SWAMPSCOTT — Two students who live in town have been announced as valedictorian and salutatorian for the Essex Agricultural and Technical Institute’s class of 2021.
Molly McDonald, an environmental technology student, is the school’s valedictorian. McDonald plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., next year, where she will major in engineering and minor in environmental science. She will also play varsity lacrosse and serve in the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps.
Ellie Clark, who studied biotechnology at Essex Tech, is the salutatorian. She will attend Salisbury University in Wicomico County, Md., where she plans to seek a dual degree in biology and environmental science.
“It hasn’t set in. It’s crazy,” Clark said. “We’re a couple weeks out. It went by so fast.”
Clark said that she was inspired to seek a degree in environmental science when she completed an internship at Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center in Nahant.
She said that her summer plans include running to practice for participating in cross country in college, as well as working at her current pharmacy internship at CVS.
The Essex Tech graduation will take place on June 6, with a commencement address by state Sen. Joan Lovely, an alumna of the school. In addition, students Tyler Geary and Kevin Rush, both of Salem, will speak.
Geary, class president, studied carpentry at Essex Tech and will attend the University of Massachusetts, Amherst next year, where he will major in civil engineering.
Rush will attend the University of Rhode Island in the fall, where he will study mechanical engineering in the honors program. He studied advanced manufacturing in high school and is this year’s recipient of the Massachusetts Vocational Association Outstanding Vocational Student Award.
