NORTH SMITHFIELD – Two students who chose unique and challenging subjects for their senior projects have also been named top of their class at North Smithfield High School in 2024.
Kaiden Dalby is the valedictorian and Grace Lane is the salutatorian of the NSHS Class of 2024, according to an announcement this week from the school.
Dalby is the son of Kenneth and Nicole Dalby, and is an accomplished scholar and athlete, playing on the varsity boys’ tennis team from grades 10 to 12, serving as co-captain during his senior year, and earning an All-Division Doubles First Team selection during his junior year season.
During his senior year, he served as president of the National Honor Society, organizing and operating multiple successful fundraisers, according to a release from the graduate. He also sat as a student representative on the School Improvement Team during his junior and senior years, helping to develop initiatives to decrease chronic absenteeism.
The valedictorian’s other extra-curricular activities include participation in the Testoster-tones men’s choir and in the RIMEA All-State choral festival during his senior year. Dalby also competed with the math team during his junior and senior years. He was a member of the Film Club during his junior year, and earned the Rhode Island Civics Leadership Award in 2023 for his continued involvement in judging the We
the People civics competition.
Outside of school, North Smithfield High School’s top student for 2024 says he loves to travel, construct LEGO sets, and spend time with friends and family.
Dalby notes he was unsure what to do for his senior project this year and wanted something unique. On recommendation of his advisory teacher, the senior ended up learning how to do magic. He notes that he always had an interest in magic, and ended up working with the President of the Rhode Island Societies of Magicians to learn a variety of impressive tricks, ranging from cards to ropes. In addition to entertaining friends and family with the tricks, Dalby did a demonstration at the elementary school, and notes that he always enjoyed the shocked reactions of his audience.
He said he is grateful for the family, teachers and friends who have helped and motivated him throughout his high school journey, and for the wonderful experiences he’s had being raised in North Smithfield.
Dalby will be attending either Connecticut College or Williams College to pursue a degree in chemistry in the fall.
Salutatorian Lane is the daughter of Sean and Sarah Lane. She is a recognized scholar, musician and athlete, with extracurricular activities that have included playing French horn in the school’s concert band and piano in the jazz band. Lane is the current vice president of the band, and has participated in RIMEA All-State Festival for all four years.
She also has been a member of the track team for four years, and joined the cross country team for her senior season. She holds multiple school records in the mid-distance events, and is the current captain of the track team. Lane is also a member of the National Honor Society and Select Choir.
Last summer, she worked as a camp counselor at Camp Phoenix in North Smithfield. In her free time, she said she enjoys going to the beach, shopping and traveling to new places.
For her senior project, Lane has been writing articles for The Valley Breeze newspaper as a student columnist. She said she has always loved reading and writing, and wanted to learn more about journalism. Lane said she has enjoyed the new connections she has built as a result, and hopes that her efforts have helped to bridge the gap between the high school and the North Smithfield community.
Lane said she is grateful to the family, friends, and teachers who have supported and encouraged her throughout high school, thanking, especially, her parents, her brother Sam, and Coach Gary Seal for always believing in her.
Lane has not yet committed to a college, but plans to study English at Tufts University in the fall.
