By JOSEPH FITZGERALD

NORTH SMITHFIELD — Sarah Mancone and Natasha Strick became interested in medicine while traveling on two very different paths.

Mancone gradually realized she wanted to be a surgeon while working as a volunteer at Landmark Medical Center in Woonsocket where she filed x-rays in the radiology department and helped check-in patients in the ambulatory surgery unit.
Strick’s desire to become an oncologist is driven by more personal reasons: at the age of 4 she was given a stethoscope by her dad, Alan, who died from cancer when she was only 12.
The two North Smithfield High School seniors also share something else in common - they are the top two students in their class.
Mancone is valedictorian, and Strick, salutatorian for the North High School Class of 2009, Principal David S. Silva announced this week. Both Mancone and Strick will deliver their speeches at commencement exercises on June 15.
“These are two fantastic young women who have bright futures ahead of them and represent the best of North Smithfield High School,” said Guidance Counselor William P. Pepin.
Mancone, the daughter of John and Joanne Mancone of Old Field Drive, is a member of the National and Rhode Island Honor Societies, and received the Rensellar Polytechnic Medal in her junior year.
She is corresponding secretary of the National Honor Society and has participated in Mock Trial, Peer Pals, Junior Varsity Soccer and the Spanish Club.
Additionally, she as been recognized as a member of the Rhode Island Honors Junior Chorus in Grade 9. She continued her musical exploits in the school’s Concert Choir and Chamber Chorus.
Sarah has been named Student of the Month in both social studies and music.
Her volunteer work includes two years of volunteering at Landmark Medical Center and Burrillville-Glocester’s annual Relay for Life, Making Strides for Breast Cancer and Walks for Diabetes.
She will be attending Brown University next fall with the goal of becoming a surgeon after medical school.
Strick is the daughter of Mona Strick and the late Alan Strick of Leonard Drive in Harrisville.
Natasha holds membership in the Rhode Island and National Honor Societies and was awarded the Society of Women Engineers award as a junior.
Natasha also represented North Smithfield High School as the recipient of the High O’Brian Youth Leadership Award in 2008. She is a member of the Concert Choir, Chamber Chorus, Peer Pals, Letterman’s Club, Math Team, Spanish Club and Student Council.
She was an officer of the Class of 2009 in her sophomore and junior years and was president of the Letterman’s Club this year.
Natasha is a four-year member of both the Varsity volleyball and Varsity basketball teams.
Her volunteer work includes Making Stides for Breast Cancer and working with local sports teams coaching youth soccer.
This year she was the recipient of the Wendy’s High School Heisman award.
She will be attending Connecticut College in New London next fall with the goal of becoming an oncologist after medical school.