Alumni Spotlight:
Hello! I am Mia Oliveira and I graduated from Bristol Aggie in 2022 from Large Animal Science. I am currently a rising junior in the Honors College at UMass Dartmouth as a Marine Biology major, also minoring in Sustainability. On campus, I've had many opportunities working with research professors toward my Honors Capstone "APEX" research project- studying embryonic development of anemone fishes due to environmental changes. Exciting! Currently, I am field interning at SMAST West as part of the Coastal Systems Program, where we sample waterways in the area to address polluting factors. I was awarded the 2024 OUR summer undergraduate research award, which funds my research project "Quantifying Efficacy of a Floating Treatment Wetland in Long Pond, Centerville, MA." I will be publishing and presenting my research at the end of the year!! I've continued to ride horses through college and still compete when I can! In my free time I love to fish, go camping and spend time with friends and family. I've included some photos of my work and horses!
Alumni Spotlight:
Blake [Agricultural Mechanics ‘17] & Ally [Large Animal Science ‘17] (Bettencourt) Wethington met during their freshman year at Bristol Aggie in 2013.
Blake is a talented fabricator and diesel mechanic and spent several years working as a marine diesel mechanic for Windward Power Systems in Fairhaven. In 2021, he graduated Cum Laude from Massachusetts Maritime Academy with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Engineering. Blake has worked offshore in the oil industry since graduating from Mass Maritime and is now a Third Assistant Engineer on the Shell FPSO Turritella in the Gulf of Mexico.
In 2016, Ally was the first place individual and member of the national winning Bristol FFA Veterinary Science CDE team. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Connecticut Honors Program with a dual Bachelor of Science in Pathobiology and Animal Science in 2021. In May of 2025, she will graduate as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Ally is passionate about equine disease research and has published a first-author paper in the American Journal of Veterinary Research on the involvement of specific antibodies in protecting foals against Rhodococcus equi, a bacterium that causes a severe, and often fatal, pneumonia in young horses. She has received several honors for her dedication to equine medicine from industry organizations including the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo, Zoetis, Merck Animal Health, and the American Association of Equine Practitioners. After graduating as a DVM, Ally plans to complete an equine internship and residency in large animal internal medicine, in hopes of one day becoming a professor of equine internal medicine at a veterinary school.
After ten years together, Blake and Ally were married in March of 2024. They currently reside in Texas with their dog, a redbone coonhound mix named Luke.
Alumni Spotlight:
My name is Trevor Clapp, I graduated from Bristol Aggie in 2020 and just graduated from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Animal Science: Dairy Management. I was recently accepted to North Carolina State University where I will be completing a Masters degree in Animal Science researching precision farm technology. Beyond school I have also enjoyed volunteering for NH 4-H, rock climbing, and working at the homeless shelter in my community for the last year and a half. I have been able to travel the world these past 4 years working on a dairy farm during a summer internship in New Zealand, and studying abroad over spring break in Namibia. While a part of the UNH Dairy Club I competed at Dairy Challenge, American Dairy Science Association, and NESA competitions. I owe lots of thanks to Bristol Aggie for preparing me for my future and look forward to the adventures that await.
Alumni Spotlight:
I’m Andrea Smeal (Hall), I graduated in 2012. I have been active duty Air Force for the past 12 years, where I have been able to live in South Korea (twice), United Kingdom, UAE, Kuwait, and am now currently stationed at Dover AFB. I am graduating with my BS in Business from Penn State in Aug. I have been married to my husband for 10 years and we have 2 children, my son, 15, and daughter, 2.
Alumni Spotlight:
Brad and Alexia are 2017 class Alumni!
Brad was a Mechanics major, while Alexia majored in Floriculture and after graduating they managed to find their way to one another. They are now set to get married in October 2024.
After high school Brad got his EMT license, continued his education, and now he is working full time as a Fairhaven Firefighter. Whereas, Alexia graduated with her Bachelors in Marketing from Bridgewater State in 2021 and she now works as a Program Manager and Content Creator.
Alumni Spotlight:
My name is Lily Dias, I graduated in 2021 majoring in Large Animal Science. While at Aggie I worked as an animal science student worker on the farm and was active in 4-H and FFA as well as helping to run my own farm and show my beef cattle all over the country. Since leaving Aggie, I have become a vet tech (working at Bristol County Animal Clinic) and an animal control officer, in addition to increasing my farm production. While I still continue to show my beef cattle and increase herd numbers, I took my aggie learned knowledge and taught myself to artificially breed my cattle to produce better stock at a more efficient rate. Most recently I have started a farm based business where I sell beef, pork, and eggs all raised naturally and humanely on my farm in Norton (Dias & Daughter. Farm). Currently I attend 6 farmers markets where I am proud to provide my local community with high quality, actually LOCAL & FARM FRESH beef and pork! I have big plans for the future of my new small business! Find us on instagram @diasanddaughtersfarm or Facebook as Dias & Daughters Farm
Alumni Spotlight:
Hi! My name is Lexi DiCorpo I just recently graduated Natural Resource Management class of 2023! I’m now working as a technician assistant at Bay State Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Services and am in pursuit of my Associates Degree in Veterinary Technology to hopefully take the VTNE next year and become a registered Veterinary Technician and specialized in exotic animal medicine. Here’s some photos of a few of my purrfect patients!
Our Agricultural Mechanics department worked to make a saw to gift Ms. Duffy at her retirement party. Thank you for all your hard work on this project, and thank you to Ms. Duffy for being a part of our Aggie family for the past 34 years! #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
Attention alumni!
This summer we are hoping to have an alumni spotlight series so we can showcase the great work our alumni have been doing since leaving Bristol Aggie. If you are interested, please email media@bcahs.com for more information!
On Friday, Mr. Johnson's chemistry sophomores made ice cream to celebrate the last full day of the school year! #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
Our freshmen in Equine Science have been learning hands-on with our horses! These students have been learning the ropes of caring for our horses before summer break. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
Our Landscape Design and Contracting students are preparing the production nursery for summer! Students are working on a variety of projects including irrigation, potting stock material, and maintaining our in ground perennials which we grow for Sylvan Nurseries. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
On Monday, sophomores in Environmental Engineering worked with Save the Bay to mark out storm drains to encourage the community to not dump into drains in Swansea. Storm drains are used to divert and manage excess rain water, and can carry harmful pollutants with them. Anything dumped into storm drains, such as oil, pet waste, and chemicals will flow directly into our Bay- so to encourage the public not to dump their waste, we are marking them with "Do Not Dump, Drains to Rivers" stickers.
We've had a busy week in Agricultural Mechanics! After being featured in the Seekonk Memorial Day Parade, our students are continuing to restore our 1940s tractor after finding an issue with the engine. They are also working to build sides for a metal pallet for Landscape Design and Contracting to use. In the morning, our sophomores are working to help repair a school truck. The pistol that lifts the bed broke through the truck, so students are working to reinforce the structure of the bed and to fabricate and weld in a new mounting bracket. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
Before last week's graduation, our Arboriculture students worked to clean our bucket truck and attach an American flag to it. Great work, everyone! #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
Earlier this week, our Floriculture students worked hard in preparation for yesterday's graduation! #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
After completing research, juniors in our Veterinary Science and Laboratory Animal Technology program are presenting their projects! The class also had an in-depth discussion about laws concerning laboratory animal welfare. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
Graduation is today! Our valedictorian is Julianna Dufresne! Julianna is the Bristol Chapter FFA president and has competed in veterinary science and prepared public speaking. She will be attending Johnson and Wales University in the Fall to double major in Biology and Public Health, with hopes to pursue a career in infectious disease.
Graduation is tomorrow! Our salutatorian is Ava Freitas! Ava is the Senior Representative of the Student Council and leads the Bible study club, as well as a member of the National Honor Society, a Student Ambassador, and a member of BA Voice. She was Jr. President and Student Advisor of the FFA Bristol Chapter before becoming a Massachusetts FFA State Officer. She plans on attending Bridgewater State University to major in Biology with a minor in Audio Production, before attending veterinary school to specialize in Equine Surgery while continuing her music career.
Today, juniors in our Environmental Conservation Department participated in our annual Underway Day field trip. This is the culmination of the Boater Safety Course cooperative with the Massachusetts Environmental Police. Our students were operating both motorized and non-motorized watercrafts on the Taunton River. #BAPride #CultivatingExcellence
