DERBY – Derby High School Principal, Jennifer Olson, has announced Brianna Kling as the valedictorian and Vanessa Nguyen as the salutatorian of the Class of 2025. The Top 10 students of the class will lead their classmates during the commencement ceremony on Friday, June 13th, 2025 at 6:00 PM at the Leo F. Ryan Athletic Complex in Derby, Connecticut.
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, clubs, and a wide range of civic engagement and community service activities.”
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Matthew Conway, Jr. said, ““This is an incredible achievement, one that 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.”
The Class of 2025 Top 10 was recognized at a breakfast with their families in April. The event was held at the J.R. Payden Fieldhouse and included remarks by the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Matthew Conway, Jr and Board of Education Vice Chair, Mrs. Melissa Mongillo. According to Olson, “Each student had the opportunity to invite a Derby Public Schools educator who has made an impact on their educational journey to attend the breakfast with their family. During the ceremony, the teachers read their students biographies, shared special memories and expressed well-wishes for their future. In turn, the students shared a special recognition for the teacher they invited.”
Olson said, “This is a special event because it not only celebrates our students’ achievements, but also recognizes the strong relationships teachers build with their students. It is a celebration filled with appreciation, admiration and respect. ”
The following teachers spoke at the celebration:
Student — Influential Educator
● Brianna Kling — Mr. Spenser Butterworth, DHS
● Vanessa Nguyen — Mr. Stephen Wojtowicz, DHS
● Gianna Akter — Ms. Kristin Parry, DHS
● Kevin McGuire — Mr. Hunter Sigona, DHS
● Quinlan Gray — Mrs. Linda Gray, Bradley School
● Nicholas Sheridan — Mrs. Shelley Sheridan, DHS
● Cassandra Silkoff — Mrs. Amy Reilly, DHS
● Kayla Adams — Mr. Ryan Adams, DHS
● Kaelyn DiMartino — Ms. Jen Shea, DHS
● Aliyah Chajchic — Ms. Alex Drezek, DHS Coach
Here is a brief overview of each student in the Top 10 and their individual accomplishments, recognitions, and post-secondary plans:
CLASS OF 2025 BIOS:
#1 Brianna Kling, Valedictorian with a GPA of 4.56, is the daughter of Robert and Paula Kling. She is a member of the National Honor Society, where she holds the position of President, the Italian Honor Society where she holds the position of President, Student Council, and the “OnBoard!” Student Mentor Program. She has been on the high honor roll all four years. Additionally, Brianna has served as a captain of the girls varsity volleyball team for three years and has received All-Copper and All-NVL Second Team honors during her junior and senior seasons respectively. She was also a recipient of the Harvard Book Club Award in 2024, an AP Scholar, a 2025 CIAC Scholar Athlete, and a 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate.
In the past four years, Brianna has displayed great dedication to her community. As a freshman, she helped found the girls volleyball program and has since organized and led two volleyball clinics for local middle school students alongside her co-captain, Quinlan Gray. She has also participated in softball clinics for students at Bradley and Irving Elementary schools. As a National Honor Society member and president, Brianna has participated in the city-wide cleanup event in 2024, and is currently organizing a Bingo Night fundraiser for this coming Spring. She is also an integral member of the Italian Honor Society, and assisted with the past two Pasta Dinners to raise money for students traveling to Italy.
Brianna has received acceptances from the following universities: the University of Georgia, Southern Connecticut State University, The Ohio State University, Clemson University, Pennsylvania State University, Quinnipiac University, University of Louisville, Louisiana State University, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Florida.
#2 Vanessa Nguyen, Salutatorian with a GPA of 4.55, is the daughter of Thai Nguyen and Tri Tran. She is greatly involved in her high school’s music department, as shown in being part of the Tri‑M Music Honor Society, where she holds the position of president, and concert, jazz, and pep band, where she is the section leader for the flutes. She also enjoys acting and singing, having recently participated in the production of High School Musical, where she portrayed Gabriella, the female lead. Vanessa is also a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Student Council, and OnBoard Mentorship Program as well as Spanish Club and Calculus Club. She has played the position of libero in her varsity volleyball team for the past two years and has received the Player of the Week Award, Most Digs Award, and Defensive Player of the Year Award. Vanessa has been on the high honor roll for the past four years and has taken rigorous AP classes throughout high school, having excelled through them to have received
the AP Scholar Award, which is a distinction given to students who received a score of three or higher on three or more AP exams.
Vanessa has dedicated a great amount of her time to the community. She loves to read as a lector and sing in the choir of her church every week. She also attends events with her band to play the flute, such as the Memorial Day Parade, Rotary “Flags for Heroes” Ceremony, Tree Lighting, football games, and pep rallies. She has been an MC and performed in music recitals hosted by Tri‑M. Vanessa also loves working with kids, having demonstrated playing the flute and encouraging young students to join their school’s band at the Bradley School Instrument Petting Zoo. She also taught first-graders a lesson about the importance of kindness and conducted interactive activities with them as well as having taught third-graders the basics of the Spanish language. Vanessa is running a fundraiser to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as well. She’s also helped with the city-wide clean-up project and has visited the Ridgefield Station Senior Living Facility to keep company for patients with dementia.
Vanessa has been accepted to Northeastern University, Boston University, University of Virginia, Sacred Heart University, Quinnipiac University, and University of Connecticut. She is still unsure on which university she will attend.
#3 Gianna Akter, daughter of Lee and Emre Akter, is ranked third in her class with a GPA of 4.44. She is a member of the Tri‑M Music, Spanish, and National Honor Society. She is also part of the DHS Jazz Ensemble, Concert Band, Girls Volleyball team, Student Council, Calculus Club, and Theatre Department. Outside of school, Gianna is a camp counselor at the JCC of Greater New Haven and has also volunteered at Bible camps and religious education classes through her local parish. Additionally, Gianna represents her Girl Scout troop as the voting delegate for state meetings. She currently works as an assistant to the teacher at The Giggling Pig, an art studio in New Haven. She has been on the honor roll all 4 years at DHS, having taken 9 APs over the course of her high school career. Last year, Gianna was the recipient of the Seton/Yale Club Book Award for outstanding personal character and intellectual promise.
Some of her favorite high school memories include volunteering for the Men Who Cook Fundraiser, performing at the Rotary “Flags for Heroes” ceremony annually, helping the DHS Italian Honor Society raise money for the trip to Italy, being a member of stage crew and makeup for the Aladdin Jr. musical, playing “Kelsi Neilson” in High School Musical Jr., and performing with the pep band at the football games. She is known to be of service and step up for numerous clubs and organizations, regardless of leadership
position. Her service project for the National Honor Society last year combined her passion for the arts with urban development. Gianna presented research she conducted for the Derby Cultural Commission to the Derby Board of Aldermen and Alderwomen about the benefits of murals in Derby to initiate “placemaking,” the process of creating quality places where people want to live, work, and learn.
Gianna plans to pursue a career in Neuropathology (Neuroscience and Pathology). She has shadowed at the New York Academy of Medicine and Mt. Senai Health to understand further what a career in science would entail. She has received acceptances from Eastern CT State University as part of their Honors program, as well as Western CT State University and Quinnipiac University for their Honors programs. Gianna has also been accepted to UCONN Storrs, UMass Amherst, and Mount Holyoke College. She has been waitlisted at the University of Chicago and Boston College. She is still undecided as to where she will commit next year.
#4 Kevin McGuire son of Beth and Paul McGuire, is ranked 4th in his class with a GPA of 4.40. Throughout his high school career, Kevin has continuously worked towards pushing his academic and artistic abilities whenever he could. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Tri‑M Music Honor Society, Italian Honor Society, Student Council, and has participated in the Chess Club, Stock Club, and Calculus Club. Kevin’s dedication to these programs has reflected his drive to always work and achieve, as he has held the position of President of Tri‑M and Historian of the Italian Honor Society. Some of his other school accolades include being an AP Scholar, a recipient of the Gettysburg College Book Award, and a 2025 Presidential Scholar Candidate.
Kevin’s true love and dedication is to music. Having studied piano since age seven, Kevin has continually worked towards his dream of studying classical music and piano at the conservatory level. His dedication has taken him far, being a two-time recipient of the Neighborhood Music School Merit Award with High Honors in Performance and attending the Philadelphia International Music Festival in 2023 and 2024, studying with some of the most accomplished pianists from the University of Pennsylvania and the Curtis Institute of Music. There, Kevin worked in a two-week intensive Piano Studies Program, involving many lessons, masterclasses, solo performances, chamber music, and more. In addition, Kevin also plays trombone, and has been a member of the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras, Connecticut’s largest youth orchestra program, for 4 years where he currently sits as Principal Trombone in the organization’s premier Principal Orchestra and has performed on both trombone and piano in the ensemble.
Following his dream of studying piano in college, after an intensive series of pre-screening submissions and live auditions, Kevin has been accepted to the University of Connecticut and is awaiting decisions from Boston University, Boston Conservatory, New York University, the Manhattan School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, and the Eastman School of Music.
#5 Quinlan Gray, daughter of Michael and Linda Gray, is ranked 5th in her class with a GPA of 4.3. Quinlan is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, OnBoard! Student Mentor Program, Student Council, and President of the Technology Student Association. She is the recipient of the South Central Area Superintendents’ (SCASA) Award, the Daughters of the American Revolution “Good Citizen” Award, a participant in the University of Connecticut Summer LEADership program, a Connecticut Laurel Girls State attendee, a nominee for the Michael H. Savage Spirit of Sport Award, and a RAIDER of the Week award recipient.
Quinlan is a four-year high honor roll student with an Advanced Placement and Honors course schedule, participates in Mock Trial, serves as writer and creates marketing promotions for the school newspaper, The Raider Press, and has been an active participant in Art, LEGO, Photography, Spanish, and Technology clubs. She has competed in Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track, finished Top 10 in javelin at the NVL Championships, and has been a member of the Derby Running Club since 2018. She also competed in varsity Basketball and served as captain of the varsity Volleyball team her junior and senior years.
Over the last four years Quinlan has volunteered for several community programs including the Derby-Shelton Rotary Club Flags for Heroes Ceremony, the Griffin Hospital Hewitt Breast Center Awareness Benefit, and the ELKS National Club Hoop Shoot Serves initiative where she was recognized in their national magazine for her multiple contributions. She is active with the National Honor Society (NHS) Environmental Citywide Clean-up Project as well her personal NHS Service Project where she is co-founder and instructor of a youth volleyball clinic, now in its second year. She has also been involved as a literacy volunteer at both Bradley School and Little Raiders University, and has worked with Derby Neck Library to collect and distribute gently used books to schools. Quinlan served as Production Manager for the Derby High School Technology Education Department where she was tasked with building and selling Adirondack chairs, raising more than $1,000 dollars for the department fundraiser. Additionally, she was co-lead on the construction of nine full-sized picnic tables and benches for use at the Derby Youth Baseball Field and Derby High School grounds. She has also been involved with The Spooner House
Thanksgiving Food Drive, the Waterbury Women’s Shelter supplies drive, the Ridgefield Station Assisted Living visit and luncheon, the Assumption Church preparation of Bryan’s Bags for the homeless community, and has assisted at various Unified Sports and Best Buddies events.
Quinlan has been accepted to the following universities: Bryant University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Sacred Heart University, Southern Connecticut State University, University of Connecticut, University of Hartford, University of New Haven, Providence College and Quinnipiac University. She intends to pursue a degree in Education or Journalism as part of the Honors College at one of the aforementioned universities.
#6 Nicholas Sheridan, son of Shelly and Pat Sheridan, is ranked 6th in his class with a 4.25 GPA. Nick has been a member of 3 honor societies during his junior and senior years, including the National Honor Society, Tri‑M Honor Society, and Italian Honor Society, all of which he holds the position of treasurer. He has also been a member of several clubs and groups at Derby High, such as the Pickleball Club, Stonks Club, Calc Club, Mock Trial, Technology-Students Association, On Board, and Student Council. Nick’s extracurricular activities don’t end there, as he is also a HOBY Leadership Conference alumni and a Barnum Festival nominee. His determination to excel can also be seen athletically. Nick is a soccer captain who ended his senior season with an All-Conference Second Team award, a CIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award, and several offers to continue playing soccer at the collegiate level.
Not only has Nick shown dedication to himself, but to his community as well. During the last 4 years, he’s participated in the Derby City-Wide Cleanup and served as a volunteer for the Shelton Trails Committee, Ansonia Public Library, and the Ansonia Nature Center.
Nick has been accepted into several schools including Albertus Magnus College, Suny Cobleskill, Suny Purchase, Misericordia University, Elms College, Keene State College, Plymouth University, Salem State, Mitchell College, and Marywood University. Nick’s next 4 years will be at Suny Purchase, where he will be playing soccer and majoring in economics.
#7 Cassandra Silkoff daughter of Mike and Tina Silkoff, is currently ranked 7th in her class with a gpa of 4.22. She has received honors all four years of high school. She is a member of the National Honor
Society, serving as secretary, a member of the Spanish Honor Society, Treasurer of the Student Council, President of the Derby Rotary Interact club, member of the On Board student mentor program, Student Athletic Leadership team, Unified Sports, Future Business Leaders of America, Mock trial, WRBR morning announcements, and a member of the school newspaper, The Raider Press. In addition to her active involvement in the school community, she is very active in athletics aswell. Cassie is a four year varsity member of the Cross country team, where she was named captain her junior and senior seasons respectively and earned three All NVL honors and one all copper division honor, a four year member of the Indoor and Outdoor track teams, named captain her senior year earning a total of 8 all NVL Honors between the two seasons. Cassie has been a four year participant on the Powderpuff team, and was named captain senior year. She is a HOBY Youth Leadership alumni and has attended a multitude of leadership conferences including multiple CIAC Athletic Leadership conferences , and the Women in leadership conference.
In addition, Cassie takes a great deal of pride in her consistent school spirit and work ethic. Throughout her high school career, Cassie has balanced working at Zuppardi’s Apizza in Ansonia where she works the front counter and Children’s Studio for the Performing Arts, where she teaches children ages 3 – 14 gymnastics, school work, and being a full year athlete. In her free time she has volunteered with the Derby Middle School running club, Derby Pop warner, Flags for Heroes, and the Derby Hall of Fame. She has participated in volunteer events including MEN who COOK, Read across America day and read for the record day where she read to Bradely, Irving, and Little Raiders University students. She has been involved in numerous Spooner house food donations, Thanksgiving food drives, and Trash cleanup days. Cassie loves to read and travel but most of all she loves to spend time with family and friends. She is a bright young individual who has applied herself inside and outside of school.
Additionally, Cassie has received acceptances from Iona University, James Madison University, Pennsylvania State University, Providence College, Sarah Lawrence College, Suffolk University, Quinnipiac University, the University of Oklahoma, University of Connecticut, University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont, and Western New England University. She has been waitlisted by Northeastern University, Fairfield University, and Mount Holyoke College and is awaiting decisions from Brown University and the University of Michigan. Cassie has committed to attend Suffolk University this upcoming fall where she plans on majoring in social work and running cross country and track.
#8 Kayla Adams, daughter of Ryan and Jennifer Adams, Kayla Adams is ranked eighth in the Derby High school class of 2025 with a 4.219 GPA. She has achieved honor roll for all four years, while being a part of National Honors society, national spanish honors society, Tri‑M honors society, and student council. Kayla
has also been on the varsity cross country, indoor track, outdoor track, and soccer teams. She was All Copper in cross country her freshman year, when her team won the NVL Championship. Kayla was then All NVL with her 4x800 team her senior year. She was also awarded the captainship of the girls varsity soccer team her senior year.
Kayla has shown her character not just through school and sports, but through community service and volunteering. She has worked together with Cornerstone, Reclaim, and Walnut Hill churches to help the community in not just Connecticut, but New York as well. With Reclaim Church she travels to Catskills, NY to help clean up a Christian summer camp every fall, spring, and summer. Kayla has also worked to help feed the people who lost their homes when Oxford and neighboring towns were hit by a flood in 2024.
Kayla is committed to Cairn University with a major in Criminal Justice and will play on their soccer team. She has also gotten acceptances from Southern CT State University, Central CT State University, Albertus Magnus, UConn, Liberty University, Quinnipiac, Gordon College, Messiah University, University of New Haven, UMass. Amherst, and University of Vermont.
#9 Kaelyn DiMartino daughter of Joseph and Lori DiMartino, currently ranked 9th in her class with a gpa of 4.16. She is a member of the Derby High School Varsity Softball Team. She has been the Varsity Starting Pitcher ever since she was a Freshman. She has achieved a perfect game and multiple no hitters throughout her high school career, as well as getting All-NVL 2nd team her Junior year. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Student Council, Secretary of the Unified Sports Team, Secretary of the Derby-Shelton Rotary Interact Club, and has received high honors throughout her years at DHS. Additionally, Kaelyn was an active player on the Varsity Basketball Team in her Junior year at DHS, as well as a part of the Italian National Honors Society her Junior year.
Throughout her time at Derby High School, Kaelyn has found ways to help her community. She has volunteered to do softball clinics, ran the Derby Softball Breast Cancer game her Junior and currently her Senior year, taught students at Irving Elementary School for Junior Achievement for two years, and ran a midterm tutoring session her senior year. Furthermore, she is a current social member of the East End Hose Fire Company.
Kaelyn has balanced her school work, extracurricular activities, and volunteer work on top of maintaining two jobs; one at a local foodtruck and the other at a local restaurant.
Kaelyn has been accepted to Central Connecticut State University, Southern Connecticut State University, Western Connecticut State University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, University of Bridgeport, University of Connecticut, Albertus Magnus, University of St.Joseph, University of New Haven, University of Memphis, and Louisiana State University.
Kaelyn will attend Southern Connecticut State University and major in Nursing.
#10 Aliyah Chajchic Daughter of Jennifer and Pedro Chajchic, and currently ranked at number 10 of her class with a 4.15 GPA. Aliyah has first moved from New York, to Connecticut her freshman year of high school being completely new to the community and now ending her years leaving an impact and personal growth. Throughout her four years at Derby she has achieved honor roll for all four years, maintaining excellence in both academics and leadership. She has served on the Student Council all four years where she is currently serving as vice president, and previously served the position as class representative her junior year. She is also a member of both the National honor society and the spanish honor society. Aliyah has been a part of the Spanish club her senior year and participated in Mock Trial as well. On top of all of her academics she has been actively a part of sports, she has been a varsity cheerleader since her sophomore year for both fall and winter/ competition season , and served as captain during her senior year. In 2024, while still being on the team she volunteered at the Connecticut state cheerleading competition. Along with cheer, Aliyah has also been a member of the varsity outdoor track and field team her junior year.
With the short amount of time of being here, Aliyah has tried to be involved in as much as possible. For her Spanish club she went on and helped volunteer at senior homes, while also helping out with organizing a Valentine’s day fundraiser. Continuing with helping others, she was a member of Junior Achievement and participated in the “JA in Day” at Irving School teaching students the importance of personal finance. Shhe has also been an “Onboard!” student mentor where she helped support students successfully transition from middle school to high school. Aliyah has been involved in various community service and fundraising events such as a winter clothing drive, thanksgiving food drive, and fundraisers that helped go into her cheer season. Aliyah and her partner are currently working on their upcoming NHS individual service projects where they are leading the effort to create an in school closet/ thrift store for those students who are in need of clothing. The purpose of this project is to give students a comfortable environment to shop and provide a valuable resource for anyone who may need it.
Lastly Aliyah has received acceptances from, Adelphi University, Eastern Connecticut State University, Fordham University, Georgia State University, Iona University, Pace University, Quinnipiac University, Sacred Heart University, Stony Brook University, The Ohio State University, University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts Amherst, and University of Vermont. While her college decision plans still remain undecided, Aliyah is pursuing a career in the healthcare field, she is majoring in nursing.
