Mercy High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian Announced

Sr. Mary A. McCarthy RSM, Principal of Mercy High School has announced the Valedictorian and Salutatorian for the Class of 2011.

Julia Kelly is the 2011 Valedictorian, having attained the highest academic average in her class.  Julia is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Christopher Kelly of South Glastonbury.    Julia is an exceptionally distinguished student who has received numerous department awards for outstanding achievement in the areas of English, World History, Chemistry, Pre-Calculus, Journalism, Creative Writing, and AP US History.

Julia was named a Finalist in the 2011 National Merit Scholarship Program, an honor bestowed on less than one percent of the 1.5 million high school students participating in the program in their junior year.  In addition, Julia was one of only thirty students in Connecticut to be named a Governor's Scholar.  She also received the Harvard Book Award, is an AP Scholar and a recipient of the Mercy High School Merit Scholarship for the last four years.

Julia is an active member of both her school and local communities.  She is a member of the National Honor Society and serves as Vice President of Tutoring.  Her involvement in extracurricular activities includes the technical crew for Mercy High School theatre productions, Mercy Ambassadors, Sign Language Club, Cooking Club and Library Club.  She also participated in the “Go the Mile” leadership conference at Saint Joseph College.

In addition to her involvement in the Mercy High School community, Julia has volunteered numerous hours to the “I Have a Friend” youth center, the John Barry School Project, United for Sight Glasses Collection, and the W. Alton Jones Community Service Camp.  Through the Edu-Culture International Total Immersion Program Julia spent two weeks in Estepona, Spain in the Summer Spanish Immersion Program.

Julia will be attending Brown University in the fall.

Julia Kannam is the Salutatorian of the Class of 2010.  Julia is a resident of Durham, and the daughter of Thomas and Heather Kannam.  Julia has been an outstanding scholar during her four years at Mercy High School and has received numerous academic awards in the areas of Geometry, World History, Latin, English, Pre-Calculus, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.

Julia has distinguished herself as the recipient of the Yale University Book Award, the President's Volunteer Service Award, the Challenge to Educational Citizenship Award, and the Comcast Leaders and Achievers Scholarship.  She was a National Merit Scholarship Program Semifinalist, and has received awards for excellence on the National Latin Exam.  In addition, she recently received the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn.

At Mercy, Julia is a member of the National Honor Society, serving as the Vice President of Committees.  Her extracurricular activities include the Mercy High School Show Choir, Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, Peer Ministry, Sign Language Club, Latin Club, Mercy Ambassadors, and the technical crew for the Mercy/Xavier Musical.

An involved member of the community, Julia has volunteered extensively at “I Have a Friend” youth center, as a Sunday school teacher, and as an Acolyte at the Church of the Epiphany in Durham.  She is also an Assistant Director at the Community Theater and works as a piano teacher.

In the fall, Julia will be attending Dartmouth College.