Seniors Emily Ball and Conor McMahon received the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents (M.A.S.S.) Certificate of Excellence during the Walpole School Committee Meeting on Jan. 11.

The M.A.S.S. award is given out annually to one boy and one girl chosen by Superintendent Lincoln Lynch based off of their academics and general involvement in their community. Superintendent Lynch recognized both seniors through a certificate and the reading of a brief description about both students.

“It is important that the potential candidates have extensive community and school service as well as being strong academically,” Walpole High School Principal Stephen Imbusch said.

Superintendent Lynch spoke to both Ball and McMahon prior to the school committee meeting to learn more about their general involvement in and outside of school.

“I would definitely say that I am a hardworking student in my classes but a big part of who I am stems from my participation in my extracurricular activities. I am the Secretary for Student Council as well as the News Editor for the Rebellion. I am on the National Honor Society, I volunteer at my grandmother’s nursing home and I play lacrosse. I really do try to keep myself busy, but I genuinely love everything I do,” Ball said.

After both Ball and McMahon received their award, they accepted and answered a series of questions asked by the school committee about their plan on continuing their academic excellence as well as withhold their achievements in the community.

“We were primarily questioned on specifically our academics and extracurriculars, and why we stand out. Telling the entire committee of my achievements and being able to accept an award for those things made me feel extremely proud for who I am and what I contribute to my community,” McMahon said.

Ball and McMahon both plan to uphold their honor through continued participation in their activities out of school and academics inside of school.

“Receiving the M.A.S.S. Certificate of Excellence was truly an honor,” Ball said. “I hope to represent the award and its values well by being proactive both in school and out and being a mentor to younger students in my extracurriculars.”