Fall River, Bristol County, Worcester, Boston area students among those recognized at Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Awards 

The 38th Annual Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Awards Ceremony was held Thursday at Mechanics Hall in Worcester. Co-sponsored by The Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators and the Massachusetts Career & Technical Educators Organization,
this annual celebration provides schools the opportunity to recognize exceptional young men and women. Each student has excelled in his or her academic and career pursuits, while actively engaging in service to their school and community.

The award winners were:

B.M.C. DURFEE HIGH SCHOOL
Eshal Zahra, the daughter of Sadia Bano, epitomizes excellence at Durfee High School.
A culinary arts student, Eshal arrived from Pakistan in 2018. With a GPA of 4.5 and
perfect attendance, she excels academically. Her participation in SkillsUSA underscores her
commitment to vocational education. Her leadership in the Girls in Trade Leadership Council
and the CTE Director Student Council highlights her advocacy for women in non-traditional
fields. Eshal is very involved in community service. Her internships at the mayor’s office and
with State Representative Carole Fiola showcase her civic engagement, while her involvement
in the African Teaching Foundation highlights her global citizenship. Additionally, her
participation in organizations like the People of Color Unity Club reflects her dedication to
promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion. Affectionately referred to as the unofficial “mayor”
of Durfee High School, Eshal’s popularity, influence, and positive impact on the school are
widely recognized. The recipient of the Christian A. Herter Scholarship, Eshal will be able to
bring her considerable monetary award to any college/university in the US. She is awaiting
a decision from Georgetown University and several other prestigious universities. Eshal is
planning to major in finance and minor in international relations.

DIMAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Elizabeth Kinnane, the daughter of John and Mary Kinnane of Fall River, is ranked second in her class at Diman Regional. She is an advanced manufacturing student who is employed at Five Star Companies as a CNC machinist. She is completing AP, honors, and dual enrollment courses, earning high honors and a 4.0 GPA. A two-year soccer captain, and a three-year MVP and MAC All-Star, Elizabeth received the Offensive Player of the Year Award. A two-year basketball captain, MAC All-Star, and Sportsmanship Award recipient, she is currently co-captain of the tennis team, having received the Coach’s and Sportsmanship Awards. Placing second in the Automated Manufacturing Team SkillsUSA state competition, Elizabeth is also a Diman Student Ambassador, member of DECA, and member of the National Technical Honor Society. She is the National Honor Society secretary and Student Government president. Her community involvement includes volunteering at the local health department, the sailing program, and the YMCA. Following graduation, Elizabeth will pursue a degree in marine engineering. She has been accepted to the University of Rhode Island, and the Massachusetts and SUNY Maritime Academies. She awaits a decision from the United States Coast Guard Academy.

ASSABET VALLEY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Owen Collette

ATTLEBORO HIGH SCHOOL
Sean Kaswale

BLACKSTONE VALLEY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Sara Lewis

BLUE HILLS REGIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Saige O’Keefe

BAY PATH REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Daniel Daige

BRISTOL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL
Lily Ferry

BRISTOL PLYMOUTH REGIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Dayna Mbugua

CHICOPEE COMPREHENSIVE HIGH SCHOOL
Joshua Perry

CAMBRIDGE RINDGE & LATIN SCHOOL – RINDGE SCHOOL OF TECHNICAL ARTS
Grant Kaufmann

DIGHTON-REHOBOTH REGIONAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Dennis Correia

CAPE COD REGIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Alana Thompson

GREATER LAWRENCE TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Ranyely Gil

ESSEX NORTH SHORE AGRICULTURAL AND TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Rohan Plante

GREATER LOWELL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Mamady Camara

FRANKLIN COUNTY TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Ashley Bobala

GREATER NEW BEDFORD REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Annalise Applebee

HOLYOKE HIGH SCHOOL – DEAN CAMPUS
Natalie Colon

LOWER PIONEER VALLEY CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CENTER
Raisa Sirbu

JOSEPH P. KEEFE REGIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Felix Marshall

LYNN VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE
Esteban Cubides Ramirez

LEOMINSTER CENTER FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION INNOVATION
Marielle Howlett

MADISON PARK TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Arlin Yanes

MCCANN TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Sara King

NASHOBA VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Connor McCall

MINUTEMAN HIGH SCHOOL
Laryssa Maia

NEWTON NORTH HIGH SCHOOL – NEWTON PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Maya Sinay

MONTACHUSETT REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Benjamin Schmidt

NORFOLK COUNTY AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL
Madelyn Germain

NORTHEAST METROPOLITAN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
Illiana Ramos Reyes

PEABODY VETERANS MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL
Clara Oliveira

OLD COLONY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Thomas Graber

PLYMOUTH SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Rylee Kane

PATHFINDER REGIONAL VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Kailee A. McManaman

ROGER L. PUTNAM VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL ACADEMY
Alondra Nieves Rivera

QUINCY HIGH SCHOOL
Kimi Vallee

SILVER LAKE REGIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Erin Flaherty

SALEM HIGH SCHOOL
Laila McClain

SMITH VOCATIONAL AND AGRICULTURAL HIGH SCHOOL
Aaron Fein

SHAWSHEEN VALLEY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Sarah Johansen

SOMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Yuvica Sharma

SOUTHEASTERN REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Xa’Nah Greene

TANTASQUA REGIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Avianna Gregoire

SOUTH SHORE VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Kaylin Hicks

TAUNTON HIGH SCHOOL
Leticia Lopes

TACONIC HIGH SCHOOL
Georgio Yared

TRI-COUNTY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Callie Schweitzer

UPPER CAPE COD REGIONAL TECHNICAL SCHOOL
Gideon Drury

WEYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
Shawna Reddick

WATERTOWN HIGH SCHOOL
Laura Biagiotti

WHITTIER REGIONAL VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Nathaniel Shramko

WESTFIELD TECHNICAL ACADEMY
Aidan Layng

WORCESTER TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL
Mia Zoghbi