On Wednesday, June 9, the Cranston Area Career and Technical Center (CACTC) honored nearly 200 seniors who completed three-year programs in one of the school’s 11 pathways programs: Architectural/Technical Drafting and Designing, Aquaculture, Construction, Technology and Welding, Culinary Arts, Education, Childcare and Development, Entrepreneurship, Graphic Communications, Information Technology, Interactive Digital Media, Medical Pathways and Pre-Engineering/Robotics.

In addition to the multitude of awards and scholarships given to the graduates that evening, each of the students received a Rhode Island Department of Education Pathway Endorsement Council Designation seal for their diploma signifying that they have completed three required components of study (academic study of three or more courses, work-based learning experiences, and a diploma assessment showing the application of skills such as a capstone, exhibition or portfolio) in one of six discipline areas (arts, business and industry, humanities and world language, STEM, and teaching). These requirements are above and beyond the high school graduation requirements that all students must complete in order to graduate, and the class of 2021 is the first class to receive these additional diploma designations.

Honored platform guests at the event included Mayor Kenneth Hopkins, Superintendent of Schools Jeannine Nota-Masse, School Committee Chairperson Daniel Wall, School Committee Vice-Chairperson Vincent Turchetta, Cranston Public Schools Chief Financial Officer Joseph Balducci, and Cranston Public Schools Executive Director of Educational Programs and Services Joseph Rotz. Additionally, Cranston High School West Principal Thomas Barbieri brought greetings from the school and CACTC Director Zachary Farrell emceed the event.

Each student received a certificate of completion from their program and many have also received additional industry certifications or completed college credit-bearing courses as part of their pathway program requirements. Additionally, there were a variety of awards and scholarships given out as well as this year’s designation of the outstanding students from each program and the Director’s Medal given to one outstanding student from CACTC each year.

Achievement Awards and Scholarships

Mayor’s Scholarship: Catherine Consiglio

RIDE Future Educator Scholarship: Anastasia Coclin

Dawn Rotz Scholarship: Anthony Cabral

Manuel E. Martins Scholarship: Kevin Sanders

Herbert S. Galkin Memorial Scholarship: Mary DeSilva

Architectural Design and Academic Achievement Award: Daniel Meola, Hamilton Carney

Outstanding DECA Award: Hope DiBiasio, Amber Paquette

Medical Pathways Academic Achievement Award: Ava Santamaria, Annissa Ferranti, Brenna Whittaker

Excellence in EMT Award: Nicholas Castriotta, Domenic Lancellotti

Excellence in Healthcare Skills Award: Katia Reyes, Brendan Blake

Honorary Medical Pathways Student Award: Matthew Zannini

The Ashley Signoriello Scholarship: Mary DeSilva, Elizabeth Cowart

Excellence in Medical Pathways Award: Lora Donovan, Lindsey Bratter

Pathway to Education Award: Hannah Cote, Rachael Zarrella

Culinary Chefs’ Award: Ethan Quinn, Shawn Robbins

Outstanding students

Aquaculture: Anthony Autiello

CAD/Drafting Technology: Matthew Zannini

Culinary Arts: Arthur Arslanyan, Joseph Gainor Education

Pathways: Anastasia Coclin, Emily Colon

Entrepreneurship: Emma Hanley

Graphic Communications: Abigail Shellard

Information Technology: Brandon DeCesare

Interactive Digital Media: Maxwell Pasquariello

Medical Pathways: Nicholas Castriotta, Jordan Simpson

Pre-Engineering and Robotics: Catherine Consiglio

Residential Construction and Repair: Cameron Johnson

Director’s Medal: 

Catherine Consiglio