Westfield High School Valedictorian: Justin Romanelli
WESTFIELD — Westfield High School Valedictorian Justin Romanelli was putting the finishing touches on his speech the day before graduation, and practicing to get it ready. Asked what he wrote about, he said, 'Primarily, the idea of what is permanent versus what is temporary, how it's important to recognize which one is which, and how they impact [our lives].'
Romanelli said he was looking forward to giving the speech. 'I wouldn't say I'm comfortable, but I'm looking forward to it. It's a great opportunity for me to do it publicly — it's not something I've been exposed to in the past,' he said, adding that he was also very nervous.
Romanelli will be studying computer science and technology at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, in the fall. He said he plans to study coding but isn't sure exactly where it will lead, although his best guess is software development.
The race for valedictorian was very tight this year, with Brandon Guyott, the school's salutatorian, a close second. Romanelli and Guyott are co-founders of the Coding Club at WHS and in the Robotics Club together.
The duo also collaborated for the second year on their science fair project, 'Optimizing an After-Market Prototype That Operates a Window Remotely,' which earned second place at regionals, and an honorable mention in the state science fair.
Guyott, who Romanelli calls 'his best friend,' is also heading to Rensselaer in the fall.
Romanelli said during his four years at WHS, besides the Robotics and Coding Clubs, he was on the Student Council and in the Key Club, which he credits with making him who he is today.
Romanelli's awards include Excellence in Computer Science, Excellence in Mathematics, and Excellence in Spanish. He also recently earned the MA State Seal of Biliteracy with Distinction for Spanish, for which he was recognized in a ceremony at WHS in May.
Romanelli said WHS has helped him to expand his interests. 'Westfield High School, at least for me, has been a great school. I've been able to approach different classes and different clubs without many barriers, [which has] helped me to branch out more and find new things,' he said.
Read the original article on MassLive.
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