CHESHIRE, Mass. — Senior Anna Thurston is this year's recipient of the Superintendents' Certificate of Academic Excellence at Hoosac Valley High School.

 

The award was presented at Monday's School Committee meeting by Superintendent Aaron Dean, who said she has been involved "in anything that brought student voice to the table."

 

"She conducts herself in a professional way, but brings humor to the table. She's just really a joy to be around and a joy to work with," he said. "Congratulations on this great accomplishment and congratulations to your parents."

 

Thurston is an honor roll student and a recipient of a John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. She's been a member of the Portrait of a Graduate committee, the Leo Club, the school's Student and Adult Advisory Board and the National Honor Society. She was on last year's first-place team in the General Dynamics STEM Competition and is a medal winner for figure skating in the Bay State Games. 

 

Principal Colleen Byrd read letters of endorsement from Thurston's teachers, who described her upbeat attitude, intelligence and confidence, her curiosity, and the positive, can-do energy she brings to all her efforts. One teacher spoke of how she joined the engineering class during her free period to support the only girl in that class. 

 

"Of course, she accepted instantly, soon became one of the strongest students in the class and paved the way for other young women to flourish," the teacher wrote. 

 

In other business, the committee heard about efforts to stop chronic absenteeism from Byrd, Principals Lisa Lesser and Chris Wenz, and Dean of Students for the middle and high school JJ Choquette.