Maxime Gelfond Of Natick Named Keefe Tech Class of 2010 Valedictorian

Joseph P. Keefe Technical School Superintendent-Director James Lynch is pleased to announce that Maxime Gelfond of Natick, daughter of the late Lea Sheflott and of Eric Gelfond and Marissa Farrell, has been named the Class of 2010 Valedictorian.

“I’ve been working hard for four years,” said Gelfond, a Visual Design and Communications senior who has received numerous school awards for everything from academic excellence to leadership and perseverance. Gelfond will attend the Massachusetts College of Art and Design to pursue a major in Fashion Design after graduation.

"During Maxime's time at Keefe, we have provided students with a more challenging curriculum that includes Honors level courses,” said Keefe Tech Principal Patricia Canali. “Maxime rose to the challenge and set a great example for future students to follow,” she added.

“I’ve been drawing all my life, and I heard about Keefe’s visual design program when I was in middle school, so I knew this was where I wanted to go to high school,” Gelfond explained. “In Visual Design, I learned about color theory and programs like Illustrator and Adobe InDesign. It gave me the chance to figure out what I was good at, what I wanted to do, and helped me develop my design skills.”

n her spare time, Gelfond is an avid sewer and recently began working as an intern at a local dress shop to enhance her skills before entering college in the fall.

Gelfond is a founding member of the Keefe Tech Drama Club, which was formed in January 2009. “The Drama Club was a chance to come out and have fun,” she noted. “The Advisor for the club, Mr. Kelley, is someone who I really look up to. He was also my English teacher in 10th and 11th grade,” she said, adding that English and Science are her favorite academic subjects.

In addition to her involvement with the Drama Club, Gelfond serves as Secretary for the Keefe Tech Chapter of SkillsUSA and brought home a gold medal for her team profile during the SkillsUSA Fall State Leadership Conference.

Gelfond also recently received the Massachusetts Vocational Association’s 2010 Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award. She was honored during the Statewide Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award Banquet on April 15 at Mechanics Hall in Worcester, where she was presented with a plaque in recognition of her achievement.

The Outstanding Vocational Technical Student Award is presented to one student from each vocational/technical high school throughout Massachusetts based on scholastic and vocational/technical achievements, contributions to the local school district, and ability to exemplify the ideas and leadership that represent vocational technical education for the 21st century.

Keefe Technical School, located in Framingham, MA, is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition to 13 different vocational programs, Keefe Tech offers a complete college preparatory program to students from the communities of Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, and Natick.