WRENTHAM — Superintendent Dr. Rich Drolet and Principal Nicole Bottomley are pleased to announce that several members of the King Philip Regional High School Class of 2025 have earned Graduation Distinction honors.
To be awarded this distinction, students proposed, researched, and developed a project based on a community need, then shared their final product with the public. Each student wrote a final process paper and formally presented their project to a faculty panel.
“Every year, we are amazed by the level of dedication our students demonstrate through these Graduation Distinction projects,” said Superintendent Drolet. “The Class of 2025 continued this tradition with outstanding work that addressed local needs and reflected deep critical thinking. I’d like to thank Ms. Emma Staples and Ms. Elizabeth Hocking for mentoring these students throughout the process, and I congratulate each student for their commitment to making a meaningful impact.”
“The passion and care shown in these students’ projects is awe-inspiring,” said Principal Bottomley. “These students not only explored complex topics but also found ways to apply their learning to benefit others. Their presentations were powerful, and we can all be proud of their community contributions.”
Students who graduated with distinction include the following:
Distinction in Liberal Arts
Tristan Cornell — The Impact of French Language and Culture on the Youth
Tristan researched the positive effects of bilingualism and learning to appreciate French culture for American students. He also focused on the connections between the French and English languages and how these connections can inspire elementary and middle school students to continue their French education through high school years. Tristan worked with the Fiske Public Library to create a poster and handouts displaying his research for the Young Adult space.
Sarah Hedberg — Disability in the Spotlight: Media Representation and Its Impact on Society
Sarah researched how disabilities are portrayed in film and television, as well as the importance of casting disabled actors in roles that require them to portray characters with disabilities. She focused on different tropes for disabled characters and how these need to be addressed and remedied. Sarah partnered with the Plainville Public Library to create a poster displaying her research to library patrons, and she gathered overwhelmingly positive feedback from them.
Distinction in STEM
Keira Evans — My Local Farm
Keira created and then evaluated the impact of a mobile app that offers comprehensive information on local farms, seasonal products, and the advantages of shopping locally.
Sophia Evans — Exploring Computer Science Education and Effective Teaching Approaches for Younger Students: A Focus on Learnathons and Coding
Sophia organized a community event that taught elementary students about Scratch and climate science, during which they created a climate science game using Scratch, a coding community for children and a coding language with a simple visual interface that allows young people to create digital stories, games, and animations.
Sarah Joy — Here is Everywhere: An Introduction to the American Medical Mindfulness Movement
Sarah curated and displayed a list of expert resources for those wishing to begin mindfulness and meditation practices.
Addison Lewis — Empowering Young Women in STEM
Addison founded STEM Sisters and created the Girls in STEM Summer Camp in collaboration with a local elementary school. She designed multiple activities for students and taught STEM-focused lessons, and she will continue this work during the summer of 2025.
Each graduate received a special designation on their diploma and was honored during the school’s senior awards ceremony and commencement exercises.
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