Valedictorian of the Johnston High School Class of 2021, Kayla Aquilante, of Lookout Avenue, plans to attend the University of Rhode Island in the fall.

She plans to major in Cell and Molecular Biology, and after she earns her degree, hopes to attend a Physician Assistant program and practice as a PA for her career.

Throughout her four years at Johnston High School, Aquilante participated and held office in many activities, including Peer Tutor, Academic Decathlon (junior year), Rhode Island Youth Force Traffic Safety Group, Providence County Youth Prevention Group and Float Committee.

She served as vice president of National Honor Society, Editor-In-Chief of the Yearbook Committee, and President of the Above the Influence organization.

“With our upcoming high school graduation, it has finally dawned upon me that all of the fun of high school is coming to an end,” she said. “With this being said, my fondest memories are those formed at events like Battle of the Classes, Homecoming, Winter Ball, Senior Sendoff and float meetings. I also really enjoyed just spending time laughing with my friends in class.”

Aquilante won many awards during each of her four years at Johnston High.

During her freshman year, she won second place at the school Science Fair.

During sophomore year, she won fourth place in the National History Day Writing Competition and second place at the Science Fair. She also won the Science Department Award, the Mathematics Department Award, the Social Studies Department Award and American History Excellence Award.

Aquilante won first place at the Science Fair during her junior year, as well as the Science Fair Best Biology Project Award. That year she was also the recipient of the Brown University Book Award.

In her final year at Johnston High, Aquilante won the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award, Excellence in English Award, the U.S. Air Force Math and Science Award, and the U.S. Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award.

“My friends were certainly fundamental to my success and enjoyment of high school,” Aquilante said. “They were always there for me: helping me with my coursework, motivating me to keep going, and answering my dozens of FaceTime calls at ungodly hours of the night. Aside from assisting me with school, they knew how to have a good time!”

Aquilante looked within for motivation in attaining first in her class ranking.

“Upon learning in my sophomore year that I was ranked #1 in my class, I knew that I wanted to keep the position of valedictorian,” she said. “While it was incredibly difficult to achieve this feat, I continued to persevere and work hard throughout high school to prove to myself that I was capable of such a massive accomplishment. I had no external factors motivating me to excel. Instead, I had an inner drive and desire to show myself that I could do it.”