From Worcester to Washington, D.C., the students are taking advantage of Worcester Academy's real-world education, which prepares them for success as no other independent school does.
Following are some of the Worcester Academy students who are making it real.
ROBERT LOCKE '11
Senior Robert Locke has a penchant for all things government. In his six years at Worcester Academy, he has distinguished himself as a student of history. In fact, he has made a career out of participating in Model U.N., where he was named Outstanding Delegate to the United States Security Council, and Best Delegate overall, at competitions at Dartmouth College last year.
This summer, Robert gets to see history being made before his eyes. He is serving as a Congressional Page in the U.S. House of Representatives Page Program. Each day, he attends classes in the Library of Congress before heading to the floor of the House of Representatives to assist members. Duties there include delivering correspondence, answering phones in the member cloakrooms, and preparing the House Floor for sessions.
"I'm excited to be working alongside today's leaders," Robert said. "As a Congressional Page, I truly get to experience the inner workings of the legislative branch."
Robert is member of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Student Advisory Council. He was a top-ten finalist for the 2010 U.S. Senate Youth Scholarship Program, and has been elected to attend the National Young Leaders Conference in Washington D.C. several times. He teaches skiing at Wachusett Mountain in Princeton, MA.
U.S. Representative James McGovern, a member of Worcester Academy's Class of 1977, sponsored Robert in the Page Program.
ROXANNE ANDERSON '13 and DANA MARRONE '11
While many students spend their summers resting their brains, these two students are studying them.
Worcester Academy sophomore Roxanne Anderson and senior Dana Marrone are interning at the Center for Comparative Neuro-Imaging at The University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. As interns in the Neuroscience and Mental Health Program for High School Students, the pair have been assigned to research groups in the Psychiatry Department, where they are being mentored on the varied pathways for careers in research, teaching, or clinical service.
"I am excited to have been selected," Roxanne said. "I am very interested in helping others, and I have a strong commitment to helping those with mental health concerns."
She said that the doctors assigned to the research groups were advising and collaborating with them to explore fields of research and to develop goals in those areas.
The Center for Comparative Neuro-Imaging houses ultra high-field magnetic resonance imaging spectrometers for use in the study of mental illness. Research studies are geared toward identifying the causes of mental illness and the development of new treatments.
The center sponsors numerous opportunities for high school student involvement, including an annual "Brain Bee" in which students 70 students from across the state answer questions about the brain and neuroscience.
This year, Worcester Academy junior Rajyalakshmi Pyda came in first in the Brain Bee. She travelled to Maryland in April to represent Massachusetts at the National Brain Bee.
Three additional Worcester Academy students – Katherine Goldberg '10, Taylor Hogan '11, and Dermot McCormack '10, – were top-ten finalists, with Michal Grabias '11, Sun-Mee Kasper '12, and Katie Zhang '12 also participating.
BRYAN WELCH '11
Senior Bryan Welch aspires to earn his doctorate in veterinary medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University in Grafton, MA. Thanks to a special program, he won't have to wait to graduate from Worcester Academy to attend classes at Tufts.
Bryan is enrolled in a career exploration program called the Tufts Adventures in Veterinary Medicine Program. The highly competitive program is for students who are "excited by science, enjoy working with animals, and would like to find out what it takes to be a veterinarian." Adults and young people alike come from across the country and around the world to attend summer sessions.
"It's a two-week program that allows me to participate in clinical rotations, classroom lectures, student labs, and to go behind the scenes at the hospital," Bryan said. "It gives a realistic and comprehensive look at what attending veterinary school would be like."
Bryan said that he has been interested in veterinary medicine for some time. He said that his position as a veterinary technician assistant at Agape Animal Hospital - work he has done for the last two years - was significant to his being selected for the Tufts program.
The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University has been recognized for its pioneering academic programs, high-quality clinical care services, and original research, which have brought it national and worldwide acclaim.
LAUREN VIGNALY '11
Senior Lauren Vignaly is on the Headmaster's list - a high honor for a Worcester Academy student. This summer, she's taking what she’s learned at Worcester Academy and sharing that real world experience as a teaching assistant to girls enrolled in WPI's Camp Reach.
Camp Reach is a summer residential program for girls in Massachusetts who are entering 7th grade and who are interested in learning more about careers in engineering and technology. The two-week program includes hands-on workshops, a design project for a community organization, field trips, and recreational activities. Additionally, there are follow-up programs at WPI during the academic year.
"This is my second year as a teaching assistant for Camp Reach," Lauren said. "I help run the Discovery Workshops and I coach the girls in their design projects. I also live with the girls and endeavor to be a role model to them, along with their teachers."
The role models help generate and sustain interest in engineering and technology, she said, while at the same time giving teaching assistants and others an opportunity to enhance their interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills.
WORCESTER ACADEMY
Worcester Academy is a co-ed day and boarding school for grades 6 to 12 and postgraduates. Our urban setting, diverse community, and challenging curriculum provide students with a solid, real-world education. Information at www.worcesteracademy.org.
