Salutatorian Jack Payette Likes Concrete Answers

East Greenwich High School salutatorian Jack Payette is big into math and science. “I like there to be a concrete answer, a way to solve everything,” he said.

That love of certainty drew him to physics and chemistry. Writing, while something he did a lot of, was harder, less enjoyable.

“I like there to be a right or wrong answer and a way to find it,” he said. That drew him to chemistry and physics. But it may be a reason for Payette’s success on the soccer and lacrosse fields – a desire to find a way to the “right answer” or, in sports parlance, the win.

The Avenger soccer team had very strong seasons each of Payette’s years on the team and the lacrosse team just captured its third-straight state title.

But it’s not the competition that drives him.

Payette, who will attend Stanford University in the fall, said he was drawn to the school because it felt right.

“I like the atmosphere there. it’s pretty laid back. it seemed amazingly friendly and people help each other out,” he said. His parents, David and KJ, met at Stanford, so even though it’s across the country in California, there is a sense of connection to the place.

Growing up in East Greenwich, Payette is used to feeling connected to his community. “I’ve know the same 150 kids since seventh grade, most of them before that,” he said. “It’s pretty sheltered. There’s not too much to worry about.”

Looking back at favorite teachers, Payette mentions Mrs. Schancky, a “great teacher” and a sweet person, and Mr. Lenox, who helped him with physics and was supportive in an all around way. Payette also mentioned Mr. Revkin, with whom he studied Latin for six years.

This summer, Payette plans to work at a coffee shop in Narragansett, get to the beach and relax before college.

To read about Valedictorian Christina Lusi, click here. A photo from kindergarten graduation of Payette and Lusi together at Sweet Peas is attached, right.