Toll Gate’s Top 10 reminisce memories, teachers, achievements

Carla Aveledo
Posted 7/24/14

Toll Gate Principal Stephen Chrabaszcz calls the Class of 2014 one of the most creative he has seen in his 10 years at the school.

After winning three state championships in boys’ soccer, …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

Toll Gate’s Top 10 reminisce memories, teachers, achievements

Posted

Toll Gate Principal Stephen Chrabaszcz calls the Class of 2014 one of the most creative he has seen in his 10 years at the school.

After winning three state championships in boys’ soccer, girls’ hockey and unified basketball, Chrabaszcz was proud to call this year’s seniors successful. He added that athletics weren’t the only thing to recognize from this group, but also said many students were musically talented.

“They were very individualistic in their style, but came together when they had to,” said Chrabaszcz.

He said the class tried new things, went after their own goals and accomplished them.

Chrabaszcz is a believer in public school education because it allows for it to be a melting pot society, he said.

“I enjoyed this group immensely, ” said Chrabaszcz.

The seniors’ final day together was on June 10 when they received their diplomas at CCRI.

Isaac Davis

The senior class valedictorian, 17, will be attending Brown University in the fall studying chemistry and computer science before he decides on a major.

Principal Stephen Chrabaszcz said he also went to Brown and spoke to Davis about it many times, noting that Davis was very bright.

Davis has been part of the All-State Jazz Ensemble playing the drums as well as Toll Gate Jazz Ensemble on drums. As an “expert witness,” Davis participated in the school’s Mock Trial team, which in 2013 won the state championship.

On a national level, Davis has received awards as a National Merit Finalist winner, which Chrabaszcz said he’s only had two students win in his 30 years of working, and the Berklee College of Music Superior Musicianship Award. Aside from being Toll Gate’s first ranked, Davis has received the Pell Award for History, U.S. Air Force Math and Science Award and Spanish Language Achievement Award.

In both Jazz Ensemble and the Mock Trial team, Davis said he “found a great sense of community, and I just had a lot of fun.”

The teachers at Toll Gate contributed to his success and memories throughout the years.

“Teachers can make or break the high school experience, and I had some incredible teachers at Toll Gate,” Davis said.

He especially thanked teachers Erin Woulfe, Chris DeFrancesco, Jack Caswell, David Inman, Wayne Politelli, George Landrie and Sharon Franco. He said, “These teachers made me truly want to learn.”

Szabolcs Kiss

Szabolcs Kiss, 19, the class of 2014’s salutatorian, will attend Massachusetts Institute of Technology to major in civil engineering. He plans to minor in music.

As the band’s vice president, and pianist of the Jazz Band, he says he’s sure his best memories from high school “will be the great times we had with the band and jazz band.”

Kiss also took part in cross-country, mock trial and drama club. He is a member of the National Honor Society.

In addition to being ranked second, Kiss received many awards, including the Quincy Jones Musicianship Award, Arion Award for Musical Excellence and Academic All-State for Cross Country.

Principal Chrabaszcz said that Kiss submitted an originally written musical piece and was recognized as second in the nation in a competition.

“I will never forget Mr. Politelli’s amazing European History AP class, Calc AP with Mrs. Biafore or the life lessons from Mrs. Franco every morning before class,” said Kiss.

He also said he will never forget the great friends he made from high school.

Christina DiCenzo

Christina DiCenzo, 18, will attend the University of Rhode Island and major in Environmental Science and Management.

In her time at Toll Gate, DiCenzo was the vice president of the French Club, participated in the Science Olympiad and volunteered at the library.

Ranked third in her class, she received the Yale Book Award, U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award, French Language Achievement Award and the President’s Education Award.

“I will remember the amazing friends I made and how much fun we had together,” said DiCenzo.

DiCenzo attributed much of her success to her teachers. She said, “They encouraged me to reach beyond my expectations and to realize my potential.”

She said her parents motivated her to excel by teaching her the value of hard work. Her sense of purpose and drive derived from the way her parents taught her, “That helped me to work to my potential,” she said.

Taylor Venter

Taylor Venter, 18, will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute majoring in chemical engineering.

Fourth in her class, Venter was in Jazz and Concert Band, as band president for three years. She played varsity and junior varsity soccer for four years and was the treasurer for National Honor Society.

“What I will remember most about my high school years will definitely be the people, teachers and friends … I’ll always remember my friends who helped me get through it all,” said Venter.

Venter received the Rensselaer Mathematics Award and the Baush and Lomb Science Award.

She noted that Erin Woulfe “was the most influential teacher during my time at Toll Gate.” Venter said that Woulfe’s chemistry classes sparked her interest in chemical engineering.

Venter, fourth in the class, finds a difference between excelling and working hard. “For me, not working hard was just not an option,” she said.

Karren Yuan

Karren Yuan will be attending the University of Rhode Island and double major in biology and chemistry. She plans on continuing her career in graduate school and earning a PhD.

During her time at Toll Gate, Yuan was part of the Best Buddies Club, French Club, Drama Club and the National Society of High School Scholars.

Yuan received the Wellesley College Book Award and the President’s Education Award.

Ranked fifth this year, Yuan said she was lucky enough to take challenging honors and AP courses with amazing teachers.

She said that Madame Jackson “has such a happy and passionate disposition for teaching that it makes me want to learn.”

Miss Cat, Mrs. Morgan, Ms. Woulfe, Mr. Vadney, Mrs. Tsigaridas and Mrs. Biafore received special recognition to her success in her math and science classes.

Yuan is motivated for her future as she said she strives to be the best daughter she can be.

“As a child, I wanted to help people so I decided I would become a doctor in the future, but I also wanted to become a doctor so I would be able to help my parents when they are elderly,” said Yuan.

Lexi-Amber Hassell

Lexi-Amber Hassell, 17, will attend Western New England University to study neuroscience.

Ranked sixth in the class, Hassell also played junior varsity and varsity volleyball, played flute in the Orchestra and Concert Band and tenor saxophone in the Jazz Band.

Hassell received the Silver Award on the National Spanish Exam, Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award, Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence and the President’s Education Award.

Mr. Landrie, band director, “has led us all to victory over the past three years,” said Hassell. She will remember the great friends and memories she made by being part of the jazz band.

Hassell especially thanked Mrs. Franco and Ms. Woulfe for their advice, consolation and knowledge for the past three years.

“I feel like I’ve always had a pre-disposition to succeed academically,” said Hassel. “I didn’t realize I was trying hard because it came naturally to me; it’s just how I am.”

Evan Carley

Evan Carley, 18, plans to attend the New England Conservatory of Music as a jazz performance major.

His passion for music led him to be part of the Jazz, Concert, Orchestra and Marching Band. On top of that, he also ran for the school’s track and cross country team.

Chrabaszcz said Carley, Davis, who ranked first, and Kiss, who ranked second, are all close friends and musically inclined.

Carley received the Quincy Jones Award, National School Orchestra Award, First All-State Jazz Bass, Second All-State Orchestra Bass and the Tri-M Music Honors Society.

He will remember the memories he has made with the school’s music program and running track and cross country.

“My parents, my friends, my teachers and my coaches have contributed to my success and enjoyment of high school,” said Carley.

Carley plans on continuing the 100 percent effort he has put forth for being ranked seventh.

“There is no use putting in any less than 100 percent,” said Carley.

Kyle Gray

Kyle Gray, 17, will attend Saint Michael’s College with plans to major in history, with a minor in Italian and pursuing a degree in secondary education.

Gray was senior class president, National Honor Society vice president and captain of the boys’ tennis team and a member of the Foreign Language Honors Society and Rhode Island Honor Society.

Ranked eighth in the class, Gray received the Rhode Island Foreign Language Association Student of the Year Award, Division II Individual Sportsmanship Award (Boys’ Tennis) and the U.S. National Guard Scholar Athlete Award.

Gray will remember all the activities he participated in at Toll Gate, including Dancing with the Senior Stars, playing on the boys’ tennis team, the proms and the pep rallies.

“I thank my parents and my friends Liz, Courtney, Can, Lexy and Jeremy as well as the entire boys’ tennis team for making my time in high school enjoyable.”

Gray also thanked his teachers for being his biggest motivation to excel. He specifically said Mr. Paliotta, Mrs. Jackson, Mrs. Taliani, Mr. Politelly, Mrs. Franco and Mrs. Biafore.

Ashley Ayotte

Ashley Ayotte, 17, will attend the University of Rhode Island and major in pharmacy in the fall.

Ayotte was in the school’s Orchestra, Academic Decathlon, cross country, track, and cheerleading.

Ninth in the graduating class, Ayotte received the Bryant College Book Award, Carol Pellegrino Scholarship and the Richelieu Franco-American Award.

She said great teachers that have helped her, given her advice and wrote countless recommendations made for an enjoyable time at Toll Gate.

She especially thanked Wayne Politelli, Jack Caswell, Georgette Jackson and her violin teacher and mentor, Julie Cox, for impacting her high school experience.

“My motivation for achievement started in junior high school,” she said. “I wanted to see all of the things I could accomplish with hard work and maybe someday help people.”

Mackenzie Kelly

Mackenzie Kelly, 17, will attend University of South Carolina for pharmacy.

Throughout her time at Toll Gate, Kelly was captain of the varsity tennis team, treasurer of the Executive Committee and secretary of the Student Senate.

Kelly received the Presidential Education Award and the Warwick Girls’ Tennis Player of the Year.

She said she would remember her school trip to France during her junior year.

Coach Gorman, Madame Jackson and Mrs. Biafore contributed to her success with their amazing coaching and teaching.

“I knew that I wanted to be a pharmacist since my freshman or sophomore year, so it was always my goal to get into any pharmacy school,” said Kelly.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here