These students are likely just a handful of the many accomplished scholars from Braintree in high school or college. If you know of any other students worthy of praise, email joseph.markman@patch.com or comment below!

Clemson University

Kayla Ann Walbridge of Braintree has been named to the Dean's List at Clemson University for the spring 2012 semester.

Walbridge is majoring in Communication Studies.

To be named to the Dean's List, a student achieved a grade-point average between 3.50 and 3.99 on a 4.0 scale.

Ranked No. 25 among national public universities, Clemson University is a major, land-grant, science- and engineering-oriented research university that maintains a strong commitment to teaching and student success. Clemson is an inclusive, student-centered community characterized by high academic standards, a culture of collaboration, school spirit, and a competitive drive to excel.

American International College

Morgan Kelly of Braintree was among the 1,200 students to receive degrees from American International College in Springfield, Mass. Kelly, a Moderate Disabilities (MED) major, was awarded a Master of Education degree.

Students from as far away as California and as old as 62 years of age were among those receiving degrees at the 2012 AIC Commencement Ceremony, which was held at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, Mass.

More than 330 undergraduate degrees and some 850 graduate diplomas were awarded, including the first degrees in the college's Doctor of Education program.

Michael Polt, U.S. Ambassador to Estonia, and Frank Colaccino, CEO of the Colvest Group, were the speakers and received honorary degrees during the ceremony.

The students from the Class of 2012 represented more than 15 U.S. states and 10 foreign countries, including Canada, India, Russia, Spain, Kenya, China, Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and Poland.

UMass Lowell

A record number of graduates – 2900 – were presented with diplomas at UMass Lowell’s 2012 Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 26 at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell. 

To accommodate the large number of graduates, two ceremonies were held. The morning ceremony honored bachelor’s degree recipients and featured Commencement addresses by U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and student speaker Bonie Rosario Jr., an engineering major from Brockton. The afternoon ceremony recognized recipients of master’s and doctoral degrees at which UMass President Emeritus Jack Wilson, now a faculty member in UMass Lowell’s Manning School of Business, and Jessica Huizenga of Burlington, who received a doctorate in education, delivered Commencement addresses. 

The following local students received diplomas:

Braintree MA    Erin Leigh Higgins

Braintree MA    Frances Jean-Baptiste

Braintree MA    Elaine Marie O'Gara

Mount Ida College

Cheryl Evans Hill of Braintree, MA received a degree in Interior Design during Mount Ida College's 113th Commencement held on May 18, 2012. Mount Ida College conferred 223 bachelor's degrees and 63 associate degrees to undergraduates at the spring commencement ceremony with special guest and commencement speaker U.S. Senator John Kerry.

Catholic Memorial

Mr. Richard Chisholm, Principal of Catholic Memorial School, has recognized the following local students for achieving placement on the fourth quarter honor roll:

To be recognized on the Principal's List, students must achieve a 94.5% average or higher in all classes with no grade below a 90.  For First Honors: an 89.5% to 94.4% average with no grade below an 80.  For Second Honors: an 84.5% to 89.4% average with no grade below a 75.

Clarkson University

Nurul Hasni of Braintree, MA, a graduate of Braintree High School, will attend Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., as a member of the Class of 2016. Hasni, who will be majoring in chemical engineering, will begin studying at Clarkson in the fall.

"We look forward to having Nurul join us on campus in August," said Dean of Admissions Brian T. Grant.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company.

Ithaca College

Sean Carty, a resident of Braintree, MA, graduated from Ithaca College's School of Humanities and Sciences with a major in Writing. The degree was awarded in May 2012.

Coeducational and nonsectarian, Ithaca College is a nationally recognized independent college of some 6,300 undergraduates and 400 graduate students. Located in Ithaca, New York, the college offers more than 100 degree programs through the Schools of Business, Communications, Health Sciences and Human Performance, Humanities and Sciences, and Music as well as the Division of Graduate and Professional Studies and Division of Interdisciplinary and International Studies.

Fairfield University

Fairfield University, a Jesuit university founded in 1942 in Fairfield, Connecticut, awarded 1,328 degrees at its 62nd Commencement on Sunday, May 20, 2012, during two ceremonies on Bellarmine Hall Lawn, one in the morning for undergraduates, and one in the afternoon for those receiving graduate and doctorate degrees.

The following area residents received degrees:

David Hughes, a resident of Braintree, MA, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairfield University's Charles F. Dolan School of Business.

Kimberly Logue, a resident of Braintree, MA, received a Bachelor of Science degree from Fairfield University's School of Nursing.

Tanya Rossicone, a resident of Braintree, MA, received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Fairfield University's College of Arts and Sciences.

Fairfield University is a comprehensive Jesuit institution that prepares students for leadership and service in a constantly changing world. The University has awarded more than 45,000 degrees and has developed a national and international reputation for educational excellence.

–Info from readMedia Newswire, UMass, Catholic Memorial