Blackstone Valley Tech Names Superintendent's Scholars
Jan 25, 2016 01:33PM ● By Pamela Johnson
Michael Altavilla, Supt. Michael Fitzpatrick, Theodore Floyd
UPTON – Blackstone Valley Tech is proud to announce that Michael Altavilla and Theodore Floyd have been named BVT's recipients of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Award of Academic Excellence.
Also known as the Superintendent's Scholar Award, the annual commendation is presented to two BVT seniors who exemplify the school's commitment to cutting-edge career technical training and rigorous academics. Michael, a resident of Mendon, and Theodore, an Upton resident, will graduate in May 2016 from BVT's Electronics and Engineering Technology program.
Theodore Floyd is the Class of 2016 Valedictorian and the 2015 recipient of the Outstanding Student Award in Electronics. He hopes to pursue a concentration in Electrical Engineering while also exploring business management and entrepreneurship studies at Harvard College or another highly selective four-year university. Through the BVT cooperative education program, Theodore works as a test technician on audio amplifiers at ARS Products in Woodstock, CT. As a standout student athlete, Theodore has represented Valley Tech on the basketball court and as captain of the boys soccer team.
Theodore was chosen to represent Massachusetts students for two terms on the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council as one of only two representatives from Worcester County. As a Youth Council member, Theodore organized large-scale community events throughout the state. He serves on the Confirmation Retreat Team at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Upton, and volunteers each summer as a basketball coach at a summer camp for at-risk youth based in Hubbardston. Theodore is a self-taught musician who enjoys playing the piano and the ukulele.
Michael Altavilla is the Class of 2016 Salutatorian and an active participant in the National Honor Society, Student Council, and Student Ambassador program. Michael hopes to study Electrical, Aerospace, Electromechanical, or Robotics Engineering at Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, or another four- or five-year university. In his co-op placement with the world-renowned EMC Corporation, Michael became the first high school student ever hired to EMC's hardware engineering group. Michael is a member of the BVT golf and baseball teams, and volunteers through Young Neighbors in Action, as well as various church and charitable events.
In June 2014, after winning gold medals at the district and state levels, Michael joined more than 5,000 vocational technical students at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. Using the technical skills and competitive spirit developed at Valley Tech, Michael earned a SkillsUSA national gold medal in Principles of Engineering. This fall, Michael was one of only five statewide career technical education students nominated by the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick congratulated Theodore and Michael on their awards and thanked them for their many contributions to Valley Tech.
"Michael and Theodore have enthusiastically and earnestly represented Valley Tech in interactions with some of the highest level state officials and global educators who have visited our campus in recent years," Fitzpatrick commented. "Both young men exemplify qualities of academic excellence, technical competence, leadership, and school and community involvement that proudly represent vocational technical education in the 21st century. We look forward to celebrating their continued success."
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.
Also known as the Superintendent's Scholar Award, the annual commendation is presented to two BVT seniors who exemplify the school's commitment to cutting-edge career technical training and rigorous academics. Michael, a resident of Mendon, and Theodore, an Upton resident, will graduate in May 2016 from BVT's Electronics and Engineering Technology program.
Theodore Floyd is the Class of 2016 Valedictorian and the 2015 recipient of the Outstanding Student Award in Electronics. He hopes to pursue a concentration in Electrical Engineering while also exploring business management and entrepreneurship studies at Harvard College or another highly selective four-year university. Through the BVT cooperative education program, Theodore works as a test technician on audio amplifiers at ARS Products in Woodstock, CT. As a standout student athlete, Theodore has represented Valley Tech on the basketball court and as captain of the boys soccer team.
Theodore was chosen to represent Massachusetts students for two terms on the Governor’s Statewide Youth Council as one of only two representatives from Worcester County. As a Youth Council member, Theodore organized large-scale community events throughout the state. He serves on the Confirmation Retreat Team at St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish in Upton, and volunteers each summer as a basketball coach at a summer camp for at-risk youth based in Hubbardston. Theodore is a self-taught musician who enjoys playing the piano and the ukulele.
Michael Altavilla is the Class of 2016 Salutatorian and an active participant in the National Honor Society, Student Council, and Student Ambassador program. Michael hopes to study Electrical, Aerospace, Electromechanical, or Robotics Engineering at Northeastern University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cornell University, or another four- or five-year university. In his co-op placement with the world-renowned EMC Corporation, Michael became the first high school student ever hired to EMC's hardware engineering group. Michael is a member of the BVT golf and baseball teams, and volunteers through Young Neighbors in Action, as well as various church and charitable events.
In June 2014, after winning gold medals at the district and state levels, Michael joined more than 5,000 vocational technical students at the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference Championships in Kansas City, Missouri. Using the technical skills and competitive spirit developed at Valley Tech, Michael earned a SkillsUSA national gold medal in Principles of Engineering. This fall, Michael was one of only five statewide career technical education students nominated by the Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators for the prestigious U.S. Presidential Scholars Program.
Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick congratulated Theodore and Michael on their awards and thanked them for their many contributions to Valley Tech.
"Michael and Theodore have enthusiastically and earnestly represented Valley Tech in interactions with some of the highest level state officials and global educators who have visited our campus in recent years," Fitzpatrick commented. "Both young men exemplify qualities of academic excellence, technical competence, leadership, and school and community involvement that proudly represent vocational technical education in the 21st century. We look forward to celebrating their continued success."
Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical High School serves the towns of Bellingham, Blackstone, Douglas, Grafton, Hopedale, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Northbridge, Sutton, Upton and Uxbridge. Located in the heart of the Blackstone Valley, Blackstone Valley Tech creates a positive learning community that prepares students for personal and professional success in an internationally competitive society through a fusion of rigorous vocational, technical, and academic skills. The school’s website is www.valleytech.k12.ma.us.
