Wareham High graduate Kevin England was this year’s salutatorian at Bristol County Community College, graduating with a 3.88 GPA. 

Having graduated in the top 10 of his high school class, England is no stranger to academic success. But he’s overcome challenges to get there. 

England said he was diagnosed with autism at age 3. As he got older and gained confidence, he began to excel in school.

Still, as for many students, the transition to college was hard. 

“It was a little nerve-wracking,” he said. Time management was a particular challenge, England said, but he worked on it little by little.

His associate’s degree is in general studies. England said he plans to continue studying communication at Bridgewater State, where he will soon begin classes. 

So far, his favorite classes have been in communication, psychology and a course on race and ethnicity.

Next semester, he’s looking forward to his first class on social media strategy — a field he might work in. 

When he’s not studying, England volunteers with the Middle School’s CARE program and works at Kool Kone as a dishwasher. For fun, he likes to watch comedy movies, hang out with family and friends, play comedy games and go on walks. His favorite ice cream to get at Kool Kone is peanut butter oreo. 

England gave advice and words of encouragement for new college students: “Just keep going. You’ve got this. Ask for help if you need it. I have faith in you.”

Bristol Community College profiled England in a short video. Click here to watch.