6 Chelmsford High School Students Of The Month

CHELMSFORD, MA – Chelmsford High School recognized six seniors as its Lions Pride Rotary Students of the Month for April, the school announced Monday.

Seniors Sofia D’Agostino and Yash Samoo were named from the Emerson House while Mary Hamilton and Sammy Kettani were honored from the Hawthorne House, and twins Jenna and Zachary LaRochelle from the Whittier House.

The Chelmsford Rotary Club has sponsored the Student of the Month program for the past three decades. It is meant to recognize outstanding students from each of the high school's three academic houses – Emerson House, Hawthorne House and Whittier House – for their achievements in and out of the classroom.

Sofia D’Agostino

A consistent High Honor Roll student, D’Agostino has balanced the rigors of playing three sports, AP classes and volunteer work with DECA, Best Buddies and Class Reps. Among her academic plaudits include induction into both the National Honor Society and National Spanish Honor Society.

D’Agostino is currently a standout on the girls’ lacrosse team – she is enjoying her first season in three years due to injury and Covid-19 – in helping lead the Lions to a 13-0 clip, the No. 5 ranking in the state, and their second Merrimack Valley Conference title in three years. She is an All-MVC standout in both lacrosse and volleyball.

D’Agostino will attend UMass Lowell in the fall where she will study Pharmaceutical Science and play on its lacrosse team.

Yash Samoo

Samoo complied a stellar resume long before graduation. He recently wrapped up four AP classes, and balanced his time between four clubs: the Science Club, Robotics Club, Badminton Club, and mentor for freshmen students. Additionally, he is a consistent High Honors student and has been inducted into both the National Honor Society and the National Science Honor Society.

Outside of the classroom, he is a member of both the boys’ soccer and track and field teams, and spends time performing research on semiconductors and solar cells at UMass Lowell, where he will major in chemistry this fall.

Additionally, he spearheads IPARS, which provides pre-college students with the opportunity to conduct research in STEM projects with experienced mentors.

Mary Hamilton

A member of four national honor societies, Hamilton has been a High Honor Roll student and has admirably balanced a full plate of academics (four AP classes), community involvement and athletics.

While not in the classroom, Hamilton is involved with Leaders In Motion Everywhere (LIME), the Yearbook staff and the mentors program. Recently, she was named the co-recipient of the American Sign Language Above and Beyond Award and the Yearbook Above and Beyond Award. In late May, she received the Council of Chelmsford Schools Scholarship for her essay on the impact of first-year ASL teacher Meghan Fitzgibbons.

In addition, Hamilton is a member of The Thursdays, which recently advanced to the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) national final for the fourth straight year. Athletically, she is a four-year member of the varsity tennis team.

Hamilton will attend Assumption College in the fall and plans to major in Elementary Education.

Sammy Kettani

Kettani has successfully navigated the rigors of four AP classes, with healthy involvement in athletics and the high school community. Named captain of the boys varsity tennis team this season, Kettani has also served in the mentor program and Best Buddies, and has been an active member of CHSTv.

Kettani will attend the University of Miami this fall and plans to major in Biochemistry.

Jenna LaRochelle

Also a member of four honor societies (NHS, English, Spanish and Science), LaRochelle has struck a balance between a myriad of AP courses (earning high honors in the process), campus involvement and competitive dance.

The recipient of the Emerging Leaders Award, LaRochelle has taken AP courses such as Research, Calculus, Environmental Science and Psychology, along with dual enrollment journalism and Honors Anatomy and Physiology.

LaRochelle is also an active member of Class Reps, Yearbook and the Dance Team and serves on the executive board of CHS Mentors as well as the Secretary of the CHS National Honor Society. In between, she enjoys tutoring other students and competing in (and teaching) dance.

Though undecided on a college, LaRochelle plans a major in either Neuroscience or Psychology, and aspires to become a psychiatrist or psychologist.

Zachary LaRochelle

An Honor Roll student all four years at the high school, LaRochelle has handled a class load of three AP course (Calculus, Psychology and Physics C), along with Engineering and Design, Senior Odyssey and Biotechnology II. He is a member of four national honor societies including the NHS, Science, Spanish and English honor societies.

A three-sport athlete, LaRochelle is a four-year member of the cross-country and baseball teams, and a three-year member of the ski team. An Eagle Scout, he also finds time to serve as a Freshman Mentor and volunteers in area youth baseball clinics.

LaRochelle plans to study biomedical engineering. He is undecided on a college.