Top of Their Class: Rice Announces the Class of 2022 Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Valedictorian, Sydney Washburn

Sydney was the recipient of the Vermont Scholar-Leader Award in eighth grade, and proceeded to receive the Freshman award for Latin, the Sophomore award for Mathematics, and the Kristen Charlebois History award and the Harvard Book award in her Junior year. Since Sophomore year, she has played the violin, and participated in the 2022 Rice production of Little Women: The Musical. Throughout her four years at Rice, she has been a Poetry Out Loud finalist and participated in clubs such as Debate Club, Crochet Club, and Neuroscience Club. Outside of clubs, Sydney has participated in soccer and lacrosse, and later was invited into the National Honors Society. She enjoys learning new instruments, and the inner mechanics involved with the making and repairing of instruments, as well as spending summers with her rather extensive family. Currently, she works at Saint Francis Xavier school’s afterschool program and at the Vermont Historical Society Museum in Montpelier, and acts as co-president of Debate Club. Sydney plans on attending the University of Vermont in the Honors College next year as a history major. Her aspirations for the future are to work as a museum curator, or enter into law.

Sydney is an engaging, inquisitive, confident, and ambitious student. She pursues excellence and always strives for her personal best. As a student, she possesses an innate curiosity and zest for learning. She is intelligent, kind, and humble--a role model for her peers. She loves history, which is evident through her volunteer work with the VT Historical Museum.

“In my fifteen years teaching at Rice I have never met such a happy student as Sydney Washburn. Since freshman year she has remained curious, interested, hard working, respectful, and cooperative. Whatever the class, whatever the time of day, Sydney can be seen reading or writing attentively and with a quizzical smile. She is a lover of learning and a very happy student. Sydney will be missed.” John Cirignano

Salutatorian, Libby Stevens

Ever since she started at Rice, Libby knew she wanted to get involved in the school community. Freshman year she joined the field hockey team because she felt it would help make new friends. Libby ended up playing field hockey all four years and in that time, won a State Championship title and was awarded the honor of team captain in her senior year. Libby also played on the tennis team and served as captain her junior and senior years. Libby was involved with Student Council first as a secretary/treasurer then as Student Body President during her senior year. She credits student council with helping to develop her leadership and communication skills. In her junior year, Libby co-founded Rice’s community service-based Crochet Club as well as took on the role of fundraising leader for the Refugee Outreach Club. Libby has enjoyed getting involved in many aspects of student life and has thrived academically. Though she’s sad to leave her peers, she’s excited to continue her education at the Villanova School of Business. 

Academically, Libby is obviously a stand-out student, however she is equally as impressive in personality and character. Libby is a natural leader and role model in our community. She takes initiative and responsibility for her education and personal goals. 


"Libby is a student who doesn't just learn the material to be able to do well on an assessment, instead she is curious as to why things work out the way they do,” explains math teacher Paul DiFalco. “She asks excellent questions and is never afraid to admit that she doesn’t understand a concept. She then works at it until she has grasped the material. She had developed a great work ethic that I am sure has only gotten stronger as his high school career progressed. I believe that Libby will be an academic success wherever she goes.  She has also been a terrific leader throughout her time on the Student Council.  As a junior and as the pandemic was controlling everything we did, Libby led the way to find a venue where we could hold a safe and fun prom. She was determined to make this event happen and a great time was had by all those who attended”.


Congratulations Sydney and Libby – we wish you well!