As seen in the annual ‘Terrific Teens’ issue of West Hartford Magazine, 2014.

Tucker Charette. Photo by Todd Fairchild, ShutterbugCT.com

While the list of bright and competent students from West Hartford seems endless, we have selected a small handful of dedicated young men and women, all recent graduates from each of the five West Hartford High Schools, to represent this year’s ‘terrific teens’ to watch in our community.

Not only are they teens with dreams, but they are already acting on them. Each of them has the desire to make a difference. To create a positive change in the world. They are, without a doubt, great role models to represent our community.

Congratulations. We look forward to watching you blossom as you now go out into the world to inspire us all. Today we put the spotlight on Tucker Charette:

Now a student at the Caroll School of Management at Boston College, Tucker Charette is a proud graduate of Kingswood Oxford School.

Tucker was class president as well as a member of the Shield & Dragon tour guide committee. He was also head of a freshman advisory group in his senior year, helping freshmen get oriented and build connections during their first year at the high school.

Outside of school, Tucker was involved with the non-profit golf program “First Tee of Connecticut” – a national organization to help expose kids, who otherwise may not have the means, to the sport of golf.

“I like doing volunteer work,” he says. “Making an impact on someone’s life and having fun doing it is priceless.”

Aside from his love of golf, Tucker was also on the varsity baseball team at school, played basketball, and enjoyed skiing with friends on weekends. “My best memory of high school will always be my senior year baseball season. It was a great year!”

“I had lots of favorite subjects in school,” says Tucker. “I’ve always been more of a math and science kind of guy. Economics was probably my favorite. Miss Tracy Deeter, my teacher, was great!”

Tucker not only likes to learn but likes to accomplish goals as well. “In college I am feeling out exactly what I want to do in business. My dad is a contractor and I worked on many of his construction sites. I will definitely go into some type of business for myself.”

“I’ve been lucky to have a lot of good mentors in my life. But my biggest influence has come from my parents. My mom is very organized and taught me how to manage my life. My dad works a lot and with his work ethic taught me about the importance of having a positive attitude.”

And Tucker’s inspirational attitude did not go unnoticed. At Kingswood Oxford he received the Wyper Award for Excellence in Latin during his junior year, the prestigious Dartmouth Book Award for academic leadership qualities, and the Van Horn Scholarship given to just one student at each of the local high schools.

When he’s back at home, Tucker enjoys hanging out at Moe’s or on the basketball court with friends. “I enjoy my home life a little too much,” laughs Tucker. “While I love traveling and doing other things, I most enjoy hanging out with my friends locally.”

True to his appreciation of friendship, Tucker leaves us with his favorite quote: “There are no strangers here … only friends we haven’t yet met.”

Please check back every Tuesday and Friday to see another teen spotlight! To view our full teen story please view West Hartford Magazine here.