Monomoy Regional High School senior Thomas Chase honored with 2026 Superintendent's Award for Academic Excellence

Each year, Superintendent Dr. Scott Carpenter presents one Monomoy Regional High School senior with the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Award for Academic Excellence. This award is given to the high school senior who has distinguished themselves in the pursuit of excellence during their high school career. In selecting the award winner each year, Dr. Carpenter looks for not only academic success within the classroom, but for demonstrations of leadership and initiative within the school and the greater community. Monomoy counselors and administrators help with this selection, and for 2026, the team has selected Thomas Chase to receive the Award for Academic Excellence.

Thomas was presented with the award at the School Committee meeting on January 29, 2026. Dr. Carpenter shared the following remarks when bestowing this honor, which include comments from his counselor:

There is just no way to capture what an amazing young man that Thomas is. Currently holding the  number 1 spot in his senior class, there is a great possibility that Thomas will be the valedictorian come June. Thomas has always impressed me with his academics and drive, but more than that, it is his character. He is truly one of the nicest, kindest, and humble young men I have been fortunate to work with and to learn from. 

In addition to his academic achievements, Thomas is a leader in our school community. Very active in our Project Lead the Way Program, Thomas knows his future pathway will be as an engineer and he has taken advantage of the coursework that he can to help him achieve his goals. Last year, an engineering teacher was on a leave and Thomas took it upon himself to learn the curriculum and teach not just his class but assist the other sections as well. He would learn the materials and write lesson plans for the substitute teacher. No one asked him to do this, but Thomas knew that there was valuable time that would be lost if he did not step up - and step up he did. Thomas also took his love of robotics and engineering to our middle school. Thomas coordinates with middle school staff and since November 2024, he travels to Monomoy Middle School before school and helps middle schoolers learn robotics prior to starting his own school day. Thomas has created a wonderful mentorship program that he will be passing on, truly leaving his mark. 

Thomas has a full plate outside of the classroom  – he is an athlete and a scholar, he is a teacher and a student, he is a leader and a uniter. Thomas is the Class President of his senior class, earning the respect of his peers to be elected into this position. He is a captain of the golf team, captain of the Robotics team, an officer on Student Council and most notably, an Eagle Scout through Boy Scouts of America. In his 10th grade year, Thomas’s Eagle Scout project consisted of building a 350+ foot fence for a Civil War Memorial in a local cemetery. I must also mention that he was the one of two students chosen in 8th grade for Project 351, completed an FBI Camp in the summer of 9th grade, and in 10th grade was nominated to participate in the HOBY program. He also squeezed in a school STEM trip to Japan in spring of 2024. He was also the recipient of the Harvard Book Award; an AP Scholar with Distinction; the Math Department Award - there is no doubt that he has put the work in. 

Outside of school, Thomas has worked alongside his father, a master electrician, for the past five years as an electrical apprentice, and will enter college with more work/trade experience than many of his peers. 

What is more important than his resume, though, is his character. He takes pride in all that he does, he treats people with so much respect, and he is just one of the most mature, kind, and talented students I have ever worked with. 

Without a doubt, Thomas is going to make our world a better place – he is one incredible young man. 

Congratulations!