Top of Their Class: Rice announces the Class of 2021 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Valedictorian: David Wendeln

David is an engaging, inquisitive, confident, and ambitious student. He pursues excellence and always strives for his personal best. He possesses an innate curiosity, initiative, and passion for learning. David is often one of the last students to leave class as he frequently wants to continue the conversations and ask questions to delve deeper into the material.

"David is a student who doesn't just learn the material to be able to do well on an assessment, instead he is curious as to why things work out the way they do,” explains math teacher Paul DiFalco. “He asks excellent questions and is never afraid to admit that he doesn’t understand a concept. He then works at it until he has grasped the material. He had developed a great work ethic that I am sure has only gotten stronger as his high school career progressed. I believe that David will be an academic success wherever he goes."
 
David is also a leader within our community. Last year, David, along with a few of his peers, created a student board who met with the principal to discuss the issues most pertinent to our students and to consider ways to ensure that the school is a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all students. He has also enjoyed tutoring and mentoring students at the King Street Youth Center. David serves as a role model for the students he mentored as he is kind, energetic, holds himself to a high standard, and consistently maintains a positive attitude.

David is a well respected student at Rice and he has a great rapport with his peers. He is held in high regard by the faculty not only for his work ethic, but also because of the respect that he shows them. He has the will and desire to be a success in whatever career field he ends up pursuing.
 
Born and raised in Germany until middle school, David now lives with his family in Burlington. David is a graduate of Mater Christi and plans to attend Georgetown University this fall.
 
Congratulations, David! Your Rice family is immensely proud of you!

Salutatorian: Ben Hershey

 
A native of Colchester and graduate of Mater Christi School, Ben has excelled at Rice in capacities well beyond the academics this award recognizes. 
 
Some of the first words that come to mind for Ben are intelligent, conscientious, faithful, calm and thoughtful. Academically, Ben is obviously a stand-out student, however he is equally as impressive in his personality and character. Ben is a natural leader and role model in our community. He takes initiative and responsibility for his education and personal goals.
 
As his Guidance Counselor Rachel Rabbin put it, “When I look at a student like Ben walking through the halls of Rice, I can't help but think about how much potential he has as a student and a person. He has the ability to bring such great joy and change to this world.” 
 
Ben’s band teacher Steffen Parker pointed out Ben’s talent as a musician, but also noted his intelligence, his leadership, and conscientiousness. “Ben elevates the level of discussion in the classroom rather than dominates it. He brings everyone along on their collective journey rather than determining its direction. And he is life-affirming, excited to be who he is, where he is, ecstatic that he is doing so with you and makes it clear that you know that too.”
 
A member of the AP Chemistry Club at Rice, Ben’s innate curiosity will serve him well at the University of Vermont where he plans to major in Chemistry. “Ben enjoys learning about the natural world and uncovering new ideas," added science teacher Mike Mazzella. “He is a hard worker and diligent student who will succeed in whatever he does.”
 
Congratulations, Ben! Your Rice family is very proud of you.