In a class of over 150 students, only one can be named valedictorian. This year, the title belongs to Renee Saint-Amour. 

Statistically, we can see how hard Renee works academically, but her interests spread far and wide, including theater, music, nature, running, biking, rock climbing, and sewing.

The transition from middle school to high school was daunting for her. “It scared me for sure,” she admits. Coming from a partially online eighth grade, she found herself reconnecting with her peers after being in one class with the same people all day. One of the biggest social challenges she faced was the intimidating lunch schedule. “It made me nervous to walk into the cafeteria and not know who I was going to have lunch with,” she remembers. But Renee quickly adapted, and some of her favorite memories of freshman year are from that lunch table. 

Sophomore year brought a new set of challenges both academically and athletically. Enrolling in her first AP class meant balancing a heavier workload. Adding to the list of her ongoing extracurricular activities, such as the Performing Arts Company and dance, Renee joined the school's cross-country and track teams, which boosted her confidence and provided her with a healthy escape. “It gave me something to work at and challenge myself physically,” she explains. 

Junior year was academically demanding, with challenging courses such as physics and pre-calculus. However, it was the year when some of her most cherished memories were made. One was a field trip to Woods Hole with her Marine Biology class. “We got to hold lots of different ocean animals, like starfish and a horseshoe crab, which was really awesome,” she recalls. 

All of the hard work began to pay off by her senior year. She excelled in cross-country, where she was named captain and advanced to divisionals. For theater, she received an acting award from the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild. 

Renee wishes to acknowledge the teachers who helped her get this far, especially Mrs. Hawes, Mrs. Schultz, Ms. Margolis, Dr. Young, and Ms. Soson, (whom she names her biggest motivator). She also wishes to thank her family and friends who led by example. 

In the fall, Renee will be attending Brandeis University, where she plans to major in theater arts with potential minors in film and environmental studies. “I want to study something I love and am passionate about, and this is what I am passionate about right now,” she says. 

Her advice to underclassmen is simple, but something that often gets overlooked: “Be kind to yourself! Remember that it's okay to take breaks, and give yourself time to do the things you enjoy and that help you recharge.”