B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River releases the Top Ten Students of the Class of 2026 and their biographies

B.M.C. Durfee High School in Fall River announces the Top Ten Students of the Class of 2026

1.Nadia Kozamel – Valedictorian

Nadia Kozamel, Valedictorian, is the daughter of Lamyaa Elbendari of Oliver Street, and will be attending New York University, where she plans to major in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Aerospace Engineering.

Nadia is the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Tandon Scholarship from NYU, the Horatio Alger Scholarship, the St. Anne’s Credit Union Scholarship, the One SouthCoast Chamber Scholarship, the Rotary Club Scholarship, the Dollars for Scholars Scholarship, the Lion Club of Fall River, the Fall River Alumni Scholarship, and a National Semifinalist for the Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship.

Her academic excellence has been further recognized through the Harvard Book Award, the Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award, the College Board National Recognition Program, the Certificate of Academic Excellence by the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the School Committee Special Recognition Award, the AP Scholar Award, the National Honor Society Certificate, the AP Capstone Award, and the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. She is also a proud QuestBridge Finalist.

During her time at Durfee, Nadia served as Vice President of the Interact Club, Vice President of DECA, Vice President of the Muslim Student Association, Vice President of the People of Color Unity Club, President of the French Club, and a Principal-appointed Member of the Student Advisory Council.

Nadia also worked as a Business Intelligence Intern at Merrow Manufacturing and as a Front Retail Associate at TJ Maxx. She has dedicated herself to community service through the Interact Club and National Honor Society and has volunteered internationally.

As she prepares to take on New York City and the world of Engineering, Nadia hopes to one day return to Fall River and inspire the next generation of young engineers to dream bigger than they ever thought possible.

2.Omar Mahmoud – Salutatorian

Omar Mahmoud, son of Shima and Hosam Mahmoud, will be attending the University of Rhode Island, where he plans to pursue a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree.

Omar has been recognized for his academic excellence through numerous honors, including the AP Capstone Diploma, AP Scholar Award, Christian A. Herter Memorial Scholarship, Durfee Alumni Scholarship, and the One SouthCoast Scholarship.

A dedicated student and leader, Omar was a four-year member of both the Marching Band and Swim Team, serving as captain of each organization. He is also a proud member of the National Honor Society.

Committed to serving others, Omar has devoted countless hours volunteering at Rhode Island Hospital, where he has gained valuable experience while giving back to his community.

As he begins the next chapter of his education, Omar looks forward to building a career in pharmacy and making a positive impact on the health and well-being of others.

3. Reagan Melo

Reagan Melo, daughter of Margaret and Eduardo Melo of Henry Street, will be attending Providence College, where she plans to major in biology on the pre-medical track as a member of the Honors Program.

As a three-sport varsity athlete competing in Volleyball, Swim and Dive, and Track and Field Teams, Reagan has distinguished herself both academically and through extracurricular involvement during her time at B.M.C. Durfee High School. She also served as president of STEM Abroad and founded the school’s Pickleball Club, where she continues to serve as President.

Reagan has studied violin for nine years and currently serves as secretary of the school’s orchestra program. In addition, she is a member of the National Honor Society and volunteers regularly through Santo Christo Parish.

Her academic achievements include earning the AP Capstone Diploma, the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, AP Scholar recognition, and the prestigious Brown Book Award. Reagan was also the recipient of an alumni scholarship and several school committee honors recognizing her leadership, service, and academic excellence.

She hopes to pursue a future career as a spinal orthopedic surgeon.

4. Kendra Manzo

Kendra Manzo, daughter of Paul Manzo and Brenda Silva, will be attending Salve Regina University in the fall and has been accepted into the accelerated 5-year MBA program with a concentration in accounting.

She has remained at the top of her class throughout high school while actively participating in leadership, volunteer work, and STEM-related opportunities.

Kendra is passionate about financial management, community service, and pursuing a future in business leadership.

5. Sarah Raposa

Sarah Raposa is the proud daughter of Brian & Kimberly Raposa of Bullock Street.

As a student in Durfee’s Early College Health Pathway, Sarah completed eight college courses at Bristol Community College, earning 26 college credits while also successfully completing eight Advanced Placement courses.

Her academic accomplishments earned her the Harvard Book Award, AP Scholar Award, and recognition as an AP Capstone Candidate. She is also the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Fall River Scholarship Foundation Scholarship, Lions Club Scholarship, Durfee Sports Boosters Scholarship, Edward J. Sullivan Scholarship, Durfee Alumni Scholarship, and Foley Family Scholarship.

A dedicated student leader and athlete, Sarah served as Class Vice President throughout all four years of high school, was Secretary of History Abroad Club and was a member of the National Honor Society, Sixth Man Club, and Kyle Cares/Durfee Cares Club.

Sarah was a four-year member of the Durfee Girls Volleyball team and served as captain during her senior season. She also competed for three years on the Varsity Girls Swim and Dive Team. Before attending Durfee, Sarah spent a decade as a competitive gymnast, competing at both the national and international levels.

Beyond the classroom and athletics, Sarah has also shown great commitment to her school and community by organizing and volunteering at numerous Durfee events. Sarah will be attending the University of South Carolina in the fall, where she will major in Biological Sciences while pursuing a pre-med track.

6. Avery Antunes

Avery Antunes, daughter of Nelson and Bethany Antunes, sister of Scarlett Antunes, will be attending Bridgewater State University in the fall, where she will be continuing her swimming career at the Division III level.

Avery earned a 4.86 GPA while taking seven AP Courses, one College Course, and eight Honors Courses. Her academic achievements were recognized through the University of Pennsylvania Benjamin Franklin Book Award, NHS Honor Roll student, AP Scholar with Honor award, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, Excellence in Portuguese Award, and Roger H. Dubois Award for Excellence in Environmental Science.

Within leadership roles, Avery served as the Treasurer for the class of 2026 for three years. She then became the Student Body Secretary during the 2025-2026 School Year.

Additionally, Avery was the treasurer of the National Honor Society Mu Kappa Delta Chapter at B.M.C. Durfee High School. She was also an active member of the Kyle Cares club, Portuguese club, The Sixth Man club, and Unified club. When she wasn’t volunteering through one of these clubs, you’d find her helping with the summer enrichment program, FRPS middle school athletics, and Durfee Aquatics.

A two-season athlete, Avery was a four-year member of Durfee’s Varsity Swimming and Diving program, where she was captain for two years, two-year top scorer, and was the recipient of the 2026 Peter Foley Student Athlete of the Year Award. She was also the captain of the Girls Varsity Volleyball Team for two years. Avery was recognized as a Big 3 All-Star in both sports.

Without the leadership roles and athletic opportunities she received at Durfee High School, Avery says would not have succeeded or been in the position she is today, and is very grateful for!

7.Gianna Gomes

Gianna Gomes, daughter of Andrea Gomes, will be attending the University of New Hampshire this fall to study Occupational Therapy.

While at Durfee, Gianna was a member of the Girls Varsity Soccer team, serving as captain her senior year. She served as Vice President of the National Honor Society and participated in the Durfee Sixth Man Club and History Abroad Club.

Her academic excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including the Smith College Book Award, AP Scholar with Distinction, and the Seal of Biliteracy. She is also the recipient of multiple scholarships such as the Durfee Alumni Scholarship, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, One Southcoast Chamber Scholarship, St. Anne’s Credit Union Scholarship, Somerset Federal Credit Union Scholarship, and the Manton Scholarship.

Additionally, she is an AP Capstone candidate. Gianna has volunteered as a student dance teacher at her dance studio, supported classroom reading programs, assisted with elementary school field days, and supported her culture and community through volunteering at Portuguese events and feasts.

As Gianna takes the next step towards pursuing her goal of becoming a pediatric occupational therapist, she will continue to carry Durfee pride with her in everything she does.

8. Liniah Heggs-Barbosa

Liniah Heggs-Barbosa, daughter of Aisha Barbosa and sister to Josiah Barbosa of Howland Road, will attend the University of Massachusetts Boston this fall, where she plans to major in Finance.

At Durfee, Liniah distinguished herself through both academic achievement and leadership. As a participant in the Early College program, she earned college credits while receiving the prestigious University of Rochester Book Award. She also served as treasurer of both the STEM Abroad Club and the Pickleball Club, experiences that helped spark her interest in finance and financial management.

Through her involvement with the STEM Abroad Club, Liniah discovered a passion for travel and global learning. After helping to raise funds for educational travel opportunities, she participated in two international trips—to Costa Rica and the Galápagos Islands. These experiences exposed her to different cultures, ecosystems, and ways of life, broadening her perspective and deepening her desire to continue exploring the world through education and travel.

Passionate about learning, growth, and new opportunities, Liniah hopes to use her finance education to help others achieve their goals. She looks forward to continuing her academic journey, expanding her experiences, and making a meaningful impact in the future.

9.Madeline Hargraves

Madeline Hargraves is the daughter of Michael and Lisa Hargraves of Oakland Street. In the fall, she will attend Fairfield University, where she plans to major in Marketing, with minors in Communications and Sports Leadership & Management, while continuing her academic and athletic career as a Division I soccer player.

Madeline earned an impressive 4.7 weighted GPA while completing 17 AP and Early College courses. Her academic achievements include the Williams College Book Award, the 2025 AP Scholar Award, the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship, membership in the National Honor Society, and four years on the High Honor Roll.

A standout student-athlete, Madeline was a four-year member of the Durfee Girls Varsity Soccer team, serving as captain for two seasons. She earned multiple all-star selections and became the 10th member of Durfee’s prestigious 100 Point Club. She also competed on the Durfee Girls Varsity Basketball team for four years, captaining the program and earning numerous all-star honors. In recognition of her accomplishments on the court, she was nominated for the 2026 Dave Cowens Award.

Beyond athletics, Madeline demonstrated exceptional leadership throughout her time at Durfee. She served as Student Government Class Treasurer, participated in the Student Advisory Council, co-led Durfee’s KyleCares and Active Minds chapter, captained the Sixth Man Club, and was actively involved in both the History Abroad Club and OneGoal.

Committed to giving back, Madeline dedicated countless hours to community service through Fall River youth sports programs, Unified Sports, and the Durfee Sports Boosters Club. Her dedication, leadership, and determination have distinguished her as a role model both in and out of the classroom.

As she begins her next chapter at Fairfield University, Madeline looks forward to building on her success while proudly carrying the values and spirit of her Durfee roots.

10. Micah Ross

Micah Ross, son of Philip and Andrea Ross, will be attending Northeastern University this fall, studying bioengineering in the John Martinson Honors Program.

He has earned many academic honors throughout high school, including the AP Capstone Diploma, AP Scholar with Distinction, CTE Presidential Certificate of Merit, DAR Good Citizen Award, and the Columbia University Book Award.

Micah was involved at Durfee both in and out of the classroom as a member of the Varsity Diving team, DECA, Cosmetology CTE Program, and National Honor Society. He is passionate about giving back to the community, volunteering his services in the salon at Camp Sunshine, and serving as a Sunday school teacher at his church.

After graduation, he plans to pursue bioengineering on the path to studying regenerative medicine.