FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Matt Sheley at (401) 842-6500, ext. 1194 or msheley@middletownri.com
STUDENT OF THE WEEK: GAUDET MIDDLE SCHOOL SEVENTH GRADER KENLEY NEAL
MIDDLETOWN, R.I. (DECEMBER 10, 2021) – In each of the schools across Middletown, there are students doing excellent, noteworthy things. As part of a new feature from the Town, a different student will be spotlighted for their efforts to make Middletown a more special place to live, work and play.
Name: Kenley C. Neal
Age: 12
School: Gaudet Middle School
Grade: 7 in the Stingrays Cluster
Parent(s)/Guardian(s): Tahya & Brian Neal
Accomplishment(s): A child of a military family, Kenley recently moved to Middletown with her parents. An avid swimmer, soccer player and cross country runner, Kenley has been an accomplished student wherever she’s gone, including earning Excellence and Student of the Year awards from her previous school as well as recognized community service projects, Principal’s Honor Roll for a 4.0 GPA previous school every quarter and a President Academic achievement award.
Favorite Color: Light grey and silver
Favorite Band: Imagine Dragons
Best TV Show: Stranger Things
Person/People I Look Up To: “My mom and dad,” Kenley said. “My parents are both so loving and supportive. My mom is so sweet and helpful. My dad is intelligent and brave.”
Go To Meal: Either salmon, sushi or chicken biryani
I’d Rather Not: “I have something called celiac disease, which is an autoimmune condition that makes your immune system attack itself when I eat gluten. I get a headache, stomach pains and nausea when I eat it so I really wish I didn’t have celiac disease.”
Quotable: “I’d like to thank my cluster teachers for my success here,” Kenley said. “They have been so supportive and helpful when it comes to helping me adjust to the school and my celiac disease.” What I’d Like To Do When I’m Older: “When I am older I would like to go to Harvard or Stanford and get a degree in medicine or international relations,” Kenley said. “From there, I’d love to be either a doctor or agent in the CIA. If I didn’t do either of those, I would want to be an analyst for them. I wanted to be in the military like my dad, but I can’t do that because I have celiac disease.”
Favorite Middletown Hangout: “I haven’t been here long, but I really like to go to the Middletown (Public) Library,” Kenley said. “I love to read so the library is my best friend.
Comment From Teacher/Staff Member: The teachers in Kenley’s cluster — Angela Kelley, Jane Violet, Amanda Budzyna and Kerry Howell — provided the following comments.
“We have chosen Kenley because of her work ethic and positivity regardless of circumstances. She has faced some adversity recently and has persevered through it. She always works her absolute hardest and is a sweet, kind and respectful kid. She is well liked by her peers and is a role model for other students.”
Story Link: https://www.middletownri.com/DocumentCenter/View/3256/SOW-Kenley- Neal-GMS