DERBY – Derby High School Principal, Jennifer Olson, has announced Cayla Cayer-McCarthy as the valedictorian and, twin sister, Alysa Cayer-McCarthy as the salutatorian of the Class of 2023. The Top 10 students of the class will lead their classmates during the commencement ceremony on Wednesday, June 14th, 2023 at 6:00 PM at the Leo F. Ryan Athletic Complex in Derby, Connecticut. Speeches will be delivered by the valedictorian, salutatorian, and class president, Logan Burke. The valedictorian and salutatorian are twin sisters.
According to Olson, “The Top 10 students have many achievements both in and out of the classroom. They have completed numerous Advanced Placement (AP), dual-credit, and Early College Experience (ECE) courses offered at Derby High School to prepare them for post-secondary education. Their individual bios are very impressive and include accomplishments in the arts, music, athletics, student government, and a wide range of civic engagement and community service activities”
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Matthew Conway, Jr. said, ““This is an incredible achievement and one no one can ever take away. Their hard work, dedication, perseverance, and GRIT have led them to the top to a place most don’t make it to. They serve as an inspiration and model to all of us. Congratulations to these outstanding individuals on this well-deserved recognition.”
Over the past several years, Derby High School has added many college-level courses to the Program of Studies as a result of partnerships with the University of Connecticut, Southern Connecticut State University, Housatonic Community College, POST University, as well as Advanced Placement courses from the College Board. Members of the Top 10 have taken completed rigorous courses, including: UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500, UCONN ILCS 3239: Italian Composition and Conversation I, UCONN ILCS 3240: Italian Composition and Conversation II, Creative Writing (ENG 201), ENG E101 — Composition, College Success Seminar (CTC101), Introduction to Computing (CIS112), College Writing (ENG110), Fundamentals of Psychology (PSYCH 101), Abnormal Psychology (PSYCH 306), Introduction to Communications (COM 107), 2‑D Art and Design, 3‑D Art and Design, AP Calculus AB, Drawing, AP Environmental Science, AP Music Theory, AP Psychology, AP Spanish Language and Culture, AP Language and Composition, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and AP United States History.
The Class of 2023 Top 10 will be recognized at a breakfast with their families in April. The event will be held at the J.R. Payden Fieldhouse and will include remarks by the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Matthew Conway, Jr. and Board of Education Chairman, Mr. Jim Gildea. According to Olson, “Each student will have the opportunity to invite a Derby Public Schools educator to attend the breakfast with their family. This event is special because it not only celebrates our students’ achievements, but also recognizes educators who have made a lasting impact on the lives of a student.”
Here is a brief overview of each student in the Top 10 and their individual accomplishments, recognitions, and post-secondary plans:#1 Cayla Cayer-McCarthy, Valedictorian with a GPA of 4.56, is the daughter of Brenda Cayer-McCarthy and Brian McCarthy. She is a member of the National Honor Society, where she holds the position of President, Italian Honor Society, where she holds the position of President, Student Council, Chess Club, Italian Club, and Valley SURGE. She is also a 4‑year varsity member of the Girls Cross Country team (captain for 2‑years), where she obtained Naugatuck Valley League All-Copper Honors her junior year (2021). Additionally, she helped her team win theGirls NVL Cross Country Team Championship in 2021. She has also participated on both the Indoor Track and Outdoor Track teams. Cayla has been awarded the 2023 CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Leadership Award. In addition, Cayla has applied, participated, and completed a week-long pre-college summer program at UMass Amherst for Pre-Veterinary Medicine, earning college credits.
Over the past four years, Cayla has helped her community in many ways. In 2022, she planned and led a successful in-person college fair in the gymnasium at Derby High School as her NHS individual service project. Thirty colleges/universities from across the northeast attended, where students were able to meet with admissions counselors to discuss their future plans. Furthermore, in 2022, Cayla helped organize a bottle drive for Valley SURGE, where the club collected recyclables that our community donated, and recycled it for them. She also has been heavily involved in working/volunteering with animals, volunteering at PAWS in Norwalk, and shadowing at Pawz for Wellness, a canine rehabilitation center in Shelton. Cayla is heavily involved in school activities at Derby High School being part of the OnBoard! Crew for incoming freshmen and assisting with various school activities such as the fashion show and the city-wide clean up.
Cayla has earned, or expects to earn college credits, as a result of completing the following Advanced Placement and Early College courses: U.S. Government and Politics, United States History, Environmental Science, Calculus AB, Language and Composition, UCONN ILCS 3239: Italian Composition and Conversation I, UCONN ILCS 3240: Italian Composition and Conversation II, and UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500. She has also taken dual-enrollment classes at Post University: College Success Seminar, Introduction to Computing, College Writing (English 101), Fundamentals of Psychology, and Introduction to Communications. Cayla has completed these courses at Post with a 4.0 collegiate GPA.
She has obtained acceptances from: Mississippi State University, University of Kentucky, Clemson University, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, UMass Amherst, Purdue University, Virginia Tech University, University of Florida, and UCONN. Cayla will be attending the University of Kentucky majoring in animal sciences, following the pre-veterinary track with a focus on wildlife.
#2 Alysa Cayer-McCarthy, Salutatorian with a GPA of 4.55, is the daughter of Brenda Cayer-McCarthy and Brian McCarthy. She holds leadership positions in the National Honor Society as Treasurer, Spanish National Honor Society as Vice President, and Tri‑M Music Honor Society as President. Alysa is also a member of the Student Council, Art Club, and the On Board! Student Mentor Team. Furthermore, for the last four years, she has been a varsity member of the 2021 NVL Champion Girls Cross Country team and Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams; during her junior and senior seasons of indoor track, Alysa was a part of the bronze-placing 4x800 relay. Additionally, she is heavily involved in her high school’s music program, where she participates in the concert band, jazz band, pep band, small ensembles, and personally takes private music lessons to help master her skill; through these ensembles, she plays the alto saxophone and the oboe. Alysa has been awarded the 2022 Harvard Book Award and the 2023 CABE (Connecticut Association of Boards of Education) Leadership Award.
Over the last four years, Alysa has completed many acts of service to her community, including, but not limited to, volunteering at the Derby Neck Library, participating in a city beautification/City-Wide Clean-Up for Derby, and creating a National Honor Society service project called “Books-for-Babies.” Her “Books-for-Babies” service project consisted of collecting books from around the city to donate to Connecticut communities that needed assistance with providing their babies/young children with access to early literacy. She gathered over 400 books and donated them to Griffin Hospital’s Childbirth Center, Read-to-Grow, and Irving Elementary School.
Alysa has put in tremendous effort in trying to earn or earning, college credit for her future educational endeavors. From the start of her first year, she has been a part of Post University’s high school program, where she earned college credits in the classes: College Success Seminar (CTC101), Introduction to Computing (CIS112), College Writing (ENG110), Fundamentals of Psychology (PSYCH 101), and Abnormal Psychology (PSYCH 306). Through these courses, Alysa was able to uphold a 3.93 GPA and passed all classes with over a 90. Along with the Post University courses, she has also taken the UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500 to obtain another course to help her in her college life. Additionally, Alysa has completed, and is completing, the following Advanced Placement courses: United States Government and Politics, United States History, Spanish Language and Culture, Music Theory, English Language and Composition, Calculus AB, and Environmental Science.
Alysa has received acceptances and scholarships from the University of Connecticut-Storrs, SUNY Binghamton University, Quinnipiac University, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Sacred Heart University, and a few more schools. Most universities have accepted her into their highly competitive honors or scholars programs and some first-year research programs. Recently, Alysa has made her college decision and has committed to the University of Connecticut-Storrs, where she will study Environmental Psychology with a plan to double-major in Environmental Science and Psychological Sciences.
#3 Danthy Nguyen, daughter of Nghia and Chi Nguyen, is ranked third in her class at Derby High School. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society, where she holds the position of President, and the Tri‑M Music Honor Society, where she is the Vice President. She takes part in her high school’s music program and can be seen participating in the concert band, pep band, jazz band, and small ensembles as a clarinetist and section leader. Danthy is also an active member of the Student Council, where she has acted as the Class Representative in both her freshman and senior year, Spanish Club, Art Club, Chess Club, and the United Way Youth Leadership Program. Over the years, she has been a member of the Softball team, and the Indoor and Outdoor Track Team. Furthermore, Danthy won the Yale/Seton Book Club Award during her junior year. In her senior year, she was nominated to be a US Presidential Scholar and has advanced to the state level.
Throughout her high school career, Danthy has found many ways to give back to her community. She has volunteered at the Derby Neck Library, tutored middle school band students, and participated in numerous school activities, such as the Bows & Diamonds fashion show and the City-Wide Clean-Up. Danthy is also a member of the OnBoard! Student Mentor Team, where she helps incoming freshmen transition into high school. For her National Honor Society project, she made cards for patients at local hospitals and for the Spanish National Honor Society, she has been involved in organizing and setting up drives for items such as socks and blankets for impoverished communities.
She dual-enrolled at Post University and has earned college credit for College Success Seminar, Introduction to Computing, College Writing, and Introduction to Communication. She has earned, or expects to earn, college credits as a result of completing the following Advanced Placement and Early College courses: U.S. Government and Politics, United States History, Spanish Language and Culture, Calculus AB, Language and Composition, Environmental Science, and UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500. She has been accepted to Quinnipiac University, Fairfield University, Sacred Heart University, and more. Danthy plans to attend either the University of Connecticut or Sacred Heart University in the fall and will be studying Pharmacy.
#4 Arya Patel, daughter of Nikunj and Jayna Patel, is ranked fourth in her class at Derby High School with a GPA of 4.48. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Italian Honor Society where she holds the title as Vice President, and the Tri‑M Music Honor Society where she is the secretary. Additionally, she is devoted to being a dual-sport athlete and earned the recognition of being an All-Naugatuck Valley League runner in addition to receiving NVL-All Copper Team recognition for Cross Country. During her indoor track season junior year, she was a part of the NVL-All Copper 4x8 relay. Arya is an active member of many clubs such as the Italian Club, Chess Club, Student Council, where she was voted as Class Representative her sophomore and senior year, Valley SURGE, Art Club, Best Buddies, Yearbook “The Lookout,” and United Way Youth Nation Program. Furthermore, she has devoted 8 years of her time with the music program by participating in pep band and concert band. She was also named “R.A.I.D.E.R. of the Week” at Derby High School. Arya was awarded the 2022 Gettysburg College Book Prize, as well.
Arya has volunteered her time for the Derby Neck Library, the City-Wide Clean-Up event, the Best Buddies program, she has assisted the Little Raiders preschool program during her study periods, and tutored middle school band students her sophomore year. Her National Honor Society service project was writing cards to people in the hospital and setting up a library day for elementary school kids in the district.
She has earned, or expects to earn, college credits as a result of completing the following Advanced Placement and Early College courses: U.S. Government and Politics, United States History, Environmental Science, Calculus AB, Language and Composition, UCONN ECE Italian, and UCONN ECE History. She dual-enrolled at Post University where she took an Introduction to College Seminar, English 101, Intro to Computing, and Intro to Communications. She has been accepted to Fairfield University, Providence College, Fordham University, University of Connecticut at Storrs, Sacred Heart University, University of New Haven, and more. Arya will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall where she will enroll in the pre-law track, majoring in Political Science.
#5 Brennan Fitch, son of Sean and Coleen Fitch, is ranked fifth in his class at Derby High School with a GPA of 4.17. He is a member of the National Honor Society. He is an active member in clubs the Chess Club, Student Council, Valley SURGE, and Future Business Leaders of America. Additionally, Brennan has been an active player on the varsity soccer team for 4 years and was captain in his senior year, along with being named for the All-NVL Copper Division team. He has made the High Honor Roll for 4 consecutive years at Derby High School. Brennan was also selected to attend the HOBY Youth Leadership Conference in his freshman year. Furthermore, Brennan was named as a 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, chosen by the Connecticut Commissioner of Education to represent Connecticut.
Throughout his time at Derby High School, Brennan has found many ways to help his community. He has volunteered with the local fire department, specifically Hotchkiss Hose Company #1 where he is now a junior firefighter. He has also volunteered as a counselor in training for The Recreation Camp in Derby.
He has earned or expects to earn, college credits through his hard work in completing Advanced Placement and Early College courses including U.S. Government and Politics, United States History, Calculus AB, English Language and Composition, and UCONN ECE History 1300. Brennan is currently undecided on which university he will attend, but has been accepted to 22 schools. He plans to major in Accounting.
#6 Shiv Patel, son of Ketan and Mita Patel, is ranked sixth in his class with a GPA of 4.14 at Derby High School. He is currently the Vice President of the National Honor Society. He also has been part of various clubs throughout his high school such as the Student Council, Valley SURGE, Chess Club, & Future Business Leaders of America. Shiv has also been on the Honor Roll for four consecutive years at Derby High School. During his sophomore year, he was invited to the 2020 CAS-CIAC High School Leadership Conference. Shiv’s efforts have not gone unnoticed as he was recognized as “R.A.I.D.E.R. of the Week” in his junior year.
Shiv has also volunteered his time back into his school or in his community by helping out through the events hosted by the Student Council, National Honor Society, and Valley Surge. He also participated in the City Wide Clean up during his Sophomore year.
Shiv has taken many high-level courses throughout his high school such as AP United States History, AP Environmental Science, AP Calculus AB, AP English Language & Composition, & UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500. He is currently undecided about where he will attend college but has been accepted to Quinnipiac University, University of New Haven, Southern Connecticut State University, University of Hartford, & University of Connecticut where he will be majoring in Accounting.
#7 Sophia Duarte, daughter of Cassandra and Juan Velazquez, is ranked seventh in her class. She is a member of the art club and a part of the “The Lookout” yearbook committee under the title of “Art Director.” She is a member of the NSHSS, National Society of High School Scholars, and has achieved honor roll all throughout her four years of high school. In her freshman and sophomore year summers, Sophia took part in a college readiness course titled “Upward Bound” at Sacred Heart University, where she took college level courses. Being recognized in the visual arts category, she earned the CT Association of Schools High School Art Award in 2023. She has had the opportunity to create multiple murals in the art wing and styling motivational quotes around the school. In October of 2022, she participated in National Portfolio Day, a day to receive constructive criticism on art portfolios and college acceptances, where she earned two on-the-spot college acceptances.
She has earned/expects to earn college credits as a result of the advanced placement/early college courses as listed: Creative Writing ECE, AP Studio Art — 3D Art and Design, AP English Language and Composition and UCONN ECE Drawing. Sophia will be attending the University of Hartford — The Hartford Art School in the fall to pursue a bachelors degree in the fine arts with a major in Illustration.
#7 Ryan Slack, son of Cindy Yash and Mike Slack, is currently ranked seventh in his class at Derby High School with a GPA of 4.12. He has worked to achieve honor roll recognition all 4 years of high school. He is currently a member of the National Honors Society, Student Council, Student-Athlete Leadership Team, and Spanish Club. Ryan has participated in 4 years of sports as a 4‑year varsity baseball starter and member of both the cross country and indoor track teams. He received the honor of being captain of the baseball team in his junior and senior years. Ryan has devoted much of his time throughout his years of high school to volunteer work, whether it was with the National Honors Society, Student Council, or outside of school. He has participated in events such as the “City Wide Clean Up,” St. Michael’s Church (Coat Drive & Tree Lighting), Valley Literacy Volunteer, teaching Spanish to elementary students, and volunteering for Derby Little League baseball clinics. His efforts over the years have not gone unnoticed, as he has received awards such as the 2023 CIAC Scholar-Athlete Award and the “R.A.I.D.E.R. of the Week” in both his junior and senior years.
Ryan has taken many upper-level and challenging courses over the 4 years of his high school career such as UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500, AP Calculus AB, AP Environmental Science, AP Language and Composition, AP U.S. Government and Politics, and AP United States History. Ryan will be attending the University of Massachusetts-Boston. Ryan is currently undecided about what he will study at UMASS Boston, but he will be a part of the University’s baseball team as he committed in the fall.
#9 Lordina Boakye, daughter of Emmanuel and Naomi Boakye, is ninth in her class with a GPA of 4.08. She has been on the honor roll all 4 years at DHS and is an active member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, OnBoard Crew, Chess Club, “The Lookout” (Yearbook), as well as a 4‑year varsity member of both Indoor and Outdoor Track & Field teams. In her track career, Lordina has earned 1st Team All-NVL in Long Jump her junior year, placed 4th with her 4x200 relay in NVLs and States this year, and placed 3rd at NVLs for Triple Jump for the past 2 years. Lordina has been attending a Seventh-Day Adventist Church with her family since birth and still continues to go every Saturday. She often volunteers at her church and in her school, she participates in activities such as the City-Wide Clean Up and reading to younger students. In 2022, for her NHS Service Project, she organized a baby donation drive called “Infant Essentials,” to help new mothers in need of baby supplies. Her efforts did not go unnoticed as she received College Board’s National African American Recognition Program Scholar Award, “R.A.I.D.E.R. of the Week” both her sophomore and senior year, and the CIAC Scholar-Athlete Award, as well.
Lordina has taken many upper level courses such as: AP US History, Pre-Calculus Honors, AP Studio Art — 3D Art and Design, AP Calculus, AP Language and Composition, and UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500. Lordina plans to study at either Boston University or the University of Connecticut, where she will major in Economics.
#10 Alex Enjem, son of Fran and Kristen Enjem, is currently ranked tenth in his class at Derby High School. He has been on the Honor Roll all 4 years at DHS and is an active member of the National Honor Society, Italian Honor Society where he is the secretary/treasurer, Student Council, Spanish Club, and the Student-Athlete Leadership Program. Throughout his 4 years at DHS, Alex has also been a member of Best Buddies, Italian Club, and the Valley United Way Youth Leadership Program.
Alex has played multiple sports throughout his 4 years at DHS. He has played 4 years of Varsity Baseball where he is currently a captain. He played football for his first time this year and was on the varsity team and received the 2022 – 2023 National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Casey O’Brien New Haven County Chapter Scholar-Athlete Award. He has also been on the Varsity Cross-Country team for 3 years where he was a captain and received the 2020 All-NVL Copper Region Award. He has also been a part of the Varsity Indoor Track team for 2 years from 2019 – 2021.
Alex has devoted many hours to volunteering in his 4 years in DHS. He has volunteered for numerous events such as Derby Pop Warner Football, Derby Little League Baseball Clinic, Walnut Hill Community Church Food Drive, Salvation Army Toy Drive, Derby City-Wide Clean Up event, Student panel for hiring teachers, the Spooner House, Farmers to Family food box distribution, and he also participated in teaching elementary students from Irving and Bradley School spanish with the Spanish Club. Alex’s efforts were recognized as he received the “R.A.I.D.E.R. of the Week” award this year.
Alex has taken many upper level and challenging courses over his 4 years including AP Government and Politics, AP US History, AP Environmental Science, AP Language and Composition, UCONN ILCS 3239: Italian Composition and Conversation I, UCONN ILCS 3240: Italian Composition and Conversation II, and UCONN ECE HIST 1300: Western Traditions Before 1500.
Alex is still undecided on where he will attend college, or what he will study, but he has been accepted to 19 different colleges.
