Meet Somerset Berkley Regional High School's Top 10 graduates of 2023
SOMERSET — The following students were named to the Top 10 of Somerset Berkley Regional High School's class of 2023.
1. Kamryn Berube, Valedictorian, is the daughter of Kimberly and Jason Berube of Berkley. A member of the National Honor Society, Kamryn was the recipient of the prestigious Harvard Book Award, Deborah Lynn Machado Award for Effort and Excellence in STEM and Innovations Pathway, the Biomedical Science Innovation White Coat Award, the Biomedical Innovation Pathway Honors Chords, the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Science Distinguished Scholars Award, and the President’s Academic Fitness Award. A recipient of the Raposa Education Trust Scholarship, Kamryn’s performance on the MCAS also earned her the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. Dedicated to her pursuits in the medical field, Kamryn distinguished herself with the Daughters of the American Revolution Certificate. Away from the classroom, Kamryn has volunteered numerous hours of her time to teach CCD to grade school students. Looking forward to a career of bettering the lives of others, in the fall Kamryn will be attending Northeastern University where she will study Behavioral Neuroscience in the Honors Program on a Pre-Med track.
2. Abbie O’Brien, Salutatorian, is the daughter of Kelly and Eric O’Brien of Somerset. Abbie is an AP Scholar and the recipient of the University of Rochester, Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award for leadership and dedication to community action. As a student leader, she is the president of the National Honor Society, co-vice president of the senior class, co-president of the Anti-Bullying Coalition, and vice president of Model UN. Abbie is a Big Buddy peer mentor and MIAA student ambassador. Additionally, Abbie has served her school community as the student representative of the Somerset Berkley Regional School Committee. A dedicated athlete, she is a captain of both the field hockey and tennis teams and has danced competitively outside of school for a number of years. In addition to academics and extracurricular activities, Abbie is also dedicated to giving back to her community through volunteer work, while also working part-time. In the fall, Abbie will attend Princeton University, pursuing a degree in Public and International Affairs.
3. Emily Shea is the daughter of Lynne and John Shea of Somerset. Emily is an active member of our Big Buddy Program, the National Honor Society, and Best Buddies, she is a leader and dance captain of our Show Choir. A talented singer, dancer, and actor, Emily has also been a valuable member of our Electrify and Amplify choir groups. Outside of school, she coaches and mentors young students in theater and acting. She has been accepted to Clark University where, in the fall, she plans to study Psychology.
4. Reese Swanson is the daughter of Dina and Scott Swanson of Somerset. Reese is a member of our Big Buddy program, Girl Up, the Anti-Bullying Coalition, the Math Team, the National Honor Society, and the Student Government. She is also a talented athlete and a member of our Field Hockey team as well as our winter and spring Track teams. Reese has been involved in numerous community service activities throughout her high school career and has served as a leader and role model to her peers and classmates. In the fall, she will be continuing with Field Hockey while pursuing a Physical Therapy degree at Franklin Pierce University.
5. Matthew Carlesi is the son of Rose and Lawrence Carlesi of Berkley. A member of the National Honor Society, Matt has distinguished himself through his numerous academic awards and achievements. His academic performance has earned him placement on the school’s Honor Roll for every term throughout his four years at the high school as well as the President’s Academic Gold Award. Possessing a true passion for the sciences, Matt was awarded the Donald J. McNamara Award for Excellence and Effort in AP Physics. Moreover, his outstanding performance on the MCAS earned him the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. A truly kind and altruistic young gentleman, Matt has volunteered his time to numerous worthwhile activities both in and out of the school. Pursuing his love for the sciences, in the fall Matt will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he will be continuing his studies in Civil Engineering.
6. Stella Fernandes is the daughter of Nicole and Carlos Fernandes of Berkley. Stella is an active member of our Debate Team, the Literature Club, and Girl Up, she is also co-editor of our student newspaper. Outside of school, she volunteers within her parish and assists in teaching youth classes. Stella has been a wonderful role model to our school community and will be attending Southern Adventist University in the fall, pursuing a degree in Archaeology and Museum Studies.
7. Edwina Zaarour is the daughter of Carla and Youssef Zaarour of Somerset. Edwina is a John and Abigail Adams Scholarship recipient. Prior to entering SBRHS as a freshman, Edwina attended Sabis International School in Lebanon, a trilingual school where she became fluent in Arabic, French, and English. Athletically, Edwina has been involved in both basketball and swim. She spends a significant amount of time volunteering through her church, St. Anthony of the Desert. In the fall, Edwina will be pursuing a Biochemistry degree at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
8. Devan Medeiros is the son of Adriane and Manuel Medeiros of Somerset. Devan is the recipient of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship as well as the Deborah Lynn Machado Award for Effort and Excellence in STEM and Innovation Pathways. Devan is a dedicated member of our Varsity Football team. He is also a proud member of the 1,000-pound club, a competition created by SBRHS athletes who train together in our weight room. In the fall, Devan will be pursuing a degree in Kinesiology at the University of Rhode Island.
9. Jordan Theriault is the daughter of Karen and Jason Theriault of Westport. Jordan is a member of the National Honor Society. She is the recipient of the Suffolk Book Award for dedication to her school community and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Award for excellence in mathematics and science. Jordan has been a dedicated athlete throughout her time at SBRHS. She is a captain of her Softball and Ice Hockey teams and also is a member of the Field Hockey team. When she is not playing, she dedicates her time helping to coach and umpire for younger softball teams. Besides athletics, Jordan has also been a dedicated member of the Math Team. Jordan has been recognized for her athletics and sportsmanship through numerous awards, including the Spartan Heart Award, Herald News All-Star, and SCC Sports Awards. In the fall, Jordan will be pursuing a degree in Data Science and Mathematics at Merrimack College.
10. Caden Vertentes is the son of Rose and Louis Vertentes of Somerset. Caden is a recipient of the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship as well as the President’s Academic Fitness Gold Award. A dedicated athlete, Caden is a member of the Football team and regularly trains in the weight room. In the fall Caden will be pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Connecticut.
This article originally appeared on The Herald News: Somerset Berkley Regional High School's Top 10 graduates of 2023
