#1 Misharel Johnson

Future Plans (education): Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology

Future Plans (career): Lab based research working with bacteria and microorganisms

High school activities and any position held: Co-Captain Science Olympiad, Amgen EHS Summer Intern, Pilgrim Players Drama Club, National Honors Society National Spanish Honors Society

Special awards/scholarships received: Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award, National College Board National Recognition Program - African-American and Hispanic Awards AP Scholar, 2x gold medalist in SkillsUSA Biotechnology

Best high school memory: Every sidewalk chalk

Who helped you succeed in high school: Dr. Savery

Advice for next year’s class: Grow up, don't grow down, grow out.

#2 Keaney Bayha

Future Plans (education): University of Rhode Island, majoring in English and History

Future Plans (career): Teaching

High school activities and any position held: Cross country, indoor/outdoor track, field hockey, swimming, unified volleyball, unified basketball, class president, NHS president, Academic Decathlon and Debate Team

Special awards/scholarships received: RI Girls Cross Country Gatorade Player of the Year, RIIL Student - Athlete of the Year Award, RIAAA Student - Athlete of the Year Scholarship and Claybourn Pell Award

Best high school memory: Unified Basketball Day Game

Who helped you succeed in high school: My family and friends of course, but also some very special teachers at Pilgrim High School. There’s a large group of adults I have had the great opportunity to have as teachers and mentors in the building who really care about their work and learning.

Advice for next year’s class: Cherish every moment but remember that high school is only the first chapter. Be involved, be engaged, be excited, make the most of every experience, but remember to be unapologetically yourselves.

#3 Hunter Schobel

Future Plans (education): Merrimack College, Track and Mechanical Engineering

Future Plans (career): Engineering

High school activities and any position held: Football and Track Captain, Class Treasurer, Academic Decathlon, Youth Driven Club Co-founder, Unified Club

Special awards/scholarships received: Gianna Cirella Scholarship, Selected to Golden Dozen, Society of Women’s Engineers Award.

Best high school memory: Homecoming football game senior year

Who helped you succeed in high school: My family

Advice for next year’s class: Do everything!

#4 Mitzie Johnson

Future Plans (education): Architecture at Wentworth Institute of Technology

Future Plans (career): To become an architect specializing in historic preservation, community-centered restoration and adaptive reuse.

High school activities and any position held: Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentoring Program

Special awards/scholarships received: WIT ACE Mentor Scholarship, Rensselaer Medal, ACE RI Community Impact Awarded Team 2024, ACE RI Urban Impact Awarded Team 2025, Elizabeth H. Smith Summer Intern at Providence Preservation Society

Best high school memory: It’s very quaint, I realize, but I loved hanging out with friends at or after Homecoming — the game and the dance — and just talking, goofing around. It’s so rare to be able to unwind, at least to me.

Who helped you succeed in high school: Between school and home, I’ve got a lot of people in my corner to fall back on when times get tough.

Advice for next year’s class: If you can help it, don’t procrastinate. If you can’t help it, it’s worth figuring out why. You deserve as much — you can learn, anyone can. Put faith in yourself and your worth.

#5 Alyssa McKitrick

Future Plans (education): Rhode Island College (Medical Imaging)

Future Plans (career): Diagnostic Medical Sonographer

High school activities and any position held: I have never participated in any high school sports, activities, or clubs.

Special awards/scholarships received: I received a Certificate of Achievement for excellence in Mathematics and The Natural Sciences.

Best high school memory: My best high school memory was chemistry class. I don’t have any specific moments, but I sat with three of my closest friends, and doing all of the labs together was so much fun. There was never a boring day when we were all in chemistry.

Who helped you succeed in high school: My friends have helped me to succeed the most in high school. They have always been there for me whenever I needed support, and I am so grateful to be surrounded by such wonderful people.

Advice for next year’s class: Make sure to stay on top of your work, don’t fall behind because of procrastination! Coming back from procrastination can be really difficult to do sometimes, and you shouldn’t let it be the reason that you are struggling in school. Believe in yourself. You can do this!

#6 Hever Ortega

Future Plans (education): Tufts University

Future Plans (career): Medical school/physician

High school activities and any position held: soccer, indoor and outdoor track, youth driven club, volunteering, Science Olympiad

Special awards/scholarships received: Suffolk University Book Award, Commissioners Seal, AP scholar award, College Board Hispanic Recognition award

Best high school memory: Cheering for the unified basketball game during school. The environment was electric, and it was amazing to see the whole school come together and cheer for the team.

Who helped you succeed in high school: My parents

Advice for next year’s class: Get involved in extracurricular activities, get to know your teachers and find things you're really passionate about.

#7 Lia Franchetti

Future Plans (education): The University of Rhode Island (English major)

Future Plans (career): Teaching or journalism

High school activities and any position held: Warwick co-op gymnastics captain, Book club co-founder and co-president, National Honor Society secretary, Academic Decathlon member and Class Executive committee member

Special awards/scholarships received: Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony award and All-academic

Best high school memory: Dancing with my friends at junior prom

Who helped you succeed in high school: My family, friends and teachers

Advice for next year’s class: Take advantage of the opportunities you’re presented with!

#8 Henry Lech

Future Plans (education): University of Rhode Island

Future Plans (career): Cell and molecular biology (major)

High school activities and any position held: Captain of Science Olympiad team, founder and president of the International Club, Youth Visionary Leader for the Cambodian Society of Rhode Island, Youth Leader for Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE), Youth Ambassador for the Rhode Island Department (RIDOH), Greeter for the Brown University Health Hospital, Vice President for the Class of 2025 Executive Committee, Varsity Volleyball, Student Researcher for Brown University Health, Department of Surgery

Special awards/scholarships received: Khmer Student Scholarship Award, Picerne Family Foundation Scholarship

Best high school memory: My favorite high school memory was competing in the Science Olympiad during my sophomore year, where I won my first ever bronze medal in the “Scrambler” event at states. After spending countless hours building and refining the car, it all felt worth it when I finally saw our hard work pay off.”

Who helped you succeed in high school: My family gave me unwavering support, love and motivation throughout high school.

Advice for next year’s class: Stay curious, take risks and never stop exploring new passions and opportunities.

#9 Juliany Quezada

Future Plans (education): Rhode Island College

Future Plans (career): Art teacher

High school activities and any position held: Executive Committee

Special awards/scholarships received: Middlebury College Book Award

Best high school memory: Going after school to the international club with arroz con leche (rice pudding) for International Food Day and having people enjoy my cooking. Also getting to eat the food everyone else brought.

Who helped you succeed in high school: My mom

Advice for next year’s class: Live life, breathe air, but still do your work!

#10 Olivia Cliff

Future Plans (education): I’m going to Roger Williams University! I’m double majoring in Forensic Science and Chemistry.

Future Plans (career): I’m going to be a forensic chemist and work in a crime lab.

High school activities and any position held: Lifesaver club, executive committee, Member of the National Honor Society – Italian National Honor Society.

Special awards/scholarships received: Commissioners Seal on my diploma and Presidential Scholarship from RWU

Best high school memory: Junior Prom

Who helped you succeed in high school: My parents have always helped me succeed, but I also had amazing teachers who were always willing to help and supported me every step of the way.

Advice for next year’s class: Work hard, take classes that interest you and have fun.