Brayden Canales, second from right, a senior at Drury High School, receives the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Certificate of Academic Excellence on April 7. Presenting the award are Superintendent Tim Callahan, right, and Mayor Jennifer Macksey, left. Canales is joined by his parents, Jill and Jason, at a North Adams School Committee meeting.

NORTH ADAMS — With over two semesters of college credit and a state award in hand, this Drury senior has his sights set on a career in architecture.

Brayden Canales recently received the school’s class of 2026 Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents Certificate of Academic Excellence. The distinction is given to students who excel academically but also in community service and leadership.

Superintendent Tim Callahan presented the award to Canales at an April 7 School Committee meeting, with his parents Jason and Jill Canales by his side.

The committee and six or so audience members applauded after Callahan said Canales will graduate as the valedictorian with a 4.3 grade point average. He has also “taken advantage of the opportunity to take early college courses through [the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts]” and will finish high school with 33 college credits.

“I had the honor of being Brayden’s principal when he began at Drury,” said Callahan. “In addition to his impressive list of college courses, he has rounded out his transcript with several Advanced Placement and project-based learning courses.”

The teen has also been inducted into the Nu Sigma and Pro Merito honor societies, been awarded a Principal’s Award for having a top five average in his class for four consecutive years and he received the Rochester Institute of Technology Award for Science and Math as a junior.

Outside of the classroom, Canales is a student ambassador, peer mediator, and has participated in Cultural Appreciation Day through the local court system and in Drury’s Portrait of a Graduate career preparation work.

Callahan also called Canales a valuable member of the varsity soccer, hockey and baseball teams, this being awarded the Berkshire County Ice Hockey Officials Association Sportsmanship Award for leadership.

When asked what was next for him after accepting the award, Canales was set on attending a four-year college but was still choosing between a final few. He plans to major in and pursue a career in architecture.