Deering High School Top 10

Deering High School Top 10 Students

The following students finish the academic year as the top 10 students in the Class of 2016 at Deering High School

Kristin Francoeur, daughter of Susan Francoeur of Portland, plans to attend Cornell University and major in policy analysis and management. She earned high honors all four years of high school, was a member of National Honor Society, for which she served as vice president her senior year, and earned the Dartmouth College Book Award. Francoeur was active in student government, Key Club, and French Club, and danced with the Maine State Ballet. She was a member of the varsity field hockey team and served as a Deering Ambassador.

Isaac Finberg, son of Melissa and Stephen Finberg of Portland, plans to attend George Washington University and major in engineering. He earned high honors every year during his high school career, and was a Yale University Book Award winner. Finberg was a member of National Honor Society and in the Key Club, for which he served as vice president his junior year. He was a math tutor as well as a member of the math team. He was a member of the soccer team and captain of the tennis team his senior year. Finberg was active in the Deering Ambassadors program, led the Spanish Club the last two years of high school, and was a member of the Student Senate. In addition, he volunteered at The Cedars.

Sofia de Oliveira, daughter of Kristen and Eduardo de Oliveira of Portland, plans to attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute and major in biomedical engineering. She earned high honors all four years, and named a winner of the Harvard University Book Award. She was a member of the National Honor Society, for which she served as president her senior year. de Oliveira was an AP Scholar, and Women’s Literary Union Essay Writing Contest finalist. Her activities included swim team, which she captained her last year, Portland Porpoise Swim Club, student government, Key Club, Spanish Club, Deering Ambassadors, Anatomy of Leadership, Natural Helpers and Outdoors Club.

Sinead Scott, daughter of Moriah and David Scott of Portland plans to attend the University of New England and major in pre-medical biology. She earned high honors from her freshman to senior year, and inducted in to the National Honor Society. Scott was a Brown Book Award winner who was in Student Senate and Key Club. She served as a Deering Ambassador, and was a member and captain her senior year of both the varsity soccer and hockey teams.

Priscilla Maccario, daughter of Dina Chen and Chris Maccario of Portland, plans to attend Barnard College at Columbia University and major in biology. Besides achieving high honors all through high school, Maccario was a Wellesley College Book Award winner, a member of the National Honor Society and an AP Scholar. She earned a Gold Presidential Award for Community Service, was named a QuestBridge College Prep Scholar and a QuestBridge College Match finalist. Maccario participated in Chinese Club and varsity tennis, which she also captained for two years. She was a violinist in the Deering orchestra, and served as co-concertmaster. Maccario was a member of the math team, a leader in Deering Ambassadors, and joined the French Club. In addition, she attended Husson University Pharmacy Camp and Maine Medical Explorers. She completed a Portland Museum of Art Internship and participated in the High School Honors Science Program at Michigan State University.

Justin Cheng, son of Lili Chen and Chung Chin Cheng of Portland, will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute, where he plans to major in electrical engineering. Cheng earned high honors all four years of high school, a Phi Beta Kappa Association of Maine Award and a STEM endorsement. Cheng is a Kenneth Jordan Higgins Memorial Scholarship recipient who belonged to math team, Future Teachers of America, Anatomy of Leadership, Cooking and Gardening Club, Chinese School, Robotics Club, Chinese Club, Tennis, Make It Happen Mentoring, and Seeds of Leadership.

Gregory Levinsky, son of Nancy and Ken Levinsky of Portland, plans to attend Boston University and major in journalism with a concentration in sports and broadcast journalism. Levinsky earned high honors from ninth through 12th grade and was inducted in to National Honor Society. Levinsky was named a Springfield College Book Award winner. He enjoyed playing varsity tennis and basketball, as well as coaching youth basketball. Levinsky was a member of the 2016 Class Senate, a Deering Ambassador, and volunteered with Big Brothers/Big Sisters. He also participated in Spanish Club and interned with the Portland Pirates.

Kerry Wells, daughter of Kristin and Tim Wells of Portland, plans to attend Wellesley College and major in political science. She was president of her junior and senior classes, and participated in President’s Council. Wells achieved high honors all four years of high school, and was inducted into the National Honor Society. She was a winner of the Williams College Book Award and Ronald Reagan Leadership Award. She was active in student government, Key Club (for which she served as treasurer her senior year,) French Club and Natural Helpers. Wells was captain of the field hockey team her junior and senior years, and played ice hockey and tennis.

Kayla Thoits, daughter of Melissa and Paul Thoits of Portland, plans to attend University of New England and major in art education. She earned high honors in ninth through 12th grades, was a winner of the Cornell University Book Award, and a member of the National Honor Society. Her activities included field hockey, basketball and lacrosse. Thoits was a member of Natural Helpers, Future Teachers of America and Deering Ambassadors.

Madeleine Abbott, daughter of Laura and Andy Abbott of Portland, plans to attend Lesley University, major in political science and psychology, and play on the tennis team. Abbott was vice president of her junior class, and co-president of the senior class. She earned high honors all four years she attended Deering, was a member of the SMAA All-Star 2nd Team, a Deering Ambassador, and participated in Anatomy of Leadership. Abbott was named Spring Female Athlete of the Year, won a Sportsmanship Award, was a member of the National Honor Society and a Smith College Book Award winner. She enjoyed playing varsity tennis, for which she was captain her junior and senior years and placed first in singles. Abbott was a member of the Key Club, French Club, Student Senate, Honors Orchestra, Maine Youth Orchestra, Drama Club and Future Teachers of America.