A third of BPS 2019 valedictorians are from Dorchester

On May 28th, 2019, thirty-five school valedictorians from the Boston Public Schools were honored by local officials at the Boston Harbor Hotel.

Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconto, and BPS Interim Superintendent Laura Perille recognized the valedictorians for their “outstanding accomplishments” during the 21st Annual BPS Valedictorians Luncheon.

“I challenge every valedictorian to think about how they can positively contribute to the world because I have no doubt that some incredible leaders in our city and our country are among this graduating class,” Mayor Walsh said during the ceremony.

According to the School System, this year’s valedictorians were born in nine different countries, 40% were born outside the US, and forty-three percent will be the first in their families to attend college. Also, more than one-quarter of the valedictorians have attended BPS schools from kindergarten through 12th grade.

Of all the City highest ranking students, ten are residents of Dorchester: Sonilisa Teixeira Cardoso, Stefanie Pimentel Cannon, Ronylson DaSilva Barbosa, Alex Tran, Thanh-Vy Dac, Lenylse Ferreira, Joselyn Carvalho, Special Joi Brown, Tommy Nguyen, and Winda Durand.

Dorchester resident Joselyn Carvalho of the Henderson K-12 Inclusion School provided the valedictorian’s address.

“As we are now entering the next chapter in our life remember: get out of your heads and into your hearts,” Carvalho said during her speech. “Never let someone tell you that you can’t, and never let someone make you feel less than, because everyone here is destined for greatness. I didn’t see it in myself at first, but after hearing those words, I knew I was going to be someone to spark a change.”

“The 2019 valedictorians represent the multicultural fabric of the BPS community and are exemplary global citizens, prepared to face the triumphs and challenges ahead of them,” Boston School Committee Chairperson Michael Loconto said.