A leader won’t just tell you what to do and how to do it; they’ll do it.

This is the case with Pilgrim High School’s Class of 2016, and especially its top 10 students. This class is made up of 208 students and filled with talent, leadership, and intelligence from top to bottom. Their accolades and accomplishments extend far beyond the point of impressive, according to acting principal Pamela Bernardi.

“They’ve basically been my babies. I’ve been with them from freshman to senior year,” said Bernardi.

Bernardi had many statistics to show how successful the class of 2016 is, but one proved to be more outstanding than the rest. “We’re getting over a million dollars in grants and scholarships. And that’s only after 35 students have reported back,” she said. The amount of money these colleges and universities are willing to give to these students stands as proof of how valuable they are.

The class itself brought seven different division and state championships home to Pilgrim in their time at the school. At least 15 of these athletes will be going on to play at the college level. According to Bernardi, one student, Anya Darmetko, will be, “starting the first college unified program at Seton Hall University. Perhaps we will see college level unified sports in the near future as a result of Anya’s efforts.” Darmetko, who was accepted into Harvard University, chose Seton Hall because they believed in her cause enough to provide her with an $88,000 scholarship.

There are nine students from this class alone who are going on to join the armed forces. Antonio TJ Ambrosio, Katrina Auger, Hunter Bazar-nick, Mary Beebe, Thomas Dow, Rourke Ferguson, Vincent Matra, Kevin Murphy, and Kayda Phillip will all be moving onto this next stage in their life.

This class of students marks the end of an era, as the students of Warwick Veterans High School will be attending Pilgrim in the fall. Bernardi had this to say about her students, “With this class, they’ve always believed that the faces might change but the atmosphere won’t. There is a culture of acceptance. In the words of former principal Cote, ‘Once a Patriot, Always a Patriot.”

Daniel Peladeau

The student that took the number one spot in the class, and the position of valedictorian, is Daniel Peladeau.

Peladeau’s high school resume exudes leadership and dedication. He found success as the captain of the men’s volleyball team, giving coaches Mike McGiveron and Jay Metivier credit. He made sure not to leave his friends out of the picture, saying, “The strong friendships I have made through volleyball leagues I have joined across Rhode Island,” are what he will remember most from his high school years.

Peladeau let his success on the volleyball court translate to his studies as well. He held the positions of treasurer for the National Honor Society and secretary for the Executive Committee. He was also involved in the Student Leadership program. His efforts in the classroom earned him High Honor Roll and the AP Scholar Award. Principal Bernardi also said that in twelve years of schooling, Peladeau missed only eleven days of school, and only one day in his four years at Pilgrim.

“The friends I have in school have also had a major impact on my academic success throughout the past four years,” he said.

Most importantly, he earned himself the Rensselaer Medal, which is given to outstanding students who exceed expectations in science and mathematics. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York gives this medal out with a scholarship, and this is where he plans to further his education by pursuing a degree in computer science.

Peladeau made sure to give credit to his family, saying, “I am the youngest of four children and they pushed me to be the best I could be.”

Nicole Morales

Pilgrim’s number two for the class of 2016, Nicole Morales, has a list of accolades attached to her high school career.

She earned her spot as sprint captain in her senior year after putting in four years of work doing both indoor and outdoor track. She was also able to manage two years of cross-country in her busy schedule. All of this hard work got her on Track and Field All-Division and All-Class from 2014-2016, as well as All-State and Academic All-State in 2016.

Academically, Morales put in enough hard work to earn many achievements. She was not only a Student Leader and a member of the National Honor Society and the Rhode Island Honor Society; she also earned numerous awards to show just how much of a leader and a student she was. Morales earned the Welsley Award in 2015, and the United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award in 2016 for her academic prowess and leadership qualities. Other awards she received include the Providence Journal Honor Roll Award and the Spanish Language Achievement Award.

If that isn’t enough, Morales also excelled in extracurricular activities. She performed in a total of six shows over the course of her four years at Pilgrim as a part of the Drama Club. She was also an accomplished singer, participating in the National Honor’s Ensemble for choral singing in 2014 and 2015, as well as earning the National Choral Award.

She named Mr. Christopher Pratt and Mrs. Jackie Soares as being two of the teachers that contributed most to her success, but she made sure to say, “There are some amazing teachers at Pilgrim High School (too many to name because they are all so supportive.”

Morales also named her parents, Lisa and Sergio Morales, as her biggest supporters. She said, “I was (and still am) motivated by the opportunity to make the most out of my high school career. I also was driven by the determination and success of my parents and siblings.”

Morales will be attending Marymount Manhattan College for a degree in theatre arts with a concentration in performance and a minor in musical theatre.

Brandon Lawton

Pilgrim’s number three, and salutatorian of the year, is Brandon Lawton, and he’s an athletic star.

Not only was Lawton able to participate in cross-country, basketball, and outdoor track for all four years of his high school career, he managed to be a captain for all three teams. He was the cross-country captain from his sophomore through senior years, the outdoor track captain for his junior and senior years, and the basketball captain for his senior year. If there’s anyone who understands leadership and responsibility, it’s him.

Not only did he make an impact on his teammates, but also his teammates made an impact on him. “Fellow teammate Ethan Schneider made basketball the most enjoyable and successful team I’ve been on,” he said.

His expertise on the track field and basketball court earned him cross-country all-division for his freshman, sophomore, and senior years, all-class for his sophomore and senior years, and basketball all-league for his senior year. His skill translated to his team’s success. “Having the opportunity to play basketball at RIC, Brown, Bryant and CCRI are all unforgettable experiences,” he said. “Winning the Division 3 Basketball Championship junior year and qualifying for two state tournaments gives me so much pride.” His mastery of athletics earned him the Joe Hassett Award.

Lawton also proved to be proficient in his studies, earning himself a presidency in the National Honors Society and participating in the Student Leadership program his last two years. He was also named to the Spanish Honors Society and the Rhode Island Honors Society. His academic success will certainly continue when he pursues a degree in environmental engineering at the University of Vermont.

This success did not go unappreciated, either. Mrs. Jessica DiFilippo, Mr. Michael Xiarhos, and Mrs. Meredith Bizragane were some of the teachers who Lawton recognized for contributing to his success and enjoyment at Pilgrim. He didn’t let his parents’ contributions go unnoticed, either. “My parents provided the structure and discipline to succeed in school,” he said, “and without them I would not be in this position today.”

Danika Wayss

“I’ll remember the classmates who were competitive with grades while still helping you out with subjects you did not get. I’ll also remember getting to cheer for, as well as compete for, the Patriots,” says Danika Wayss, ranking at number four in her class.

Wayss’ competitive and supportive nature propelled her to success in high school. Like Lawton, she was a captain of three different athletic teams, leading the cross-country team her sophomore, junior, and senior years, as well as the indoor and outdoor track teams for her junior and senior years. Her leadership and athletic excellence earned her an athletic scholarship with the Stonehill Skyhawks, where she will be attending college in the fall and competing on the cross-country and track teams. She also earned herself the Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award.

Wayss also showed an exceeding proficiency in foreign language, as she earned a spot in the Italian Honors Society and earned both the Outstanding Student in Italian Award and the Order of the Sons of Italy Award.

She didn’t stop there, either; extending her dedication to excellence outside of foreign language, she was awarded the Regis College and Columbia University Book Awards. She also added on the Warwick Rotary Club, Kellie Lynn Allen Memorial, and Moreau Honors Scholarships. All of this academic success brought her to National and Rhode Island Honors Society spots.

Wayss’ competitive nature and intelligence ultimately led her to all of this success, but she won’t stop now. She’s already focused on the future. “I was motivated to work hard at Pilgrim,” she says, “because I knew it would benefit me in the next stage of life: applying and paying for college.”

Claudia DeMelo

When asked about what motivated her to excel, Claudia DeMelo said, “I would have to say my mom, through fear and love. I’ll let you figure out which one was more influential. But seriously, she was a major influence.”

Whether it was fear or love, DeMelo’s mom clearly provided her with enough positive motivation to bring success to her daughter’s academic career. Not only was she ranked fifth in her class, but also on Senior Honors Night, she was given the Art Department Award for her scholastic achievement. It’s clear that art plays a big role in her life, as she’s planning to attend the Rhode Island School of Design; she plans on majoring in animation.

Along with art, DeMelo put in a lot of hard work on the ground. She ran cross-country for two years, as well as running indoor and outdoor track at the varsity level for all four years of her high school career. That many years of dedicated service certainly makes an impression on a person, and she is no exception. She said that she would remember, “The friends I’ve made, and probably dealing with my crazy track coaches,” the most about her high school years.

DeMelo made sure to acknowledge the people who helped her over the years. The people that contributed to her success the most include, “My mom, my friends, my team, and the teachers that have helped and really influenced me over the years.”

Alexia Martins

Alexia Martins earned her sixth spot in the top ten by a combined excellence in both athletics and academics. She exemplified leadership by becoming the captain of the varsity soccer, basketball and lacrosse teams at Pilgrim. Sports are competitive, and her personality contributed to her success. “The people around me and my competitive character motivated me most to excel,” she said. “I always competed with the other members of the top 10 to push me to do better.” So her competitive nature not only earned her and her teammates a state championship for soccer in 2014, it helped translate her success to her academics as well.

She took the leadership qualities gained from her captaincy, as well as the qualities that she already possessed, and put them to use as the class treasurer for all four of her years at Pilgrim. She was also a part of the Class Executive Club, a member of the Student Leadership program, and a member of the National Honors Society. This sort of heavy involvement with her classmates led to a lot of friendship. “I will remember most the bonds I created with my peers and teachers. I will remember my teammates and classmates and all the memories created,” she said. Academically, this dedication to her work led her to both Spanish and Math Department Awards at Senior Night. Her academic success will continue at the University of Rhode Island, where she plans to pursue a degree in speech pathology.

Through all of this, Martins did not forget where she came from, or who helped her along the way. “My coaches, teachers, parents, family and friends contributed to my success and enjoyment of high school,” she said.

Arden Bastia

Arden Bastia’s focus and dedication to her academic career ranked her at number seven in her class, and for good reason. “My goal is to achieve a successful college education, and I know that my dedication in high school would only make success in college more attainable,” she said.

Her dedication certainly paid off, as she’s planning to attend the University of Rhode Island, and she’ll be double majoring in both English and writing/rhetoric. She’s well equipped for it, as well. She spent three years of her high school career as the editor of the school newspaper, the Patriot Reporter, so she already has a skill set that will help her achieve her goal of a college education.

Bastia’s dedication to her craft has also led her to recognition. She received an award for excellence in English over four years, as well as the Foreign Language Award. She also received the Harvard Book Award for excellence in 11th and 12th grade reading classes, and the Middlebury College Book Award. It’s clear the teaching staff at Pilgrim had a major influence on her. “Pilgrim is full of amazing teachers,” she said, “but I’d have to thank Mr. Carlson for making me a better reader and writing, Ms. SanGiovanni for letting me rant about feminist ideals, and countless others who encouraged me to be confident in every endeavor.”

Daniel Reph

“My sister set the bar high in terms of academics so I felt like I needed to exceed expectations,” said Daniel Reph, and he accomplished what he set out to do. Ranking eighth in his class, Reph earned his spot in the top ten by exceeding expectations, and he did it by learning to be a leader.

He played baseball and basketball in his high school career, and created friendships and connections that are sure to last. “I’ll remember the freshman baseball team and how we’ve changed from then to now,” he said. “My teammates from baseball were the best and they really made high school enjoyable.” This enjoyment is what makes high school easier to handle, and he certainly translated his leadership success from athletics into academics.

In his academic career, Reph was both an Advanced Placement Scholar and a Rhode Island Scholar. He participated in the Student Leadership program and earned himself a spot in the National Honors Society. Not only did he receive the Chemistry Award at Pilgrim, he also was given the George Eastman Young Leaders Award for his strong leadership, high grades, and extracurricular activity.

Through all of this hard work and dedication, it’s the friendships and support that he recognizes. “I’ll remember the great friends I went through high school with and that we’ll still be great friends as we go to college near Philadelphia together.”

Reph will be attending Lehigh University for a degree in chemical engineering.

Emily Heon

Ninth-ranked Emily Heon said that she had, “the desire to have a good and strong college application and to enter college prepared.” This goal led her to quite a successful high school career, one that she can boast about moving into her college career.

Athletically, Heon managed to balance both varsity soccer and lacrosse in her schedule. She ended up winning state championships with both teams, which clearly shows how much leadership and dedication she possesses. After all, she said that her sports teams and coaches contributed the most to her success and enjoyment in high school.

Academically, Heon met with even more success through her own determination.

She was given an AP Scholar award, and was an honorable mention on the National Spanish exam. This all came with the fact that she was her senior class president and a member of the executive committee.

Heon says about her high school years that she’ll remember, “the people I’ve met and the familiarity of the school environment,” the most.

She will be attending the University of Vermont for business administration.

Nancy Alvarez

Rounding out the top 10 of Pilgrim’s Class of 2016 is Nancy Alvarez, who accomplished a lot in four short years of high school.

Not only was Alvarez a captain for the girl’s volleyball team and a member of the track team, she also managed to be named the Most Valuable Player for her volleyball team. On top of participating in two sports, she managed to find the time to be an assistant coach in basketball.

She still found time to focus on her leadership roles, too. Outside of being a captain on her volleyball team, she also managed to handle the position of Vice President for the National Honor Society and participate in the Student Leadership program. And if that isn’t enough, she was part of the French Club and the Foreign Language Honor Society.

Her academic route was a tough one, but she took it all in stride. What she will remember most about her high school years is, “The torturous junior year when I took Chem II AP and Physics I AP at the same time. I was stressed out.”

That stress ended up paying off, as she earned herself the URI Alumni Student Award and the tenth spot in Pilgrim’s top 10 for all her hard work. She also earned the Tam Train Scholarship in order to continue her education to the college/university level. She plans to do so at the University of Rhode Island, where she expects to major in Spanish and Industrial Engineering.