Salem High School Honors 26 Outstanding Seniors at CTE Senior Awards Banquet

Laila McClain named MAVA Scholar of the Year, MVA Presidential Certificate of Merit recipient; Jacob Pina recipient of Whittier Scholarship, Rotary awards
VIEW: Ceremony Program
SALEM (May 23, 2024) – Senior Laila McClain, a medical assisting student in Salem High School’s Career Technical Education, 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 Wednesday night to highlight the Second Annual CTE Senior Awards Ceremony at the SHS 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 outstanding performance, dedication and commitment to their career and technical area.
Ms. McClain was among several students to receive individual honors at the ceremony. Senior Jamie Duffy, also a medical assisting student, received the American Red Cross Blood Drive Award, presented to a student in the medical assisting program who assists in life-saving blood drive events.
Additionally, seniors Jacob Pina, a carpentry student, and Trevor Theriault, a building and property maintenance student, were the recipients of the Steve Whittier Memorial Scholarship Award, presented to carpentry and building and property maintenance students planning to work in their field upon graduation.
Mr. Pina was also named the recipient of the Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award and the Salem Rotary Club Vocational Achievement Award for carpentry, as the top students in all nine CTE tracks were recognized.
Senior Lisy Almonte Genao was also a dual award winner, earning the Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award for Early Education and Care as well as the Angela’s Preschool and Daycare Awar, presented to seniors already working or planning to major in the early childhood education field.
The guest speaker for the evening was Ryan Farley, a Class of 2018 culinary arts student at SHS who went on to earn his bachelor’s degree magna cumlaude from Johnson & Wales University, where he dual-majored in Dietetics and Applied Culinary Nutrition. Mr. Farley is currently earning his master’s degree in Nutrition from Concordia (Minn.) College.
“This program gave me everything thing I needed,” he told the seniors. “At Johnson & Wales, I quickly noticed that I was far ahead of the rest of the students. That’s because of the CTE program here at Salem High.”
With a diverse scope of offerings and programs for all SHS students, the CTE program and Wednesday’s ceremony echo the core principles of the District’s Strategic Plan, specifically elevating learning and centering belonging.
Salem High School 2024 Career Technical Education Senior Awards Ceremony
MAVA Outstanding Vocational Scholar of the Year: Laila McClain, Medical Assisting
MVA Presidential Certificate of Merit in Memory of Leo Desimone: Laila McClain, Medical Assisting
American Red Cross Blood Drive Award: Jamie Duffy, Medical Assisting
Steve Whittier Memorial Scholarship Award
- Jacob Pina, Carpentry
- Trevor Theriault, Building and Property Maintenance
Salem Rotary Club CTE Directors Award Recipients
- Cameron St. Germain, Automotive
- Alejandro Hernandez, Building and Property Maintenance
- Jacob Pina, Carpentry
- Logan Abboud, Culinary Arts
- Lisy Almonte Genao, Early Education and Care
- Corey Grimes, Electrical Technologies
- Abdiel Pimentel Cabral, Graphic Design
- Maya Pallazola, Medical Assisting
- Syed Ramim, Programming & Web Development
Salem Rotary Club Vocational Achievement Award Recipients
- Aiden Burnett, Automotive Technologies
- Josean Castillo, Building and Property Maintenance
- Jacob Pina Harding, Carpentry
- Elias Vasquez Bastardo, Culinary Arts
- Melany Garcia, Early Education and Care
- Aidan Vargas, Electrical Technologies
- Joe Reyes Rodriguez, Graphic Design
- Pamela Payano Ortiz, Medical Assisting
- Joshua Morton, Programming and Web Development
Angela’s Preschool and Daycare Award
- Lisy Almonte Genao
- Melany Garcia
- Genessis Marielis Inoa Hiciano
- Kianny Mirabal Nunez
- Bryanna Muimpe
- Jarlin Hernandez Ortiz
- Anyi Brito Marcel

















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.