Drury Selected as U.S. Presidential Scholar Nominee

11:15AM / Monday, January 13, 2025Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jacinta Felix, a senior at Drury High School, has been selected as a Massachusetts nominee for the U.S. Presidential Scholar Award, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) announced.

Acting Commissioner Russell D. Johnston praised Felix's selection, which places her among the top students in the Commonwealth. The selection process was highly competitive, with submissions evaluated by the DESE review team in October.

"We are thrilled to have Jacinta represent Massachusetts as one of our Presidential Scholar nominees," said Drury High School Principal Stephanie Kopala. "Her hard work and accomplishments reflect the excellence we strive to foster in our schools."

Felix's nomination will advance to the U.S. Department of Education's national review team, which will invite her to submit an application for further consideration for the award.

"Jacinta's outstanding academic and personal achievements demonstrate the excellence present in our students at Drury High School," said Barbara Malkas, Superintendent of North Adams Public Schools. "We thank Principal Kopala and the school team for their support as Jacinta pursues this honor."

Felix will be honored during the Drury Student Recognition event on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at 1:30 PM. Community members are invited to attend.

The U.S. Department of Education is expected to announce Presidential Scholar awardees later this spring.

Tags: Drury High,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Now's the time...

to harvest value from your home. Click for more details about a HELOC. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Berkshires Remember First Responders, Military Personnel Lost at 9/11 and Aftermath

By Jack Guerino & Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
02:30PM / Friday, September 11, 2026

North Adams Mayor Jennifer Macksey, with Fire Chief Brent Lefebvre speaks at Friday's memorial.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The county's two cities held memorials on Friday morning to mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

Great Barrington was scheduled to hold a dedication of piece of steel from the World Trade Center at 6 p.m.

North Adams held its ceremony in the fire station's side garden starting at exactly 8:46 a.m., the time Flight 11 crashed into the World Trade Center's North Tower.

The small square of grass was packed with police officers, firefighters, wire and alarm personnel, dispatchers, and Northern Berkshire EMS employees, and city employees, officials and community members.

After the ceremonial tolling of the bell, an honor guard presented the colors.

Mayor Jennifer Macksey said it felt odd welcoming people to a very solemn event.

"What happened 25 years ago put a mark on emergency services. It put additional pressure on police, fire, EMS, and dispatchers," Macksey said. "While we remember those who lost their lives during 9/11, and those who ran to help as many as they could during 9/11, we have to pause and appreciate those who continue to serve despite that awful threat that occurred 25 years ago."

She said it was a direct attack on the United States and all of its people.

"It was a question of our freedoms and our ability to be safe in our communities," the mayor said. "I can say today that here in North Adams, it could happen to us, but I know with the professionalism of our Fire Department, Police Department, EMS, and our dispatch team, we are a better community; we are a safer community than we were 25 years ago."

View Full Story