A high honors graduate of the Middlesex School, Matt Kafker distinguished himself in both his academics and his dedication to the community. He stands out as the winner of the 2015 Andrew M. Dawson Physics Prize and for having competed the same year as part of the school's Physics Bowl Division II team. Matt Kafker also received the 2016 Outstanding Seniors in French Award, the 2015 Sibyl F. Cohane Prize for community engagement, and the Rene N. Borquin French Prize in 2014.

A National Merit Commended Student in 2014, Matt Kafker became a National Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar the same year. He completed a total of nine AP exams, six of which he passed with a perfect score. He completed the remaining three exams with a score of four out of five.

Matt Kafker shows a similar dedication to his service projects as well. A former participant in Global Works outreach trips, he traveled to Costa Rica on a rainwater diversion project and to France as part of a nature-and-public-park preservation initiative. He remains an active volunteer with several local organizations, including the Pine Street Inn homeless shelter and the Greater Boston Food Bank.