June 2 – Editor’s Note: The Day annually publishes a series of stories highlighting outstanding seniors graduating from the region’s 16 public and private high schools.
Groton – When Benyris Acevedo, a senior at Ella T. Grasso Technical High School, was younger, she remembers being inspired by seeing her two older sisters working on drawing.
Acevedo, who loves math, liked the idea of using her creativity to make things and help others.
Now, Acevedo will be the third person in her family to graduate from Ella. T. Grasso Technical High School’s Mechanical Design and Engineering Technology program and enters the engineering field.
Acevedo’s sisters, Tanairi Acevedo-Ramos, 24, a structural designer, and Tamara Acevedo-Ramos, 22, a mechanical designer, both work at Electric Boat.
Acevedo plans to study mechanical engineering at Connecticut State Community College Three Rivers and also wants to become a designer at Electric Boat.
She said that although working in a male-dominated field can be a bit difficult and nerve-wracking at first, her sisters gave her the confidence that she could succeed.
“It gave me confidence to know that if they could do it, I could do it too, because they were always my role models,” Acevedo said, “so seeing them succeed really helped me push myself and to gain the confidence to know that I could succeed too.”
Acevedo, a Waterford resident who ranked in the top 10 of her senior class, hopes to show girls that they too can achieve anything they set their minds to.
To prepare for her career, Acevedo has spent the past two years interning at Groton Utilities, where she is also considering working in the future.
Daniel Bouges, communications and community outreach manager for Groton Utilities, said Groton Utilities is proud to have Acevedo working at the utility and that she has been an excellent intern.
In the future, Acevedo also hopes to design homes to help the many people who need a place to live.
Acevedo said her mother inspired her to help other people. Ever since Acevedo was young, she and her sisters watched their mother bring and distribute food to the people at St. Mary Star of the Sea Church.
Acevedo, who won a Good Citizenship Award from the Daughters of the American Revolution, said she helps people by being there for them.
“If anyone ever has a problem, they can always trust me, and I will do my best to help them,” she said, “and if I see someone who is having a hard time, I always try to talk to him or her and to see if anything is there. I can do.”
At her high school, she is a member of Students for Recovery, a club focused on spreading awareness about addiction and mental health, and Interact, a club focused on community service. She is secretary of the National Honors Society, a student mentor, volunteers at the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center and helps out at her church.
She is also part of Higher Edge, an organization that helps students with study and scholarship applications.
Acevedo said she envisions staying in the area, but if not, she would probably like to spend time with family in Puerto Rico, where her father’s side of the family lives.
When her family goes to Puerto Rico, they visit historical and cultural sites, and she sees and learns more about her culture.
Acevedo’s parents, Benjamin Acevedo and Margarita Ramos, said they are proud of their daughter and all her achievements.
“Growing up, Benyris always wanted to look like her sisters and see them as her role models,” they said. “Her hard work and many challenges have allowed her to get where she is today.”
Her sisters, Tanairi Acevedo-Ramos and Tamara Acevedo-Ramos, said they are proud of her. They said that even though she is the third Acevedo sister, she was still able to accomplish things for herself that they could not, such as having her high school select her for the Senior Profile.
“Benyris is kind and generous, as well as an excellent student and role model,” said Patrice Granatosky, a social studies instructor who organizes the Interact Club. “No matter what she works on, she always does her best. I love hearing about her achievements and am very excited for her to begin the next chapter in her life. But we will miss her gentle smile and gracious spirit.”
Thomas Allen, Department Head of Mechanical Design and Engineering Technology, said Acevedo took advantage of a great opportunity to learn a trade and performed very well in it.
“She has a very bright future, like her two sisters, in the world of engineering and design,” he said.
k.drelich@theday.com
