Easton’s Oliver Ames High School Names Class of 2020 Top 10 Graduates

For immediate release

EASTON — Superintendent Lisha Cabral and Principal Wes Paul are pleased to announce the top 10 graduates of Oliver Ames High School’s Class of 2020. 

“These 10 students have successfully balanced their school work and extracurricular activities through hard work and dedication, and are role models for our younger students,” said Principal Paul. “The end of this school year is not the way the Class of 2020 expected their journey at Oliver Ames to end, but they are stronger because of it. We are so proud of our entire graduating class and wish them the best in their future endeavors.” 

Class ranking is based upon the graduates’ cumulative GPAs. The honorees, in order of their ranking, include: 

Jessica Roa, Valedictorian, who will attend Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island

While at Oliver Ames High School, Roa was president of the National Honor Society, President of the Executive Board and President of the DECA chapter. She was a varsity member of the swim and dive team. She also volunteers at Massachusetts General Hospital and completed an internship through Boston University working in the Pulmonary Research Lab.

Roa plans to study biology at Brown University. 

Sarah Barron, Salutatorian, who will attend Bentley University

While at Oliver Ames High School, Barron was a member of the National Honor Society, tennis team, Executive Board and math team. 

Barron was involved in community service through the Easton YMCA and the Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts. She also founded Beads for Paws, a non-profit group that makes and sells bracelets to raise funds for animal shelters. 

Barron plans to study actuarial science at Bentley University.

The remaining honorees are:

Olivia Pierce, who will attend The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas and plans to study mechanical engineering.

Olivia Sato, who will attend Northeastern University and plans to study physics and philosophy.

Kayla Hudson, who will attend Northeastern University and plans to study biology.

Nicholas Williams, who will attend American University in Washington, D.C. and plans to study international relations and French.

Maura Kiernan, who will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York and plans to study biomedical engineering.

Abigail Holmes, who will attend the University of Massachusetts Amherst and plans to study biology.

Allison Barth, who will attend the University of Connecticut in Mansfield, Connecticut and plans to study chemical engineering.

Peyton Krinsky, who will attend Tufts University and plans to study international relations or linguistics.

The Class of 2020 celebrated Class Day virtually on Friday, June 5 where scholarships were awarded to a number of graduating students. This year, Oliver Ames High School presented seven new scholarships thanks to the generosity of donors.

The DJ Henry Memorial Scholarship is in memory of Danory (DJ) Henry who died in 2010. Henry was a member of the 2007 graduating class and was a dedicated athlete and leader. The scholarship recognizes a student who participated in intramural or high school sports and exhibited Henry’s love of sports, gentle leadership and commitment to his team, family and friends.

The following seniors have earned the DJ Henry Memorial Scholarship: 

• Hunter Costello
• Megan Holleran
• Christina O’Neil

The Oliver Ames Tiger Scholarship is part of a newly established $1,000,000 endowed scholarship by an anonymous donor. The scholarship recognizes students who are either active in athletics, active in other extracurricular endeavors, successful despite a significant challenge such as a physical or medical limitation, pursuing a career in a trade or vocation or pursuing a career in the secretarial field. 

The following seniors have earned the Oliver Ames Tiger Scholarship: 

• Jared Charron
• Anna Kakhri
• Tate Hadges
• Liam Jennings

The following seniors have earned additional scholarships offered this year: 

• The Hadge Family Scholarship: Lovedine Compere and Allison Widdop
• The Mark Robert Boucher Memorial Scholarship: Nathanael Simeon
• The Class of 1969 50th Reunion Scholarship: Joyce Celestino
• TEMPO Music Scholarships: Emily Eaton, Christopher Galas, Anastasia Pavloff, Olivia Sato and Asher Thomas
• Oliver Ames Rugby Boosters Scholarship: Harrison Ahearn, Jared Charron, Joseph Ferguson, Nicholas Farley and Bryan Young

Oliver Ames has planned an in-person graduation ceremony for Saturday, Aug. 1 at Frothingham Park. Final details for the ceremony will depend on public health guidelines at the time. If an in-person graduation is not deemed to be feasible, the school has plans for a ceremony with only the graduates or a completely virtual graduation depending upon what public health guidance suggests.

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