Name: Olivia Tomaselli
Rank in Class: 1
Future Plans (education): Georgetown University
Future Plans (career): Economics and Public Policy
High school activities and any positions held: Captain of girl’s tennis team, National Honor Society Vice President, Class Council, Science Club, Member of Tri-M Honor Society, Member of Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society.
Special awards/scholarships received: Harvard Book Award, Cranston Teachers’ Alliance Scholarship, Alice Hall Allen, Class of 1935 Scholarship, Beverly J. Caparco Memorial Scholarship, Ross Scholarship.
Best High School Memory: All of my time spent on the tennis team on and off the court.
Who helped you succeed in High School? My mom, my teachers, and my guidance counselor Mrs. Ventetuolo.
Advice for next year’s class: Stay grounded in the present and enjoy the time with your friends and family.
Name: Max Schleifer
Rank in Class: 2
Future Plans (education): Boston University
Future Plans (career): Plan to work in field of Neuroscience
High school activities and any positions held: Captain of the swim team, tennis team, Historian of Class Council, Historian of NAHS, member of NHS, Science Club member, Mu Alpha Theta (Math Honor Society).
Special awards/scholarships received: NAHS Scholarship, Swim MVP, Most Determined, Rookie of the Year, Alice Hall Class of 1935 Scholarship, Ross Simon’s Scholarship, Rensselaer Medalist Scholarship, NHS, Mu Alpha Theta award/certificate, St. Michael’s Book Award.
Best High School Memory: Junior Prom 2023 and the amazing swim team.
Who helped you succeed in High School? My teachers, my friends, mom, sister, and me.
Advice for next year’s class: Keep moving forward!
Name: Junior Joaquin Hernandez
Rank in Class: 3
Future Plans (education): To attend Cornell University.
Future Plans (career): Major in Computer Science with a minor in Economics.
High school activities and any positions held: National Honors Society, Mu Alpha Theta, RI Honors Society, Photographer & Videographer for both Thunderbolts Sports Media and Fans Only Sportz Network.
Special awards/scholarships received: Awarded Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, AP Scholar award, Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins scholarship, Ross Scholarship, Earl Tasca Scholarship, and Alice Hall Allen Class of 1935 Scholarship.
Best High School Memory: The incredible friends I’ve made along the way coupled with the memories we share together.
Who helped you succeed in High School? The amazing teachers, educators, counselors, and staff at Cranston East. My family also helped a tremendous amount as they instilled in me the values of hard work and perseverance.
Advice for next year’s class: Your senior year will fly by, so be sure to make the most of every moment. Stay on top of all your studies, but also make sure to enjoy your time with friends and teachers. Balance is key! The college process will undoubtedly be stressful, but don’t stress too much about it. Lastly, enjoy the moment as much as possible!
Name: Andy Wu
Rank in Class: 4
Future Plans (education): Electrical Engineering at Northeastern University
High school activities and any positions held: Secretary for National Honor Society, Vice President for Student Council, Lead Cameraman for Thunderbolt Sports Media, Chess Club, Science Olympiad, Cross Country, Indoor Track and Field, Boys Tennis.
Special awards/scholarships received: Pell Medal for U.S. History, Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award from the University of Rochester, Network of Educators in Science and Technology 2024 Student Award from MIT.
Best High School Memory: Playing video games with my friends after school.
Who helped you succeed in High School: My parents, I realized early on that they have worked extremely hard to where they are now and I never plan on breaking their precedent.
Advice for next year’s class: Be kind, be respectful, and be honest.
Name: Aubree Josephson
Rank in Class: 5
Future Plans (education): Study nursing at Northeastern University
Future Plans (career): Pediatric Nurse
High school activities and any positions held: 2024 Class Council, Cranston East Girls Soccer, Mu Alpha Theta, Rhode Island Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society, National Honor Society.
Special awards/scholarships received: Picerne Family Foundation Scholarship, Ross Scholarship, Farnum Memorial Scholarship, Excellence in Social Science Award, NHS Spirit of Excellence Award, Smith College Book Award, USAWRI Union Scholarship.
Best High School Memory: My best high school memory was getting on stage at graduation and seeing all my supporters watch me get my diploma.
Who helped you succeed in High School? My friends and family gave me a much needed support system that I used to get through high school. I would have been lost without their help.
Advice for next year’s class: Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Your teachers and friends are there for support and will help when they can.
Name: Xingyu Wang
Rank in Class: 6
Future Plans (education): Economics Major at Boston College
Future Plans (career): I hope to have an internship during my time at college and see which direction I want to pursue.
High school activities and any positions held: Cameraman for Thunderbolt Sports Media, Indoor Track and Field, Varsity Volleyball Team.
Special awards/scholarships received: National Honors Society, Rhode Island Honors Society, Ross Scholarship, Vincent D. Morgera Memorial Scholarship.
Best High School Memory: Whenever someone had a birthday in Mr. Chun’s physics class we would have cake that day.
Who helped you succeed in High School? Every single teacher I had made sure that I was on task and prepared me for the future. My guidance counselor also helped me pick the right classes that were going to challenge me and also be useful past graduation.
Advice for next year’s class: Challenge yourself with harder classes and you will surprise yourself how much you can accomplish. Don’t let the word “Honors” or “AP” scare you off. Your teachers will do a fantastic job at teaching the material and all that’s left is a little effort to absorb what is taught.
Name: Connor Pyne
Rank in Class: 7
Future Plans (education): Attend the University of Southern California where I will major in Cinema and Media Studies through the School of Cinematic Arts.
Future Plans (career): Professor of Cinema and Media Studies
High school activities and any positions held: CHSE Drama Club (Actor/Director), CHSE GSA, CHSE Student Leadership Advisory, CHSE Knitting & Crochet Club, National Honors Society, Rhode Island Honors Society, Step In Time Dance Academy (Actor/Director/Dancer), Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School (Vocals).
Special awards/scholarships received: All-State Acting Award (2023), Presidential Scholar Nominee (For CHSE), Ross Scholarship, Vincent D. Morgera Memorial Scholarship, Jamiel Family Scholarship, CHSE Class of 2021 Scholarship.
Best High School Memory: When the CHSE Drama Club won the Rhode Island Drama Festival with our production of “And Others.”
Who helped you succeed in High School? Nurse Walsh, Ms. Murphy, Ms. Hitchings, my parents, and my grandparents.
Advice for next year’s class: Don’t pursue what you think everyone wants you to. Instead, pursue what drives you — what makes you want to get up every morning.
Name: Alexia Josephson
Rank in Class: 8
Future Plans (education): Attend Quinnipiac University to get my doctorate in physical therapy.
Future Plans (career): Physical Therapist
High school activities and any positions held: National Honors Society, Rhode Island Honors Society, Tri-M Music Honors Society, CHSE Dance Team, 2024 Class Council, CHSE Partners Program, CHSE Honors Choir Soprano, spent 700+ hours volunteering.
Special awards/scholarships received: Saint Micheal’s College Book Award for Academic Achievement & Social Conscience, NHS Spirit of Excellence Award, Farnum Memorial Scholarship, Ross Scholarship, Picerne Family Foundation Scholarship, New England Service Scholarship, United Service and Allied Workers of Rhode Island Scholarship.
Best High School Memory: Walking across the stage at graduation knowing I finally made it with my friends and family there supporting me with cheers and excitement.
Who helped you succeed in High School? My amazing teachers, family, and best friends. But especially my twin sister Aubree who kept me in check with our competitiveness with grades and everything else.
Advice for next year’s class: Some people may think that junior or senior year is the most important year of our lives because they determine our future in what we do when we leave high school. However, each year prior has more effect on who you are as a person which is more important so don’t stress too much and
Name: Evan Morel
Rank in Class: 9
Future Plans (education): I plan on attending Wentworth Institute of Technology for Data Science!
Future Plans (career): To eventually become a Data scientist or hold a position somewhere in the field.
High school activities and any positions held: National Honors Society, Thunderbolts Sports Media, Varsity Lacrosse (2021-23).
Special awards/scholarships received: Vincent D. Morgera Memorial Scholarship, Ross Scholarship, Edward & Helen Sawin Award.
Best High School Memory: It has to be the last day of school, walking around for one of the final times and saying goodbye to everyone who helped me learn.
Who helped you succeed in High School? I believe the teachers I had mainly helped me succeed in high school, always pushing me to new challenges and to be the best I can be.
Advice for next year’s class: Don’t miss out on anything, try involving yourself in your class and activities around you to have the best senior year you can have!
Name: Karinne Marte
Rank in Class: 10
Future Plans (education): University of Rhode Island
Future Plans (career): Biology on the Pre-PA track
High school activities and any positions held: Class Council officer for 2 years and a member for 4, NHS member, Camp Counselor, and a page for the RI House of Representatives.
Special awards/scholarships received: Best High School Memory: Senior Year pep rally and spirit week!
Who helped you succeed in High School? Mrs. Venteuolo and Mrs. Ricci were always my biggest supporters.
Advice for next year’s class: Always challenge yourself because in the end it will always pay off!