Boston Public Schools (BPS) held its annual valedictorian luncheon at the Boston Harbor Hotel last month to honor valedictorians across the city, including two with Mission Hill ties, according to a press release.
“This is one of my favorite events of the year,” said Mayor Marty Walsh, according to the press release. “The class of 2016 is a very special one. More than half of these students are their first in their families to attend college. More than half of them were born outside of the United States. Eight of the 37 valedictorians have been in the Boston Public School system since kindergarten. This group of scholars is a testament to the BPS, and each student should be proud of their success. These students enrich our communities, schools, and the City of Boston. Congratulations to the valedictorians and their families on this great accomplishment.”
Callie Crosley, the host of WGBH’s Under the Radar, emceed the event and introduced each valedictorian.
Mission Hill resident Mayerly Smith was the valedictorian at Boston Latin Academy. She is an intern at Brigham and Women’s Student Success Jobs Program and volunteers at Boston Public Library as a tutor. She is deciding between a scholarship at Harvard College and Northeastern University for the fall of 2016.
The valedictorian at Fenway High School was Chelsea Contreras, a South End resident. She is a member of the softball and step dance teams, and volunteers at Room to Grow, an organization that provides help to students who need support. She will study biology in college and plans to become a pediatrician.