Rockville High School's Top Seniors Keep Up Tradition Of Honoring Special Teachers, Mentors

VERNON, CT — The top students in Rockville High School's Class of 2026 this week maintained a time-honored and very personal tradition.

It's the school system's way of honoring the Top 10 students and an inspirational teacher, mentor or coach.

Nine of the 10 attended a special lunch on Wednesday — the day before commencement — and brought a long a staff member who had a special influence on them during their time in the local school system.

The annual Top 10 Lunch is a Rockville High School tradition that highlights students’ high academic achievement and the special role teachers play in students’ lives.

"You have worked hard the entire time you have been at Rockville," RHS Principal Jason Magao told the
students. “You have set goals for yourselves. And I am so proud of you that you’ve reached and surpassed those goals."

Added Board of Education Chairman Paul Grabowski, "The community is so proud of what you do and we know going forward you’re going to represent Vernon-Rockville and continue to be a source of pride for this community. The culture of hard work you learned here is going to carry with you as you go to the next level."

Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary told the graduations that their hard work and success are predictive.

"I know the future is bright and you are going to be very, very successful," he said.

Iris Hida, who is headed to Harvard with plans to study English and government, honored Brian Forte, whose courses on human rights and modern European history was special to her.

"Whether we were discussing revolutions, human rights or current events, he encouraged us to think deeper, defend our ideas and consider perspectives we may have never thought about before," she said. "He taught us that growth comes from curiosity and conversation, not just from having the right answer."

Aidan Lang, the class valedictorian who is headed to Northeastern University, honored his mother, Julie Lang, who is a special education teacher at Rockville High School.

"I've had mom for, well, for 18 years now," he said, eliciting laughs from his fellow students. "So, I probably should have written more."

"You can send it to me later," his mother replied.

Lang continued. "I chose to invite her because, while I never had her as a student in school. I don’t think there has been a single person more instrumental to giving me a good life, giving me a good education, and doing absolutely everything she can for me."

Carson Dionne, who is headed to Eastern Connecticut State University, honored math teacher Tara Distasio.

"She helped me a lot as a kid trying to find their way after being set back a few times," Carson said.

And that continued through Carson’s time at Rockville High School. Acting on his teacher’s advice, Carson joined the youth equity squad and became a speaker. The move "has
allowed me to become more comfortable with my voice and speaking out for issues I see, and it’s helped me understand my voice ... holds a lot more power than I used to think it did."

The other Top 10 Rockville High School Scholars and the teachers they honored are:

• Kyle Shalaev, the class salutatorian, who plans to attend UConn, honored Vernon Center Middle School talented and gifted teacher Regina Lee.
• Caroline Burg, who plans to attend Springfield College, honored business and computer education teacher Chuck Martucci.
• Mary Christians, who plans to attend the University of Vermont, honored science teacher Jill
  Williams.
• Chloe Hazel, who plans to attend Northeastern University, honored soccer coach Victoria
  Boyajian.
• Grace Johnson, who plans to attend the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, honored business and allied health teacher Jennifer Kasek.
• Tyler Matula, who plans to attend UConn, honored technology education teacher Alex Sheldon.

Sara Zamakhchari, who plans to attend UConn, was not able to attend the event.