Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School's "best of the best" received recognition for their hard work during the school's "Excellence in Effort" awards.

The awards are doled out to the top students in each vocational shop and academic department. There are five academic awards (science, math, English, history, and physical education/health) and 13 vocational shop awards. The students must be unanimously approved by all shop/academic teachers to win an award.

Junior Kaitlyn Blackburn won the math award.

“She is bright, respectful, diligent, and extremely humble for her accomplishments," Principal Karen Guenette said.

Victoria Belanger of Rochester won the history award. Teacher John Oldham presented Belanger's award.

“I had have the pleasure for having Victoria for the last two years where I have witnessed tremendous effort and an outstanding work ethic,”

Junior Amanda Hannon took the prize for English, while sophomore Kyle Scholz received an award for PE and Health.

In the vocational awards, Thomas Ekbom took the Automotive award. “His work ethic is second to none, and he is extremely dedicated to the program," said instructor Scott Furtado.

Meanwhile, sophomore Garrett Smith was award a prize in Electronics, while Jeremy Miller won the award for Computer Aided Drafting and Design.

The junior who won Excellence in Effort for Metal Fabrication was Marcus Ashley. Instructor Instructor Doug Desrochers presented the award, saying, “I have had the opportunity to get to know Marcus for the past three years. In those years, Marcus has always show respect for his instructors and his peers.”

Rylie Taviera took the Excellence in Effort award for Health Careers, while junior Miranda Besse won her own award in Computer Science.

The junior who won Excellence in Effort for Computer Science is Miranda Besse. Besse is working for the Rochester Council on Aging, managing their social media and website.

Miranda’s twin sister Kaitlyn Besse won the Excellence in Effort for the Electrical shop.

Sophomore William Pierce won the Machine & Tool award, while junior Bailee Amaral won for House & Mill Carpentry. Amaral helped do a new solar training building outside the Old Colony building. She also helped build houses and gazebos for live work in the community.

Junior Tyler Griffin is cooking up a storm; he won the Culinary Arts award. Meanwhile, sophomore Zachary McMahon (whom you may recognize as the author of several articles) won the Business Technology award.

Sophomore Evangelos Paptousis won the Science and Graphics award, as well as the Communications award.

Zachary McMahon is a sophomore student at Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School.