No. 9 - Talia Parente Talia Parente had no trouble finding rhythm at Cranston East. She was a member of the Cranston East band all four years and participated in the drumline, serving as the captain of the latter this past year. Her penchant for rhythm makes sense for the post-secondary realm as well. She will go to the University of Rhode Island this fall to major in psychology. She plans to keep that beat going into graduate school, where she’ll pursue forensic psychology. Parente, a National Honor Society member and one of Mayor Allan Fung’s “Best and Brightest” students from Cranston, said some of her fondest high school memories will be her time with the band, especially winning championships. She said that her enjoyment of East came mainly from her friends, most of whom came from her beloved band. Her success at East, though, was driven by her parents and teachers. “The people who have contributed the most to my success at high school are my parents for never doubting me and always supporting me, and all the teachers who educated me and guided me through all four years of high school.” She noted one history teacher in particular, Scott Maynard, for whom she wrote a 25-page paper for her independent story as a source of motivation. She also gave special thanks to her boyfriend and best friend, Adrian Cartagena Capo. “[He] was always confident I would excel and [he] was always there to encourage and support me when I needed it,” Parente said. “I also motivated myself to succeed because I have always wanted to do my best in everything I do.”

No. 8 - Samantha Levy Samantha Levy has the heart of a champion. It showed during her senior year, when she helped captain the girls’ volleyball team to an undefeated season and Division II championship. That’s just one notable accomplishment of the No. 8-ranked student in the graduating class, who also swam and played lacrosse while also putting in over 100 hours of community service. She won book awards from Wellesley College and College of Holy Cross, and her sports honors included the U.S. Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award and Cranston High School Athletics Award. She said she learned quite a bit during her time at East, and she plans on retaining all of it. “I will remember most about what I have learned,” Levy said. “What I have learned academically, what I have learned from my parents, teachers, and coaches. What I have learned from other people and scenarios. And most importantly, what I have learned about myself and what I have to do to be happy and live life to the fullest. I realized that time moves fast and I want to make the most of every second I have.” She attributed her success to those around her, everyone from friends to family, from teammates to coaches. They always wanted what was best for her and pushed her to be better every day. However, there was always one person there to motivate her even further. Her toughest critic: Herself. “When it comes down to who motivated me the most, I would say myself,” Levy noted. “I’m the one who pushed for more and more. I’m the one who has very high expectations, and I’m the one who will never settle in any aspect of my life.” Levy will head to the University of Rhode Island this fall undecided, though she plans on tackling pre-med in the future to become either a pediatrician or an OB/GYN.

No. 7 - Emma Gherardi Emma Gherardi, the No. 7-ranked student in the Class of 2017, is looking to make a difference with some pen and paper. Gherardi will be attending the University of Rhode Island this fall, majoring in journalism as she looks to build upon her multiple scholarships and Brown Book Award. The Vice President of the Student Council said that the friends she has made over the past four years have helped carry her to success. She said she feels “privileged.” “The memories I’ve made have granted me endless opportunities for personal growth and have given me an experience I am privileged to look back on as a gift,” Gherardi said. “The people I met over the span of these four years have impacted not the person I was at the time, but the person I will become as well. It is from these influential people that I have changed as a person and strived to be the best I can be.” Gherardi understands how rare it is to keep the same group of friends throughout high school, but she feels fortunate to have done so. They helped her navigate the journey that much easier. “My closest friends have stuck by me through all challenges,” Gherardi said. “I know it is difficult to leave high school with the same people you entered it with, but I am honored that I have done just that. Throughout these important years of discovery and growth I have shared some of the best and worst times with the same people, and that goes a long way.” Her sky-high personal expectations, guaranteed to stick with her into the post-secondary world, are what helped her achieve top-10 status. “In all honesty I pushed myself beyond any limits to alway try my best and work hard throughout high school,” she said. “I have very high expectations for myself and so I set high goals for my future because I know what I want and what I am capable of. Keeping my future in mind I motivated myself to work to attain the future I dream of and making it a reality.”

No. 6 - Nicole DeAngelis Nicole DeAngelis, who was No. 6 in the graduating class from East, will be pursuing a career in nursing at the University of Rhode Island this fall. DeAngelis is no stranger to being a leader and helping others. She served as the executive board president for National Honor Society, team manager for unified basketball and served as captain of the soccer team among other accomplishments. She has a litany of honors to her name, including the Bryant University and Boston College Book Awards, the R.I. Civic Leadership Award and Spirit of Excellence Award. She say the memories she made at East will be hard to forget, calling high school an “exciting adventure” and adding that she would not have been able to get through it without the unwavering support she got. “I would not be the successful student I am today, without the undying support of my family and friends and the dedication of my teachers and guidance counselors,” DeAngelis said. “They never stopped believing in me and always encouraged me to fulfill my goals.” She pointed out her brother and parents in particular as an inspiration in motivating her to succeed at the highest level. “My brother who preceded me at Cranston East was a successful and sociable student, and when I entered high school I was constantly reminded of his academic success which motivated me,” she said. “My parents, however, always instilled in me that I was my own person and supported me to leave my own legacy. This sparked a determination for me to leave my own mark on Cranston East, and I feel that I accomplished this.”

No. 5 - Joseph Murray Joseph Murray’s intelligence goes way beyond being No. 5 in his class. Murray was a founding member of East’s math club and will be heading off to Worcester Polytechnic Institute this fall to study electrical computer engineering. He heads off to Massachusetts with his Recognition of Excellence from the Society of Women Engineers in hand as well. Murray is also defined by his exceptional leadership skills. He was selected as one of General Treasurer Seth Magaziner’s Young Leaders and has achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. He has also held the title of Senior Patrol Leader, “which is the highest leadership position and is in charge of the troop as a whole.” Murray said the most unforgettable part of high school were his friends, who pushed him to work hard every day while cherishing each moment as well. “I will always remember all of my friends,” Murray said. “They always looked out for each other and myself, and always made sure we all had a great time and all enjoyed high school as much as possible. We would always push each other to be successful, but at the same time ensured none of us spent too much time focused on working such that we missed opportunities to enjoy ourselves. They made high school a memorable and fun place.” As far as motivation goes, his father provided more than enough. “While we did not always get along well, he always made sure to push me to do my hardest to ensure I would always be as successful as I could be.”

No. 4 - Laney Kong There are few people this side of the Mississippi who can match Laney Kong’s devotion to science. Kong, who was ranked No. 4 in the class, gave some of her Saturday mornings to attend Brown University’s Science Prep. That course features lessons taught to high schoolers by students from Brown, where Kong will be headed this fall. She was a dedicated member of the Science Club for all four years and partook in the Science Bowl and Science Olympiad. She also took part in the Brain Bee, which is a program that features Brown students teaching neuroscience to high schoolers and a competition to test that knowledge. When she wasn’t packing her brain with science knowledge, Kong has played viola in the Orchestra since her sophomore year. She’s been a star at that, too. She has received one silver and two gold medals at the RIMEA Solo/Ensemble Festival, with her most recent top finish coming this year. She has passed each audition into All-State Orchestra all four years. Kong was also a recipient of the Orchestra Director’s Award, which she called her “greatest surprise and [her] favorite award.” Upon her introduction to the National Honor Society, she received the Yale Book Award and Society of Women Engineers Certificate. She noted that her friends, teachers and parents all contributed to her enjoyment of and success throughout high school. She joked that her motivation to get through senior year was to be exempt from exams, but said her interest in using all of her knowledge down the road was what really powered her. “Throughout all four years of my high school career, what really motivated me to excel was the thought that what I learn may be useful in the future,” Kong said. “I figured that since I'm not entirely sure about what I want to do in the future, I'd throw my best effort into everything I do, in hopes that I’ll find something that I truly want to pursue later in life.”

No. 3 - Katrina Marek There’s a chance you could see Katrina Marek’s work on the silver screen very soon. The No. 3-ranked student in the Class of 2017 will be headed to Hofstra University this fall to major in Film/TV Production. After all, she’s already done some acting work in the Marley Bridges Theatre Company. She was also a member of the Math League and the Head Chorister of the St. Cecilia Children’s Choir. Some of her top accolades include the Scholastics Art Awards Silver Key in Painting. She made sure to thank her friends, teachers, family and mentors for helping her reach the best of her abilities throughout high school. “The friends I have made, the teachers who have inspired me, and the countless memories [made],” are what she will remember most.

No. 2 - Noah Gibb It’s all about the engineering for Salutatorian Noah Gibb. Gibb will head to the University of Rhode Island to study that very topic in the fall, but not without some accolades in hand. He has received the Rensselaer Medal and MIT Network of Educators in Science and Technology 2017 Student Award, among other accomplishments such as the AP Scholar Award and American Mathematics Award. Gibb was a founder of the math team and a senior math tutor, as well as taking part in the science club. It’s no surprise that his favorite class was Algebra II was Mr. Matthew Rodolewicz, which he said he “much preferred” to his other courses. “The outstanding group of teachers that I’ve had since freshman year and who pushed me toward success in every course I took,” helped him succeed, according to Gibb. He added that his “parents and family, who have supported [him his] entire life and want nothing more than to see [him] succeed.”

No. 1 - Miya Lohmeier Miya Lohmeier was top of the class at East this year, and she won’t be going far in the fall. Lohmeier will head to Brown University undecided, but she can do just about anything to which she sets her mind. Lohmeier swam for four years at East, was a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance and served as the Yearbook’s design editor for three years. She has a litany of awards to her name, including the Pell Medal, Harvard Book Award and Hirst and Ciarlo Scholarships. While she mainly credits herself for always trying to succeed at a higher level, she said she would not have cherished her years at East without a great support system. “As far as success goes, I would credit my parents and my teachers, but I wouldn’t have enjoyed high school without friends,” Lohmeier said, adding that her fondest memories will be the laughs shared with those same friends and teachers.