TAUNTON — Bristol-Plymouth Regional Technical School’s top 10 members of the class of 2021 have excelled in their shops as well as academic courses, often while taking advanced level classes, working after school and volunteering in the community.
Megan Morrissey
Valedictorian Megan Morrissey, daughter of Joseph and Christine Morrissey of Middleboro, is a student in the biotechnology program who has maintained a GPA of 3.99 throughout high school while taking advanced level courses. She served as vice president of SkillsUSA and secretary of Health Occupation Students of America and is a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, where she served as the president and an officer. During the summers, she taught biotechnology skills to prospective students in the B-P Summer Exploratory Program and played lacrosse at B-P. Outside of B-P, she competes on the Gator Swim Club and lifeguards at High Sierra Pools, as well as volunteering as a tutor at an elementary school and as an assistant to her priest at the Church of our Savior. She will attend Western New England College in the pre-physician assistant program this fall.
Matthew Pittsley
Salutatorian Matthew Pittsley, son of Wayne and Jennifer Pittsley of Middleboro, is a student in the biotechnology program who has maintained a GPA of 3.99 throughout high school. Pittsley served as historian to Health Occupation Students of America and won third place in medical math when competing at the International level. He was junior class treasurer and has been a member of SkillsUSA all four years. He was a varsity soccer player and competes outside of school in ski racing. Matthew works as a recovery clerk at BJ’s Wholesale Club and volunteers as a referee with the Middleboro Youth Soccer Association. He will attend the University of New England with a double major in marine biology and environmental studies.
Charis Eden-Marie Banez
Charis Eden-Marie Banez, daughter of Scott and Brenda Blatt of Raynham, is ranked third in her class and has been on the honor roll every term while taking honors and advanced level courses. A community health student, she is the vice president for the National Honor Society, secretary for the Student Council and a member of the National Technical Honor Society. She was chosen as the student representative to the Community Health Program Advisory Board and has successfully competed in
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SkillsUSA. She has been involved in many school and community activities including volunteering for the school’s Community Service Club and being captain of the girls’ varsity soccer team. She has also traveled many times to Guatemala for service mission trips and is a Bible school leader at her church. She plans to pursue further education in the field of nursing at Cedarville University in Ohio.
Sophia Masaitis
Sophia Masaitis, daughter of Erick and Barbara Masaitis of Raynham, is a dental assisting student who is ranked fourth in her class and has a 3.96 GPA while taking all five of the AP courses offered at Bristol-Plymouth. She was a member of the varsity track and soccer teams, elected captain her senior year. She is a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society and has participated in the Community Service Club, DECA, SkillsUSA and the Math Team. She is an avid guitar player, who enjoys playing in a band. She also works as a customer service representative at Art’s International Bakery is a soccer referee for Raynham Athletics and babysits. She will be attending the University of Massachusetts in Boston where she intends to study pre-dental in the fall.
Annalise White
Annalise White, daughter of David and Sarah White of Berkley, is a biotechnology student who is ranked fifth in her class with a 3.98 GPA. She has participated in Student Council and played on the girl’s soccer team. She has been a member of SkillsUSA all four years and has participated in events such as Health Knowledge Bowl, Medical Math and American Spirit. Additionally, she has spent two years as a Health Occupation Students of America member competing in Medical Math and earning first place in Biomedical Lab Science at the state level. Annalise worked at Forrest’s Family Fun Center and now works at Dunkin Donuts. She will be attending the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth where she will pursue a degree in bioengineering.
Alixandria Gates
Alixandria Gates, daughter of Barry and Mari Gates of Middleboro, is a student in the dental assisting program who was inducted into the National Honor Society as a sophomore and the National Technical Honor Society as a junior. She has participated in SkillsUSA and DECA and competed in soccer and track. Outside of school she has spent the past six years on an archery competition team and has been a Girl Scout. She is very active in her church, spending countless hours participating in youth groups, leading Bible study and serving the people of Guatemala during two life-changing mission trips. Her time volunteering at Tim Tebow’s Foundation Night to Shine event sparked her desire to become a licensed speech and language pathologist and work with children born with genetic, congenital or developmental disorders. This fall, she will be attending Messiah University to pursue her bachelor’s degree in special education and speech pathology.
Isabella Santos
Isabella Santos, daughter of Bonnie and Dean Santos of Rehoboth, is a biotechnology student ranked seventh in her class. An honors student, she took advanced level course whenever possible. Despite facing some unforeseen obstacles, she persisted with humility and grace, making the most of every moment at B-P. She was active in SkillsUSA, serving as vice president. She served as president of Health Occupation Students of America, winning a gold medal at states in medical reading and medical terminology. She was a member of the track team and varsity soccer team, and served as captain her senior year. Outside of school, she played soccer and futsal, traveling throughout New England and the east coast competing. She will pursue her bachelor’s degree in forensic chemistry at Appalachian State University this fall.
Brenna Pierce
Brenna Pierce, daughter of Randall and Audrey Pierce of Berkley, is a community health student who has been on the honor roll throughout high school while taking honors and advanced placement courses. She is the Student Council secretary and has successfully competed in both Health Occupation Students of America and SkillsUSA, where she won a gold medal at the district competition. She is captain of the varsity volleyball team and has won MVP and Athlete of the Year awards. She has participated in several community service activities, including tutoring classmates in biology and math, and will study nursing at the University of Connecticut this fall.
Russell Neitlich
Russell Neitlich, son of Russell and Colleen Neitlich of Middleboro, is a biotechnology student ranked ninth in his class. Neitlich is has participated in DECA and SkillsUSA all four years, competing in the Health Knowledge Bowl his sophomore year. He also participated in track and baseball and plays piano. Neitlich works at D’Angelo Grilled Sandwiches and has volunteered at Pratt Farm haunted house over the past few seasons. He plans to attend Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Science to pursue a bachelor’s in pharmaceutical sciences.
Lindsey Spina
Lindsey Spina, daughter of Paul and Ellen Spina of Bridgewater, is a student in the dental assisting program. She participated in SkillsUSA and Business Professionals of America where she served as secretary and earned second place in Parliamentary Procedure Concepts, and was a member of the math team. A member of the National Honor Society, she works at Marshall’s and has volunteered organizing trunk or treats for the community and birthday parties for special needs children. She plans to attend the University of Massachusetts in Boston in the fall, where she will study marketing with a focus on accounting.
