Morgan School Announces Top 10 Students of 2013

Congratulations to the top 10 students of the Class of 2013! 

These students have worked hard at their studies- Here's a look at their accomplishments, activities and future plans of the top 10 soon to be graduates. 

Valedictorian:

#1-Emilie Wilk is the daughter of David Wilk and Caroline Zeller.  

Emilie is the co-editor of Morgan’s newspaper, The Husky Herald.  She is also a member of High School Bowl, Gay-Straight Alliance, Amnesty International, and REACT.  Emilie is the secretary of National Honor Society and is a member of the French Honor Society as well.  Emilie was a Morgan Scholar, a CAPT Scholar, and a recipient of the Harvard Book Award.  

Outside of school, Emilie participated in the Fantastic Friends mentoring program for two years and is a Girl Scout.  

Emilie will attend Scripps College in the fall.

Salutatorian:

#2-Isabella Ragonese is the daughter of Jody and Laura Ragonese.  

Isabella is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society.  She is a 2013 Connecticut High School Scholar-Athlete.   Isabella has been a member of the varsity girls’ lacrosse team for four years.  In her junior year, she was voted MVP, and was selected as team captain in her senior year.  

She has participated in the Uganda Club and The Husky Herald.  Isabella works at Red Barn Children’s Center and has been a Spanish tutor.  

Isabella will be attending Skidmore College in the fall to pursue studies in biology.    

#3-Miranda Richard is the daughter of Lisa and Ricky Richard.    

She is president of Morgan REACT, co-president of the National Honor Society, and co-editor of The Husky Herald.  She is also a member of the varsity tennis team, Morgan Peer Advocates, Mock Trial Team, and French National Honor Society.  Miranda has been named both a Morgan and CAPT scholar. 

Last year, she was a semi-finalist in the Connecticut Governor’s Scholar Program and she received a Laurel Girls’ State nomination.  This year, she was awarded the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) Student Recognition Award for leadership, service to the school, academic prowess, and service to others in the community.  

Outside of school, Miranda consistently volunteers with the Clinton Youth and Family Service Bureau’s Summer Partners and Fantastic Friends programs as well as Habitat for Humanity and Clinton Partners in Community (PiC).  

Miranda will attend Boston College in the fall and plans to pursue a double major in sociology/applied psychology and human development.      

#4-Paola Peralta is the daughter of Jenny Torres and Carlos Peralta.   

Throughout her high school career, Paola has participated in four years of volleyball, two years of basketball and was selected as captain of the tennis team her senior year.  She also participates in The Husky Herald, Mock Trial and Amnesty International.  

Paola is co-president of the National Honor Society and a member of the French Honor Society.  Paola is recognized as a CAPT scholar, a Morgan Scholar, and a National Hispanic Scholar.  

Paola will attend Northeastern University’s honors program.  She will major in sociology and pre-law.    

#5-Michelle Beauvais is the daughter of Jeannette and Joseph Beauvais.

Michelle is the treasurer of the National Honor Society and is a member of the French National Honor Society.  She is also a member of Peer Advocates and REACT.  Michelle is on the High School Bowl team and is a writer for The Husky Herald.   Outside of school, she has participated in Fantastic Friends and Summer Partners.  Michelle has also been a Girl Scout for the past twelve years.  

Michelle will be attending Wheaton College to pursue a major in chemistry.      

#6-Cameron Engle is the son of Timothy and Carolyn Engle.  

Cameron is a member of the National Honor Society.  He has been a member of both the Junior Varsity and Varsity Math Team. For the past four years, Cameron has written for The Husky Herald.  

He has dabbled in other clubs as well, but more recently has centered his time and energy in occupations outside of school.  After twelve years of studying Tae Kwon Do, beginning his junior year, Cameron has taught classes of his own, three times a week, to students of the Madison Academy of Martial Arts (M.A.M.A.), which will remain his job until he attends Clark University this fall to pursue a degree in secondary mathematics education.      

#7-David Chittenden is the son of Todd & Wendy-Lee Chittenden.     
                                                                                                                      David is a member of the Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society.  He has been a member of the Morgan band for four years and has received academic distinction in music-band for two years.  In his senior year, he was named band captain and received The Connecticut Association of School Outstanding Performing Arts Award.  He was also awarded The Connecticut Association of School Superintendants Award.  David was named a Morgan Scholar and CAPT Scholar his junior year and also received the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award. 

After participating on the math and golf team’s his freshman and sophomore years, David turned his passion to dance.  He has studied ballet at Christian Academy of Dance in Killingworth for five years and has had the opportunity to perform in an outdoor dance concert in Times Square for the last four years.  

David’s desire to help others took him to Bolivia in his sophomore year and he has plans to return in the future.  He also spends countless hours in The Morgan School auditorium where he participates on the technical crew for the Morgan musicals and other productions.  He was named crew chief both junior and senior year.  

David will be attending Boston University in the fall to major in mechanical engineering.    

#8-Alexander Swett is the son of John and Lisa Swett.

Alex has been a mentor in the Fantastic Friends program for the past three years.  He volunteered as a counselor helper in the Hike It! summer program through Clinton Youth and Family for two years and for the Connecticut Sportsplex Summer Camp. He is a member of the Political Club and the High School Bowl team. An avid skier, he participated in the Morgan Ski Club for all of high school. 

Alex received the Connecticut American Legion Boys’ State Award, the David Bazar Excellence in Mathematics Award, and the Clinton Rotary Club Student- of- the -Month Award.  He is employed by the Essex Yacht Club.

Alex will be attending Eastern Connecticut State University’s honors program to major in biology.   

#9-Rachel Duda is the daughter of Matthew and Kelly Duda.

Rachel is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society.  Rachel received the Fairfield Book Award her junior year.  She was a cross country and track captain her senior year along with playing soccer her freshman and sophomore year at Morgan.  She also ran the Fairfield Stratton Half Marathon the summer of 2011.  Rachel is employed by Charmard Vineyards.

Rachel will attend Western New England University in the fall to pursue a degree in pharmaceutical business.  

#10-Katie Eleanore Baisden is the daughter of Byron and Lisa Baisden.

Katie is a member of both the Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society.  She was class president her sophomore year as well as president of Gay Straight Alliance for the past three years.  Katie is the co-captain of Morgan’s High School Bowl team and is a member of both Peer Advocates and REACT.  

Katie is attending Eastern Connecticut State University in the fall to study history and art history.