We extend our warmest congratulations to our 10th-grade scholars Fatima Kaba, Niala Dorsainvil, and Hailee Jean. They are being recognized by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)  for their outstanding Civics Project, Lack of Voting Within Our Community.

This prestigious recognition stems from New Heights’ participation in the 2026 Regional Civics Showcase in Worcester. Out of numerous entries across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, our student-led initiative was one of only nine groups to receive a commendation in the highly competitive category of Research and Investigation.

To honor this academic milestone, each scholar received a personalized commendation letter from DESE Commissioner Pedro Martinez. Furthermore, their exemplary work has been featured in the Commendation section of the official Massachusetts Civics Project Showcases website.

As an Early College school, New Heights is dedicated to equipping students with the advanced critical thinking and methodological skills required for higher education. This achievement is a direct reflection of that mission. Our scholars didn’t just look at a problem—they conducted their own research research, analyzed systemic community challenges, and proposed innovative, data-driven solutions.

We are immensely proud of our students and their relentless effort to address everyday civic challenges. We also commend our dedicated faculty for their unwavering commitment to preparing our students with the college-level research skills necessary to tackle complex, real-world issues.

Congratulations again to Fatima, Niala, and Hailee on this incredible academic milestone in your high school journeys. We look forward to cheering you on as you continue to leverage your research skills to investigate and champion issues that deeply impact our community, our commonwealth, and our nation.