4/14/2020

From left, are Valedictorian Ethan Fleury and Salutatorian Victoria Chmielinski.

PAWTUCKET Tolman High Schools top two students for the Class of 2020 have more in common than their exceptional grades: both Valedictorian Ethan Fleury and Salutatorian Victoria Chmielinski aspire to careers in the medical field because they want to help others.

Fleurys academic and extracurricular accomplishments are outstanding, and Chmielinski is an exceptional student who has achieved remarkable academic and extracurricular successes, said school officials.

Fleury, son of Robert and Martina Fleury, earned a grade point average of 4.214 to earn the number one ranking in his class.

Im very happy, he said of the recognition. I did work hard. Its a big deal, sure, but I just did what I was supposed to do during school. Im appreciative of all the teachers who were there to help me through.

Throughout his high school career, he took Advanced Standing and Advanced Placement courses in all core subjects and was inducted into the National Honor Society during his junior year.

At Tolman, Fleury served as vice president of the student council for four years and as a co-leader of the Gay Straight Alliance during his senior year. He also participated in yearbook, mathletes, and volleyball.

In the fall, Fleury plans on attending the University of Rhode Island to study nursing after which he hopes to study cardiology in medical school.

I want to do something that helps people, he said of his career path. Hes also fascinated by science, biology, and viruses, he added.

Before the COVID-19 crisis hit, Fleury served as a volunteer at Miriam Hospital in Providence.

His favorite thing about living in Pawtucket has been how connected everyone is, he said. Its a nice community.

What will he miss most about Tolman? His friends, he said. I had a really good group. We challenged each other to be better. That group, he said, included Chmielinski.

Chmielinski, daughter of Thomas and Maria Chmielinski, was enrolled in six Advanced Placement courses, received the Principals Award during her freshman year, the Wellesley College Book Award her junior year, and was inducted into the National Honor Society in her junior year.

Its kind of crazy, she said of being named salutatorian. So much hard work has brought us to this moment.

Passionate about tennis, she was the captain of the tennis team during her junior and senior years and received the 1st Team All Division Singles Tennis Award and the 2nd Team All Division Tennis Award during her time at Tolman. When shes on the court, it gets my mind off everything around me and makes me feel better, she said.

She also served as secretary of the Student Council for four years and has been involved in the Math League, SMILE Club, and indoor/outdoor track.

She also volunteered at her church, St. Josephs in Central Falls, teaching younger children about religion, she said.

While Chmielinski recently moved to Riverside, she didnt want to switch schools for her last year of high school. Everything I accomplished was at Tolman, she said. I didnt want to give that up.

Fluent in both English and Polish, Chmielinski said she likes the diversity at Tolman and has enjoyed meeting people from different cultures.

She said her teachers and friends are what shell remember most about the high school. Chmielinski plans to pursue her bachelors degree at Salve Regina University in the fall, studying biology and pre-med after which she hopes to attend medical school.

My goal is to have a career in the medical field, she said. I dont know right now what (specific field) I want. I want to help people.

Because of the COVID-19 crisis, Pawtucket schools switched to a virtual learning model last month and canceled all events for the foreseeable future. Graduations, according to Supt. Cheryl McWilliams, are on hold as administrators wait for guidance from state officials.

Spending their last couple of months as seniors at home has been a challenge, but Fleury and Chmielinski both say theyre adjusting and talk with friends virtually every day.

We were all looking forward to prom, walking the stage at graduation, Chmielinski said.

Everyone feels bummed out by everything being canceled, Fleury said, but added that as time goes on, its getting easier.

More:
Tolman's top two students have their sights on medical school - Valley Breeze