Rice Memorial High School Announces 2016 Valedictorian & Salutatorian, both MCS Graduates

March 4, 2016

​The following letter is being shared with permission from Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois, Principal of Rice Memorial High School. Mater Christi School is very proud of these two incredible MCS alumnae from the MCS Class of 2012, Heather McCabe and Marisa Sylvester, as well as all of our alumni who have earned Valedictorian and Salutatorian honors throughout the years*.

RICE ANNOUNCES VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN FOR THE CLASS OF 2016
3/2/2016
Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois
Honorees to be Celebrated at Graduation in June 
Rice Announces Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2016

It is a privilege to announce that Rice’s Valedictorian for the Class of 2016 is Heather McCabe and the Salutatorian is Marisa Sylvester.

Heather has taken advantage of Rice’s most rigorous and AP academic programs, earning a GPA of 102.34. Additionally, she has been on the Math Team, Scholars’ Bowl, and the Global Unity and Solidarity Club. She was the UVM Green and Gold Scholar and was part of the World of Difference at Rice and the Girls’ Leadership Worldwide. In receiving this prestigious award, Heather remarks: “I thank most humbly those who helped me along my way to this great honor; I believe that being named Valedictorian serves as not only a testament to hard work, but as a symbol of those who have so generously encouraged and inspired me over these last four years. I am so happy to have done this not alone, but within an incredibly supportive and engaged community that I cherish everyday.” Congratulations, Heather!

In her high school career, Marisa has taken 8 AP and 10 honors courses, earning a GPA of 101.79. She is one of two Vermonters to win the Hearst Scholarship Award, a very prestigious award that includes, among other things, a week long visit to Washington, DC. She is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. She attended the Georgetown University Law Institute and interned in the office of Governor Peter Shumlin.  “I appreciate,” Marisa remarked, “the honor of being named Salutatorian, but even more so, I am grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow at Rice. The friends, teachers, and mentors I’ve met here have helped me grow not only academically, but also personally and spiritually.” Congratulations, Marisa!

Heather and Marisa will both have their names inscribed on the Valedictorian and Salutatorian banners in the gym, and both will be celebrated at their graduation ceremony in June.

Rev. Msgr. Bernard W. Bourgeois, Principal
bourgeois@rmhsvt.org

About Mater Christi School: Mater Christi is a private Catholic School located in Burlington that is discovering personal greatness in pre-school through grade 8 students of all faiths. *Over the past 15 years, 80% of Rice Memorial High School’s Valedictorians or Salutatorians have been Mater Christi School alumni. Additionally, for multiple years both the Valedictorian and Salutatorian have been MCS alumni including two who have been just announced for the RMHS Class of 2016.