Grafton’s McDonald is BVT honoree for Superintendent’s Scholar Award

The staff of Blackstone Valley Tech is proud to announce that Brandon Kee and Daniel McDonald have been named BVT’s recipients of the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Award of Academic Excellence.

Also known as the Superintendent’s Scholar Award, the annual commendation is presented to two BVT seniors who exemplify the school’s commitment to cutting-edge career technical training and rigorous academics. Brandon Kee, a Milford resident, and Daniel McDonald, a Grafton resident, will graduate in June from the Engineering & Robotics program and the Information Technology program, respectively.

Brandon Kee is currently the Class of 2020 Valedictorian and a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. His dedication to both his academic and vocational studies was on display when he earned a bronze medal in 2018 at the SkillsUSA Nationals in Principles of Engineering. Kee is a Rensselaer Medalist, recognized for his academic achievement in math and science.

Kee is also an Eagle Scout with eight palms. He joined Scouting as a Pack 32 Bear Cub in 2010 and quickly advanced through the ranks and earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a 13-year-old eighth-grader. His Eagle Scout Service Project involved using his technical skills in building a meditation/memorial garden at Trinity Episcopal Church in Milford, where he regularly volunteers as an acolyte, reader, and Lay Eucharistic Minister. His passion for helping others also led him to volunteer at the Milford Daily Bread Food Pantry and ultimately earn the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and the Lions Young Ambassador of the 21st Century. These awards recognize students for outstanding community service, leadership, and scholastic achievement. Kee is analyzing his multiple placement opportunities and plans on following an engineering pathway to pursue his masters upon his graduation from BVT in June.

Daniel McDonald is currently the Class of 2020 Salutatorian and a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. Recognized as a National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Student, McDonald has made the Commendation List every term of his high school career. McDonald, who excels in the Information Technology program, has completed multiple IT certifications. He is a SkillsUSA Information Technology Shop competitor as well as the Founder and President of the Game Design and Development Club at BVT.

To strengthen his workforce entry opportunities, McDonald is interested in advancing his vocational-technical education post-high school by pursuing his passion for Computer Science at a four-year college. He is presently pondering a plethora of possibilities.

Superintendent-Director Dr. Michael F. Fitzpatrick was joined by Assistant Superintendent-Director/Principal Anthony Steele in congratulating Kee and McDonald on their awards and thanking them for their many contributions to Valley Tech.

“It is an educator’s dream to work with students like Brandon and Daniel, who have incredible talent, drive, and zest for their futures,” said Steele. “We are happy to celebrate their accomplishments and look forward to seeing their continued success in their future endeavors.”