Latest news with #CoventryHighSchool
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Coventry High salutatorian to study chemistry at UConn
COVENTRY — Ryan Murphy, a student whose excellence in both academics and athletics has already been recognized by the school, is the Coventry High School Class of 2025 Salutatorian. Becoming the salutatorian was not a set goal for Murphy until recently. During his junior year, when he discovered he ranked fourth among his peers, just like his graduating sister, he decided to try to beat her out. To do that, he decided to take an extra AP class and work hard to achieve his goal. Now, it's a done deal (or a fait accompli?) One of the things that makes Murphy stand out is his involvement in many athletic activities. Throughout his high school career, he has played varsity soccer, hockey, golf, baseball and participates in club hockey as well. All these activities led him to become a recipient of the North Central Connecticut Conference Scholar Athlete Award. 'All the coaches are great here, and the team is super fun,' he said. But sports are not the only extracurricular activities he's been involved with. Murphy volunteered as the Treasurer and Social Media Manager for the Class of 2025, where he has demonstrated leadership and strong organizational skills. Involved in the community, he has volunteered with Coventry Human Services and the Friendship Soup Kitchen. Academically, he has been named an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction. 'I also did class officers, which is nice because it's like a tight knit community and we get to work on the prom, pep rallies, all that stuff, and it's fun,' Murphy said. Starting in the fall, he will become a chemistry major at the University of Connecticut, hoping to work in science and research in the future. Becoming a Husky was a logical decision for Murphy because the UConn campus is close to home, he has free tuition and many of his friends are going there as well. But the personal motives do not outrun his ambitions. 'It's just a good school and it gets better every year. They've got so many resources, a wide variety of things I can go into,' he said. 'So, I'm going in for chemistry, but I know once I get there, since there's so many options, I'll get to explore what I want to do and see where that river will take me.' With his college career about to begin, he looks forward to finally studying something he loves and wants to do. Despite the good things he learned in high school, there are not always a lot of options for students to explore all their interests, something that college offers. 'The whole point is to explore your interests, so that's what I'm most excited for, to go on a path that I choose and I can enjoy,' Murphy said. In a few years, he sees himself completing his bachelor's degree and going on to get his master's degree, but he hopes to be able to do an internship and explore what is given to him. His advice to the incoming Class of 2029 is to take the classes they want rather than the one they feel they have to take because people are telling them so. 'When you're in classes you enjoy, it's self-motivating,' he said. 'So, you're learning for yourself, not for your grade.' He also encourages students to take difficult classes like the Advanced Placement's, because, although they sound scary, they are more approachable than most students think. 'Once you get into them, all the AP teachers are great here and they will support you,' Murphy said. 'And if you work hard, you'll be able to have very good success.'
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Coventry High valedictorian to attend Yale with double major
COVENTRY — Mya Ransford, a student who demonstrated countless leadership, academic and athletic achievements, is the Coventry High School Class of 2025 valedictorian. When she began her high school career, becoming the valedictorian was not a goal for Ransford, but she knew she wanted to try her best and work hard. Becoming valedictorian was not entirely a surprise, because she knew her ranking among her other peers, but it never became her goal. 'I think it was more about just learning in the journey rather than achieving the title,' she said. 'It's nice that I got the title, but it was more about learning in school.' Throughout her high school career, Ransford has been involved in different clubs and athletic activities, while maintaining excellence in her academic curriculum. She is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction and earned the AP Capstone Diploma. 'It's really exciting. It was a lot of hard work over the past four years, but it was worth it,' she said. 'I thank a lot of my teachers and my friends and family for supporting me and it's just a really good feeling that all this hard work led to this.' She was vice president of the National Honor Society and president of the school's volunteering Albert Schweitzer Club, where she has contributed to organize 'PJ Day' and 'Get Out and Play Day,' as well as helping the school community. In addition to her club's involvement, Ransford was this year's varsity tennis captain. In 2023, she was named Most Dedicated Player, and the following year, she earned the title of Most Valuable Player. She also served as the student representative during the Coventry Board of Education meetings. In the fall, Ransford will be entering Yale University as a double major in Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry and Psychology. Some of her aspirations are teaching and conducting research in the field of pharmacology. Jokingly, she said she decided to go there because New Haven has great pizza. Seriously, she likes the school's philosophy and the opportunities that they offer. 'I like psychology and biochemistry, so if I went to some schools, I might have to give up one of those things to go study the other,' Ransford said. 'But at Yale, they let you explore a whole bunch of different academic interests.' As she enters her college career, she is looking forward to participating in some research, meeting new people, discovering new experiences and bringing all that back to her own community. In the next few years, she sees herself going to graduate school and, eventually, earning a PhD in pharmacology. 'But, you know, things change. I might find a new academic interest that I like and it'll take me a completely different path,' she said. 'And I'm willing to do that.' Her advice to the incoming Class of 2029 would be to take every opportunity that comes their way. She said freshmen should not be scared or intimidated by students who might look more grown up than they do, and she encourages them to talk to these older students, who are here to help new students be successful. She believes that by getting involved in activities and working hard, students can learn a lot of skills that they will need in adulthood. 'I feel like it's easy to just kind of cruise through high school, but if you're willing to work hard and take the AP classes and you participate in extracurricular activities, that'll take you really far in life,' she said.
