FALMOUTH — At Falmouth High School, the following seniors finish the academic year ranked in the top 10 percent of the members of the Class of 2015, according to the school.

Cayman Bickerstaff, son of Shea and Caryn Bickerstaff, was an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He also was a member of Vocal Jazz Ensemble, the varsity track and cross country teams, and the ultimate-frisbee team. Bickerstaff participated in the Habitat for Humanity mission to Mississippi, where he helped continue the rebuilding efforts along the Gulf Coast in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Outside of school, he has earned his black belt in karate and competed internationally, earning recognition in the World Top 10 for four consecutive years. He plans to attend Sewanee, The University of the South, studying medicine.

Sarah Caldwell, daughter of Sharon Leskanic and Jim Caldwell, was an AP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and the recipient of the University of Rochester Young Leaders Award and the Cornell Book Award. She was served as a representative to Dirigo Girls State, and received the DAR Good Citizen Award. A leader of the Service Club, she is actively involved in advocacy for ALS, the disease from which her father died in 2013. For her work, she was named the 2014 Maine recipient of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award and a 2015 AXA Foundation National Achiever. Caldwell recently published a book, “Just to Make You Smile,” which details her journey through her father’s illness. She also has excelled in competitive gymnastics. She plans to attend Yale University, majoring in biology.

Ethan Cantlin, son of Michael and Patricia Cantlin, was an AP Scholar and a member of National Honor Society. He served as co-leader of the Service Club and a chairperson of the Outing Club, and attended Dirigo Boys State. Cantlin participated in outdoor track, three varsity seasons of cross-country and four state-winning seasons of Nordic skiing. In his senior year, he captained the Nordic team and raced for Maine’s Eastern High School team. He plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he intends to study mechanical engineering.

Maggie Coster, daughter of Mike and Kathy Coster, was an AP Scholar with Distinction, a member of the National Honor Society, a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship competition and the recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award. She served as vice president of the Civics Club and, for four years, a class officer. She has been an active member of The Theatre Company and was the recipient of an All-Festival Cast Award. As a regular volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club in Portland, Coster was named the 2014 Southern Maine Boys and Girls Club Teen Volunteer of the Year. She also has been a member of the varsity ski team and served as captain during her junior and senior years. She plans to attend Bowdoin College, with a concentration in government and history.

Alexandra Ertman, daughter of Douglas Ertman and Elisabeth Theiler Ertman, was an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society. An avid flute and saxophone player, she received the John Philip Sousa Band Award, the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award and the Arion Award for her excellence in academics and music. Ertman played in school and district ensembles as well as the All-National Concert Band, All-Eastern Jazz Ensemble, All-New England Concert Band, All-State Concert Band, the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble and the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra. She also was a member of the Environmental Action Committee and served as a peer tutor. She plans to attend Brown University.

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Matthew Estabrook, son of Kenneth and Wendy Estabrook, was an AP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society, and the recipient of the Boston College Book Award and the University of Rochester Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology. For four years, Estabrook has participated in The Theatre Company and the music program, receiving several Outstanding Musicianship Awards at the Maine State Jazz Festival, and All-Festival Cast Awards at the regional and state drama festivals. He has performed with the Maine All-State Choir and All-State Jazz Combo, and was selected for the 2015 All-Eastern Choir. He also recently served as editor-in-chief of the literary magazine. He plans to attend a dual-degree program in economics and jazz performance at Tufts University and the New England Conservatory of Music.

Grace Fan, daughter of Titan and Christina Fan, was an AP Scholar with Distinction and the recipient of the Yale University Book Award and the MPA Principal’s Award. She served as the Executive Board treasurer, the National Honor Society chairperson of community service, and president of the photography club. An avid musician. she played principal flute for the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble and the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra, and was a member of the Chamber Singers for three years. Fan was an active member of Service Club, the Environmental Action Committee, the Yearbook Committee and The Theatre Company. She plans to attend Williams College.

Julia Gilman, daughter of Susan and Tom Gilman, was a member of the National Honor Society, editor of the 2014-2015 yearbook and leader of the Yearbook Committee. An avid figure skater for over a decade, she has competed in four New England Regional Championships, and volunteered as a junior skating coach. Gilman is also an accomplished equestrian, riding and showing horses in various regional events. She plans to attend Colorado College.

Scott Lambert has long been interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, an interest that inspired him to take eight math courses – including four through independent study – and participate in FIRST Robotics and the Maine Science Olympiad competition. He also won a national essay contest on aeronautics, published a research paper on proposed methods of interstellar flight, and interned at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. In addition, Lambert has tutored students, written for the school newspaper, and played keyboards in local bands. He was a member of the varsity cross country and outdoor track teams for four years, captaining the track team in 2014, and competed on the varsity Nordic ski team for three years. He plans to study engineering physics at Stanford University.

Aidan McGrory, son of Brian and Lori McGrory, is the class salutatorian. He received the Princeton Book Award, and was an AP Scholar with Honor, a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship competition and a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, he was selected as a MERITS summer intern in biology at the University of Southern Maine. He also has served as a leader of the Service Club, vice president of Kids Helping Kids, a member of Natural Helpers and a student representative to the Executive Board. McGrory was a four-year varsity tennis player, served as team captain and was named to the 2014 All-State first team. Additionally, he earned three varsity letters in soccer and was named to the All-Academic team. He plans to attend Bowdoin College, with a major in biology.

Megan Nowak, daughter of Kim Filippone and Ken Nowak, served as a graphic designer and web designer for the school newspaper and the yearbook, and also pursues these creative interests in contract work for local organizations. Outside of school, Nowak has studied jazz and concert saxophone, and is an avid photographer, writer, biker and artist. She plans to attend The College of the Atlantic, studying fine art, graphic design, creative writing and botany.

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Meg Pierce, daughter of Samuel and Teresa Pierce, was an AP Scholar with Honor, a member of the National Honor Society and the recipient of the Hobey Baker Character Award. She has been an active member of The Theatre Company, participating in 11 shows over the past four years. She also was treasurer of the Civics Club, worked on the school newspaper, and volunteered with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Portland. Pierce has played varsity soccer, tennis and ice hockey, and captained the tennis and ice hockey teams as a senior. In her summers, she has served as a camp counselor, teaching children about marine biology. She plans to attend Washington University in St. Louis.

Samuel Reed, son of Rachel and David Reed, was an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He served as co-captain of the speech and debate team in his junior and senior years, and was the 2014 state champion in Congressional debate. He also competed in the National Catholic Forensic League’s 2014 Grand National Speech and Debate Tournament. In addition, he has volunteered at the tutoring center. Reed received a varsity letter in cross country, and has competed in rowing, placing second in the 2015 Maine Youth Rowing Association winter indoor rowing regatta. He is also certified as a Junior Maine Guide. He plans to attend Dartmouth College.

Olivia Ring, daughter of Jeffrey Ring and Anne DiStefano, was an AP Scholar, a a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship competition, a National Honor Society member and the recipient of the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award and the Williams College Book Award. For four years, she ran on the cross country, indoor track and outdoor track teams, and received varsity letters, All-Academic Team awards and the Coaches Award. Ring also participates in the Environmental Action Committee and the Gender Sexuality Alliance, and has studied music, playing five instruments. She plans to attend Skidmore College, majoring in molecular biology and neuroscience, with minors in Spanish and gender studies.

Charu Tiwari, daughter of Sarita and Jyoti Tiwari, was an AP Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. She participated in the Environmental Action Committee, the Service Club and the yearbook, and has taught students at the tutoring center. Tiwari has also participated in cross country, indoor track and tennis, and volunteered as an assistant children’s tennis coach. She also has played piano. She plans to study biology at The Ohio State University.

Annie Tucker, daughter of Lisa Madden and David Tucker, was an AP Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society and the recipient of the Bowdoin Book Award and the Society of Women in Engineering Award. She twice competed in the Maine State Windstorm Challenge, designing a wind turbine. An avid musician, she played flute as a member of the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, and also has played guitar. Her artwork has been displayed at an event organized by the United to End Genocide campaign. Tucker is a fully certified volunteer member of the National Ski Patrol at Saddleback Ski Area, and recently received its Rookie of the Year Award. She plans to major in international affairs, environmental science or journalism at Northeastern University.

Isabel Wolfe, daughter of Peter and Chris Wolfe, is the class valedictorian. She received the Dartmouth Book Award and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal, and was a National Merit Scholar, an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society. As a sophomore, she was selected to attend the annual Maine Youth Leadership Conference, and returned the next year as a junior counselor. She also has edited the school newspaper and served as a longtime member of the math team. Outside of school, Wolfe is a company member of Maine State Ballet, performing in more than 40 shows each year. She plans to attend Yale University, and intends to study neuroscience.

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Abigail Woodruff, daughter of Thomas Woodruff and Julie Mills, was an AP Scholar and the recipient of the Mt. Holyoke College Book Award, and has received recognition from the Women’s Literary Union Youth Council. She was an active participant in the Environmental Action Committee, the Service Club, the Ocean Sciences Bowl and the Yearbook Committee. For 10 years, she has studied piano at the Portland Conservatory of Music, and also has participated in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance. Woodruff plans to attend Northeastern University, with a major in biology.

Sidebar Elements


Bickerstaff

Caldwell

Cantlin

Coster

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Ertman

Estabrook

Fan

Gilman

Lambert

McGrory

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Nowak

Pierce

Reed

Ring

Tiwari

Tucker

Wolfe

Woodruff


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