SOUTH EASTON — Superintendent Luis Lopes and Principal Leslie Weckesser are pleased to announce that Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School senior Piper Culp, of East Bridgewater, has been nominated as a U.S. Presidential Scholar.
Finalists for the award will be selected and announced by the U.S. Department of Education in April, and will attend an awards breakfast in Washington, D.C.
Each year, the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program recognizes up to 161 of the country’s most exceptional students. The program was expanded to include and celebrate the accomplishments of students studying career and technical education in 2015.
Culp is a student in Southeastern’s Natural & Life Sciences vocational program. She is passionate about science and her favorite topics are environmental science and chemistry. She plans to attend a four-year college after high school and wants to continue pursuing her interest in environmental sciences, hoping to one day help with the current climate crisis.
“Piper is a student that is best described as an analytical thinker that processes information quickly. She is a person that sees the world in a positive and curious way,” vocational instructor Heather Stoddard said. “Her kind demeanor has stood out as she reaches out to others to include them in activities like inviting underclassmen to lunch or tutoring students. Piper can be seen doing all this while simultaneously managing her own responsibilities like early college enrollment, math team, science fair, portfolio management and seeking new educational pursuits.”
Culp has taken Honors and College Preparatory Courses in Marine Life and Oceanography and the Project Lead the Way Biomedical Innovations course. She has received High Honors at Southeastern since her freshman year.
Culp is also currently in the Dual Enrollment Early College Program at Massasoit Community College and is on track to receive an associate’s degree upon her graduation from Southeastern. She was named to the Dean’s List for Massasoit Community College in the fall of 2020 and spring of 2021. She is also involved in a native bee research project at Massasoit as a research intern.
Outside of classes, Culp is involved in National Honor Society, the Math Team and a number of other activities and clubs. She has served as captain of the Beekeeping Team since her sophomore year. She serves as a peer tutor for math and other subjects as needed.
She also participated in the Massachusetts Regional Science and Engineering Fair in 2020 and was awarded an Honorable Mention.
Outside of school, Culp helps her mom at her print shop, Happy Frog Ink in East Bridgewater. She has also volunteered at the East Bridgewater Business Association and has worked as a Little Vikings Junior Counselor and at Central Street Café, both in East Bridgewater.
She additionally holds a General OSHA 10 Certification, Until Help Arrives Certificate of Achievement and COVID-19 Contact Tracing Training Course Certificate.
“Piper’s personable and nurturing nature and her engaging and intellectual manner have forged relationships throughout the campus that set the bar high. She has been a part of many initiatives on Southeastern’s campus that will pave the way with opportunities for students that come to the school after she graduates,” Stoddard said. “Piper decided to join the first ever math team on campus and worked to establish a competitive team. When learning went remote during the pandemic, Piper completed a Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Contact Tracer Certification and virtually competed in the Massachusetts State Science Fair. Additionally, Piper has been enrolled in the early college program and will graduate with her high school diploma and an Associate’s Degree earned through a partnership between Southeastern Regional and Massasoit Community College.”
Added Principal Weckesser, “This is an incredible honor for Piper. She is a hardworking and thoughtful student, and has positively contributed to our school and her community in many ways. She is very deserving of this nomination and we are so proud of her.”
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