dental Hygiene.

This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School's Top 10 graduates of 2023