WORCESTER, MA — The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) and the Massachusetts Career and Technical Educators organization (MassCTE) proudly co-sponsored the 39th Annual Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award Ceremony on April 10, 2025, at historic Mechanics Hall.
Gathering the Chapter 74 Vocational Technical and Agricultural community, the event honored 55 of the Commonwealth’s most outstanding students for their excellence in career and technical education (CTE).
The ceremony opened with a welcome, the Pledge of Allegiance, and a moment of silence led by Mr. Akram Mchity, a senior at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School and Vice President of SkillsUSA Massachusetts. Mchity also introduced several distinguished guests:
- Timothy Murray, President & CEO, Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Dr. Denise Pigeon, President, MAVA
- Steven Sharek, Executive Director, MAVA
- Kyla Martin, President, MassCTE
- Keith Segalla, Coordinator, Outstanding Vocational Student of the Year Award Ceremony
- Kathy Conole, Coordinator, MAVA Leadership Academy
- Megan Giovannoni, Vice President of Student Success and Partnerships, Quincy College
Master of Ceremonies Steven Sharek introduced keynote speaker Timothy Murray, who highlighted the students’ perseverance and ambition.
“I am always inspired by these students,” Murray said. “While each story is unique, what connects you all is high expectations, determination, and the courage to pursue a challenging path.” He commended students for preparing themselves not only for successful careers but also for higher education opportunities.
Mr. Murray drew on history, quoting Massachusetts founder William Bradford: “All great and honorable actions are accompanied with great difficulties, and both must be enterprise and overcome with answerable courage.” He emphasized that the skills cultivated through vocational technical education — preparation, teamwork, problem-solving, creativity, and kindness — are more vital than ever in today’s dynamic economy.
Mr. Murray also cited studies from the Alliance for Vocational Technical Education showing that 90% of Massachusetts employers want to see more graduates from Chapter 74 programs, underscoring the value of CTE in the modern workforce.
Mr. Murray also called on the Healey Administration not to water down vocational admissions standards and to substantially increase state funding to expand the number of seats in vocational education.
Following the keynote, Dr. Denise Pigeon celebrated the community’s strength, noting that MAVA represents 71 member schools and over 54,000 students statewide. Addressing the honorees, Dr. Pigeon said, “Your dedication, hard work, and mastery in your chosen fields are truly inspiring. To be selected as the outstanding student from your school is an extraordinary achievement — you should be immensely proud.”
MAVA and MassCTE are proud to announce the names of the 55 student recipients of the 39th Annual Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award Ceremony. Congratulations to:
- Assabet Valley Regional Vocational School — Ashley Pu Calderon
- Attleboro High School — Reyna Reyes
- Bay Path Regional Vocational Technical High School — Manaali Vaidya
- Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School — Kallie Allen
- Blue Hills Regional Technical School — Mia Castillo
- Bristol County Agricultural High School — Sarah Ashley
- Bristol Plymouth Regional Technical School — Sofia Ellen Pianco
- Cambridge Ringe & Latin School-Ringe School of Technical Arts — Jula Barriga Cortez
- Cape Cod Regional Technical High School — Cierra Hoyt
- CHICOPEE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL — Carter Janik
- DIGHTON-REHOBOTH REGIONAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL — Catherine Domanoski
- DIMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Isabelle Rego
- B.M.C. DURFEE HIGH SCHOOL — Melanie Berrios-Valcarcel
- ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Logan Schevis
- EVERETT HIGH SCHOOL — Tre’von Carrington
- FRANKLIN COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Caleb Hall
- GREATER LAWRENCE TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Bernise Olivier
- GREATER LOWELL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Nichollas Morais
- GREATER NEW BEDFORD REG. VOC. TECH. HIGH SCHOOL — Astrid Flores Lopez
- HOLYOKE HIGH SCHOOL – DEAN CAMPUS — Jayden Hildigunnarsson
- JOSEPH P. KEEFE REGIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Anna Julia Almeida
- LEOMINSTER CENTER FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION INNOVATION — Carson Wilbur
- LOWER PIONEER VALLEY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER — Bridget Schneider
- LYNN VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE — Kayla Chajon
- MADISON PARK TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL — Cesar Pena Chicas
- MCCANN TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Camryn Moran
- MINUTEMAN HIGH SCHOOL — Abigail Cluett
- MONTACHUSETT REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Jacob Khedekar
- NASHOBA VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Susanna Floyd
- NEWTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL – NEWTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS — Molly Donnellan
- NORFOLK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL — Allyson Palmer
- NORTHEAST METROPOLITAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL — Steven Romero Hernandez
- OLD COLONY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Alyssa Raymond
- PATHFINDER REGIONAL VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Evelyn Shilosky
- PEABODY VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL — Lily David
- PLYMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS – PLYMOUTH NORTH HIGH SCHOOL — Noah Lopes
- PLYMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS – PLYMOUTH SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL — Hayden Foskett
- ROGER L. PUTNAM VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL ACADEMY — Gaige Morse
- QUINCY HIGH SCHOOL — Kyrie Blue
- SALEM HIGH SCHOOL — Janay Newton
- SHAWSHEEN VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Jonathan Hureau
- SILVER LAKE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL — Chloe Downer
- SMITH VOCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL — Brook Wolcott
- SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL — Sam Ryan
- SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Ridwan Hasan
- SOUTH SHORE VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Maya Crawford
- TACONIC HIGH SCHOOL — Kaitlyn Timoney
- TANTASQUA REGIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Zachary Cooper
- TAUNTON HIGH SCHOOL — Daniel Levesque
- TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Jack Simmons
- UPPER CAPE COD REGIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL — Kaia Phillips
- WESTFIELD TECHNICAL ACADEMY — Melanie Szczepanek
- WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL — Olivia Rose Valleau
- WHITTIER REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL — Natalie DeLano
- WORCESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS – SOUTH HIGH COMMUNITY SCHOOL — Georgia Givins Kwakye
Watch the Ceremony:
Full Program Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVtjxi3eKRY
Excerpt of Tim Murray’s Keynote Address: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO59sc5Vj80
For more information about MAVA, MassCTE, or the Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Awards, please visit www.mava.us or www.masscte.org.
MAVA and MassCTE extend their heartfelt congratulations to all this year’s recipients and celebrate their incredible achievements.
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