Huntington –Jenna Margarites was named both Valedictorian and Golden Achievement winner at Gateway Regional High School at the senior awards ceremony held June 1. Classmate Davis Britland was named Salutatorian.
Jenna Margarites has achieved numerous academic awards, including: National Merit Scholarship Commended Student; AP Scholar with Distinction; Smith and Regis College Book Awards; Ecoteach Field Reporter Award; Emerging Leader Passion for Action Award;
Jenna Margarites (r) was named both Valedictorian and Golden Achievement winner at Gateway Regional High School at the senior awards ceremony held June 1. Classmate Davis Britland (l) was named Salutatorian. (Photo submitted)
American Legion Oratorical Contest District and Regional Winner, and Elks Most Valuable Student State Award, among others. She was a founding member of Gateway’s Best Buddies club and has served as its President and Vice President. She was also a founding member of Model United Nations and served as its Director of Fundraising and Finance, and earned an Outstanding Delegate award at EmpireMUNC. A student leader, she served as Communications Coordinator, Executive Committee Member and State Delegate to the Massachusetts State Student Advisory Committee with the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. She is Secretary of the Student Council and Class Vice President. Margarites volunteers with the Westfield branch of Special Olympics. She is taking a gap year in Senegal through the Global Citizen Year program, after which she will major in biochemistry at Haverford College. Jenna is the daughter of Deborah Hersey of Westfield and Charles Margarites of Westfield.
Davis D. Britland has been President of the Class of 2016 for three years. He is the Model United Nations Historian, a 4-year member of the Drama Club, and 4-year member of the cross-country team (Co-Captain) and serves on the Tech Crew of the Gateway Performing Arts Center. He is a member of the National Honor Society and is also a Boys State alumni. Britland has volunteered with the Gateway Booster Club, Gateway After-School Program and Huntington Book Fair, and is seasonally employed by Justamere Tree Farm and Kinnebrook Farm. He was a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student and will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the fall and major in either biomedical or aerospace engineering. He is the son of Chris and Lisa Britland of Worthington.
Many additional awards and scholarships were presented at the ceremony, which was followed by a reception for the class and their families in the Gateway courtyard.
In opening the assembly, Principal Jason Finnie thanked faculty and staff, the class advisers Jennifer Auclair and Heather Dekarski, and announced the staff retiring this year adding, “I wish you all the best; it is impossible to replace you.” Class president Davis Britland followed by welcoming the students, staff and families attending. “I would be lying if I said that voicing these remarks was easy. I’m feeling happiness with a sense of nostalgia today.” In his greeting, Superintendent David Hopson said, “This is not the pinnacle of your story; it’s just a step on your way.”
Mary Ann Shipman presented a new scholarship: the Robert Shipman Tech Crew Scholarship. “The class of 2016 were 8th graders when Mr. Shipman died and many of you sent cards and condolence notes, which I still have, making this the perfect time to announce this scholarship,” Shipman said, announcing the awards to Kenneth Bourdon and Davis Britland.
Raymond Gero also awarded the Emily Savery Memorial Scholarship to Brennan Foley, for his work with the Highland Agricultural Society, his academic achievement, and his “hours and hours and hours of community service.”
Faculty from clubs and academic departments then presented awards for student activities and academic achievement, including National Honor Society, Yearbook, Student Council, School Climate Group, Drama, Tech Crew, Best Buddies, Perspectives Magazine, and “Academic G” awards (for never having lower than a B- for a course grade).
Student Council President Brennan Foley presented the Spirit Trophy to the Class of 2019, the first time any freshman class has won the trophy in the nearly 20 year tradition at the school. Each class competes in a year-long set of activities for spirit points, and the class with the highest tally at the end of the year wins the trophy.
Principal Jason Finnie presented the Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Award to Brennan Foley, and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Award to Jenna Margarites.
In her closing remarks, Vice President Jenna Margarites congratulated her classmates on “all accomplishments, whether recognized or not” and thanked parents and guardians for their support and encouragement.
Finnie introduced a video of staff throughout the district giving good wishes to the Class of 2016, before they left the auditorium to the Simple Minds song, “Don’t You Forget About Me.”
A complete listing of Sr. Awards and Scholarships may be found on the Gateway website (www.grsd.org) in the June 2 edition of Breaking News (under the News drop-down).
The Class of 2016 will graduate on Friday, June 3 at 6 p.m. at the school.
