BILLERICA — The Senior of the Month program at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School has resumed after being sidelined due to the pandemic.
The initiative has been a tradition at Shawsheen for many years and has been a positive and rewarding program for seniors. The program enables faculty to honor students during their senior year. From the monthly winners, one senior will be selected as the Senior of the Year, which includes a scholarship sponsored by the Billerica Lodge of Elks.
The Senior of the Month program selects one male and one female senior student every month based on a variety of criteria. Criteria includes evaluation of character, leadership, citizenship, service to school and community, scholastic achievement and vocational competencies. Students are recognized for their accomplishments to their class as well as Shawsheen Tech, and are chosen with optimism that they will be outstanding alumni and members to the community after graduation.
The seniors selected during the fall semester are as follows:
October
Kevin Stevens, an Electrical student from Wilmington, is in Honor Society and has competed on behalf of Shawsheen in SkillsUSA competitions. He is on the soccer, swimming and track teams. Kevin is an orientation leader at Shawsheen, a youth group leader and an Eagle Scout candidate. Kevin participates in the cooperative education program and is placed at Comeau Electric. Upon graduation he plans to continue his education through post-secondary programming to become a master electrician.
Kasey McFadden, a Dental Assisting student from Tewksbury, is in Honor Society and has held class office all four years. She is currently serving as class president. Kasey has been a four-year varsity athlete for both volleyball and swimming, and she is actively involved in her community. Kasey qualified for Shawsheen’s cooperative education program and is placed at RIM Associates. She plans to attend college to pursue a career in nursing after graduation.
November
Victor Lam, of Burlington, studies Office Technology and Marketing and participates in the cooperative education program with placement at Tonneson & Company. Victor is in Honor Society and runs in both cross country and track. He participates in many school activities and has worked for the Billerica Food Pantry. After graduation, Victor plans to attend college to study data analytics.
Gabriela Ortiz is a resident of Tewksbury and is in the Dental Assisting program. Gabriella is in Honor Society and has held class office for four years. She is a tri-sport athlete who plays soccer, volleyball and lacrosse, and is Shawsheen’s first National SkillsUSA medalist to place in Dental Assisting (2021). Gabriella works for The Perico Group as part of Shawsheen’s cooperative education program, and she plans to continue her education at a university to pursue biology of dental hygiene.
December
John Zembeck is a Culinary student from Burlington. He is in Honor Society and has been a competitor in SkillsUSA for three years. John runs cross country, is on the swim team and plays tennis. As a cooperative education qualifier, he continues his education bi-weekly at Benchmark Senior Living. John plans to continue to work for Benchmark after he graduates and continue in the field of culinary arts and hospitality management.
Lee Singer is a Burlington resident in the Medical Assisting program. Lee has held class office for four years, is in National Honor Society and has volunteered for Relay for Life and Special Olympics. Lee is a tri-sport athlete who plays volleyball, swimming and lacrosse. She currently works for Countryside Vet Hospital as part of the cooperative education program. After graduation, Lee will attend college to pursue nursing.
January
Connor Halko is a resident of Billerica and is in the Graphics Communications program. Connor was instrumental in the graphic design work for the fall 2021 project “Fenway at Shawsheen,” and was featured on NBC10 Boston for his work. Connor is a polite, hardworking student, and is a top achiever in his vocational program. Connor plans continue in a career as a graphic designer after graduation.
Devin Sweeney is a medical assisting student who resides in Burlington. She has held class office for four years, is in Honor Society and has volunteered for the Lowell Homeless Shelter, Relay for Life and Baystate Marathon. Devin has competed in SkillsUSA, and is on the cross country, lacrosse and volleyball teams. She participates in the cooperative education program with placement at RIM Associates, and plans to attend college for exercise science/physical therapy after graduation.
