School Notebook: Yarmouth High School grads at top of their class

Sam Alexander is the son of Frank and Kathy Alexander. He was co-founder and captain of the sailing team, which twice won the Maine Schools Downeast Championship. He served as president of Student Senate and captain of the Nordic ski team. Alexander performed with the All-State and All-Eastern choirs, and was a Yarmouth Choral Award recipient. He also is a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction, winner of the Ruth B. Plummer Academic Award, and a recipient of the Hector Hebert Award. Alexander will attend Brown University in the fall and plans to study physics and chemistry.

Julia Anastos is the daughter of Peter and Lori Anastos. A recipient of the Barnard College Book Award, she was a member of Student Senate for four years and the Executive Council during her senior year. She also participated in Maine Youth Court and Model United Nations, served as a delegate at Girls State, and was a page for the U.S. Senate. Anastos competed in debate and in softball for four years as a second baseman. She plays guitar and piano, and was a member of a bluegrass group. Anastos will attend Georgetown University in the fall, majoring in political economy.

Madeleine Anderson is the daughter of Helen and Scott Anderson, and is older sister to Eli Anderson. She was a member of the math team and of the Robotics Club for four years. Anderson played volleyball in the fall, rowed for the spring crew team, and pursued her Scottish Highland dancing year-round. She also taught swimming at the YMCA throughout high school. She will attend Carnegie Mellon University and plans to major in either mechanical or civil engineering.

Julia Beatty is the daughter of Scott Beatty and Kate Huntress. She played volleyball for four years, as an all-around hitter. She was a member of the Playmakers Drama Club and part of the technical theater crew for the 2014 state championship one-act play. Throughout high school, she audited Chinese language classes at Bowdoin College. In the fall, Beatty will attend the University of Vermont, where she plans to major in both Chinese and social work.

Kristopher Cody is the son of Ronald and Wendy Cody. He was a guitarist for the Jazz Band, co-captain of the debate team and a member of the varsity baseball and soccer teams. Cody was selected for the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award, the Biology Award and the Spanish IV Award, and was a participant in Maine Youth Court and at the Maine Youth Leadership Seminar. He volunteered at the Iris Network in Portland, and did community service work in Nicaragua. He was selected as the Maine Acoustic Music Festival’s mandolinist during his junior and senior years. Cody plans to take a gap year before attending the University of Virginia.

Alex Coroi, the son of Bogdan and Laura Coroi, played varsity tennis for all four years of high school. He also was a four-year member of the Robotics Team, after founding a similar team in middle school. Coroi will attend the Honors College at the University of Pittsburgh, with plans to major in physics and completing pre-medical studies.

Lily Daggett is the daughter of Cath and Clint Daggett. She played field hockey for four years, serving as captain in her senior year. A pole vaulter, Daggett was a captain of both the indoor and outdoor track and field teams during her junior year. She attended the Bread Loaf Young Writers Workshop, and ran the lighting and sound systems for many Playmakers productions. She has also been involved with Model United Nations and the Outing Club. She will attend Colgate University this fall.

Benjamin Decker, the son of Melanie and Byrne Decker, is the class valedictorian. He received the Robert W. Boyd Award, the Ruth B. Plummer Award, the Harvard College Book Award, the Spanish IV Award, and the AP U.S. and European History awards. He also is an AP Scholar and a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student. Decker captained the soccer team for two years, and he ran indoor and outdoor track for three years. He is also a Clipper Buddy and a volunteer at the Preble Street soup kitchen. Decker will attend Williams College.

Chapin Dorsett is the daughter of Mark and Sharon Dorsett. She raced on the alpine ski team for four years and also participated in the crew, cross country and outdoor track teams. Dorsett was a founding member of the Book Club and wrote for the school newspaper. She will be taking a gap year in order to backpack throughout South America and Central America.

James Erwin is the son of Jim and Eileen Erwin. He has been active in music and theater throughout high school. He sang in Chamber Choir and was a three-year participant in All State. He served as co-president of the Playmakers Drama Club during his senior year, and performed in three state-championship one-act casts. Erwin also was a member of the cross-country team, Film Club, Young Conservatives and Student Senate. He is an Eagle Scout and was a delegate to Dirigo Boys State. He volunteered as a producer and host at YWAR radio. He plans to attend Bates College and to major in history and music.

Amelia French is the daughter of Jed and Gretchen French. She participated in the Playmakers Drama Club for four years, and served as co-president. French also was president of Chamber Choir and Young Liberals, as well as vice president and co-founder of the Filmmaking Club. French wrote the high school’s one-act play, “Josephine’s Stories,” which won the Maine State Drama Festival. She was recently featured as a student playwright in Portland Stage’s Little Festival of the Unexpected. This fall, French will attend the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, where she will study dramatic writing.

Jake Griffin is the son of Michael Griffin and Janet Lohmann. He skied on the Nordic ski team for three years and ran cross country during his senior year. He spent his junior year in Karis, Finland, through the Rotary Youth Exchange Program. Griffin will attend Bowdoin College in the fall, and plans to major in physics.

Abigail Belisle Haley is the daughter of Kevin Haley and Lisa Belisle. She played varsity lacrosse and soccer throughout high school, competed for the swim team, and also swam with the Casco Bay Stripers for 10 years. She was a member of both Class Council and Student Senate. She will attend Providence College in the fall and intends to be an art history major.

Travis Hamre, son of Marty and Darren Hamre, was a member of the Robotics Team, Chamber Choir and Jazz Band. He also is an Eagle Scout and is active in church mission groups. He was a varsity soccer player and captain of the indoor and outdoor track teams. Hamre will attend St. Lawrence University in the fall to study economics and business.

Jasper Houston is the son of Bob and Holly Houston. He was on the rowing and Nordic ski teams for four years, and was a captain of both during his senior year. He also served as a co-president of the Outing Club for the last two years. In the fall, Houston will attend Bowdoin College, where he plans to study physical sciences.

Madison Hynes is the daughter of Kevin and Lynn Hynes. She participated in crew, cross country and Nordic skiing during all four years of high school. Hynes was the leader of the Global Action Coalition for the past two years, and helped organize yoga classes for students. She also was a member of the Student Senate and a liaison to the School Committee. She was selected for the U.S-Indonesia Leadership Program. In the fall, Hynes will attend Boston College to study international relations.

Wyatt Jackson is the son of Jim and Julie Jackson. He played soccer and basketball for four years and was named to the Western Maine Conference All-Academic teams in both sports. Jackson will attend the University of Richmond in the fall.

Grace King is the daughter of Andrew and Janet King. She played golf for the Clippers during all fours years of high school, serving as vice-captain and earning All-Academic honors in her senior year. She was a member of Class Council throughout school, serving as class president in her sophomore, junior and senior years. King participated in Model United Nations and was an intern in the Portland office of U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, D-Maine. King will attend Saint Lawrence University in the fall and plans to major in global studies.

Melissa Levinson is the daughter of Michael and Amy Levinson. She is a recipient of the Thesil Morlan Award for the Advancement of Social Justice and the College of the Atlantic Book Award for Humanitarian Awareness. She served as captain of the softball team, chair of the Student Senate’s Academic Committee and head delegate for Model United Nations. Levinson is a participant in Seeds of Peace and has earned an intermediate certification in Arabic. She plans to attend New York University in Abu Dhabi next year to study Middle Eastern studies, with a concentration on peace strategies.

Nicole LoConte is the daughter of Julie Richardson. She came to the high school as a senior, where she was named to the high honor roll each semester and became the class salutatorian. LoConte is taking a gap year in order to gain job experience and save money for college. She plans to attend Southern Maine Community College in 2015, majoring in English education, and hopes to then continue her education at the University of Southern Maine.

Molly Maguire is the daughter of Kathy Ray and Paul Maguire. An AP Scholar and recipient of the Saint Anselm College Book Award, she was active in Student Senate for three years, serving as vice president in her senior year. Maguire participated in varsity cross country, lacrosse and Nordic skiing for three years in each sport. She also captained the cross country and Nordic ski teams as a senior, and was recognized as a US Lacrosse Academic All-American. Maguire will attend Davidson College in the fall and plans to study science.

Emma Maierhofer is the daughter of Robert Maierhofer and Beverly Strzok, and a sister of Maddy Maierhofer. She played volleyball for four years, winning two state titles, and was part of the Playmakers Drama Club for two years. Outside of school, she has worked at Pat’s Pizza and at Estabrook’s Garden Center. Maierhofer will attend the University of Vermont in the fall.

Madelyne Maierhofer is the daughter of Beverly and Robert Maierhofer, and a sister of Emma Maierhofer. She played on the volleyball team for three years, and has also been a part of the Maine Juniors Volleyball League for three years. For eight years, she has played flute as part of the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble. Maierhofer will attend Boston College in the fall and plans to earn a teaching degree.

Grace Mallett is the daughter of Caroline and Lee Mallett. She was an AP Scholar with Honors, and received the Smith Book Award, Latin Award and WMC Citizenship Award. She participated in Student Senate, Model United Nations, Maine Youth Court and Maine Adaptive Sports. The 2013 Forecaster Fall Female Athlete of the Year, Mallett played on the varsity volleyball, swimming, lacrosse and indoor track teams. In addition, she captained the volleyball team and was named to the Western Maine Conference All-State and All-Academic first teams in the sport. She will attend Bowdoin College.

Meredith McLoon is the daughter of Chris and Cindy McLoon. She played ice hockey for all four years of high school as a defender. After school, she worked for two years at the Yarmouth Veterinary Center. In the fall, she will attend George Washington University, where she plans to explore various subjects before choosing a major.

Grace O’Donnell is the daughter of Peter and Mary O’Donnell. She participated in Class Council and Clipper Buddies, played basketball and lacrosse, and was a member of the pit band for school musicals. In addition, O’Donnell has been a member of the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble since seventh grade. She will attend Trinity College in the fall.

Katherine Overhaug is the daughter of Debora and Mark Overhaug and the sister of Anders Overhaug. During all four years of high school, she played on the field hockey team, where she was a center back. Overhaug also played tennis and threw the shot put. She was active in the Outing Club and participated in the school’s one-act plays. She plans to attend Syracuse University in the fall, and is considering a major in science.

Isabelle Pazar is the daughter of Anne Marie and Christopher Pazar. Throughout her high school years, Isabelle played flute for the Concert Band and Jazz Band, participating in the District II and All-State festivals. She also played in the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble. As a junior and a senior, she was a representative in Class Council. She played field hockey, and participated in the Playmakers Drama Club and pit orchestra. During the last two years, Pazar served as a student mentor through the Clipper Buddy program. She will attend Boston College in the fall.

Hannah Peters is the daughter of Brian Peters and Christine Manderson. An AP Scholar, she was the recipient of the Cornell University Book Award and the Ruth B. Plummer Award for Community Service. She was a member of the varsity field hockey team, swam for eight years with the Casco Bay Stripers, was an active member of the Outing Club, and participated in the Senior Youth Group at First Universalist Church. She has also studied piano for nine years and is an avid photographer. Peters plans to take a gap year to volunteer internationally before attending Colby College.

Emma Peterson is the daughter of Gail Dyer and Jim Peterson. She received the Connecticut College Book Award and has contributed over 185 hours to community service. She was played for four years on the varsity field hockey team, which she also captained. She was chosen for the Western Maine Conference All-Conference and All-Academic teams. She also competed for four years on the Nordic ski team and was on that All-Academic team. Peterson is a musician, playing flute and piano, and also an avid equestrian. She will attend Wheaton College.

Ariel Potter is the daughter of Ben and Dina Potter. She served on Student Senate and Model United Nations for all four years of high school. Potter also was a four-year member of the girls’ ice hockey team, where she was the leading scorer each year and captained the team for the past two years. Outside of school, she played for the Portland Junior Pirates, advancing to the USA Hockey Nationals twice. She is certified in Teaching English as a Foreign Language and taught English to immigrants in Portland and to university students in Bolivia. She will attend Colorado College.

Gemma Shay is the daughter of Mardie Weldon and Michael Shay. She played field hockey for four years and tennis for three. Shay also was a member of Outing Club, Model United Nations and Maine Youth Court. In the fall, Shay will attend Wesleyan University, where she plans to study physics and computer science.

Olivia Shay is the daughter of Mardie Weldon and Michael Shay. She played field hockey and varsity tennis for four years, and served as captain of the tennis team for two years. She was a member of the Outing Club, Model United Nations and Maine Youth Court, and volunteered with Firehouse Arts, Safe Passage and Merrill Memorial Library Arts. She also volunteered with the Youth Field Hockey Camp, the DaVinci Science and Arts Camp, and the Back to Basics Maliseet Summer Youth Program. Shay will attend Northwestern University in the fall and plans to major in psychology.

Jack Taylor, the son of Jim and Beth Taylor, was a member of the Nordic ski team for four years. He also rowed during the fall and spring seasons each year, and served as a captain of the rowing team during his senior year. In the fall, Taylor will attend Davidson College, where he plans to pursue a liberal arts degree.

Liam Thompson is the son of Karen McKenna and James Thompson. He played lacrosse for four years and ran on the indoor track team for two years. This fall, Thompson will attend Wesleyan University in Connecticut, where he plans to study psychology or neuroscience.

Emelia von Saltza is the daughter of Carl von Saltza and Susan Spector. She raced on the sailing team and sang in Chamber Choir. As a junior, she studied abroad in Central America. This fall, von Saltza will attend Pitzer College in California, where she plans on majoring in international and intercultural studies.

Max Watson is the son of Bret and Sheryl Watson and is the brother to Lilly and Charles Henry. He was active in the Clipper Buddy program and has volunteered with various sports camps. Watson captained the hockey, lacrosse and soccer teams. He will attend Bates College in the fall.

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