River Araujo of Acton, a junior in the Engineering Technology career major, watched a presentation about Minuteman High School as an eighth grader and knew immediately that the school would be the right choice. “I was stuck on engineering. I was like, ‘this is awesome! I get to do this in high school!?” River said. “I went home and told my parents that I was super interested. I’m pretty sure I signed up the same day.”
During his first two years at Minuteman, River has excelled in the Engineering program and helped launch the FIRST Robotics after-school club. Now in its second year, FIRST Robotics is a group of students who build a robot that competes in the annual, nationwide FIRST Robotics Competition.
“In FIRST Robotics, we build community amongst ourselves, we go to competitions and we have a good time,” River said. “Last year, I wired an entire robot by myself and I didn’t have any electrical experience. That was amazing and I was super proud of myself after finishing that.”
River Araujo, center, is pictured with the FIRST Robotics Team in the spring of 2021.
River has also competed in the SkillsUSA statewide engineering competitions and has grown a passion for using CAD (Computer Aided Design) to find innovative ways to use everyday products. River even used CAD to design scissors that would be easier for preschool students to use in Minuteman’s Colonial Children’s Academy. “I really love engineering because it’s innovative,” River said. “We’re creating new things and we’re fixing problems. I want to use my skills as an engineer to help the world.”
River Araujo
Class of 2024
Engineering
Acton
Alice Dalton of Arlington, a senior (Class of 2023) in the Electrical Wiring career major, said her experience at Minuteman has inspired her to pursue a long-term career in a trade traditionally dominated by men. “I’m very proud to be a female in Electrical,” she said. “No matter what gender you are, you can do it if you want to. It’s great to come to our school and see other young women learning the trade.”
Alice is a member of the Girls in Trades club, in which female or nonbinary students studying trades such as carpentry, welding, plumbing, automotive, electrical, or others, network and attend workshops with female professionals and students from other schools. “You see a bunch of women who work in the trades and it’s empowering,” she said. “It’s like, ‘oh yes, I can do that.’”
Alice works for Cummings Properties every other week through Minuteman’s Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op.) She is also a three-sport athlete and was Class President her junior year. “Sports is a big part of my experience at Minuteman,” she said.
Alice Dalton, on left, playing on the Minuteman Girls' Soccer Team in the fall of 2021.
When she began attending Minuteman, Alice wanted to follow in the footsteps of her mother, who is a Minuteman graduate and went into nursing. But through the Freshman Exploratory Program, she was drawn to Electrical. She says new students should take a chance on Minuteman and keep an open mind.
“For any eighth grader who is thinking about coming here, I would say absolutely do it,” she said. “Come to Minuteman and try something you’re not totally comfortable with. You never know, you might actually like it.”
Alice Dalton
Class of 2023
Electrical Wiring
Arlington
Trinity Choroszej of Arlington was the Class of 2022 Valedictorian. Trinity was in the Biotechnology career major and active in Student Ambassadors, Interact Community Service Club, and the Girls Soccer Team. During her senior year, she worked at Mass. General Brigham’s Mucosal Immunology Biology Research Center through Minuteman’s Cooperative Education (Co-Op) program. She will attend University of Massachusetts Boston.
Q. How would you describe the students and teachers at Minuteman?
We are a very welcoming, open-minded community. The teachers are fabulous and really do care about your education. People are very friendly here. The students really love it here – we chose to be here. They think it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. For a small student body, we have a large amount of diversity. I’m from Malaysia myself, I have a friend who is Filipino, another from Japan. We have diversity from the LGBTQ+ community, and we have a club for it. We’re a safe haven and people love it here.
Q. Why did you choose the Biotechnology career major?
I chose Biotech because it’s based in science. I know the scientific knowledge will help me later on toward becoming a pre-med student, which involves chemistry and biology – all the things we learn about in the Biotechnology major. We are so fortunate to have state-of-the-art technology in our lab at Minuteman – we have bioreactors, everything you need to do dissections, incubators, a tissue culture room, all of which you would find in real labs.
Trinity Choroszej gives the Valedictorian Address during the 2022 Commencement Ceremony.
Q. What makes Minuteman a special place?
Everyone arrives from different towns with different backgrounds – and we all come together to do what we’re passionate about. When you start as a freshman, every other ninth-grader is new to the school too. Over time, you choose your career technical major, and your “shop” becomes your family. If you join a sports team, you spend so much time together. My soccer team and I have been through a lot… and they are basically my family now, too.
Trinity Choroszej is pictured playing for the Minuteman Girls' Soccer team in the fall of 2019.
Q. What do you appreciate about a Minuteman education?
Minuteman really invests in the students. We have a small student-to-teacher ratio; it’s very individualized. The teachers care about where you’re going, how you’re going to get there, and what tools you’ll need. Your academic classes can be quite rigorous. I’m taking dual-enrollment classes (in which students receive college credit), and I feel I am being challenged. The idea that I could go to college and study the exact subject I’ve been learning about really does excite me.
Trinity Choroszej
Class of 2022
Biotechnology
Trinity Choroszej is pictured working in an MGH research lab for her senior-year co-op work placement in 2022.
Maliha Khan, originally from Lancaster, took full advantage of Minuteman’s state-of-the-art theater and video production space during her years in the Multimedia Engineering career major. In this program, students gain skills in live performance for television, film, and theater, along with behind-the-scenes experience in stage and video production.
“At Minuteman, no matter what major you pick you experience what you’re learning with your hands,” Maliha said. “I just loved the variety of what we learned.”
Khan was active in student activities, including the FIRST Robotics Club and Student Ambassadors. Upon graduation in 2022, she began working as an assistant producer for Cabin 3 Media in Lexington.
Maliha Khan
Class of 2022
Multimedia Engineering
Lancaster
Dylan Higgins, of Acton, was in the Biotechnology career major at Minuteman. Dylan graduated in 2022 and was named the Salutatorian. He is attending Tufts University.
During his senior year at Minuteman, Dylan worked for Cummings Properties through the Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op) to help the development company with the designs of biotechnology labs.
While at Minuteman, Dylan was a Student Ambassador, Student Government Vice President, Music Club President (he plays guitar and sings), Peer Leader, member of the National Honor Society, and volunteer for various events.
Q: Why did you choose Minuteman?
I wanted to get a leg up on what I want to do post high school, whether that’s college or going straight into the workforce. I know I want to work in the biotechnology field. That’s something I had decided before coming to Minuteman.
Dylan Higgins is pictured after the 2022 Commencement Ceremony.
Q: What interests you the most about biotechnology?
It helps explain what’s going on around me. It shows the building blocks of life. That’s something I’ve always been interested in. I’ve always wanted to figure out what’s going on around me, and biology and chemistry shows you all of that.
At Minuteman, I love that you get working on hands-on lab experiments right off the bat. In my second week in Biotech, we started growing bacteria and started a process… to edit their genes. It’s amazing to me that I could start doing that in school right away.
Q: Is there anything about Minuteman that is unique or special to you?
How friendly everyone is. I was coming in completely fresh, and I didn’t know anyone. Now, I’ve got a lot of people at school who are like family to me. I talk to them all the time, I hang out with them, and they’re there to support me.
Dylan Higgins is pictured working at Cummings Properties as part of his Co-Op job placement in 2022.
Q. You still have time to decide, but have you thought about your plans after high school?
Post high school, I’d like to get two degrees: one in tissue engineering and one in regenerative medicines. That’s going to require a lot of hard work, and Biotech will prepare me for that. I’d like to … work on limb regeneration and that style of work and research.
Q: What message do you have for younger students thinking about joining Minuteman?
It’s an incredible experience. If there is something that’s interesting or that you really want to do, go ahead and try it. Minuteman gives you the time to explore all of these different things. That’s what Minuteman is here to help you do. So, try things. Reach out. Talk to your teachers about stuff you’re specifically interested in, and lead yourself there.
Dylan Higgins
Class of 2022
Biotechnology
Acton
Henry Blackburn of Needham loves science, math, and helping others. Shortly before he graduated from Minuteman High School in 2022 after completing the Biotechnology career major, he said, “I have so much more knowledge … and so much more experience than what I would have expected to come out of high school with.”
“I love how hands-on Biotechnology is,” he said during his senior year. “I go into the shop everyday feeling fairly excited about what we are doing.”
Students in the Biotechnology major get real-world laboratory experience with core concepts such as the transferring of bacteria and cells. “It allows for the production of drugs and other molecules for the real world,” he said.
Henry worked at Abcam biopharmaceutical corporation in Waltham through Minuteman’s Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op) in twelfth grade. He was also involved in SkillsUSA, the National Honors Society, Community Service Club and the Math Team. He now attends the Rochester Institute of Technology.
Henry Blackburn
Class of 2022
Biotechnology
Needham
Evan Long of Needham was in the Electrical Wiring career major and graduated in 2022. Evan is a member of the National Honors Society. He played on the football team before working for TSD Electric, LLC, in Westwood through Minuteman’s Cooperative Education (Co-Op) Program. He began working as an electrical apprentice for the IBEW Local 103 electrical union of Boston immediately after graduation.
“Electrical felt right to me. It made sense for me,” Evan said. “On co-op, I helped install an expensive chandelier in a $5 million house – we had to put in each individual crystal. I felt important, like I had a purpose being there working on this large job. And I really enjoyed taking a step back and seeing the finished product.”
Evan Long in Minuteman's Electrical Wiring learning space in the fall of 2021.
Evan excelled in academics – his favorite subject was psychology – and would like to pursue further schooling that is provided cost-free through his labor union. “I’m excited to learn more about my trade, get my license, and maybe start my own business down the road,” he said. “There is a lack of skilled workers, the salary is definitely going up, and I’m going into a field that is not going to be obsolete. Assuming you love working in electrical, why would you pass that up?”
Evan enrolled in Minuteman at the suggestion of his guidance counselor, who knew he liked to play video games and was a hands-on learner. “You realize everyone is in the same boat. We’re all from different towns,” he said. “You’ll find people who are really cool and you’ll make friends easily.”
Evan Long
Class of 2022
Electrical Wiring
Needham
Layla Lubin, of Concord, was in the Health Assisting career major and graduated in 2022. Prior to graduation, Layla received her Certified Nursing Assistant Certificate along with numerous industry-recognized credentials and scholarships. She will attend Curry College and was accepted into 11 additional colleges or universities.
While at Minuteman, Layla worked part-time at the Brookhaven assisted living facility in Lexington. She was also a Student Ambassador, Peer Leader, Cheerleader, player on the Girls Softball Team and a member of the National Honors Society. Layla is following in the footsteps of her mother, who works in healthcare.
Q: Why did you choose Minuteman?
It’s a great opportunity to get ahead in life. Minuteman has a lot of things other schools don’t have, like really good technology, and you’re part of a community. Your shop (career major) becomes really important to you. It’s a great way to get a big first step in life and prepare you for opportunities after high school.
Q: What makes Minuteman different from other high schools?
You’re like a family. You work closely with other people and build bonds in a way you wouldn’t at a traditional high school. It’s cool to meet people who are not all from the same town.
In June 2022, seven students in the Health Assisting program received their Certified Nursing Assistant certificates, which allows them to work in the field. Layla Lubin is pictured fourth from left.
Q: Can you describe your experience working at an assisted living facility for course credit?
I worked as a dietary aide at an assisted living facility. A lot of what I did was serving food and helping the residents feel at home. … A lot of the residents are older and needed some extra help. Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Disease – you see a lot of that. We had learned a lot about helping elderly people in our Health Assisting class. I got to see things that we learned about in class, and that was really cool.
Q: What did you like the most about being on the cheerleading and softball teams?
My favorite part of cheerleaders is that … we’re some of the first students who welcome incoming freshmen before the first day of school. I’ve made some of my best friends from our cheer team and softball team, and I’ve made so many bonds with my coaches. I look up to them for help with anything I need at Minuteman. If I’m having a rough day, those are the people I go to.
Q: What moments at Minuteman make you proud or were memorable?
I’m proud of getting into the National Honors Society because I pushed myself and worked really hard. I’m grateful for the teachers at Minuteman High School because they care about you and your wellbeing. I also really enjoyed the Cheer Team. We became a family, which is amazing and something I’m grateful for. You really create family here. I had a shop (career major) family, a cheer family, and a softball family. You meet amazing coaches who you can talk to about anything.
Q: What would you like to do after high school?
After high school, I want to go to college to become a registered nurse. I would like to work in the labor and delivery field and be with kids in a pediatric setting.
Layla Lubin
Class of 2022
Health Assisting
Concord
Grace McNiff, of Concord, was in Health Assisting career major and graduated in 2022. She will attend Merrimack College and was accepted into eight additional colleges or universities. While at Minuteman, McNiff received numerous industry-recognized credentials in nursing and worked part-time at the Brookhaven assisted living facility in Lexington. She was a Student Ambassador, Peer Leader, and is a member of the National Honors Society.
Q: Why did you choose Minuteman?
From a young age, I knew I wanted to be a nurse or work in the healthcare field. I thought, ‘Why not get an early start?’ I can get myself the tools I could use for college.
When I was in second grade, my sister spent a lot of time in the hospital due to a medical condition. Luckily, she is fine now. But during that time, I admired the people working with her. I respected them and was so thankful for them. I wanted to do something like that for other people one day.
Q: What have you enjoyed about the Health Assisting career major?
In Health Assisting, there are some amazing people there – students and teachers. Our main goal is we want to help people. Last year, I started going out to nursing homes. We would make the residents’ beds, and we’d transport them around the facility in their wheelchairs, to the activities’ room or anywhere the nurses would ask us to take them. It was really nice to be able to talk to them. There were definitely some residents who I would stop by and say ‘hi’ to everyday. One resident had pictures of the seniors and juniors from Minuteman in their prom dresses. They really like us there.
Q: Has the pandemic changed your view on nursing?
I definitely have way more respect for people working in healthcare. They’re really inspiring. I want to be like them – helping people. I also think that, while the pandemic is a terrible thing, it’s a good learning experience. It shows how something little can spread so big, so fast. It shows the importance of sanitation and wearing masks and gloves. The healthcare field will be a lot different in good ways because of this.
Q: You’re a member of the National Honor Society. How has Minuteman helped you academically?
When I came to Minuteman, the teachers showed me how to approach things differently and use my mind in a different way, in a more hands-on way. Ever since then, I’ve become really confident and thrived both academically and in my career major.
Q: What message do you have for a student considering to apply to Minuteman?
It’s a really good experience here. When you’re in Exploratory as a freshman, you try a whole bunch of things and see what you like and don’t like. Even if you don’t pursue your career major later in life, you get a lot of skills from it, like determination, time management, and organization.
Grace McNiff
Class of 2022
Health Assisting
Concord
Luciano Garreffi of Lancaster, a Class of 2021 graduate from the Advanced Manufacturing career major, was a Student Ambassador and played on the soccer and tennis teams. Luciano spoke several times with middle school students who were considering applying to Minuteman. Luciano loves hands-on learning and enjoyed his time in the Advanced Manufacturing career major, which had him working on high-tech machinery. He worked as a snowboarding instructor at Wachusett Mountain and has enlisted with the U.S. Marines.
Q. What is the culture like at Minuteman High School?
Minuteman is a very welcoming community. Once you get into your CTE shop, you’re in a group with 12 or 15 other kids who have the same interests as you and you get closer over the years. You do projects together, you bounce ideas off each other. I hang out with them outside of school. We’ve gone on snowboarding trips in the mountains. We’re all from different towns, and I’m friends with kids I never would have had the chance to meet if I had not come to Minuteman. I’ve made a lot of tight bonds.
Q. How would you describe Minuteman?
Minuteman is a lot different from a traditional high school. We have a week of academics – like math, history, and science – and then you have a week in your career technical education (CTE) shop, where you do hands-on learning. It puts you in an environment that simulates careers in the real world. You get to use your hands to create real things. And once you’re a junior or a senior, you can apply for co-op, where you get to work on a job site. You can make money and it counts toward school. It’s a really great program.
Q. What do you like the most about Minuteman?
Every day I come into my shop, I know there is always going to be a new challenge, and that I’ll need to overcome that challenge to find a solution. It’s a great feeling to use what you’ve learned to find solutions and solve problems.
I came to Minuteman hoping to get hands-on experience, and Minuteman definitely exceeded those expectations. I get to do a lot of hands-on work, a lot of 3D modeling, stuff I’m always excited to do.
I like learning with my hands. I like creating something that I came up with in my head and modeling it into a physical object… and turning it into a real-world application. At Minuteman, you have the opportunity to work with high-tech machines that you would never get to use in a traditional high school.
Q. Are you working on any interesting projects?
Yeah. I’m excited to work on my senior project. I’m making a ball-bearing pusher for a skateboard. Basically, you have a wheel and two ball bearings and it pushes them together to make the wheel roll. I’m making the actual contraption by hand. I’m going to design the parts in a CAD program, then I’m going to write the code and create them using a Haas Mini Mill [machine.] I’ve been thinking about this since my freshman year. I’m excited to show off what I’ve learned over the four years at Minuteman.
Q. How do you like the new school building?
The new building has so many great aspects to it and so many high-tech designs. It’s very well fit for each shop. It’s a lot more accessible and easier to move around. In my shop, Advanced Manufacturing, I work very closely with Engineering and Metal Fabrication/Welding, and now we’re located right next to those shops in the trades hall. It’s very helpful to walk from one room to the next to work on my project. The cafeteria is much bigger and you can eat outside in the courtyard on nice days. It’s a great experience coming to this new school.
Q. What would you tell students thinking about applying to Minuteman?
Just remember that everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is from different towns and they’re all meeting new people. You are going to make new friends that you never would have been able to meet before. If you do extracurricular activities like sports or clubs, it’s a great way to meet new people and form tight bonds. I play soccer and I’ve gotten close to my teammates and coach. The guidance counselors are very good and they’ll be there to support you. You won’t feel alone or out of place. It’s a very welcoming community here at Minuteman.
Luciano Garreffi
Class of 2021
Advanced Manufacturing
Lancaster
Hannah Bardei, of Arlington, was in the Engineering Technology career major and Valedictorian for the Class of 2021. She was a Student Ambassador, a member of Girls in STEM, Student Council, National Honor Society, and the Girls Soccer Team, and a participated in Peer Leadership. Hannah received seven scholarships and is attending the University of Virginia to study biology.
Q: What do you like the most about Minuteman?
I really like how supportive the teachers are. If you need help with anything at any time, they’re absolutely there to support you.
I also really like Minuteman’s sports. I was the captain of the girls’ soccer team last year, and the community within sports is so supportive. All the people on the team are so much fun too. On the bus rides to the games, we all play music and have a really good time. Last year, the girls’ soccer team made both the vocational tournament and states. It was my first year on the team. That was an amazing accomplishment for us.
Q: What has it been like to study engineering?
It’s been really interesting. Last spring, we focused on digital electronics and mechanical engineering, and I was able to get credit from the Rochester Institute of Technology for that. I was also able to get an internship at Sense Lab in Cambridge, where I wrote blog posts about the engineering they do. The company has products that monitor how much energy your home appliances are using, and the blogs were also used to give you tips on how to be more energy efficient.
Q: How did you get interested in Engineering Technology and the Girls in STEM program?
My dad went to college for engineering and my grandpa is an engineer. It’s always been a part of me – problem solving.
Girls in STEM is a really good community. We’re all in different fields of science and each of our experiences is different. We held a summer camp with middle schoolers to show them how science and technology can be interesting, and encouraged them to stick with it. When you show middle school students how interesting STEM is, you begin to understand how rewarding your own experiences in STEM have been.
Q: What message do you have for younger students thinking about joining Minuteman?
Minuteman is like any other type of high school, but with a little bit extra. You don’t have to know exactly what you want to do going in. Through the Freshman Exploratory program, you have a few months to go through everything and figure it out. If you have a question about a (Career Technical Education) shop, every single shop teacher is there to answer your questions for you.
Hannah Bardei
Class of 2021
Engineering
Arlington
Sophia Krain of Arlington, a Class of 2021 graduate from in the Culinary Arts career major, was a Student Ambassador and a junior Peer Leader. Sophia volunteered to speak with middle school students about the benefits of enrolling at Minuteman. For her senior project, Sophia managed the seventh annual Ryan Eaton Memorial Scholarship – a St. Patrick’s Day meal fundraising event. She is attending Salem State University to study marketing.
Q. What was it like to start your freshman year at Minuteman?
I was really excited to come to a new school and meet a bunch of new people, but I know it seems scary. It’s good that Minuteman is so diverse and you meet kids from all over the place. It helps you build connections. It’s good to have a different group of friends than just friends from your town.
Q. How does Minuteman give you an advantage in learning?
Having vocational and academic classes makes learning so much more fun. You have your academic week where you study really hard, and then you have your vocational week where you’re learning hands on in your shop. That hands-on part makes your academics fun because you can connect what you’re learning back to your shop. You’re not just learning one or the other, but both at the same time.
Aside from classes, there’s a bunch of extra curricular activities like sports and clubs, which really bring the school together as a whole. We’re really lucky that we just got into a brand new building with new instruments and technology that gives us another advantage to learn more, which I think is awesome.
Q. What has it been like to take classes in the new building?
The new building is such an advantage, and it shows Minuteman really cares about the students. It gave students a new environment to push their limits and use their skills. The building is absolutely gorgeous. All the technology is so innovative. It really helps students learn what they’re there for. Whether you go into college or the workforce, you have lots of similar equipment. For example, if I’m in Culinary Arts and I’m using a really high-tech mixer; or if I’m in Automotive and I’m using a high-tech car lift, all of that helps with our education.
Q. Why did you become a Student Ambassador?
When I visited Minuteman in eighth grade, the Student Ambassadors were role models for me. They showed me so much care and took the time to show what Minuteman had to offer. It’s very good for the younger students to have someone to ask questions: ‘How do I get here?’ “How do I do this?’ They find it really helpful and they take your advice.
I really wanted to be somebody like that. Also, I was really nervous about public speaking, but once I joined Student Ambassadors, I overcame that fear. Now, I go to middle schools and talk to hundreds of kids and it’s no problem.
Q. Why should middle school students consider applying to Minuteman?
You should check out Minuteman because it has so many opportunities. It might be a little scary at first because it’s different, but different is exciting. You should go out of your comfort zone. I totally did, and I’m really happy where I am now. Even if Minuteman is not like your town’s high school, it’s different in the best ways. There’s something for everybody here.
Sophia Krain
Class of 2021
Culinary Arts
Arlington
Otto Rademacher, of Arlington, graduated from Minuteman in 2020 after studying Environmental Science. He’s attending the University of New England to major in Marine Affairs.
At Minuteman, Otto was a Student Ambassador, Peer Leader, and a player on the soccer, swim, and baseball teams. He traveled to New Orleans twice and Puerto Rico once with the Community Service Club.
Q: Why did you choose Minuteman?
I’m a hands-on learner. If I could get my hands on something and do a task out in the field, I could remember it much better than if I were just doing a lab in the classroom. The way Minuteman taught us helped me learn so much better.
Q: What did you like most about being in the Environmental Science career major?
We do a ton of hands-on learning. In the classroom, we’d learn about, say, forest ecology, which is the study of interactions among organisms in the environment. Then, we’d go out and spend the whole next day in the woods trying to find those organisms and seeing the interactions in between them. You learn it and then you get to go out and experience it.
Q: What did you like most about being a student athlete?
What’s truly great about Minuteman’s athletics program is we have a no cut, no fee policy. Anyone who wants to play a sport can do so. It’s great for kids who are passionate about something, and maybe if they had gone to another high school they wouldn’t have been able to play.
I had a wonderful experience being an athlete because that’s how I initially became a part of the Minuteman community. I joined the soccer and baseball teams. When I joined the soccer team, I joined a mini group of friends, where I could walk down the hall and any of them would say, ‘Hey, what’s up, bro?’
And, my biggest accomplishment at Minuteman was being part of the soccer team when we tied with Essex Tech. It was in the rain and it was probably the most fulfilling moment I’ve had at Minuteman. It was a phenomenal feeling.
Q: What message do you have for students thinking about joining Minuteman?
If you like hands-on learning, you should go for it. I found it to be a truly phenomenal way to learn. Most kids find something they love doing.
Otto Rademacher
Class of 2020
Environmental Science
Arlington
Rouaa Alwaz, of Watertown, was in the Biotechnology career major and the Class of 2020 Valedictorian. Rouaa was a Student Ambassador, Peer Leader, and on the Soccer Team and Community Service Club. She arrived in the United States from Syria when she was in fifth grade. Rouaa attends the University of Massachusetts Boston to study biotechnology.
Q: Why did you choose Minuteman?
I’m a bit of a nerd. I had a lot of interest in a lot of subjects. Minuteman gave me the opportunity to experiment with different technical careers. I chose biotechnology because I like science more than anything else. Science is my thing.
Q: Can you describe some of your favorite moments at Minuteman?
I loved doing competitions with Skills USA and Future Farmers of America because I got to do my own project from start to finish – from the experiment, to the research, to the write-up. It gave me confidence and piqued my interest in science even more. One of my big projects was about genetically modified foods and the ability to test them… to figure out if they were genetically modified or not. Another big project was about cellulosic biofuel, which is the ability to take grass or a natural resource and break it down into fuel, which is good for climate change.
Q: What do you remember most about the clubs and teams you were involved with?
The soccer team was the most fun. Everyone was like a family. I was also on Peer Leaders and I liked that I could be a mentor to other students. I found that it benefitted me as well as the incoming freshmen to answer all their questions. I also did the Community Service Club, and I thought that should be an essential part of every student’s high school career. It’s a good feeling to help somebody. We did the Walk for Hunger every year, and I actually finished the 20 miles! We also did blood drives and raised money for non-profit organizations.
Q: Congratulations on becoming valedictorian. How did you achieve this honor?
It took a lot of work, a lot of long nights. I didn’t think this would happen because English is my second language, so it was a little harder for me. It’s amazing what you can do when you have the determination to get through something. My biggest drive came from the sacrifices my parents made. I felt an obligation to show them those weren’t for nothing. My parents really value education. It’s a very important part of our life.
Q: What’s your message for a student considering Minuteman?
Do what makes you happy. Minuteman is a good option if you’re trying to figure out what you want to do in life. That experience in a career area will help improve your life because it builds character and you become more knowledgeable about a lot of different things.
Rouaa Alwaz
Class of 2020
Biotechnology
Watertown
Sophia Li, of Acton, was in the Engineering Technology career major and the Valedictorian for the Class of 2019. She continued her studies with Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh after being accepted to seven colleges or universities. At Minuteman, Sophia was a Student Ambassador, president of Girls in STEM, president of the Math Club, a member of Skills USA, and a player on the girls’ soccer and basketball teams.
Q: Why did you choose Minuteman?
I knew if I went to a traditional high school, I might not have as many opportunities to explore what I was interested in. In middle school, I attended the Girls in STEM Camp at Minuteman, and I knew if I went to Minuteman I’d have more opportunities to build and create. At first, I wasn’t sure what engineering was, but I wanted to explore it. When I went to Minuteman, I found what I really loved.
Q: How did your experience at Minuteman help you in college?
The Girls in STEM program at Minuteman opened so many doors for me. My first job was working at Minuteman’s Girls in STEM Camp, and it inspired me to create a culture of inclusion for girls and women in STEM.
At Carnegie Mellon University, I’m the Mentoring Chair for the Society of Women Engineers. That role helps me win opportunities for scholarships to attend conferences where I can meet with employers, and that’s going to help me with job opportunities. Now, I am working as a teaching assistant. Looking back, I’m just so grateful for Girls in STEM.
Q: What was it like to start Carnegie Mellon as a freshman?
It was a bit daunting, but I was excited. I loved the campus because it was so beautiful. There were so many opportunities – research, hackathons, clubs, jobs. Everything was pretty open to freshmen participating in things; it was very easy to get involved.
Q: What was one of your favorite experiences at Minuteman?
Definitely my senior project. We were moving into a new school building, and our Engineering shop had 10 or 12 ginormous PLC (programmable logic control) boards that would not fit into the space at the new school. Our project was to figure out how to get them inside. If the school purchased new boards, it would have cost more than $12,000. My teacher said, “OK, I’m the client. I need you to take these boards and shrink them.” I made the boards into these small, portable sequences. We had a project timeline and budget. We had to make sure they were up to code. In the end, we saved the school a lot of money!
Q: What’s your message for students thinking about joining Minuteman?
Take the opportunities that are here. Don’t be afraid; you should always go for them.
Sophia Li
Class of 2019
Engineering
Acton
Christine Hamilton, originally from Stow, graduated from Minuteman High School in 2013 as the class Valedictorian after majoring in Environmental Science. She was also involved in the Drama Club, Cross-Country Team, and SkillsUSA, where she was named Outstanding Vocational Technical Student of the Year. After high school, Christine attended Smith College in Northampton to study mechanical engineering. She now attends Stanford University in California to obtain a master’s degree in aeronautics and astronautics. In early 2021, she was involved in a research project in orbital mechanics – involving satellites in outer space.
Q. Why did you decide to attend Minuteman High School?
When I was in eighth grade, I went on a tour of Minuteman. I looked at the Environmental Science shop and it had all the aquariums and tanks. They were raising an endangered species of turtles. It seemed like a very interesting program where I’d do a lot of hands-on, science type things, and have a lot of interesting opportunities that I wouldn’t normally get at a traditional high school. I always liked science. When I was a kid, I was really interested in marine biology. As time went on, I moved into engineering and aerospace.
Q. Which clubs or activities were you involved with at Minuteman?
I was in the Drama Club for all four years. The program was awesome. We performed in Steel Magnolias, Curious Savage and The Butler Did It. I really liked acting and the friend group I made. It was intense – we’d meet four days a week from December to March – but the plays always came together really well. The sets always looked great. The drama teacher, Mr. Donovan, put a lot of effort into the program. I also did cross-country for two years and SkillsUSA for all four years, and I went to the national competition all four years. I won two silver medals and one bronze.
Q. What did you like the most about the Environmental Science major at Minuteman?
I really loved all the different types of projects. We used to take field trips into the woods to find different kinds of insects and figure out what they were. Another time, we designed boxed fish traps that we used to catch fish and crabs off a pier in Boston. That was very cool. For my junior year, I did a project for SkillsUSA in which I’d collect algae from a nearby stream and use it for biofuel. I did the whole chemical process of setting that up with an algae-growing tank. For my senior project, I looked at the effects of fertilizer on eel grass.
Q. How did Minuteman prepare you for college?
Academically, I was really well prepared. I was a little nervous about that at first – I didn’t get into AP classes until my senior year – but it turned out to be fine. I had a very good math and science background from Minuteman which was useful. The projects and hands-on experiences were useful too.
Q. What do you like about engineering?
I like the problem-solving aspect of it. In engineering, a lot of things are completely new, and you’re attacking it very logically and in a problem-solving way to try to make something work. You treat everything as being possible. It’s a lot of fun – the design aspect, the problem-solving. The space satellite research I’m doing now is all stuff that’s never been done before.
Q. Tell us about your current space research at Stanford University.
I’m on a research team that looks at orbital mechanics. Picture swarms of spacecraft with a few little satellites in conjunction – how you operate the control, navigation, design, and flight paths is basically orbital mechanics. The particular project I’m working on is with NASA for a mission they’re considering for a few years from now. Basically, they want to get better images of stars from Earth. The end result would be a lot cheaper than flying the Hubble Telescope to get those images, so it’s a really big deal.
Q. What advice would you give to students considering enrolling at Minuteman?
Minuteman helped me decide what I wanted to do after high school and beyond. Take the opportunities, join the clubs, participate in things. You never know what you’re interested in unless you go for it.
Christine Hamilton
Class of 2013
Environmental Science
Valedictorian
William Frost, of Stoneham, was a Class of 2013 Automotive Technology major at Minuteman High School. He transferred into Minuteman his junior year and credits his experience here with improving his grades and career prospects. After working in the automotive field, Frost transitioned into a career as a pipefitter, working on HVAC systems for major construction projects. He is a member of the Pipefitters Union Local 537 in Boston and employed full-time with Walsh Mechanical Contractors of Abington.
Q. As a transfer student, your story is a bit unique. Why did you enroll at Minuteman your junior year?
I always enjoyed working on cars. My high school had an automotive program, and halfway through my sophomore year it was eliminated. On top of that, my grades were not good at all. I wasn’t motivated, I didn’t see how my classes applied to my life, and I was missing school.
Minuteman turned everything around for me. Minuteman was more of a family feel. The teachers respected you. The communication between the teachers and the students was so much greater – both on the vocational side and the academic side. I came into Minuteman with a 1.9 grade point average and when I graduated, my GPA was a 3.9. At my old school, I was absent 100 days in one year; at Minuteman I had perfect attendance for the two years I was here. I became very close with my automotive teachers, Mr. Flood and Mr. Melanson. This place really turned it around for me.
Q. What did you enjoy about Minuteman?
They teach you life skills. When I was in math class, I was learning about interest rates, bi-weekly pay, how to pay your taxes, and how to balance your checkbook. I remember in my physics class, Mr. Marshall created a lesson on (motor vehicle) gear ratios, which I thought was so cool. When I told him I owned a 1999 Dodge Dakota, he had me study the gear ratios for my actual vehicle. I loved that.
Q. How did you excel in the Automotive Technology program?
Mr. Flood always told me, ‘Your education is what you put into it.’ I really took that message to heart. I walked out of here with every certification that was offered to me. Every test I took, I passed. My senior year, I went to the SkillsUSA competition and I won awards. I got the confidence I needed. I could show you all the cars I have built, and the cars I still build. I would come back to Minuteman in the summers and work on cars with Mr. Flood. I got so much knowledge out of that.
Q. How did you transition into pipefitting?
After high school, I started working in automotive. I got a job as an alignment and lube tech at Lawless Chrysler in Woburn. I did mostly oil changes and beginner work. From there, I worked at Chaotic Custom Exhaust in Wakefield, which is a high-performance auto shop. We’d fabricate custom exhaust systems, put super chargers on cars, lift kits on trucks – all high-end, custom work and a lot of welding.
After about four years, a neighbor approached me about joining the Pipefitters Union. He said that because I was mechanically inclined, I’d be a good fit for it. In June of 2017, I got an acceptance letter from Local 537 and I’ve been working with them ever since.
Q. What is pipefitting and what are some projects you have worked on?
Pipefitting is like being a mechanic for a building and its HVAC system. Instead of being a mechanic for a car, you’re a mechanic for a building. It’s being a mechanic on a much bigger scale.
My first big job was the construction of the Mathworks building in Natick. Right now (spring of 2021), we’re working on the Bristol Myers Squibb facility in Devens, which specializes in cell therapy and cancer research.
What I love about my job is you’re literally putting a footprint on the world. At Bristol Myers Squibb, they’re doing cutting edge cancer research. People in my union worked on the Pfizer building in Cambridge, where they’re working on COVID vaccinations. Imagine saying I built the lab where they found the COVID vaccine?
Q. What advice would you give new students at Minuteman?
My father always told me that if you ever get an opportunity in life to do something different, try it out. The worst is you don’t like it and you can go back to what you were doing before. Every skill you learn in life is a key to your success. It doesn’t matter if you stay with the major you took in school, it will apply somewhere in your life.
William Frost
Class of 2013
Automotive Technology
James Logue, a Watertown native from the Class of 2009, was a Plumbing/HVAC career major at Minuteman. Since graduation, James has had a successful career in mechanical controls for large-scale property management and construction companies. James was on National Honors Society, SkillsUSA, and the cross country and wrestling teams at Minuteman.
Q: Why did you choose Minuteman?
I have to give a lot of credit to my mother. She encouraged me to apply and tour the school, which I did. It was impressive. I was still a little nervous. But she said, ‘Hey, try it for a year. If you don’t like it, you can always come back.’ Well, I tried it and I never went back.
Q: What did you appreciate most about Minuteman?
It gives you an opportunity to take control of your life and set a course for yourself. It’s a privilege to go to a career technical education school. It’s more challenging. You have to apply yourself. As a freshman, you go through the Exploratory program and try multiple shops. You might consider one you hadn’t thought about. Maybe your father was a plumber and his father was a plumber so you’re thinking, ‘I want to be a plumber.’ But when you get to Minuteman, you get to explore so many avenues that it broadens your perspective to things you may have never considered. I also appreciated how much Minuteman has to offer outside of shops, like sports, theater and music. You get to do all those things, all at the same time.
Q: How did Minuteman help impact your life?
I’m most grateful for the friends. I made lifelong bonds with the kids in my shop. Some of your best times in your life are in high school. I’m grateful for all the memories, and for what I learned from the teachers – both in shop and in academics – because it really set me up well for life.
Q: How did Minuteman shape your career?
When I graduated in 2009, it was right in the middle of the recession. No one was hiring; a lot of people were jobless. But I got a job two weeks after graduation, and I haven’t stopped since. It was because of my education at Minuteman that I even got a foot in the door for an interview. I didn’t even meet all the qualifications, but I had my certifications and a base knowledge, which most people my age didn’t have. The company took a shot on me and it worked out. I make a good living, and I know a lot of alumni who are in good jobs and making a good living for themselves as well.
Q: What advice do you have for current or prospective Minuteman students?
You don’t want to regret decisions you didn’t take. Be active, be involved. Immerse yourself in the community. Do something besides your shop, and dive in and learn. It’s going to be a lot of fun. You’re going to get so much out of it.
James Logue
Class of 2009
Plumbing & HVAC
Kara Eliadis, a Bolton native from the Minuteman Class of 2005, was a Biotechnology career major, a member of the National Honor Society and cheerleading team, and participated in SkillsUSA. Kara graduated from the University of Massachusetts Lowell with a degree in biology. Kara works as a Lab Operations Specialist at Alkermes, a pharmaceutical company focusing on complex diseases and mental health. Previously, Kara was a cancer bioscience research intern for AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals; a scientist at Cyprotex U.S. in Watertown, a pharmaceutical research company; and a field service engineer for Agilent Technologies in Lexington, an analytical instrumentation company.
Q. Why did you choose Minuteman?
Someone did a presentation at my middle school when I was in seventh grade. There was so much about Minuteman that appealed to me, and the more I got to learn about the shops, the more I was interested in doing the hands-on learning. At first, I thought about majoring in Automotive, but I went through Freshmen Exploratory and it opens up your options. I chose Biotechnology because I always wanted to do forensics; I always enjoyed watching shows like CSI.
Q. What did you appreciate most about Minuteman?
Because of my experience at Minuteman, I excelled in my college labs especially. I thought we did a lot of messing around and having fun in shop, but when I got to college I saw just how much I learned while having all that fun. I could do tasks in labs that my partners would struggle with. I didn’t make those simple mistakes. I was able to focus on the hard science and not the simplistic aspects of it.
When I went on job or internship interviews, I listed my biotechnology certificate on my resume, and employers would always ask me how I attained one. They were always impressed when I explained how Minuteman worked.
Q. What do you like most about the biotechnology field?
The variety. There’s so much more in this field than I could have imagined. In my first post-college position, I enjoyed doing projects from start to finish independently. I realized that lab equipment would often break down, either from misuse or needing maintenance, and I grew into a position as a field service engineer. I could work hands on with the equipment but also use my brain and my background in biology. It’s a position I didn’t know I could have. The opportunities are endless, especially here in Boston.
Q. What advice would you give to current or prospective Minuteman students?
Try to find something you’re interested in and learn life skills around it. As a Minuteman student, you’re going to be a step up from others, even if you don’t choose your major as your “forever career.” You don’t need to have it all figured out. All the skills and experiences you gain at Minuteman are invaluable.
I also recommend getting involved in activities. I participated in SkillsUSA, served as Skills Parliamentarian then Historian, and did cheerleading for three years. It was a great to spend afternoons with your friends and share common interests. In 2004, the boys’ basketball team won the division championship and we got to cheer on the Celtics’ court at the TD Garden; that was really exciting.
Kara Eliadis
Class of 2005
Biotechnology
Doug Orr, of Lexington, graduated from Minuteman High School in 1999 after majoring inCarpentry. He worked with contractors through high school in the Cooperative Education (Co-Op) program and began working as a project manager shortly after graduation. At age 21, he launched his own business, Orr Homes LLC, which specializes in custom, luxury homes that continues to operate today. He is a member of Minuteman’s Carpentry Advisory Committee.
Q. Why did you choose to attend Minuteman High School?
I chose Minuteman because I was always more of a hands-on person. I had a pretty good direction of what I wanted to do from very early on. I wasn’t sure if I should choose Horticulture or Carpentry, but I chose Carpentry and I excelled at it. I was out on co-op (working at a job site for school credit) from the earliest possible time I could, in my junior year, but I started working for contractors (outside of school) when I was a freshman.
Q. What was it like as a new student?
Your freshman year, everybody is in the same boat. Everyone is starting something new. It’s an amazing experience. If you go to your town’s high school, it’s all the same people, but everybody gets a new start at Minuteman their freshman year. And, everybody who is there chooses to be there. They weren’t told to be there. That’s very important. If you are motivated and want to learn, you’re going to get what you need.
Q. How did you start your own business?
I started my own business at 21 and there’s been no looking back. It was scary at first. I didn’t have a business degree, but I knew how to build houses. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you can do anything with determination.
At 24, I bought my first piece of real estate and I sold it to Claude Julien, who was the head coach of the Boston Bruins at the time. He was great. He understood young talent and that’s what I was at 24 years old. To be someone of his stature who had experience with luxury homes in the past, he wanted to connect with somebody who understood hard work, determination, and accuracy – everything I stand for. To have his home inspection pass with flying colors and to have him come back and say he was proud to have bought the house, that was rewarding.
Q. Why do you focus on luxury homes and what are you working on now?
The company I worked for through high school was predominantly a high-end construction company. When I was in co-op at Minuteman, I worked on multi-million-dollar estates. That was the level I was fortunate enough to get my start in. Right now, we are working on the Tuttle Lane project in Lynnfield, which will be completed with nine luxury homes.
Q. How high is the demand for construction industry careers?
There is a drastic shortage of talent in this country when it comes to home construction and the trades in general. Locally, we don’t have the labor we need. It’s absolutely vital for kids to see these amazing opportunities and have the mindset and excitement to do this type of work. If you get an early start at a vocational-technical school like Minuteman, you’re at a great advantage. The way it’s going, pretty soon people are going to pay more per hour for a plumber than they are for an attorney. Rates are going through the roof because of the labor shortage. If you’re licensed and got your required hours in, you can get top dollar for the skills you have.
Q. What advice would you give to current middle or high school students?
If you think you like something but you’re not sure, try it anyways. What’s the worst that’s going to happen? It can be a tough road, but if you want to pursue a trade, the end result will be worth it. Always focus on the bigger picture.
Doug Orr
Class of 1999
Carpentry
