Matthew Salit

Seekonk High School
Seekonk, Massachusetts

INSPIRED TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, THIS SCHOLAR AND RUNNER IS WORKING HARD TO END TEXTING AND DRIVING.

When Matthew Salit was a sophomore, one of his peers and indoor track competitors was tragically killed in a texting and driving accident. Although Matthew didn’t drive at the time, the experience impacted him deeply and ignited his interest in safe driving. After attending a Harvard Leadership Conference that winter and obtaining his driving permit a few weeks later, Matthew resolved to make a difference. He convinced his two triplets to attended the National Organization for Youth Safety Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C., where they learned how to host local summits on the issue. After the summit, they began planning a statewide event and raising the money to fund it.

Since then, Matthew and his brothers have held two Massachusetts Teen Distracted Driving Leadership Summits, reaching over 700 student leaders with their life-saving messages. The boys plan to host a third summit in March. As a result, the triplets have attended and spoken at a number of events, including the 2013 National Highway Safety Convention, where they were the only teenagers in attendance. Matthew and his brothers received the prestigious National Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service in May 2014.

Matthew brings the same dedication to the classroom and sports. As the captain of his cross country and track teams, he is a source of encouragement and inspiration. Although he broke his foot at the beginning of his junior year, he returned to the track in the spring stronger than ever, setting three personal records. Seeing the difference hard work makes inspires Matthew to go the distance in all that he does.

 


Athletic

Achievements

CROSS COUNTRY

  • Captain as a Junior
  • 4 years Varsity Letter Winner
  • MVP as a Freshman
  • 4 years All-Conference

TRACK & FIELD

  • Captain as a Junior
  • 4 years Varsity Letter Winner
  • 3 years All-Conference
  • 2 years All-State
  • 4×800 Relay Freshman / Sophomore Record (8:30)
  • 4×800 Team Qualified for 2015 Penn Relays


Academic Honors

  • National Honor Society (Advisory Board)
  • Most Outstanding Undergraduate Award as a Junior
  • National Jefferson Award Winner for Outstanding Public Service, May 2014
  • National Merit Commended Scholar
  • Spanish Honor Society
  • Ranked First in Class with a 4.0 GPA
  • Harvard Book Award

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School/Community Involvement

  • Student Council
  • Peer Helping Network (Executive Board Leader)
  • SADD
  • Key Club
  • Massachusetts 4 Youth – Representative Joseph Kennedy’s Youth Cabinet
  • National Organization for Youth Safety
  • Harvard Leadership Institute
  • Founder and Leader of Massachusetts Teen Distracted Driving Leadership Summit

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“Seeing the difference hard work makes inspires me to go the distance in all that I do.”
~ Matthew Salit ~