For the past six years, Cranston Mayor Allan Fung has held a small, private ceremony honoring the top 5 percent of Cranston high school seniors from schools across the state of Rhode Island.

“Cranston has wonderful students not just in our high schools, but many others across the state. I want to bring recognition to all of our students for excelling in their academic careers,” he said.

Fung acknowledged that the students were more than just their cumulative GPAs.

“You are well-rounded, diverse people with varied interests. You have attained a record number of volunteer hours working with SADD, Eagle Scouts, Best Buddies, Special Olympics, just to name a few,” he said.

Fung wished all the honorees the best in their next chapter, wherever their path takes them.

This year, Fung recognized 61 students from nine high schools. They are:

Bay View Academy:

Gabrielle Grieco, Rose Mahoney, Melanie Morales, Ashley Omigie, Alexandria Rodi

Bishop Hendricken:

Alex Richard

Cranston Area Career and Technical Center:

Joseph Accetta, Erin Blake, Mitchell Blustein, Lizbeth Brea Polanco, Marina Carro, Erin Igoe, Zachary Lachance, Ryan Murphy, Elysha Sameth, Daniel Wang

Cranston High School East:

Ainsley Campbell, Kevin Chen, Qi Wen Chen, Saiya Chik, Jeanette Chin, Donna El-Laham, Cynthia Gatua, Ethan Gomez, Hui Yimg Huang, Kysha Johnson, Kevin Li, Victoria Marion, Zanabou Njie, Emily Nunez, Stephanie Nunez, Emily Ou, Sayira Silverio, William Sumrall, Cheyenne Tillison, Vivien Yau

Cranston High School West:

 Sarah Alam, Audrianna Casey, Paul Cesana, Danielle Dotter, Stefanie Hersey, Kimberly Kluglein, Olivia Longo, Gianna Morena, Alexandra Pazienza, Mollie Phelps, Madison Renaud, Adriana Saccoccio, Daniel Saillant, Grace Santilli, Shannon Scolardi, Gretchen Thompson, Catherine Tiley, Ariana Tortolani, Hannah Travelyn, Elise Zarcaro

La Salle Academy:

Elieen Phou

New England Laborers’/CPS Construction Career Academy:

Bryanna Melo

Providence Country Day:

Aliya Thaler

Wheeler School:

Nicholas Lowinger, Thomas Sacco 1

VIEW FROM THE TOP:

Students honored from Bay View Academy were Gabrielle Grieco, Rose Mahoney, Melanie Morales, Ashley Omigie, and Alexandria Rodi. 2

SOARING LIKE A HENDRICKEN HAWK:

Alex Richard and Mayor Allan Fung share a moment during the ceremony. 3

FOCUSED ON THEIR FUTURES:

Students honored from the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center were Joseph Accetta, Erin Blake, Mitchell Blustein, Lizbeth Brea Polanco, Marina Carro, Erin Igoe, Zachary Lachance, Ryan Murphy, Elysha Sameth, and Daniel Wang. 4

BRIGHT AS A THUNDERBOLT:

The honorees from Cranston East gather with Mayor Fung. They are Ainsley Campbell, Kevin Chen, Qi Wen Chen, Saiya Chik, Jeanette Chin, Donna El-Laham, Cynthia Gatua, Ethan Gomez, Hui Yimg Huang, Kysha Johnson, Kevin Li, Victoria Marion, Zanabou Njie, Emily Nunez, Stephanie Nunez, Emily Ou, Sayira Silverio, William Sumrall, Cheyenne Tillison, and Vivien Yau. 5

FLYING HIGH AS FALCONS:

The honorees from Cranston West gather with Mayor Fung. They are Sarah Alam, Audrianna Casey, Paul Cesana, Danielle Dotter, Stefanie Hersey, Kimberly Kluglein, Olivia Longo, Gianna Morena, Alexandra Pazienza, Mollie Phelps, Madison Renaud, Adriana Saccoccio, Daniel Saillant, Grace Santilli, Shannon Scolardi, Gretchen Thompson, Catherine Tiley, Ariana Tortolani, Hannah Travelyn, and Elise Zarcaro.

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RAM TOUGH:

La Salle Academy’s Eileen Phou shares a moment withy Mayor Fung. 7

BUILDING HER FUTURE DREAMS:

NEL/CPS Construction Career Academy’s Bryanna Melo is pictured with Mayor Fung. 8

PROUD DAY:

Aliya Thaler from Providence Country Day is seen alongside Mayor Fung. 9

FROM WHEELER:

Nicholas Lowinger from the Wheeler School shares a moment with Mayor Fung.