RI’s high schoolers are back from break. It’s time to vote for Student of the Week

The holiday break is over and it’s time to recognize once again the incredible achievements of Rhode Island’s high school students.

Below you will find the nominations for The Providence Journal’s Student of the Week initiative and it’s time for you to pick the best of the best.  

Voting is open until noon on Thursday, Jan. 16.  

High schools across the state have been asked to submit nominations. A new round of nominees and voting will be available every Monday and close the following Thursday. 

Participating Rhode Island high school principals, teachers and guidance counselors nominated students they say have shown outstanding academic and school achievement and community service.  

We will announce a winner on providencejournal.com on Friday and in print in the Providence Sunday Journal.   

Take a look at this week’s nominees and cast your ballot below. 

Matalyn McLaughlin, Ponaganset High School

Ponaganset High School would like to nominate Matalyn McLaughlin as the Providence Journal Student of the Week. Matalyn is the ultimate verbal communicator. As a peer mentor assigned to a freshman home base, Matalyn enters the room with a huge smile and has control of the space. She immediately has the students’ attention and carries out the mentoring task with the control of a well-seasoned teacher. This student is a poster child of the PHS Vision of a Graduate as she displays all four of the learner qualities. Overall, she is an asset to the school and exemplifies the type of person we strive to educate at Ponaganset High School.

Marcos Ramirez, Toll Gate High School

Marcos Ramirez of Toll Gate High School won the 120lb bracket (35 wrestlers) at the Marshfield Holiday last week and now is currently ranked 20th in New England.

Kate Maness, South Kingstown High School

Kate Maness is an outstanding student and a leader and advocate for others in the South Kingstown High School community.  She is an All-State field hockey player.  She served as a team captain this year and is using her senior project to run a field hockey tournament to support the sport and donate money back to the SKHS program.  Kate is a co-coordinator of the SKHS Freshmen Mentors, supporting ninth graders weekly in advisory and organizing student support for open house, showcase, and orientation events.  As president of SKHS’s SafeBae chapter, Kate is an advocate against the normalization of sexual assault and promotes support for victims.  Kate is also president of the SKHS Civics Club and a member of the RI Secretary of State’s Civic Liaison Program, meeting monthly with state staff and other RI students monthly, and working to increase youth civic engagement locally.

Landon Resendes, Middletown High School

Landon Resendes is a senior who was selected as one of two Rhode Island students to attend the US Youth Senate Program. In addition, he is our student government president and student liaison to the school committee and is retiring this month.

Landon is a natural-born leader, and a member of our winning Mock trial team, as well as our The Wave newspaper.