Lynn Public School Grads Post An Impressive List of Post-Secondary Achievements

Despite their many accomplishments, there is an unfortunate and often unfair stereotype about students attending Lynn public schools. Most notably, there is a belief that most Lynn students are not destined to do much as a result of a variety of factors (poverty, parenting, poor academic preparation, etc.). I found the following comment on citydata.com in response to a person seeking advice about LPS:

Lynn schools are the worst on the North Shore, unless you want your child to end up in a gang or jail, I would stay away from them. Although I know someone who went to school there and ended up at Babson, but that's an exception.

Lynn schools do indeed post lower test scores than surrounding communities. Additionally, there is likely a higher percentage of discipline problems in Lynn as well as increased psychosocial stressors and lower resources among other challenges within the Lynn student body when compared to towns like Marblehead or Danvers. Still, there are a significant number of Lynn students doing well in school and committing themselves to positive activities such as sports, volunteering or part time work in their spare time. Just this year, Lynn Tech grad Victor Vazquez won the Gates Millennium Scholarship while two students (one from English, one from Classical) were both accepted to Harvard for the fall. Thus, contrary to the opinions of some who opt out of LPS in large part so their children "can attend college," there are a significant number of Lynn public school graduates who have attended or are attending college and are posting an impressive list of post-secondary accomplishments. In 2011, 83% of Lynn students planned to attend a 2- or 4-year college/university. Below is just a small sample of the post-secondary accomplishments achieved by former Lynn public school students. While I acknowledge the problems that Lynn and its schools system face, it is also important to note the positive things that Lynners have accomplished in an effort to combat the stereotype which follows all of its residents regardless of the validity of these negative preconceptions.

Asma Adan (LVTI '12) - University of Massachusetts - Boston '16
Azatuhi Ayrikyan (LEHS '02) - Barnard College '06 (BA, Biology), Boston University '14 (PhD, Engineering)
David Ayrikyan (LEHS '05) - Boston University '09 (BS, Engineering)
Maria Aybar (LEHS '04) - North Shore Community College '14
Gabriella Aragon (LEHS '05) - New England School of Photography '09
Basant Badr (LCHS '09) - Boston College '13
Thahn Bui (LEHS '12) - University of Massachusetts - Amherst '16
Seth Buks (LEHS '02) - Northeastern University '07
Jon Caron (LEHS '06) - Merrimack College '10
Daniel Burns-McKernan (LEHS '04) - United States Air Force (2006 - 2011)
Chris Carroll (LEHS '06) - Bentley University '10 (BA)
Rasi Chau (LCHS '99) - Allegheny College/Mt Ida/UMASS-Boston/Lincoln College
Alex Chieng-Henson (LEHS '06) - Bentley University '10 (BA)
Lindsay Clements (LEHS '05) - Hawaii Pacific University '09 (BA, Psychology), Harvard University '12 (M.Ed, Educational Neuroscience); Primary Learning Specialist Punahou School (HI)
Shawn Cogan (LEHS '05) - Northeastern University '10 (BS, Behavioral Neuroscience)
Freddy Cole (LEHS '05) - Franklin Pierce University '09 (BS, Sports and Recreation Management, Minor in Marketing); Former College Baseball Player
Bill Connolly (LEHS '69) - Production Supervisor
Maggie Connolly (LEHS '09) - St. Andrew's University '13 (Equine-Assisted Therapy)
Paris Connolly (LEHS '02) - Salem State University (PR, web design)
Techla Connolly (LEHS '96) - Salem State University '00 (BA English/Secondary Education), Gordon College '08 (MAT), Salem State University '12 (CAGS Educational Leadership); Revere Public School Teacher
Marki Conway (LEHS '05) - Merrimack College '09 (BA, Communications), Syracuse University '10 (MS - Public Relations, 4.0 GPA)
Zachary Conway (LEHS '05) - Massachusetts Institute of Technology '12
Nikkie Corzo (LVTI '11)  - Massachusetts College of Art
Briana Cronin (LEHS '05) - Salem State University '10, American International College '13 (Master's Elementary Education)
Matthew Curtis (LEHS '05) - Harvard College '09 (BA)
Meredith Cyr (LEHS '05) - Curry College '09 (BA Communication, magna cum laude)
Phanny Duong (LEHS '02) - Tufts University '02 (Civil Engineering), University of Michigan '13 (MBA)
Lan Duong (LEHS '05) - Simmons College '09 (BA)
Lien Duong (LEHS '03) - Tufts University '03, University of North Carolina- Chapel Hill '14 (MBA)
Elsadig Elsadig (LCHS '05) - Yale University '09
Gabriella Galeazzi (LCHS '11) - Providence College '15
Cara Garrity (LCHS '10) - Tufts University '14
Ashley Garuti (LEHS '06) - Merrimack College '10 (BA)
Jules Gouthro (LEHS '06) - University of New Hampshire '10
Kim Hartshorn (LEHS '06) - Merrimack College '10
Tamar Hayrikyan (LEHS '03) - Harvard College '07 (BA, Government), London School of Economics and Political Science '11 (MSc International Political Economy)
Mina Healy (LCHS '11) - Massachusetts Institute of Technology '15
Sheryle Henry (LEHS '06) - Salem State University '10
Annalisa Hereford-Plourde (LEHS '10) - American Career Institute '13
Cleo Hereford (LEHS '05) - Wellesley College '09 (BA, Psychology, cum laude)
Eva Hidalgo (LEHS '11) - Empire Beauty School/North Shore Community College
Shaniqua Holcombe (LVTI '10) - University of New Haven '14
Dennyna Huynh (LEHS '03) - Emmanuel '07 (BA), Hamline University School of Law '12 (JD), George Washington University School of Law '13 (LL.M)
Denny Huynh (LEHS '04) - Bentley University '08 (B.S.), Bentley University '09 (M.S.F.)
Nisa Im (LVTI '09) - Worcester Polytechnic Institute '13
Amy Johnson (LEHS '05) - Salem State University '09 (BS, Criminal Justice), Western Governor's University (MBA, Management and Strategy) '12
Casey Johnson (LCHS '10) - Harvard College '14
Kenyora Johnson (LEHS '06) - Simmons College '10, Boston University School of Social Work '12 (MSW)
Minori Keefe (LEHS '06) - University of Rhode Island '10
Malynda Kidney (LEHS '05) - Salem State University '10 (Elementary Education/Sociology), Salem State University (Master's, Elementary Education); Lynn Public School Teacher; Lynn English Girls Soccer Coach
Alexandra Kolwicz (LEHS '11) - Northeastern University '16
Joshua Ladd (LEHS '05) - Salem State University (BS, Finance); Financial Analyst
Emily LeBlanc - (LEHS '05) - University of Tampa '09 (BA, Secondary Math Education), University of Massachusetts Lowell grad student (Curriculum Instruction); Teacher at Trition Regional High School & Travel Club Supervisor; Starting AP Stats program
Marissa Long (LEHS '04) - Harvard College '08
Cecilia Lujan (LEHS '05) - University of Miami/Universidad del Norte (BA/Masters Program) '11
Jacqueline Ma (LEHS '12) - Harvard College '16
Ashley Messina (LCHS '06) - Harvard College '10
Rachel Pennellatore (LEHS '04) - Worcester Polytechnic Institute '08
Samantha Picone (LEHS '05) - Merrimack College '09 (BA)
Anna Proshko (LEHS '06) - Worcester Polytechnic Institute '10
Hunter Richard (LEHS '08) - Harvard College '12
Lismary Rodriguez (LEHS '05) - Wentworth Institute of Technology '09
Melanie Scully (LCHS '01) - Boston University '05, University of Colorado-Denver '14 (PhD, Biology)
Rachel Scully (LEHS '05) - Emmauel College '09
Aurora Shahini (LEHS '05) - University of Massachusetts-Amherst '09 (BS, Kinesiology/Biology, Minor in Psychology), Master's student - Occupational Therapy
Zosia Simpson (LEHS '04) - Ward 1, Lynn  Homeowner
Jessica Starbard (LEHS '09) - Northeastern University '13
Stephanie Starbard (LEHS '12) - Bridgewater State University '16
Nelson Terry (LEHS '06) - Salem State University '13
Jonathan Thibault (LEHS '05) - Boston University '09
Kathy Tran (LCHS '12) - Harvard College '16
Ashley Turner (LEHS '09) - Harvard College '13
Sue Vancelette Walker (LCHS '82) - Salem State University '15/'16
Victor Vazquez (LVTI '12) - Worcester Polytechnic Institute '16
Ann Walker (LEHS '04) - Salem State University '08 (BA, summa cum laude), Salem  State University '13 (Mental Health Counseling); Lynn Public School Teacher
Lily You (LEHS '05) - Ward 3, Lynn homeowner


*If you know of others, please leave a comment and those names can be added.