Mount Greylock Superintendent Jason McCandless gives the Superintendents Award to senior Vincent Welch.
Mount Greylock School Officials Celebrate Senior Honor, Discuss MCAS Results
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — The Mount Greylock School Committee last week honored one of the district's high achievers and expressed concerns about measurement of achievement for all students in the middle-high school.
The monthly meeting started on a high note with the annual recognition of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents' Academic Excellence Award.
Superintendent Jason McCandless announced that Mount Greylock senior Vincent Welch is latest in "an extraordinary collection of young people" to receive the award during McCandless' time in Lee, Pittsfield and the Lanesborough-Williamstown district.
"He has a true passion for learning, and questioning literature and history in order to create connections from the past to the present to the future," one of Welch's teachers wrote in a testimonial read by McCandless during the meeting. "A leader in discourse, Vincent is an engaged student who truly cares about the voices of his peers. There has never been a conversation where he has not invited his peers in, thoughtfully challenged assumptions, and encouraged everyone to be thoughtful. Vincent's insight is a reflection of both his wide sphere of knowledge as well as his charismatic personality and interpersonal skills.
"His cheerful nature and ability to both take an active role in conversation and learning are admired by his peers and teachers alike."
In addition to being an Eagle Scout, Welch has served as a class president, captained Mount Greylock's cross country and track and field teams and is a regular participant in the school's musical theater productions, band and jazz band.
"I've been fortunate over my time at Greylock to be in contact with so many people and to have the opportunity to see so many parts of Greylock," Welch said.
"To think of when I was a seventh-grader, on the cross country and track team and looking up to all the seniors, to think it's me now … it's a very bittersweet moment."
[Story continues...]
Navigate to iBerkshires for the complete story: Mount Greylock School Officials Celebrate Senior Honor, Discuss MCAS Results