THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – Friday, May 15, 2020 Page 7 Second Best at Essex Tech Saugus’s Julia Harrington achieves Salutatorian honors among 340 seniors graduating in August (Editor’s Note: The following story is based on a press release issued this week by Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School.) Julia Harrington recalled being apprehensive when she first arrived at Essex North Shore Agricultural & Technical School. “I had no idea what to expect coming into the school, and, knowing very few people, was worried that it would be easy to be isolated, with students from all different towns separated into shops, and a new community that was still developing its culture,” Harrington said. “What I found was quite the opposite, and I’ve branched out more than I would have ever expected. It’s been satisfying to watch the school grow as I grow relationships with the people I’ve met in it, and I’m happy with that.” Harrington wound up thriving in the educational environment at Essex Tech, the agricultural and technical high school located in the Hathorne section of Danvers. She excelled in the classroom, finishing with Salutatorian honors – second in her graduating class of 340 AN HONORARY SPEAKER: Julia Harrington, of Saugus, will have a chance to address her fellow graduates in the Essex Tech commencement exercises, which are set for August 1. She received that invitation as a result of being named Salutatorian for the school’s Class of 2020. (Photo Courtesy by Essex Tech to The Saugus Advocate) seniors. Harrington’s academic grades were second only to Charlotte McDonald, of Salem, who was named the Valedictorian of the Class of 2020. Both students are in the Equine Science program at Essex Tech. “Congratulations to the Class of 2020 valedictorian and salutatorian – they have both demonstrated that they are hardworking, brilliant, capaANCESTORS | from page 6 of these graves, it will make researching deceased family members exponentially easier,” Finnie said. “It allows for relatives in different areas, or even states, a way to search online for the graves and locations of deceased family members,” he said. Social distancing in the cemetery Clearly, Finnie’s first Eagle Scout project wasn’t COVID19-compatible. Not when the Senior Center was forced to close because of Gov. Charlie Baker’s orders. And once the lockdown came, he needed an alternative project that would not endanger the health and safety of others. But the replacement project does have its own logistical challenges. “Because of the social distancing rules that we have to follow, I have Everett Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Owned & operated by the Conti family since 1958 • 57 Years! “Same name, phone number & address for family since 1958 • 62 over half a century. We must be doing something right!” •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com •Roo ng Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! ble young professionals,” Superintendent Heidi Riccio said in a press release announcing the school’s top two students this week. “Well done to them both; we will miss them here at Essex Tech, and cannot wait to see the wonderful things that lie ahead for them,” Riccio said. Both the valedictorian and salutatorian will be given the opportunity to give a speech to their peers when Essex Tech holds its graduation event, which is scheduled to take place Aug. 1 with a rain date of Aug. 2. Further information will be provided on the ceremony as it becomes available. Harrington headed to UMass-Lowell Harrington is a member of Essex Tech’s horse judging team for the Future Farmers of America (FFA), as well as of the school’s National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) and National Honor Society (NHS). She joined the school Chorus and Drama Clubs earlier this year and plays the guitar and enjoys hiking. Harrington plans to attend UMass Lowell in the had to get creative with how to lead this project,” Finnie said. Troop 62, like other groups and organizations, can’t have its typical meetings because they would violate social distancing rules. The group of two dozen volunteers expected to be working on the project tomorrow and Sunday in the two town cemeteries can’t be working at the same time. “I am not able to have the usual group gathered for instruction,” Finnie fall, and she will be a part of the Honors College as she studies psychology. The Valedictorian McDonald will attend UMass Amherst and be a part of the Honors College as she studies prelaw. She is a member of the school’s NHS and NTHS and is involved in student mentoring. During her high school career, she also took part in the Essex Tech Art Club and GSA, and she was a member of the school’s horse judging team for FFA and of the literary magazine. She also works as a bank teller and, in her spare time, draws and paints at the Acorn Gallery School of Art in Marblehead. “When I first came to Essex Tech, I was a transfer student who arrived three weeks late into freshman year,” McDonald said. “I was petrified everyone had already found their friends and I would feel out of place. However, I was quickly proven wrong as the students and teachers welcomed me with open arms and made me feel at home right away. This accepting atmosphere has only gotten stronger throughout the four years and has led to the creation of some of the said. “In place of one large group gathered at the cemetery for training and instruction, I have scheduled a Zoom online video meeting and put together a presentation to instruct everyone on what needs to be done and how to best accomplish this,” he said. “To get volunteers, it was suggested to me by one of my Scout leaders to use a website that I can use to email an electronic signup sheet, and track who has strongest relationships I have ever had.” Commendations from faculty and staff McDonald and Harrington received high praise from faculty and staff at Essex Tech. “Charlotte and Julia were some of the hardest working young ladies to come through our program,” said Linda Corson, an equine science teacher. “They each have bright futures ahead of them, and it has been a pleasure to be their teacher.” “We feel truly fortunate to have spent time working with young women with such enormous hearts and compassionate souls,” said Clarice Menesale, an equine science teacher. “We’ll miss them dearly in the equine science program.” “They were kind, considerate, dedicated and professional every moment of their journey with us,” said Vanessa Wilde, an equine science teacher. “Their killer senses of humor brightened everyone’s days, including the horses.” “They are both extremely hardworking and amazing young women who are dedicated to their education and will go very far in life,” said Guidance Counselor Casey O’Donnell. signed up for what time slot.” For the days of the project, Finnie decided to set up a schedule of two-hour time slots, with 30 minutes in between each slot to minimize larger groups gathering. When the volunteers get to the cemetery for the time slot that they have signed up for, he plans to give them a laminated map of the cemetery that he broke down into numbered sections. Each volANCESTORS | SEE PAGE 9 Spring!
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