Name: Alex

Posts by :

WASN’s Dynamic Duo: Healy and Sullivan

December 20th, 2011

Alexander Lee
Editor-in-chief

WA Sports is back and better than ever!

Seniors Justin Healy and Matt Sullivan, also known as Rusty Justy and The Big City Kitty, also known as The Dirt Dog and The Big American Sexy, are this year’s sportscasters for Westford Academy Sports Network (WASN).

The duo, who have been good friends since kindergarten, broadcast their first show in mid-September and have had eleven additional shows since then.

Healy and Sullivan volunteered to do sports because they wanted to improve the show from previous years. They thought that in the last couple years, the quality of Sports had somewhat declined. Thus, together, they decided to make Friday morning announcements entertaining again.

“A couple years ago it was pretty good but, we wanted to bring a new dimension to it, and I think so far we’re doing a pretty good job” said Healy.



Many of their changes can already be seen. Along with their frequent inside jokes and use of nicknames, Healy has introduced a new segment: Player of the Week. Every week, the duo will choose an athlete or student who gave some sort of extraordinary performance. All of these winners will receive an official Justin Healy Pocket Print to put into their wallets. Some of the previous winners were Dani Trani, Eric Cajolet, Findley Payne, Jason Jani, and Ryan Mcdonald.

Furthermore, the two have also made regular shout-outs to teachers and students. In fact, they encourage anyone who wants a shout out to approach them.

Through their comedic, laidback style of sportscasting, Healy and Sullivan hope to make a show similar to SNL Weekend Update. Together, the duo strives to create a highly-anticipated, weekly broadcast that all students and teachers will enjoy watching.

Fellow WABC news anchor John Bergin also feels that Sports have improved these past few months.

“Justin and Matt are rays of sunshine on the dreary Friday morning that comes every week. They deliver the sports news like the pitcher throwing a 100 mile an hour curve ball, and throw in some humor as well” he said.

Although the show has thus far had a generally positive reception, Healy and Sullivan promise that future shows will only improve.

“We expect to do some videos and incorporate the stuff that we really like. That’s what you can look forward to on WASN. You haven’t seen the half of it yet; the best is yet to come” they said.

2 Comments "

Olsen gives explanation for snow days

December 5th, 2011

Alexander Lee

Editor-in-chief


On November 22^nd, Superintendent Bill Olsen declared that Westford Public Schools would make up the days lost due to the October snowstorm during the Wednesdays and Thursdays of February and April Vacation.

The news surprised many students. This had never before been done in previous years. Even during the ice storm of ’08, in which WA also missed four consecutive days, Olsen had opted to add the snow days in June.

However, much to the dismay of the students, Olsen made a swift decision this time around. Many students complained that perhaps the ruling was too “rash”, and some felt like it was “completely arbitrary”.

“I think that he should have waited at least until December” said one student.

However, according to Olsen, the school committee, and Principal Antonelli, there was an elaborate process on the decision.

A week after the snow days, Olsen released a survey online for parents to vote on how they would like to handle the situation. Of the choices, “add days at the end of the year, received the most votes at 33% while the Feburary/April break solution got 18%. However, most of the votes for the “no change” option came from a small number of IP addresses, calling their validity into question, so this solution was completely scrapped.

When Olsen presented the options to school committee he recommended the February/April break solution or the four Saturday solution. Though he also proposed removing one entire vacation, he said that it “often results in poor attendance on make up days”.

Swayed by his reasoning, the committee passed his plan.

“I think the majority of the committee was convinced by the superintendent’s emphasis on the fact that he believed the days chosen as make-up days represented the best educational option to us” said School Committee Chair Angela Harkness.

Furthermore, Olsen had also consulted with a leadership team that included all the school principles and curriculum coordinators. They too agreed to Olsen’s plan. Many felt as though it was harder for students of all grades to learn late in the school year.

Principal of WA James Antonelli said, “given the precedent of missing days, it was the right decision because it gets tough as the school year stretches into June”.

Through this deliberation, Olsen came to his decision.

Comments Off

Students Offer Dance WITH Grinding

November 29th, 2011

Alexander Lee
Editor-in-chief

Ever since the grinding ban was put in place at WA, the majority of students have felt that the quality of the dances has steadily declined, and thus have been looking for alternative solutions to the issue. Over the last few months, people petitioned, wrote essays, and proposed formal rule changes, but little progress was ever made.

Seniors Findley Payne, Ryan McDonald, and Jason Jani are now offering the solution that WA students have been yearning: They are holding a dance with grinding this Saturday on December 3rd at the Legion, a banquet hall in the Nabnasset Country Club.

The idea for the “Nab Rave” originates from their Entrepreneurship class, but is in no way affiliated with WA. There will be no WA administrators on site, but there will be some adults present and one police officer.

The dance will begin at 8:00 and end at 12:00. Tickets cost ten dollars, and any WA student can contact Payne, McDonald, or Jani if they wish to purchase one of the 280 spots. Furthermore, one third of the expected profit will be donated to the Shriner’s Burn Center at the Children’s Hospital.

The rules for the dance, according to Payne, are as follows:

“Attendees must be current Westford Academy students. The Nab Country Club has a ZERO drug and alcohol policy, so act accordingly. Once in the doors, you may not reenter the dance after you leave. Be safe and have fun.”

As for a DJ, they have hired DJ Don Disko, a nineteen year old professional disc jockey who has years of experience and over $75,000 dollars in lighting and speak equipment. If you want to learn more about him, he has a page on Facebook.

Payne believes that future events are definitely a possibility, but they depend on the turnout and reaction of the student body following the event.

“It is our hope that this dance will establish a high [standard] precedent for dances outside of Westford Academy and help us make a name for ourselves as exciting and popular event planning company among the student body” he said.

WA remains in anticipation to see how it will go.

1 Comment "

Westford to Make Up Lost Days During School Vacations

November 22nd, 2011

It’s official. Last night superintendent Bill Olsen declared that four days lost to the October snowstorm will be made up during our February and April vacations. These days will be the Tuesday and Wednesday of February break (2/21, 2/22) and the Tuesday and Wednesday of April break (4/17, 4,18).

Comments Off

Halloween Storm of ’11 leaves startling effects

November 11th, 2011

Alexander Lee
Editor-in-chief

Last Saturday night on October 29th, an unexpected snowstorm hit the eastern New England area, including our town of Westford. There was about a foot of accumulation, and the storm caused massive a number of power outages all across town.

Since it was only October, many trees still had most of their leaves. During the storm, these leaves caught more snow, which forced greater tension onto the trees’ branches. When these branches inevitably snapped, they landed on power lines, causing significant damage around the New England area.

The storm was especially harsh in Westford. On Saturday night, National Grid reported that over ninety percent of our town was powerless. However, as the days passed, more and more homes gradually were restored. By the end of Tuesday November 1st, the powerless rate was down to 54%, and by Thursday evening, that number dropped to 10%. For this reason as well as safety concerns, Westford Public Schools were closed Monday through Thursday

One of the major themes of the snowstorm was that it taught us just how much our society values electricity.

For me, the storm was a very interesting experience. Life without power was frankly awful. First of all, I couldn’t shower. It’s horrible knowing that you can’t clean yourself even if you wanted to. Bathing is something we truly take for granted in our lives. Also I couldn’t use my computer, my home-phone, or my cell-phone once it ran out of batteries. There was no heat either! I had to sleep with five layers of sheets just to stay warm. In addition, once it was pitch black around nine o’clock, there was nothing to do but go to sleep. Having no power made for a dull, tough life.

One of the main ways of communication was through the Westford Police Department Facebook page. I used the sight to get updates on school, power, and the state of the town. But other than this, the storm mainly caused limitations on contact with the outside world.

Furthermore, the storm also caused a lot of WA students to check in at hotels or stay at friends’ houses. Senior Aditya Shankar said,

“I stayed in Courtyard in Andover hotel because we knew we were not going to have power back anytime within the next five days. Our house was forty degrees and none of our friends had power at that point.”

The other side of the storm lies around the controversy of the number of snow-days it has created. As a senior, I along with my fellow members of class of 2012 was thrilled with every snow-day that was declared because as seniors we don’t have to make up any of the days. However, I think that although the underclassmen were definitely also happy when the snow-days were announced, they also still held some reservations because they have to make up these days at the end of the year.

Currently, underclassmen have to make up five days (4 snow days + 1 missed freshman orientation day), which is already the allotted capacitance for our school. It’s only November; anymore snow-days, which are very likely, will cause significant conflicts in our school’s schedule.

Parents and students are already speculating possible solutions to this. Some say to get rid of February or April vacation, other say to have occasional Saturday school, and others suggest for some extended school days.

Here’s what Sophomore Vice-President Dan Bugos thought the best solution was, if necessary,

“I think the best solution would be to take a couple days out of vacation or the entire vacation all together and if that includes any extra days then we could just end school a day or two early”.

In addition to these things, teachers have also been affected by the storm. The days off threw the last days of first term into confusion. Though the term was supposed to end Thursday, November 3rd, it ended on Tuesday November 8th, and assessments on the 9th and 10th would still be allowed to go on first quarter.

The days off affected every teacher’s plans, especially those of AP classes. Though the snow-days may move the end of the year back, the AP exams did not change, and thus now there is less time to prepare.

The Halloween Storm has definitely caused numerous problems in our lifestyle, schedule, and school, and thus it will go down as one of the most memorable events of this year.

Comments Off

Glynn Johnson marks newest attempt to bring back grinding

October 20th, 2011

Alexander Lee
Editor-in-Chief

Despite the numerous attempts to overturn the grinding ban by students of all grades, most efforts thus far have been fruitless. Students have tried petitioning, confronting the administration, and threatening to boycott dances altogether, all of which have had negligible effects.

On Tuesday this week, sophomore and member of student council Glynn Johnson added another chapter to the WA grinding saga. Unlike those protestors before him, Johnson approached the grinding ban through the formal way to change a school rule as stated by the student handbook. He became the first student to do so in this long struggle.

To officially propose a change in the school rules, a student has to cite the current rule in the student handbook, submit listed signatures of students who want a change to the rule, state a reason for the displeasure, and possible solutions.

In his proposal, Johnson used the often cited arguments against the grinding ban: first, that a grinding ban was unfair, and second that a grinding ban would significantly decrease the funds of a club. As required, Johnson offered possible solutions. One possible compromise was allowing grinding only at certain sanctioned dances. The number of these dances would be limited, so that the school could transition into the ban.

Johnson’s overarching theme was that a sort of transition was necessary, and that the outright ban was too radical.

Johnson brainstormed these possible solutions over the past two weeks, and he submitted the finished document to the administration on Friday. He had a meeting on Tuesday with five student representatives, two teachers, and the deans.

Johnson said that the meeting “went pretty well” and that Student Council President Christian Yip “was a great presence at the meeting”.

Principal James Antonelli will have the final say on this topic.

Despite these efforts, the future of grinding at WA still remains unclear. There have been so many efforts to overturn the ban, that much of WA is skeptical about the outcome.

“I’m not sure if it’s going to work,” said student council representative and senior Thomas Yorke.

Meanwhile rumors about the Halloween Dance run wild. Though DECA advisor John Rogers made it clear that grinding will not be allowed at the dance, some DECA officers say that the rules will be more relaxed and that people won’t be asked to leave if caught grinding.

Whatever the case of Glynn Johnson’s proposal, his efforts are significant to negotiation between the students and the administration.

Comments Off

WA SAT math course offers higher score for lower price

October 18th, 2011

Alexander Lee
Editor-in-chief
In this competitive climate, the SATs have become a significant part of a student’s college application. This three hour exam, which is composed of math, writing, and reading sections, determines some of the opportunities that are available to students after high school.

Thus, many students have sought help from private companies, like Kaplan and Princeton Review, to increase their scores, but these options are expensive. A single Princeton Review classroom program costs 1,500 dollars.

WA Math Teacher Cory Roman is offering a comparable yet affordable option for the SAT Math section.
The course, which is offered the six consecutive Tuesdays preceding the November SAT, covers the entire math curriculum on the test. Lessons last from 6:30 to 8:30PM in room 204 at WA, and students work out of the workbook: The Official SAT Study Guide by College Board.

The course only costs 125 dollars, and Roman states, “it is a shorter, cheaper, viable alternative to company courses”.
Roman, who teaches AP Stats, Honors Trig and Precalc, and Intermediate Algebra II, came up with the idea for the course three summers ago. At the time, he wanted to add an SAT course to WA’s “Grey Ghost Academy”, an optional summer program. This translated into a program being offered during the school year.

Roman says, “I think that it [the course] helps familiarize students with SAT terminology.”

The SAT math section only requires knowledge up through Algebra II, but many of its questions are tricky, and this SAT program is designed to help students recognize this.

Overall, Roman reports that students taking the exam generally score higher after completing the course.

“I can’t speak for everyone, but I’ve had many students come up to me saying that their scores have increased,” he said.

Roman plans on continuing this SAT Math course next year as well.

Comments Off

Close Contact Controversy: the Westford Academy Grinding Ban

October 11th, 2011

Alexander Lee
Editor-in-Chief
& Anastasha Echavarri
News Editor

Over the last few years, many New England schools have been banning grinding from their school dances, including Chelmsford High School and Oakland High School.  Some schools in New Hampshire have even cancelled dances altogether due to administrations’ inability to control grinding.  The fate of WA school dances is at this time unknown.

Often referred to as “grind-dancing,” grinding is a form of close-contact dancing which was also customary at WA dances. Last year, after the Heat Wave Dance in March, the administration chose to ban any sort of grinding from future dances. Vice-Principal Adam Goldberg previewed the pending rule in several junior history classes last year.

Goldberg said, “I feel it’s appropriate; I feel that it’s a difficult change, but it’s getting us to bring up good conversation between teachers in the building and students. I also feel that it is appropriate for future dances to come.”

There were challenges to control the grinding at the Welcome Back Dance this year.

“Not everyone was following the rules. The dance I thought was okay. We did have some students that pushed the boundaries. Some students had to be removed from the dance, but a good number of students were at the dance,” said Goldberg.

From its onset, many students from all grades were very upset with the decision. Current seniors Jake Mooney and Kyle Boyd immediately tried to overturn the ban. They repeatedly went to administration and tried to work out a compromise.

Mooney said after the Welcome Back Dance, “ the student body and faculty need to talk, because at the last dance we showed that we can dance reasonably. I think with the negotiations we could come to some agreement or middle ground.”

He also added that many student organizations like DECA and NHS would be severely affected by the grinding ban because less interest in dances would mean less funding for their club.

“We’ll find other types of events to have on Friday night evening that would normally be a dance. We have several ideas which are still in conversation,” said Goldberg. He gave no exact ideas but said they would be either athletic or recreational.

NHS President and current senior Sandeep Garikapaty who organized the Heat Wave Dance last year said that he didn’t think that the dancing was “grossly inappropriate”. He also believes that the grinding ban would affect NHS funding, and at the NHS meeting on September 28th, the club brainstormed potential ideas for a new fundraiser such as an all school sleepover on the football field, which was immediately shot down.

Overall, WA students feel that the grinding ban is both unfair and impractical. As students, they feel that they could keep grinding appropriately, and that a ban is unreasonable.

“I don’t like it. Nobody goes to the dances anymore and they’re really lame,” said junior Scott Coull.

Interestingly enough, another common theme on the ban was “no comment”. Students and faculty alike refused to comment on the grinding ban. Junior Brendan Donahue, who last year created a massive petition against the grinding ban, refused to comment because “I got in huge trouble last year for it”. Furthermore, dual-advisors for student council John Nidzgorski and Lori Ditto both said that “I have no comment at this time”. Also, senior class president Richa Kaul also wished not to comment.

In addition to this, there has been a rumor that has been recently spread about the upcoming Halloween dance produced by DECA. Some said that the grinding ban would be lifted for this event, others even suggested that the dance would be cancelled.

Teacher at WA and advisor of DECA, John Rogers states that the ban is still in place and that the dance is still on, contrary to the rumors that have been going around the school.

Also new to the DECA Halloween dance this year, Rogers said that tickets will be sold beforehand instead of the night of so that there will not be the usual rush. They will be sold up to a week before the event during and after school,  and students will be able to buy tickets at their leisure.

There will also be a costume contest.

“We’re working on a way for the crowd to text in their favorites,” said Rogers.

The Halloween DECA dance, being held on the 29th of October will have the ban in place contrary to the rumors.

“It’s going to be bigger and better than ever,” said Rogers.

Although the makeup of WA dances are rapidly changing, the grinding rule will remain in place.

2 Comments "

Making Sense of the Baffling College Essay

September 21st, 2011

Alexander Lee
News Editor

I think most seniors in the class of 2012 are currently struggling with the college essay. It’s the most important writing we are to create in high school, so naturally we second-guess ourselves. Furthermore, this year, we tackled the essay sooner because, for the first time, Westford Academy created a deadline for a draft of the college essay by August 31st. If a senior in the class of 2012 wanted to purchase a parking pass, a draft of his essay would have to be up on Naviance by the aforementioned date.

The essay has given me stress as well. Over the summer, the idea that I had to complete a masterpiece before school daunted me. What essay topic could be so noble? What had happened in my life so dignified, so profound, that I could wow my readers? I’m only a seventeen year old kid; how could I possibly answer those questions?

Struggling with these questions, a cycle developed in my head. First, a potential idea would arise, which I would initially be thrilled with, but as time passed, I began to perceive the potential essay’s flaws, and eventually I would scrap the idea altogether. This cycle sometimes took five minutes, sometimes five days, but regardless, the cycle kept repeating within my subconscious the entire summer.

Those potential essays that I did manage to get on paper I soon would read, become dissatisfied with, and then never consider them again. More than anything the college essay process was frustrating, the process that expected us seventeen year-olds to create masterpieces.

There were always too many distractions: someone to chat on Facebook with, new music to listen to… I decided that I needed to simplify to get some sincere self-reflection, so, as the great Henry David Thoreau once said, “I went into the woods to live deliberately”.

One Saturday afternoon, I went to Walden Pond with only a pen and paper, found a remote field by the forest, and I wrote the draft of my college essay which I am using today. I was at Walden Pond alone for six hours, and there I thought to myself (all I COULD do was think to myself). I feel as though self-reflection, maybe not by as radical means as mine, is the key to writing a meaningful college essay.

However, many seniors did not see the college essay this way. They complained about the added dead deadline and, as one senior said, “wrote an essay they would never actually use for their application”.

Guidance counselor Wendy Pechacek, the architect of the new due date said that the draft to be submitted on Naviance was merely to “get seniors thinking about the applications process sooner rather than later”.

Faculty began thinking about a deadline five years ago when University of Massachusetts, Amherst initiated early action in which the college application deadline is November 15th instead of the traditional January 1st.

Back then, guidance counselors and English teachers found that seniors returning from summer vacation were little prepared for the college essay. Moreover, the teachers had planned to teach the college essay lesson in late September or even early October. Because of the new early action program at UMASS Amherst, which a significant amount of Westford Academy seniors pursue, seniors had much less time to write their college essays, which resulted in poorer quality writing.

Towards the end of last year, when the guidance department met, remedying this issue was of utmost importance. After the counselors decided to officially create a deadline, they pondered what would motivate students the most to adhere to the newly established rule. The parking-pass, a right of passage for many seniors, was the answer. Thus, the college essay draft deadline was made.

This year the system has proven very successful: roughly 87% of seniors submitted their drafts on time. Though the writings the seniors submitted still need improvement, the guidance department effectively kick-started the college essay process.

Whatever the deadline’s purpose and however we seniors approached it the college essay is the most consequential writing we are to create in high school, and it deserves that kind of respect. So, if you’re struggling with the college essay or even still searching for a topic, don’t be worried because that frustration is perfectly natural.

Comments Off

Westford Academy Class of 2011 says its farewells

June 4th, 2011

Alexander Lee

News Editor

It was a beautiful Friday afternoon when WA’s class of 2011 entered the school for their last official time.

As the bustling parents and family members grew with anticipation, the customary playing of the sentimental “Pomp and Circumstance” began.

Headed by Principal James Antonelli, Dean Bob Ware, Vice Principal Adam Goldberg, and Dean Michael Parent, following other school faculty, the Class of 2011 marched down the aisle prestigiously.

Once all the students sat, the ceremony commenced. Principal James Antonelli gave opening remarks, in which he recited a poem written by graduating senior John Manning. In the poem, a mother waits for her child coming home from school every day. Antonelli also added Manning’s conclusion to the original poem. In it, the mother  no longer needs to wait for her child because she is all grown up.

The conclusion of the poem focused on the genuine appreciation that each child has for their parents who have stood by them in the good times and in the bad times.

After this, Salutatorian Hannah Wang and Valedictorian Elizabeth Britton were introduced. Wang was described as “curious” and making “hard things look easy”, while Britton was described as “an all star in academics, arts, and music”.

Next, 2011 class officers Christie Basinas (President), Isabella Chen (Vice-President), Elissa Chao (Treasurer), and Ashley O’Neil (secretary), presented gifts for 2011′s class advisors Sean O’Leary and Kristen Stamp.

After this, Westford Academy’s Alma Mater was sung by the WA Honors Choir, directed by Karen St. George.

Jillian Furcillo then gave her much anticipated class speech. In it, Furcillo described how when her father passed away, she turned to WA for comfort. She stated that “I really will miss this place”.

Following Furcillo’s speech, George Fletch, WA’s board of trustees presenter, gave out “The Most Worthy Representative Award” to one boy and one girl of each grade.

Finally, the moment that everyone was anticipating arrived: the presentation of diplomas. As each graduating student’s name was called out and cheers, including those from foghorns, resounded across the football field, a sincere sense of accomplishment could be seen in each graduate’s face. The Westford School Committee which included Arthur Benoit, Judith Culver, Angela Harkness, David Keele, Erka Kohl, Margaret Murray, and Kenneth Teal handed out the coveted diplomas.

Once every graduate had been recognized, the customary flying of hats took place. The audience stood in wonderful awe as they saw the graduating caps soaring through the air and heard cheers bursting through their ears.

Following the presentation of diplomas, the class song was played, a mashup of “The Rainbow Connection”, “Sweet Caroline”, and “Don’t Stop Believing”. John Manning headed the singing while other members of the class of 2011 played the music. His heartfelt rendition reflected the same passion that was evident in his poems recited earlier. Standing there, listening to the music, and feeling the chill of the refreshing summer breeze, students could truly reflect over their entire high school experiences.

Christina Basinas gave the closing remarks of the ceremony. In her speech she spoke about the importance of hard work and perseverance.

The proud parents,  the impressed faculty, the speeches, the diplomas: the 2011 graduation encompassed everything that a high school graduation aspires to be.


View Westford Academy Class of 2011 Destinations in a larger map

1 Comment "

Stars shine at DECA nationals

June 2nd, 2011

Abby Ciancalo

Staff Writer

Do you believe in magic? Well the Westford Academy DECA club sure does!

This year on Apil 25-28, twenty-two students from WA qualified for the International Career Development Conference in Orlando, Florida whose theme was magic.  These were 22 students who made it past the Massachusetts DECA competition on April 30th. Here, members of DECA competed in the national events in their specific categories.

The competition there is extremely stiff. In total, there were over 15,000 students, advisors, business workers, alumni and judges. There were DECA members from not only the United States, but other countries including Germany and Canada.

Even with the intense competition, a few members from WA made it far in the ICDC competition. Junior, Mustafa Buxamusa made it to the finals in his individual event of Buisness Service Management. Sophomore, Nick MacMaster made it to the finals, placing in the top 20 for his event of Automotive

Service Marketing. Both placed first in their categories at the Massachusetts DECA competition.

“It was an incredible experience. I met so many people from so many places that I wouldn’t have met otherwise,” says MacMaster, a first year DECA member.



Richa Kaul in happy disbelief

Juniors, Alexis Jacobson and Richa Kaul brought some girl power to the Orlando scene. The duo placed 1st in the United States and 2nd overall in their Buying and Merchandising team event.

“Just the memory of hearing my name called and knowing we placed makes me cry tears of joy all over again. Definitely one of the best experiences of my life,” says Kaul.

Jacobson agreed with Kaul,

“It was an incredible time.  One of my favorite things about nationals, though, is meeting people. You meet people from all over the country and the world, as well as people from WA who you might not otherwise really talk to. It’s such a great experience and I can’t encourage people enough to join DECA next year”.

Comments Off

Furcillo set to address senior class

June 1st, 2011

Abby Cianciolo

Staff Writer

Graduation day: the ending point of the year for every high school senior. It marks the end of the high school story and the beginning of the future. Hundreds of students, parents, teachers, family, and friends gather around to witness the conclusion of the most momentous year for any high school student.

The most momentous event of that day, however, is the student graduation speech. This year, senior Jillian Furcillo will be delivering the speech for her class.

Furcillo has been anticipating the speech for quite some time now. Even before the speech was announced, she was hoping to be chosen. She knew in her heart that she was passionate about it.

“I wanted to give the audience another look on school. I wasn’t always the best student or the ideal person to give this speech, so I wanted everyone to see how far I have come and how Westford Academy has helped me,” says Furcillo.

Over the last month or so, Furcillo has been preparing for this day. The process began when she had written her speech and went in front of a panel of judges to give her performance.  Soon after, she was called in for a
second interview with her revamped speech. Furcillo was then chosen as the class speaker, working with the English department to make sure her speech was perfect.

This tremendous honor left Furcillo ecstatic.

“When I was chosen, I was really excited because I was so proud of myself. It was a lot of my hard work over the past two years, and it all paid off,” the graduation speaker added.
And these past two years have not been easy for Furcillo. When she was a sophomore, her father, Donald Furcillo, passed away due to medical problems. It was a very difficult time for Jillian, but her father’s memory has helped her through.

“He has inspired me to be a better person and has shaped me into who I am now. I want to speak on behalf of him as well as myself,” Furcillo adds about her father.

The influences of her father will be a key subject in her speech as well as other experiences at WA that have helped her.

“In my speech, I will be reminiscing on everything that has happened to me here and how WA has helped me in my personal experiences and struggles through the years,” says Furcillo.

With almost no public speaking experience, Furcillo is quite anxious about graduation and speaking in front of so many people. She is hoping it is heartfelt and memorable.

“I hope everyone understands where I am coming from and remembers my speech. I don’t want it to be one those speeches people sit through and can’t wait until it’s over,” says Furcillo.

There is one area she hopes stands out the most to the audience.

“At the end of my speech, I mentioned how each of us is not promised a life without adversity but we all have the ability to overcome those challenges. This is what I want my audience to remember always from my speech,” says Furcillo.

Comments Off