Berlin High School Valedictorian Kept His Eyes On The Prize

Sometimes the road to being the valedictorian of a graduating class is a curvy one.

For Berlin High School valedictorian Kevin Pirruccio, it was a straight line.

"When I was wrestling in eighth grade, one of my mentors was a senior named Justin Roncioli," Pirruccio said. "We used to work out with the high school wrestling team and I found out that you could wrestle and still be the valedictorian. At that point I made that my goal and really stuck to it."

Pirruccio will ener Yale University in the fall. He was admitted as an early decision candidate.
 
"For whatever it was worth, in sixth grade I was voted 'Most Likely To Go To Yale,'" he said with a laugh. "I didn't even know what it meant. I figured I would look into it. I understood the competition to get in was going to be incredible and to apply early decision was the only thing I had on my mind. I wanted to get in without any help from athletics, I just wanted to go there and when I found out I got in I was humbled and grateful that they woulf give me the opportunity to attend."

Pirruccio first stepped on the Yale campus his freshman year of high school when he was a paid Instrumentalist at Yale Grad Pit Band performing The Fiddler on the Roof. From that moment on, he envisioned going nowhere else. 

Outside of his academics, Pirruccio was a two-time captain of the wrestling team, participated in martial arts and played trumpet in the Berlin High School Marching Band. 

"Being captain of the wrestling team the last two years has helped me become a better leader," Pirruccio said.  "Coach (Jim) Day is one of the most inspirational people I have ever met. He constantly challenged us to be our best self. I hope to join the club wrestling team at Yale. It has been a huge part of my life."

Pirruccio's resume is impeccable but there is much more to it than his grade point average and SAT scores. He formed the Berlin High School Chapter of Habitat For Humanity,  one of four high school chapters in the country. He also formed Health Occupations Students of America Chapter (HOSA), volunteers at the American Red Cross, St. Paul's Church and Relay For Life.

"Yale is a next big step but I'm ready for it," he said. "I will miss all of my friends. We were a tight group and we were inclusive, keeping everyone involved. One of the things I learned and loved about Berlin High School was I wanted to be passionate about whatever I was doing. You shouldn't retreat from what you are doing. You should show your passion and do those things. I was passionate about the clubs I helped form and I know people will carry on with them because we shared the same passions."

Pirruccio is the son of Santo and Michelle Pirruccio, both born in Italy.

"They lived in Italy and school is a lot different there but they both have their Master's Degrees and they know how prestigious getting into Yale is," Pirruccio said. "My dad actually has his Master's Degree from the Yale School of Management but I'm not a legacy because your parent has to have their undergraduate degree from Yale. They have been the best parents anyone could ever have and have been so supportive of everything I've done."