3 Top Nashoba Tech Students From Chelmsford Up For State Awards

CHELMSFORD, MA — Each year students at Nashoba Valley Technical High School are nominated for state awards. Here are three students from Chelmsford described as exceptional by their teachers and nominated for top students. The following was submitted by Nashoba Tech's Dan Phelps.

Massachusetts Association of Vocational Administrators’ Top Vocational Student

Donald “DJ” Fraser III, son of Donald Fraser Jr. and Jean Fraser of Chelmsford, is in the Electrical Technology program, and he has become so proficient that he works for Massachusetts Electrical Contractors through the Cooperative Education program and plans to continue working for the firm upon graduation.

DJ is an honor roll student who has been inducted into both the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. He is a student representative to the school committee and a member of the student council. This spring he will attempt to earn a medal in the SkillsUSA district, state and national competitions.

DJ is a standout wrestler in the 195-pound weight category who this season recorded his 100th career mat victory, a milestone only dreamed about for most wrestlers. He also plays center and linebacker for the football team and catcher and pitcher for the baseball team, and is captain of all three sports this year.

He is also a freshman mentor, helping younger students acclimate themselves to Nashoba Tech, and he volunteers at the Chelmsford Elks Club, where his parents are members.

Merrimack Valley Superintendents Association’s Top Students

Kaleigh Walsh and Danielle Watman, both Chelmsford residents, have been selected as Nashoba Valley Technical High School’s honorees at the Merrimack Valley Superintendents Association’s annual scholastic luncheon.

Kaleigh Walsh is a senior in the Engineering Technology program and a full-time student at Middlesex Community College through Nashoba Tech’s Dual Enrollment program. At MCC, she is creating her own course of studies because she is interested in environmental engineering, a major that MCC does not offer.

At Nashoba Tech, Kaleigh is an honor-roll student, and a member of both the Digital Media Club and Robotics Club. She has competed in SkillsUSA, winning a bronze medal last spring in the State Conference. Kaleigh qualified to receive the John & Abigail Adams Scholarship, which provides free tuition for four years to any Massachusetts public college or university. She has been accepted to the University of Vermont and the University of New Hampshire and is also eyeing Northeastern University, but is leaning toward Worcester Polytechnical Institute, where she has been accepted and has been offered a $28,000 scholarship.

Danielle Watman, daughter of Ronald and Azlin Watman, is a senior in the Programming and Web Development program. She is a high-honors student and a member of both the school’s Outdoors, Digital Media and Culinary clubs. She is interested in studying computer science or artificial intelligence at college next year in the fall.

She's applied to Northeastern University, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Becker College, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Fitchburg State University and University of Massachusetts Lowell.