Drury High Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian for Class of 2024

06:32PM / Wednesday, June 05, 2024Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High School has named Brooke Yvonne Bishop as valedictorian and Ferris Miksic as salutatorian for the class of 2024.

Both students will speak at graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 6, at 6 p.m. in the high school gym.

Bishop, daughter of Krista and Lee Bishop of the town of Florida, has been a stellar three-sport athlete playing soccer, basketball and softball. She has earned the role of captain of all three sports because of her strong work ethic and leadership skills. In addition to her varsity sports, she has also played on

travel and AAU teams for several years. She has been elected class president for the past three years, is a Student Ambassador and peer mediator, and is the editor of the Drury yearbook.

She has been inducted into the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies, received the Saint Michael's Book Award during her junior year, and has earned the Principal's Award for being in the top five of her class since freshman year. She has taken a full Honors, and Advanced Placement courseload and has taken advantage of several college courses at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts through the Early College Program.

Bishop will attend Saint Michael's College in Colchester, Vt., in the fall to major in biochemistry. She hopes to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon.

Miksic, son of Susan Helme and Brian Miksic of North Adams, has had many academic achievements, including being inducted to the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies and earning the Principal's Award each year. He also qualified for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship for high academic achievement.

Active in sports and other activities, he was captain of Drury's soccer team in his junior and senior year. In addition to sports, he has been a part of Drury's music program since seventh grade, participating in honors band, jazz band and school of rock. He also represented Drury and his peers at the North Adams Youth Commission.

Miksic plans to continue his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., to study aerospace

engineering.

Tags: Drury High, graduation 2024, val & sal,

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North Adams UNO Art Club Extends Into Year-Round Community Program

Staff Reports01:38PM / Tuesday, October 06, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Clark Art Institute is expanding the summer program UNO Drop-In Art Club into a weekly, 50-week program for local youth ages 8 to 19, thanks to a new two-year grant from the W.L.S. Spencer Foundation.

Starting Wednesday, Oct. 7, the club reopens its doors at the UNO Community Center (157 River St., North Adams) with extended hours every week from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The UNO Art Club first took root in 2022, founded by local volunteers and supported by the Northern Berkshire Community Coalition (nbCC) as a safe, welcoming space for kids to explore their creativity. In 2024, nbCC sought new partners to keep the program running and joined forces with the Clark and the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA).

Over the past two summers, staff from all three organizations have guided kids through hands-on projects—from clay sculpture and origami to collage and self-portraiture—often inspired by ongoing exhibitions at the museums.

Now, with leadership from the Clark, this grant will allow the program to grow, not only with expanded hours and a year-round schedule, but also to support a paid intern to lead the weekly activities.

Additional benefits of the grant: The Clark will provide rides directly from the UNO Community Center so participants can attend major community events, including First Sundays Free and the annual Community Day. Youth will also take field trips to the Clark, MASS MoCA, and neighboring arts venues across the region.

To learn more about the program or get involved: https://nbccoalition.org/uno-drop-in-art-club/ or contact nbCC at (413) 663-7588, Gabby Glasier - gglasier@nbccoalition.org, or Olivia Brandwein - obrandwein@clarkart.edu.

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