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Aimee Dowling, center, poses with family after receiving the Superintendent's Award at McCann Technical School.

Dowling Presented McCann Superintendent's Award

By Jack GuerinoiBerkshires columnist
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Superintendent James Brosnan presents Dowling with the certificate recognizing her academic achievements.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — McCann Technical senior Aimee Dowling was presented the Superintendent's Award on Thursday in front of her family and teachers.

"Leadership is in your future you are going to do great things," Superintendent James Brosnan said Thursday night's McCann School Committee meeting. "Every day Aimee comes into school, she has a smile on her face and I think that is an example for all of your classmates and all of your teachers. ... You are a great example of the classic McCann culture."

Each year superintendents across the state award one student with a Certificate of Excellence, sponsored by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents.

Principal Justin Kratz echoed Brosnan and said Dowling, whose shop is business technology, is a hard-working involved student with a 4.287 grade point average.

"Without a doubt, she is an absolute outstanding student and she has been a pleasure to work with these four years," he said.  

He added that Dowling stays busy and is part of SkillsUSA, Business Professionals of America and the National Honor Society as well as a star on the soccer field, the basketball court, the softball field and as a competitive dancer.

"I joke with her father that I think you guys just plug her in at night," he said. "How does she possibly do all of this … we are happy to have her as a part of our senior class and we have been very proud to watch her grow over these past four years."

Kratz read testimonial statements from some of Dowling's teachers.

"Aimee is an impeccable young woman and her dedication to her school work and ability to juggle all that she does ... it is simply amazing. She is a positive motivated young woman."

"Aimee is the most dedicated hard-working student-athlete I have ever encountered and she has been a leader at McCann for four years. Even with her schedule, she has always been able to put in in her time for academics and athletics."

"Aimee is smart, friendly and athletic. The total package. I have seen her around athletics since the days she had family members at Drury. She lights up the room with her positive energy and is a good example of how athletics and good parenting can lead to good work habits and personal character in life."

School Committee member Daniel Maloney said Dowling is the archetypal McCann student who all students should look up to.

"Your positive attitude really is contagious, and we have all these underclassmen coming along and when they see these upperclassmen successfully working hard it sets a pattern for them," he said.

Dowling said she plans to study biomedical engineering at either Western New England or RPI and will miss her time at McCann.

"I grew up around McCann so coming here was not really an option I knew I wanted to come here and it was a very accepting place and," she said. "I came from a graduating class of three at my old school and McCann was a good transition." 


Tags: academic award,   graduation 2018,   McCann,   

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MassDOT Warns of Toll-fee Smishing Scam

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Department of Transportation was alerted that a text message-based scam, also known as smishing, is fraudulently claiming to represent tolling agencies from across the country. The scammers are claiming to represent the tolling agency and requesting payment for unpaid tolls.

The targeted phone numbers seem to be chosen at random and are not uniquely associated with an account or usage of toll roads.

Customers who receive an unsolicited text, email, or similar message suggesting it is from EZDriveMA or another toll agency should not click on the link.

EZDriveMA customers can verify a valid text notification in several ways:

  • EZDriveMA will never request payment by text
  • All links associated with EZDriveMA will include www.EZDriveMA.com

The FBI says it has received more than 2,000 complaints related to toll smishing scams since early March and recommends individuals who receive fraudulent messages do the following:

1. File a complaint with the  Internet Crime Complaint Center at www.ic3.gov; be sure to include:

The phone number from where the text originated.
The website listed within the text

2. Check your account using the toll service's legitimate website.

3. Contact the toll service's customer service phone number.

4. Delete any smishing texts received.

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