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Drury High Names Valedictorian, Salutatorian for Class of 2026

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Drury High School has named the top students for the class of 2026. 
 
Valedictorian Brayden Michael Canales and salutatorian Carson Daniel Rylander will speak at graduation ceremonies on Thursday, June 4, at 6 p.m. at the high school. 
 
Canales, son of Jason and Jill Canales of North Adams, will graduate from Drury with an overall grade point average of 4.3. He has taken advantage of the opportunity to take early college courses through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, finishing high school with 33 college credits. 
 
In addition to his impressive list of college courses, he has rounded out his transcript with several Advanced Placement and project-based learning courses. He has been inducted into both the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito Honor Societies, has been awarded a Principal's Award for having a top five average in his class for four consecutive years and received the Rochester (N.Y.) Institute of Technology Award for Science and Math as a junior.  
 
Outside of the classroom, Canales continues to go above and beyond. He is a valuable member of the varsity soccer, hockey and baseball teams, and this year was awarded the Berkshire County Ice Hockey Officials Association Sportsmanship Award for his leadership. In addition to sports, he is a Student Ambassador, a peer mediator, has participated in Cultural Appreciation Day through the local court system, and has participated in Drury's Portrait of a Graduate work. He has also volunteered his time with youth sports in the community and was honored with the Berkshire County Scholar Athlete Award this spring for his leadership.  
 
Canales plans to attend a RPI to major in architecture and pursue a career in that field.  
 
Rylander, the son of Roland Rylander and Bobbie-Jo Gallagher of Adams, will graduate with a 4.2 GPA and will have earned 21 college credits during his time at Drury. He rounded out his transcript with several Advanced Placement and project-based learning courses. 
 
He earned the Principal's Award for having a top five GPA, received the St. Michael's College Book Award and was inducted into both the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito Honor Societies for his academic achievements.  
 
Outside of the classroom, Rylander has been a key player on the baseball team, serving as one of the senior captains and helping to carry the team to their many athletic achievements. He has been a Student Ambassador, volunteers with local youth sports organizations with coaching and umpiring, has been a member of Drury's Pep Club and has participated in several service activities through the school.  
 
Rylander will attend Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., where he will major in business and be a member of the baseball team.  

Tags: Drury High,   graduation 2026,   val & sal,   

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Vermont Rally Sinks SteepleCats

iBerkshires.com Sports
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. -- The Vermont Mountaineers Wednesday rallied for six runs in the seventh inning to erase a four-run deficit and went to a 13-10 win over the SteepleCats at Joe Wolfe Field in New England Collegiate Baseball League action.
 
Alex Barrist went 3-for-4 with a double, and Nelphie Lopez was 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of RBIs to lead North Adams' offense. Sebastian Rhoades doubled and drove in a pair in a 3-for-5 night at the plate.
 
Seven North Adams pitchers combined to strike out 10 and walk five, but five SteepleCats errors led to six unearned runs.
 
The SteepleCats (7-24) are at Keene, N.H., on Thursday night.
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