NEWS

Cranston West spotlights accomplishments of senior class at Honors Night

By DANIEL A. KITTREDGE

Posted 5/26/21

It was a beautiful evening on May 18 as members of Cranston High School West's class of 2021 were honored for their academic excellence and accomplishments. Student hosts of the event were Catherine Consiglio and Gia Barkett, and senior Kaylin Zayat

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Attention subscribers

We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription.

If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here.

Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing.

NEWS

Cranston West spotlights accomplishments of senior class at Honors Night

AN IMPORTANT PROCESSION: One hundred eighty students, totaling half of this year’s graduating class of seniors, processed into the new athletic complex at Cranston High School West last Tuesday evening as Honors Night was celebrated with families in attendance. It was the first large gathering to take place in more than a year’s time.

(Submitted photos courtesy of Cranston Public Schools)

A WARM WELCOME: Class president Gia Barkett welcomed the students, their families, Cranston West faculty and staff as well as Cranston city leadership, community members to the historic event.

(Courtesy of Cranston Public Schools)

GREETINGS FROM CRANSTON WEST: Principal Tom Barbieri celebrated the fact that this year’s Honors Night included more than three times the amount of students that were honored in his first year as principal nine years ago, and praised the students for receiving more than $100,000 in scholarship awards.

MAYOR’S SCHOLARSHIP: Mayor Kenneth Hopkins proudly presented his first scholarship as mayor of Cranston to Liandro Feliz.

GREETINGS FROM CRANSTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Superintendent of Schools Jeannine Nota-Masse reflected on the moments that took place from March 13, 2020, until now, 14 months later, and she praised the students for working hard throughout the global pandemic and persevering through hard times to get their school work done in unconventional ways as they neared their graduation date.

GREETINGS FROM THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE: School Committee Chairman Daniel Wall spoke of the evening feeling just and right as the celebration took place with all in attendance and in the new athletic complex. Wall celebrated the entire graduating class and their achievements as well as being present as a parent of one of the members of the class.

INDUCTION TO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY: Because the students were unable to be formally inducted into the National Honor Society last spring, NHS president Anastasia Coclin performed the induction ceremony during Honors Night instead.

CELEBRATORY FIST PUMP: Assistant Principal Chris Coleman gives a celebratory fist pump to Catherine Consiglio on stage as she stands to receive an award.

A LONG-AWAITED ANNOUNCEMENT: At the conclusion of the event, class of 2021 valedictorian Samuel Latzman and salutatorian Catherine Consiglio were announced by Principal Barbieri.

A STAR-SPANGLED PERFORMANCE: Senior Kaylin Zayat performed the national anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance for the Honors Night event.

Posted Wednesday, May 26, 2021 3:20 pm

By DANIEL A. KITTREDGE

It was a beautiful evening on May 18 as members of Cranston High School West’s class of 2021 were honored for their academic excellence and accomplishments.

Student hosts of the event were Catherine Consiglio and Gia Barkett, and senior Kaylin Zayat performed the national anthem.

Honored platform guests included Mayor Kenneth Hopkins, Superintendent Jeannine Nota-Masse and School Committee members Daniel Wall, Vincent Turchetta and Michael Traficante. Both Wall and Turchetta were also in attendance as parents celebrating their own graduating seniors.

Speakers on stage from Cranston West included Principal Thomas Barbieri, CACTC Director Zachary Farrell and assistant principals John Fontaine and Christopher Coleman. Additionally, Assistant Principal David Schiappa and many members of the Cranston West faculty and Cranston Public School administration were in attendance. Several family members and community representatives were also on hand at the event to present scholarships to the students.

As Barbieri welcomed the students and family members to the event, he cited it as being a historic event, noting that not only was it the first time a large group had gathered together for a Cranston West event in more than a year’s time, it was also the first time that Honors Night had been held outdoors and the first time the school’s new athletic complex had been used since its completion as it was started prior to the onset of the pandemic. Barbieri thanked the members of the Cranston West Alumni Association for their support in the renovations of the complex.

Each of the platform speakers praised the members of the senior class being honored that evening for their perseverance, effort and dedication to their studies, their community service, and their extracurricular activities despite such trying times. It was noted that this year’s senior class had weathered the pandemic through both their junior and senior years, missing out on the hallmark events that normally take place during those years throughout the 14 months since their school had closed on March 13, 2020.

Barbieri noted that 180 students were being honored that night with various awards and induction into three different honor societies, including the Rhode Island Honor Society, the National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society. Additionally, there were scholarships awarded totaling over $100,000 as well as Department Awards, Academic Awards, Book Awards and other significant accomplishments and achievements.

At the conclusion of the event, the class of 2021 valedictorian, Samuel Latzman, and salutatorian, Catherine Consiglio, were announced and celebrated.