Salem High School CTE Program Honors Outstanding Seniors at 2025 Senior Awards Banquet

Janay Newton named MAVA Scholar of the Year, MVA Presidential Certificate of Merit recipient; Mia Almonte receives Rotary Directors Award in two tracks

VIEW: Ceremony Program

SALEM (May 27, 2024) – Senior Janay Newton, a Culinary Arts student in Salem High School’s Career Technical Education program, was named the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators (MAVA) Scholar of the Year and the recipient of the Massachusetts Vocational Association (MVA) Presidential Certificate of Merit Thursday, May 22, to highlight the Third Annual CTE Senior Awards Ceremony at the M. Ruth Norton Auditorium.

The MAVA Scholar of the Year award is presented to the student whose scholastic achievements have significantly contributed to the local CTE program. Similarly, the MVA Presidential Certificate of Merit recognizes a student’s outstanding performance, dedication and commitment to their area of study.

Ms. Newton was among several scholars to receive multiple honors at the ceremony. She was also named the recipient of the Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award for Culinary Arts, presented to the outstanding student from each CTE track who exemplifies vocational education ideals.

Senior Jack Tsoutsouras was one of three recipients of the Steve Whittier Memorial Scholarship Award and was also named the recipient of the Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award for Building and Property Maintenance. Joining Mr. Tsoutsouras in receiving the Whittier Scholarship were seniors Jayden Lopez and Jordyn Thomson.

Senior Mia Almonte was named the recipient of the Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award in two CTE tracks – Graphic Design and Visual Communication, and Programming and Web Development. Ms Almonte was also among 10 scholars named to the National Technical Honor Society.

Senior Philip Giglio was also a dual-award recipient as he received the Salem Rotary Vocational Achievement Award (awarded to students for exceptional commitment to their CTE field of study) for Medical Assisting. He also took home the American Red Cross Blood Drive Award, presented to Medical Assisting scholars for commitment to SHS blood drive events, with fellow senior Camila Rodriguez.

Senior Amanda Gaff received the Salem Rotary Vocational Achievement Award and senior Miguel Pontius the Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award for Early Education and Care. They were also among 10 scholars to receive the Angela’s Preschool and Daycare Scholarship Award. 

Joining them were seniors Lily Smith, Shirley DePena, Yelena Batista Bone, and Alexander Cummings, along with Anilsa Elena Perez, Emily Pimentel, Yisseuris Gonzalez Maria, and Stephany Polanco.

Other major award recipients included:

• Seniors Nicholas Deavila and Barbara Rowley, co-recipients of the Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award for the Automotive Technologies and Marine Services track; and Jayden Bueno, who received the Salem Rotary Vocational Achievement Award for Automotive Technologies and Marine Services.
• Also receiving honors for Automotive Technologies and Marine Services were Beverly High School students Skylar Bazin, the CTE Directors Award recipient, and Victor Lima, who earned the Vocational Achievement Award.
• Senior Antonios Tsimounis, recipient of the CTE Directors Award for Building and Property Maintenance.
• Seniors Gadge Hayes (CTE Directors Award), named to the National Technical Honor Society, and Jake Driscoll (Vocational Achievement Award) for Carpentry.
• Senior Jaimani Rivera (Vocational Achievement Award) for Culinary Arts.
• Seniors Nicholas Barreira (CTE Directors Award) and Dylan Beauregard (Vocational Achievement Award) – each also named to the National Technical Honor Society – for Electrical Technologies.
• Senior Ethan Jones (Vocational Achievement Award) for Graphic Design and Visual Communication.
• Senior Elianna Moreno (CTE Directors Award) for Medical Assisting alongside Beverly High School seniors Veronica Hernandez (CTE Directors Award) and Kiley Flynn (Vocational Achievement Award).
• Senior Rowan Klein (Vocational Achievement Award) for Programming and Web Development, as well as the National Technical Honor Society.

With a diverse scope of programs for all SHS students, the CTE program and Thursday’s ceremony echo the core principles of the District’s Strategic Plan, specifically elevating learning and centering belonging.

Salem High School 2025 Career Technical Education Senior Awards Ceremony

MAVA Outstanding Vocational Scholar of the Year: Janay Newton, Culinary Arts

MVA Presidential Certificate of Merit in Memory of Leo Desimone: Janay Newton, Culinary Arts

American Red Cross Blood Drive Award: Philip Giglio and Camila Rodrigues, Medical Assisting

Steve Whittier Memorial Scholarship Award

• Jayden Lopez, Carpentry
• Jordyn Thomson, Carpentry
• Jack Tsoutsouris, Building and Property Maintenance

Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award Recipients

• Nicholas Deavila, Automotive Technologies and Marine Services
• Barbara Rowley, Automotive Technologies and Marine Services
• Skylar Bazin (Beverly High School), Automotive Technologies and Marine Services
• Jack Tsoutsouras, Building and Property Maintenance
• Gadge Hayes, Carpentry
• Janay Newton, Culinary Arts
• Miguel Pontius, Early Education and Care
• Nicholas Barreira, Electrical Technologies
• Mia Almonte, Graphic Design and Visual Communication
• Elianna Moreno, Medical Assisting
• Veronica Hernandez (Beverly High School), Medical Assisting
• Mia Almonte, Programming and Web Development

Salem Rotary Club Vocational Achievement Award Recipients

• Jayden Bueno, Automotive Technologies and Marine Services
• Victor Lima, Automotive Technologies and Marine Services
• Antonios Tsimounis, Building and Property Maintenance
• Jake Driscoll, Carpentry
• Jaimani Rivera, Culinary Arts
• Amanda Gaff, Early Education and Care
• Dylan Beauregard, Electrical Technologies
• Ethan Jones, Graphic Design and Visual Communication
• Philip Giglio, Medical Assisting
• Kiley Flynn (Beverly High School), Medical Assisting
• Rowan Klein, Programming and Web Development

Angela’s Preschool and Daycare Award

• Lily Smith
• Shirley DePena
• Yelena Batista Bone
• Amanda Gaff
• Alexander Cummings
• Anilsa Elena Perez
• Miguel Pontius
• Emily Pimentel
• Yisseuris Gonzalez Maria
• Stephany Polanco

National Technical Honor Society

Class of 2025

• Mia Almonte
• David Baldwin
• Nicholas Barreira
• Dylan Beargard
• Sophia Fritz
• Gadge Hayes
• Rowan Klein
• Leyka Louis
• Jaley Rodriguez
• Shaila Sanchez
• Jordyn Thomson

Class of 2026

• Myrene Ahmed
• Anthony Alessi
• Shea Christel
• Oscar Fernandez
• Anson Froeschl
• Jurkely Hernandez Duran
• Gianna Lougee
• Elizabeth Mahady
• Eden McClain
• Sam Mulligan
• Joel Mulsman
• Gemma Murphy
• Raymond Nghia Nguyen
• Mason Potorski
• Linsey Reyes Rodriguez
• Dwayne Stavros
• Sindi Sula
• Karly Swiniarski

About Salem Public Schools

Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.