Northern School Notebook: June 5

Falmouth High School’s top 10 percent

Lexis Anderson is the daughter of Lisa Anderson. She is a member of National Honor Society, a QuestBridge Scholar, the recipient of the Yale Book Award, and attended Girls State. She has received two varsity letters for tennis and has been the executive board treasurer and director of operations of Kids Helping Kids for the past two years. Throughout high school, she has participated and received awards in numerous science activities, including Science Olympiad, Wind Storm Challenge, and Ocean Sciences Bowl, and will receive a STEM Endorsement. She will be attending Yale University in the fall with a major in biology.

Elise Bickford is the daughter of Michael and Diane Bickford. She is an AP scholar with distinction, a member of the National Honor Society, a National Merit Commended Scholar, and a NASA Women in STEM High School Aerospace Scholar. She participated in Science Olympiad, Science Bowl, and the Windstorm Challenge, and started and captained the FHS Ocean Sciences Bowl team which qualified for and traveled to nationals this past spring. She also participated in the MERITS summer internship program sponsored by the Maine Space Grant Consortium. In her free time, she enjoys writing poetry, playing piano and trumpet, and dancing with the Maine State Ballet Company. She will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall where she plans to study physics.

Jacqueline Bolduc is the daughter of Kathryn and Donald Bolduc. She has been a recognized AP student in various subjects and a member of the National Honor Society, while achieving high honors throughout high school. For the past four years, she has been a trainee with the Portland Ballet pre-professional CORPS program, training 20 hours or more each week. She has studied under Roberto Forleo, Joseph Morrissey and Sasha Yapparov. In addition, she has been an apprentice with the Portland Ballet Company performing in “Giselle,” “The Victorian Nutcracker,” and “La Bayadère,” among other ballets. She has spent much of her free time volunteering for the Falmouth Memorial Library, Easter Seals of Maine, and various arts initiatives throughout Greater Portland. This fall, she will attend the Boston College, studying at the Carroll School of Management, while continuing her ballet training at Boston Ballet.

Eric Chen is the son of Chun-Ming and Shu-Ya Chen. He is an AP Scholar who has been recognized for excellence in social studies, chemistry, mathematics, technology and English. He received the WCSH-6 Teens Who Care Award, Rochester Institute of Technology Innovation and Creativity Award, the Williams College Book Award, and has won three awards for Model UN. He was also selected to attend Dirigo Boy’s State and as the DAR Good Citizen and Maine Principal’s Association Award winner for Falmouth High School. He served as a student representative to the Falmouth School Board and actively participated in Model UN, Science Bowl, The Mast, National Honor Society, and Kids Helping Kids, an organization that he founded. He will attend Georgetown University in the fall, with a major in science, technology, and international affairs.

Liza Cooney is the daughter of John and Cathy Cooney. She is an AP Scholar, has been recognized for excellence in math, English, and biology, and is the recipient of the Bates College Book Award. Since freshman year, she has been a member of the high school soccer, Nordic ski, and track teams, as well as the Falmouth Service Club and high school band/chorus. During the summer, she works at Seaspray Kayaking and has participated in Girls’ Leadership and Youth Leadership camps with Rippleffect on Cow Island. She loves the outdoors, sports, music, art, and spending time with her hilarious friends and wonderful family. She plans to attend Wheaton College in the fall.

Benjamin Dobbins is the son of Paul Dobbins and Amy Sanders. He is an AP student, a member of the National Honor Society, and the recipient of both the Harvard Book Award and the George Eastman Young Leaders Award. He was the co-captain of the debate team and competed in the national championship his junior and senior years. He was the varsity Lincoln Douglas debate state champion his senior year and received the Academic All-American Award and the Degree of Outstanding Distinction from the National Forensic League. He participated in the Keller Bloom ocean research program at the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Science and served as a youth ambassador to South Korea through the Council for International Educational Exchange. He was the president of Civics Club and director of finance for Kids Helping Kids, a student run charity. He will attend Dartmouth College in the fall, where he plans to study engineering.

Isabel Friedman is the daughter of Joline and David Friedman. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has been an honors and AP student in history, English, French and math, and recognized for her achievements in science. For the past four years, she has been an active member of the Theatre Company as an actor, director, dramaturg, and head of wardrobe. She has also been awarded the Maine State Drama Festival Judges’ Commendation for Excellence in Dramaturgy. She has participated in musical arts throughout high school and enjoys volunteering, particularly at the elementary school. She loves her job at the local toy store as well as reading, baking, and spending time with family and friends. She plans to attend Colby College, where she will pursue her interests in history, education and theatre.

Madeline Jones is the daughter of Sara and Adam Jones. She is a national honors society member, an AP scholar, and has been recognized for achievements in English and poetry. She spent the second semester of her junior year in Costa Rica, and intends to travel and explore the world. She currently volunteers with AmeriCorps, working with youth in underprivileged and refugee communities. In addition to AmeriCorps, she has volunteered with EqualityMaine, AFS, and United to End Genocide. She designs murals and flyers for the high school service club, and teaches art to at-risk youth. She loves creative writing, and has been a member of GORP, the Mast, and the FHS poetry club. Some of her favorite things include hot tea, Harry Potter, puns, golden retrievers, and being barefoot. She will be attending Tulane University in the fall, yet her major remains undecided.

Joe Lesniak is the son of John and Patty Lesniak. He is an AP Scholar, National Merit Commended Student and has been recognized for excellence in math, the sciences, and Spanish. He is a recipient of the Dartmouth Book Award and the 2013 MIT Network of Educators in Science and Technology Promise of the Future Award. He has earned four varsity letters in both golf and alpine skiing, and was a captain for both of these teams as a senior. Also as a senior, he was a member of the all-state teams for these respective sports and was recognized as the Forecaster Falmouth Fall and Winter Athlete of the Year. In addition, he has been a member of the varsity tennis team for the past three years. He has volunteered at charity golf tournaments, and for the Falmouth Little League. He will attend Georgia Tech in the fall where he plans to study computer science.

Patrick Lydon is the son of Warren Lydon and Kate Tupper. He is an AP Scholar with Honor, a member of the National Honor Society, a Dirigo Boys State Delegate, and a recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award. He is a member of the Falmouth Civics Club, the Service Club, Natural Helpers, and is a three-year member and vice president of the student council. He also is a four-year varsity baseball player, as well as receiving a varsity letter for basketball. He has spent time volunteering locally through summer camps, as well as being a student mentor. He will attend Wake Forest University in the fall where he plans to study business.

Caroline McKeon is the daughter of Thomas and Jacqueline McKeon. She is an AP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, a recipient of the Bowdoin Book Award, and is graduating with a STEM endorsement. She has earned three varsity letters each in indoor track and lacrosse, and is a co-captain of the lacrosse team. She is a member of the Service Club, spent a summer volunteering at Maine Medical Center, and has remained involved with a Kenyan orphanage where she volunteered for a month. Additionally, she medalled in the 2014 Science Olympiad competition and participated in the Maine State Science Fair. She will attend Haverford College in the fall where she plans to study biology with an emphasis on public health.

Jane Pryzant is the daughter of Rodger and Eydie Pryzant. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the recipient of the Saint Michaels College Book Award, and has been recognized for excellence in English. She danced with Maine State Ballet for 10 years, then sophomore year switched to track where she is a varsity member of the indoor and outdoor track team. She has spent time volunteering for Learning Works, Camp Sunshine, was a DAGs teacher and a Maine Medical Center Junior Volunteer. She was the founder and president of the Photography Club and has taken art classes at Maine College of Art. She enjoyed her involvement in the Darfur Art show and her time as a teacher’s assistant for the Folk Art class at Falmouth High School. She will attend Vassar College in the fall.

Michael Richards is the daughter of Chris Richards and Barbara Bell. She has been an honors and AP student in math, science, history, English and French as well as a member of the National Honor Society. She has earned four varsity letters in field hockey and was the leading scorer her junior year. She also earned three varsity letters in lacrosse. She was a co-captain in field hockey and lacrosse her senior year and was selected for the Maine Youth Leadership Conference her sophomore year. She has volunteered throughout high school in a variety of ways including through her church and by coaching youth field hockey and lacrosse players. She will attend Dartmouth College in the fall where she plans to study mathematics with the hope of pursuing a career in actuarial science.

Sabrina Smithwick is the daughter of Scott and Elaine Smithwick. She is an honors and AP student in math, science, history, English, and Spanish and is a member of the National Honors Society. She has earned three varsity letters in lacrosse and is a co-captain of the team this year. She received a varsity letter in swimming and ran cross-country. She actively participated in Service Club, was a representative of the executive board, and spent hours coaching youth lacrosse players. She thoroughly enjoyed her volunteering experience in Mississippi for Habitat for Humanity. She will attend the University of South Carolina in the fall where she plans to study international business and finance.

Salutatorian Meredith Stanhope is the daughter of Karen Emery and Brian Stanhope. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction, a member of the National Honor Society, two-time recipient of both the English book award and Spanish award, a recipient of the Princeton Book Award, and will graduate with a STEM endorsement. She has performed with Maine State Ballet for six years and has been in the Falmouth Theatre Company for four years. She attended the Maine State Science Fair, was a Maine Space Grant Consortium intern at Bowdoin College and medalled in the 2014 Maine State Science Olympiad competition. She volunteers at Ocean View Retirement Home, Relay for Life, and the Falmouth Pre-School. She will attend Bowdoin College next year where she will major in pre-med with an emphasis on neuroscience.

Valedictorian Joshua White is the son of Paul and Lisa White. He is the class president of the National Honor Society Mariner Chapter. He has served as the president of the Class of 2014 for three years, and is a member of the Falmouth Natural Helpers. He is also part of the tech team, and writes for the school newspaper, The Mast. He has received honors in science and engineering, including the Falmouth Science and Engineering Book Award, Chemistry Book Award, and Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. He has earned a first degree black belt in karate, and participates in numerous service activities through the Falmouth Service Club, including work at the OceanView retirement community and the tutoring center. He enjoys playing on the Falmouth Ultimate team, writing, playing the guitar, and spending time with his friends. He will attend the Tufts University School of Engineering in the fall, where he plans to study computer science and pursue writing.

Abigail Whitmore is the daughter of Bill and Kay Whitmore. She is a member of the National Honor Society and an AP Scholar and has been recognized for academic excellence in French. She also received the College of the Atlantic Book Award. This fall, she was tri-captain of the cross-country team and has participated in indoor and outdoor track. She sings in Musica de Filia, a local girls choir, and was named the principal clarinetist of the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra in her sophomore year. She also works as a standardized patient with Maine Medical Center. She will attend Wake Forest University to study biology and neuroscience in the fall.

Nathaniel Wolf is the son of Alan and Karen Wolf. He is an AP Scholar with Honor, a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student, and a member of the National Honor Society. He was a two-time co-captain of the debate team. Competing in public forum debate, he qualified for five national championships, was competitive in numerous other national tournaments, and went undefeated his senior year in Maine events. He is an academic All-American and enjoyed mentoring and aiding middle school debaters as a volunteer coach. He was a student council member for two years before serving as president of the Class of 2014 Executive Board his senior year. He played ice hockey all four years of high school and a member of the 2014 Class A State championship team. When free, he enjoys hiking, playing pickup sports, listening to music, and spending time with his friends. He will attend the University of Virginia as an Echols Scholar and plans to major in public policy and leadership or political science.

Prathusha Yerramilli is the daughter of Murthy and Mahalakshmi Yerramilli. She is an AP Scholar with Honor, a National Merit Commended Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and has been recognized for her achievements in history, English and math. She is also a member of various STEM clubs, including Ocean Sciences Bowl, where she was a part of the team that made it to Nationals this past spring. She is an EMT and enjoys working at the Falmouth Fire Department and, along with a group of friends, helped raise around $8,000 for suicide awareness. In her free time, she enjoys reading, volunteering at Maine Medical Center and in the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital, and watching heart surgeries. She will be attending the University of Michigan in the fall where she will be majoring in molecular biology in the school’s honors program.

Brian Yoon is the son of Jeong Kyo and Sun Young Yoon. He is an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He is a member of the Model UN, serving on the secretariat his senior year, the Service Club and the Drug Awareness Group of Students (DAGS). He was part of the Safe Passage service team to Guatemala and has volunteered at the Maine Audubon. He belongs to the school’s percussion ensemble and enjoys strumming the ukulele in his free time. He has also been a four-year member of the soccer team and track team. His senior year, he served as captain of the indoor track team. He will attend the University of Southern California in the fall where he plans to study communication and business.

Sidebar Elements