Congratulation to The Morgan School's 2015 "Top Ten" graduates!

Each year The Morgan School releases a list of their “Top Ten” students. As you can see from the profiles below, these graduates have not only excelled in the classroom, but have also played intricate roles in Morgan clubs, athletics, and extra-curricular activities, all while giving back to the community.

Alaina Hartnett: Valedictorian

Alaina is the daughter of Christopher and Gail Hartnett. Alaina has danced at the New Haven Ballet for twelve years, and attended summer programs as the Boston Ballet and the Ailey School. She has been a soloist in the Nutcracker at the Shubert Theater as well as a soloist in the New Haven Ballet Company. She has also completed three mission trips with the St. Paul Lutheran Church.

Alaina was the student council Treasurer, is currently the Interact Club president, and is a member of the National Honor Society and French National Honor Society. She is a commended National Merit Scholar, a finalist in the SHED writing contest, and a winner of the Harvard Book Award.

Next year, Alaina will be dancing professionally with the Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet II. In September 2016, she will a Barnard College, Columbia University and major in astrophysics.

Victoria Hopkins: Salutatorian

Victoria is the daughter of Diane Ruggiero and Richard Hopkins. Her father has been a major influence in her sports career and her mother has always been there to support her.

Victoria is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She is also a recipient of the Rensselaer Medal Award.

Victoria has played AAU basketball for nine years. Throughout high school, she has played basketball and softball for Coach Joe Grippo and Coach Sal Fiorillo.

Victoria will attend Haverford College this fall and play for the women’s basketball team under coach Bobbi Morgan.

Bailey Shea is the daughter of Danielle Shea and Scott Mongillo. Bailey is the vice-president of Morgan React and a member of Partners in Community. She is also the secretary of the National Honor Society and a member of the Spanish National Honor Society. Last year, she received the Dartmouth Book Award, and attended Laurel Girls’ State. This year, she received the Connecticut Association of Public School Superintendents (CAPSS) award. Outside of school, Bailey volunteers as a mentor at Fantastic Friends and Summer Partners. She had also been a Girl Scout for nine years.Bailey will attend the University of Connecticut this fall to major in American Studies.

Jamie Naccarato is the daughter of Jim and Karen Naccarato. Jamie is the parliamentarian of the National Honor Society and a member of the Spanish National Honor Society. She is also an active member of Interact Club. She participated in indoor track for two years and has played on the Morgan girls’ lacrosse team for the past four years. Jamie has danced at New Haven Ballet for the past fourteen years and has been a part of their annual production of the Nutcracker at the Shubert Theatre. She also volunteered at Yale-New Haven Hospital this past summer as part of the youth volunteer program. Jamie will attend Clemson University this fall to major in pre-professional health studies for pre-med.

Jaxson Cooper is the son of Lisa Bodne-Cooper and Ron Cooper. Jaxson is a member of the French National Honor Society, has done the school and town musicals for four years, and has enjoyed helping rebuild with Habitat for Humanity. Jaxson has been a member of the Avon waterskiing club for six years as a slalom skier, has been with the Morgan tennis team for two years, played guitar for eight years, and has enjoyed much success in the CMEA auditions singing as a bass. Jaxson is going to attend Hamilton College and wants to pursue a major in mathematics, such as engineering.

Leah Campano is the daughter of Joe and Diana Campano. Leah is a captain of the girls’ soccer team and a member of the girls’ lacrosse team. She is also a member of the French Honor Society and the Interact Club. Leah has attended the National Youth Leadership Forums in Boston and Baltimore the past two summers and has been employed at Lenny and Joe’s Fish Tale for the past two years. Leah will attend the University of Delaware this fall to major in communications with a minor in journalism.

Lucas Cummings is the son of Iris and Kirby Cummings. Though he participated in JV Soccer and Mock Trial in his freshman and senior year, respectively, Lucas has been part of Morgan’s High School Bowl team for the entirety of his four years at Morgan and is the team captain. Lucas has been recognized as a Commended National Merit Scholar and a National Hispanic Scholar, as well as CAPT Scholar. Additionally, he is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society. Lucas also received the Connecticut American Legion Boys’ State award for leadership and the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award his junior year. Outside of school, Lucas spent time helping other students with their studies and sometimes acted as a lector for masses at St. Mary’s Church in Clinton. Lucas will be attending the University of Connecticut’s Honors Program in the fall to pursue a major in environmental science.

Celia LaCross is the daughter of Wayne LaCross and Amy Cannatta. Celia has been the secretary of her class for the past three years and is a member of the Spanish National Honor Society, High School Bowl, and REACT. She has participated in track and has given many hours to community service run through REACT. In the eleventh grade, Celia won the Junior Math award for the highest average in pre-calculus, as well as a grant to attend Laurel Girls State held at Eastern Connecticut State University and a community grant to attend an anti-drug conference held in Orlando, FL over the summer. Celia will attend the University of Arizona this fall to major in Public Health.

Brian Gendron is the son of Bob and Sharynn, and the brother of Bobby. Brian is the Student Body president, National Honor Society vice president, member of the Spanish Honor Society, Student Leadership Society, and the editor for the yearbook. Brian played soccer, ran cross country and both indoor and outdoor track while at Morgan. He is an All-State cross country runner and a five-time State Champion in track. He was also a Sunday School assistant at the Westbrook Congregational Church for four years, and he has worked at the Clinton Town Marina for the past three years. Brian will be attending the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he will run track and study business finance.

Megan McAllister is the daughter of Michael and Nancy McAllister. Megan is a member of the school wide Student Council and Interact Club. She is also a member of the Spanish National Honor Society. Megan has participated as a varsity player of Morgan girls’ soccer for her four years of high school. She has also participated in Morgan girls’ tennis since she was a freshman and is now a senior captain of the team. Throughout high school, Megan has been an active member at St. Mary’s Church and has volunteered at Apple Rehab in Old Saybrook. Megan will attend the University of Rhode Island this fall to major in nursing and minor in Spanish.