WARWICK, RI (June 1, 2022) – On the final day of classes for seniors, the School Leadership Team is proud to announce the Class of 2022’s Valedictorian and Salutatorian: Daniel Franchetti ’22 and Neil Dungca ’22, respectively. Both students will offer remarks at the 61st Graduation Exercises on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 5pm in the Cathedral of Saints Peter & Paul.
“To say we’re proud of these young men is a tremendous understatement,” said Principal Mark DeCiccio ’03. “Daniel and Neil are incredible scholars who have dedicated themselves to their education in the most advanced and challenging courses we offer over four years. And, as talented as they are, they’re even better people. You couldn’t ask for more as an educator.”
Ranked first in the graduating class, Franchetti began his Hendricken career in the 8th Grade SELECT program. Since then, he’s amassed an academic profile that has included a President’s List distinction every semester while taking a full Honors and Advanced Placement course load. Franchetti is an Academic Decathlon State Champion, National Merit Commended Scholar, and member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematical Honor Society, National French Honor Society, Rhode Island Honor Society, and National Junior Honor Society. He has earned gold and silver medals in 3 Science Olympiad competitions; is a 4-year Culture Fair finalist, including a first and second place finish; a Robotics State Finalist; and a DECA Business Finance state runner-up. In 2021, Franchetti earned the General Treasurer’s Young Leader Award and is also a Harvard College Book Award recipient.
Outside of the classroom, Franchetti is a member of the Academic Decathlon, M3 16-Hour Challenge, Hawks’ Writing Center, Student Council, Math Team, The Talon (school newspaper), Ambassadors Club, Robotics, Leadership Academy, DECA, Science Olympiad, Business Club, French Club, and Chess Club. He also serves as a Peer Mentor in the Options Program and is a camp counselor for his parish’s vacation Bible camp. A certified black belt in martial arts, Franchetti ran cross country at Hendricken during his 8th grade year.
Franchetti will study Actuarial Science at St. John’s University in Queens, New York in the fall.
Dungca boasts an equally impressive resume, including a President’s List distinction every semester while taking a full Honors and Advanced Placement course load. He also began his career at Hendricken in the 8th Grade SELECT program. Dungca is an Academic Decathlon State Champion, National Merit Commended Scholar, and member of the National Honor Society, National English Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematical Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, and Rhode Island Honor Society. In 2020, he earned a silver medal on the National Spanish Exam Level 3 test. Dungca has placed both first and second place in the Rhode Island State Science Fair in 2018 and 2019 respectively. In 2019, he earned a Rhode Island All-State Solo medal for piano with a Superior Rating.
Dungca is also an active presence on campus. In 2019, he earned a Rhode Island Table Tennis High School Championship, followed by a third place finish in 2019. He is also a member of Academic Decathlon, the Hawks’ Writing Center, Board Game Design Club, Math Team, Esports, Leadership Academy, and Science Olympiad. Dungca has been playing piano since 2012 and guitar since 2020. An active member of his parish, he’s performed over 150 hours of community service as a volunteer and tutor for Fr. John V. Doyle School and Saints John and Paul Church in Coventry. He’s also completed the Naval STEM Camp and was a member of the Diocesan Leadership Team.
Dungca will major in Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts in the fall.
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CONTACT: Christian Kabbas ’14
Director of Communications & Marketing
ckabbas@hendricken.com
401.889.5395