Current in Education
York High School Commencement Scholars 2006
CO-VALEDICTORIAN BRENDON BOSTON is the son of Richard and Kathy Boston and younger brother to Evans and Andy. A member of the National Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society, he was also a member of the National Honor Roll. He received the Williams College Book Award and the Bausch and Lomb Science Award, as well as achievements in mathematics and music. He has proudly been a member of cross country, outdoor track and field, wrestling and indoor track and field over his high school career. He currently holds the indoor track school record for pole vault and was a state finalist in the event. Brendon especially enjoyed the music programs, participating in Jazz Band, Chamber Singers and the Pit Band for school plays. This fall he will attend the University of Notre Dame to study aeronautical engineering and enter the Air Force ROTC program.
CO-VALEDICTORIAN MICHELLE CARSON is the daughter of Scott and Leslie Carson and sister of Kaitlin Carson. She was a year-round athlete for four years, competing in soccer, basketball and track. In school, Michelle participated in clubs and organizations such as Interact, Student Government and the National Honor Society. Michelle also possesses a love of art and is known for her creative ideas. This fall, Michelle will attend Boston University where she will pursue a major in athletic training.
Remaining Commencement Scholars listed in alphabetical order:
ABIGAIL BOONE, daughter of Janet Hamilton and Michael Boone, was a four-year member of the YHS varsity soccer and basketball teams. Abby, along with 10 other girls in the state, made the Maine McDonald's Academic All-State Team for Excellence in academics and basketball. She was also a recipient of the Smith Book Award her junior year. Throughout her high school career, she was a member of the Civil Rights Team, Interact Club and the National Honor Society. Outside of school, she attended three mission trips through the First Parish Church Youth Group. This fall Abby will enter the nursing program at the University of Maine in Orono.
ABIGAIL BOWERS is the daughter of Peter and Sarah Bowers of Cape Neddick and sister to Megan and Joshua. Abby competed all four years on the cross-country team. As captain of the team her senior year, she competed in both the state meet and the New England Championship. Abby also participated in indoor track, outdoor track, and lacrosse. She was a member of the AIDS Education Team, Interact, Key Club and served as treasurer of the National Honor Society. As a junior, Abby was also inducted into the World Language National Honor Society in French. Abby volunteered time at the elementary school in the Student Listener program and served as a Senior Facilitator to incoming freshman. Throughout high school, Abby earned honors each term and received the St. Michael's College Book Award for Scholarship and Service her junior year. Abby and her horse Sprite compete in dressage shows throughout Maine, and she plans to continue riding in college. This fall, Abby will attend Colgate University in Hamilton, New York.
COLLEEN MARIE FARRELL is the daughter of Robert and Linda Farrell and sister to Billy and Brian. She was an honor roll student for the past four years, a member of the National Honor Society in the World Language Department, a Senior Facilitator and for the past two years spent time mentoring at the Coastal Ridge Elementary School through the Student Listener program. She received numerous achievement awards in mathematics, English, Spanish and child development. A figure skater for the past thirteen years, Colleen has competed in many competitions throughout New England. She plans to continue figure skating for Boston University where she will study at the Sargent College for Health Sciences.
CHRISTOPHER MACE, son of Rick and Mary Mace and brother of Ben and Ashley Mace, was a member of the York High School band for four years, participated in the jazz band and formed a band of his own called Rocksmythe. He has been a member of the National Foreign Language Honor Society for two years. Chris also took part in a science expedition to the Pantanal in Brazil this past April. The research team connected with York Middle School students to teach them about the biodiversity of Brazil as they worked on a peccary project. Chris received a perfect score (800) on the math portion of his SATs. Chris will pursue his interests at the University of Maine, Orono as he studies civil engineering.
GEORGE "SAM" MASON, son of George and Karen Mason and brother of Stuart, was captain and proud member of the York High School soccer and basketball programs. Sam's dedication on the court and in the classroom earned him the honor of being selected to both the Maine McDonald's All-Star basketball team and the Maine All-Academic McDonald's basketball team. In addition, he was awarded the People's Choice Award for MVP on the basketball team through the York Independent Newspaper. He was the recipient of the St. Michael's College Book Award for demonstrating excellence in academics and leadership in community service. He is a World Language Honor Society member for his achievements in the Spanish classroom and was treasurer of the Key Club. This fall, Sam looks forward to attending Phillips Exeter Academy for a post-graduate year where he will continue to pursue his interests in academics and athletics.
JASON MEANS is the son of John and Jeanine Means and brother to Ryan and Jillian Means. He is a National Honor Society member and named a Commended Student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. He excelled academically throughout high school, maintaining honor roll status and is a member of the World Language National Honor Society. Jason was also athletically active, participating in four seasons of cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track. He improved dramatically in all three sports since freshman year. He is also very active in the Boy Scouts of America, and has recently earned his Eagle Scout award, the highest in scouting. This fall Jason will attend Syracuse University, but due to his wide range of academic interests, has not yet been able to choose a major.
CHRISTOPHER D. RHODES, son of Ellen M. Rhodes and the late David M. Rhodes and brother to Carrie E. Rhodes, has been actively involved in the Class of 2006. A perennial honor student, Chris was a two-year elected member of both the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society. He supplemented his academic pursuits by spending time in the community as a Student Listener, volunteering as a coach with the York Parks & Recreation Department and working at Foster's Clambake in town. In addition, he was an active member of YORKWISE and was selected to attend the 2005 Boys' State Program. Chris also enjoyed four years in York's running programs, elected as a senior captain in both cross country and indoor track. His combination of academic achievement and athletic dedication earned him a spot as a state finalist in Wendy's High School Heisman competition. He was also the recipient of German and English awards. Chris is looking forward to continuing his academics and athletics next year at Fairfield University, where he will pursue a degree in communications.
LINDSAY ELIZABETH ROBINSON is the daughter of Bradford and Kimberly Robinson of York and sister to Tanner. She was a proud member of the York High School varsity soccer and softball teams, serving as captain her senior year. She was also a four-year member of the Interact Club, a participant in Student Government and a mentor in the Student Listener and Senior Facilitator programs. Lindsay was an avid volunteer at York Hospital and participated in her church's youth group. Through this, she attended three weeklong mission trips in the summer in several cities around the country. She received honors throughout her high school career and other various awards, including induction into the National Foreign Language Honor Society. Lindsay will attend Boston University in the fall to study biological sciences.
STEPHANIE FAY SALTZMAN, daughter of Paul and Ann Saltzman, sister to PJ, participated in varsity soccer and both the indoor and outdoor track teams. Class treasurer for four years and secretary of the Key Club, she was also an active member of the Civil Rights Team, the Interact Club, the French National Honor Society and the National Honor Society. Stephanie spent time mentoring in the elementary schools through the Student Listener program and was on the honor roll all four years at York High School. Stephanie looks forward to attending Boston College this fall where she will pursue interests in international relations and education.
EMILY SILIN, daughter of Ellen Minnehan and Jon Silin and sister to Kelly, was cross country captain and a member of the lacrosse and indoor track teams. She was an active member of the Key Club and the Interact Club. As a junior, Emily was inducted into the National Language Honor Society for French. For the past two years, she was a Student Listener to a fifth grader. Next year, Emily is going to be an exchange student in Peru sponsored by the Rotary Club. When she returns, Emily will attend the University of Vermont.
ASHLEY ELIZABETH SMITH is the daughter of Jane and Gary Smith and sister to Kara and Sam. A member of the World Language Honor Society and vice president of the National Honor Society, she was also the recipient of the 2006 Good Citizen Award for Western Maine, the Timothy Award, as well as awards for excellence in English and chorus. In addition to attending Girls' State, Ashley was also a Senior Facilitator, a Student Listener, newspaper writer/editor, a member of the AIDS Education Team, Civil Rights Team, Young Women's Leadership, Interact, Student Government and outside of school, the St. Christopher's Youth Ministry, participating in their yearly mission trip. Her passion is music. A three-year member of the Chamber Singers, she performed at both the district and all-state levels, as well as performing lead roles in YHS musicals. As a 10-year member of "To God Be the Glory," she sings the national anthem for events throughout the community. Ashley has earned over 75 medals for her Irish step dancing in her 10 years of performing, placing third in New England for her Traditional Set Dance. This fall, Ashley will attend the Honors College and School of Performing Arts at the University of Maine in Orono.
MIRIAM STEVENS is the daughter of Scott and Nancy Stevens. She was president of the National Honor Society and secretary of Student Government, TIDALWAVSE and Interact. She greatly enjoyed her membership in Young Women's Leadership and the Civil Rights Team as well. As a member of the Chamber Singers, she had the honor of singing Faure's Requiem at Carnegie Hall this spring. Miriam was the recipient of the Middlebury College Book Award and the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Achievement Award. During the summer before her junior year, Miriam spent three weeks studying Egyptology at Brown University's summer program. Since her sophomore year, Miriam has volunteered at the library Saturday mornings at the circulation desk for their open hours. Miriam will be attending Mount Holyoke College in the fall, where she intends to pursue her interests in French, literature, music and history.
KARIN SWEENEY is the daughter of Kevin and Mary Sweeney. She was involved in many scholarly and extra-curricular activities over her high school career including current president of Interact, secretary of the National Honor Society, cross country, indoor and outdoor track, Civil Rights Team, Tidalwavse, Young Women's Leadership and St. Christopher's Youth Ministry. Karin has also embraced her love of music during her four years at YHS, participating in musicals such as Bye Bye Birdie and Mame, being a three-year soprano of the YHS Chamber Singers and being a six-year member of the New Hampshire Youth Choir, with whom she will take a two-week tour of Italy this summer. In addition to her school activities, Karin has also taken a vow of service to her community. As president of the Interact Club, Karin has undertaken a grocery delivery program for residents of Village Woods and Yorkshire Commons, as well as the Polar Dip for the Amigos Program, and set up a tutoring center at the York Public Library, which will carry on in her absence in the fall of 2006. Karin was an enthusiastic and caring member of her school community and she hopes to carry on that legacy at the College of the Holy Cross, which she will attend in the fall of 2006.
York High School's 2006 Honor Graduates, with a grade point average of 90 percent or better over all four years, are Kayleigh Barrett, Elizabeth Barton, Hailey Blackburn, Lauren Blackburn, Ryan Brown, Cassandra Chase, Jeremy Kyle Chunn, Matthew Ciampa, Colleen Clark, Sean Collins, Cristal Currier, Thomas DeVirgilio, Jessica Dunfey, Meredith Forrest, Meagan Gavin, Kirsten Glidden, Casey Hoatson, Kellie Lajoie, Jeffrey Langenheim, Nicole LaPointe, Virginia Lee, Nikita Lottasen, Ashley Mace, Benjamin Mace, Sarah Mann, Christopher Marshall, Andrew McKenna, Sean Morrison, Thomas Munz, Christine Newton, Haley Olson, Melanie Peard, James Quinn, Samuel Ramus, Andrew Rapier, Maura Roche, Timothy Roy, Lucy Sargent, David Shaw, Emily Silin, Lauren Trigge, Matty Truax, Haley Woods and Gabriel Zinck.
