Former valedictorians to graduate from MIT, USAFA

Taylor V’Dovec and Hillary Kiele, former valedictorians of Blaine High School’s class of 2015, are getting ready to graduate from two very different but equally prestigious institutions.

V’Dovec will be graduating this spring from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She will be receiving her bachelor of science in mechanical engineering. In addition to her demanding academic schedule, V’Dovec played four years of Division III basketball for MIT and was a member of their track team her freshman year.

V’Dovec’s busy schedule left her minimal time to return home for Christmas and summer breaks. She had internships each summer, working at various companies in Boston, Italy and Detroit. Additionally, V’Dovec worked on campus during the school year as a tour guide, blogger, librarian and, most recently, on a research project involving fluid dynamics in the MIT water test tank.

Kiele will be graduating this spring from the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA). She will be graduating with honors and is currently ranked eighth in her class of over 1,000 students. Kiele will be receiving her bachelor of science in political science. She ran Division I cross country and track for USAFA her freshman year. In addition to her rigorous academic schedule, Kiele had a demanding military schedule, which included her being appointed the Academy’s Cadet Colonial Director of Operations in her senior year.

Kiele’s summers were spent participating in various military excursions and trainings. She has taken full advantage of the unique opportunities presented by USAFA including earning her jump wings (jumping out of a plane at least five times at age 19) and traveling to Israel, Jordan, Japan and Africa. She is currently traveling to the Balkans with her political science department for spring break.

V’Dovec and Kiele were determined not to let their demanding college years interfere with their friendship, so they made it a point to spend their Thanksgiving breaks together in Boston. They have planned a 20-day trip to Europe following graduation, in order to enjoy each other’s company before their respective careers likely take them to different continents.

V’Dovec has secured a job with Boeing at their Seal Beach office in southern California. She will be a mechanical design and analysis engineer in the interceptor missiles and submarines division.

Kiele will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. Before she embarks on her career in logistics at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany, she will attend graduate school. Kiele has been offered admission to American University’s School of International Service in Washington, D.C. where she will pursue a master’s degree in international relations.