Corinne Elmore will be recognized today as valedictorian of the graduating class of 2026. She will attend Kenyon College in Ohio in the fall, where she plans to major in economics and mathematics. 

Her interest in these fields began when her dad introduced her to the NPR podcast Planet Money, which dives into economics in everyday life. Elmore wants to know how the government uses economic public policies, such as tariffs or tax rebates, to, as she says, “shape collective action to benefit the common good.”

Elmore's accomplishments extend far beyond the classroom. She ran cross country and track for 11 seasons, worked on tech for DHS' Performing Arts Company, and played piano in the jazz band throughout high school.

Cross country helped Elmore through her transition into high school by giving her upperclassmen to turn to when she needed help or had questions, ultimately leading to a “smooth” transition. Elmore enjoyed longer class periods and electives with upperclassmen, particularly Dr. Dudley’s World History Class. 

Sophomore year, Elmore managed two AP classes, requiring her to “be more thoughtful about planning time for homework each night.” Nevertheless, Elmore persevered and was even awarded the John Philip Sousa Award and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History Book Award.

Her junior year saw a significant increase in leadership and other organizational work for clubs compared to her sophomore year. Though she found organizing senior nights gratifying because of the close relationships she had with many seniors in the class of ‘25.

That year, her awards included the Unsung Hero Award, the Cross Country Dedication Award, the Technical Theater Award, the Harvard Club of Boston Foundation Award, and the Richard Cawley Memorial Award from the DHS Social Studies Department. 

By senior year, Elmore's hard work began to pay off. She was still busy, but made time for fun. When applying to colleges, she narrowed her list to about 10 schools, which helped her focus her time on fewer, higher-quality applications without letting the process take over her life. Going to the semifinals of the Massachusetts Educational Theater Guild with the PAC's production of Poor Clare was a highlight of the year. She was also named MVP of the DHS Cross Country team, received the Leadership Award in the DHS Band, and received the Robert Shreve Award.

When asked to give a piece of advice to underclassmen, Elmore answered by saying, “Stay on top of your school work, so you have the buffer in your grades that you can enjoy a concert before a test, a sports tournament, a tech week, or other parts of life without worrying about your grades.” 

Elmore is deeply curious about the world around her and tries to understand as much as possible: "That intrinsic curiosity motivated me to think deeply about assigned readings and to actually understand homework assignments I turned in.”

Corinne Elmore has had a successful and fulfilling high school career, filled with countless achievements that testify to her years of hard work and dedication.