Kristina Ladd, of Ayer, Mass., is a recent graduate of Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School where she was an active member of her school’s Model United Nations team, winning two accolades for excellence in oral presentation. Kristina volunteered as a peer tutor while keeping up a work schedule of 10-20 hours a week at a local store. In the summer of 2012, Kristina studied college-level Spanish in Costa Rica, as well as completing two other exploratory academic summer programs; one at UCONN and the other at Dartmouth College. For her year-long senior project, she researched the psychological resilience of adolescents and, in doing so, recognized her own resiliency. In the fall, Kristina will be attending Rowan University, majoring in chemical engineering. She hopes to attain her Master’s degree in chemical engineering and looks forward to working for an international company where she can bring a global perspective.