Southern School Notebook: South Portland High's top 10 grads

SOUTH PORTLAND — At South Portland High School, the following students graduated as the 10 members of the Class of 2015 with the highest academic achievement, according to the school.

Holly Black, daughter of Irena and the late Paul Black, received the Wellesley Book Award, was named an AP Scholar, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She also was a member of the Interact Club. Black captained the varsity volleyball team, was a member of the varsity basketball team, and played lacrosse. She was chosen for the SMAA All-Conference volleyball second team as well as the SMAA All-Academic teams in volleyball and basketball. She also received an SMAA All-Conference Honorable Mention Award in volleyball. She plans to pursue a dual-degree program at Middlebury College.

Jacob Brown, son of Theresa and Jim Brown, is the class valedictorian. He was a recipient of the Yale Book Award, and participated in the National Honor Society and the math team. Brown also played basketball, baseball and soccer. He plans to attend Boston College, pursuing a major in preparation for a career in medical research.

Gabriella Ferrell, daughter of Courtney and Tim Ferrell, participated in both the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society, and was a recipient of the Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award in Humanities and Social Sciences. She served as class secretary, president of the Student Senate and a student representative to the South Portland School Board. She also has been active with the civil rights team and the ultimate frisbee team, and participated as part of the tech crew for music and drama productions. Ferrell has been a contributor to Blunt Youth Radio, served as a member of Planned Parenthood’s “Teen Team,” and volunteered at Skillin Elementary School. She plans to attend Barnard College, majoring in sociology and economics.

Jackman Mickiewicz, son of Kim and Jim Mickiewicz, was a recipient of the Williams College Book Award, and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society. He was a member of the history club and the math team, and volunteered with second- and third-graders at Dyer Elementary School. Mickiewicz captained the golf team and was a member of the ultimate frisbee team. He was named to the SMAA All-Conference second team in golf, as well as the All-Academic golf team. He plans to pursue a dual major in civic and architectural engineering at the University of Maine.

Sarah Micucci, daughter of Beth and Ken Micucci, was a recipient of the Dartmouth Book Award, served as an officer of the National Honor Society chapter, and was a member of the World Language Honor Society. She was a member of the Spanish Club and the Interact Club, and volunteered at Skillin Elementary School. She also participated in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program, and the biomedical research program of the Maine Medical Center Research Institute. Micucci captained the varsity swim team and played varsity softball, and has been a member of the Portland Polar Bears Swim Team. She plans to attend the University of New England, majoring in either pre-medicine or engineering.

Sydney Onos, daughter of Connie and the late Steve Onos, received the Smith Book Award and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society. She served as treasurer of the Interact Club, and was a member of the Spanish Club and the Outing Club. Outside of class, she has participated in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards program and The Telling Room Project in Portland. She also played varsity soccer and was a member of the ultimate frisbee team. Onos plans to study biology at the University of Maine.

Lily SanGiovanni, daughter of Kimberly and Robert SanGiovanni, was the recipient of the Bowdoin Book Award and the Maine Youth Leadership Award, and served as vice president of the National Honor Society chapter. She also served as president of the senior class and treasurer of the Student Senate. SanGiovanni was active in the civil rights team, the Interact Club, marching band and the jazz ensemble. She played varsity lacrosse, was a member of Maineiax Club Lacrosse, and received a 2014 All-American Honorable Mention in the sport. She also has volunteered with students at Skillin Elementary School. She plans to attend Wesleyan University.

Morrigan Turner, daughter of Colleen Jones-Turner and Peter Turner, received the Cornell Book Award and the DAR Good Citizen Award, and was a member of the National Honor Society. She served as vice president of her class, vice president of the Student Senate and a student representative to both the South Portland School Board and the SPHS Building Committee. Turner also was president of the Amnesty International chapter, participated in the civil rights team and the math team, and performed in drama and musical productions. As a volunteer, she also worked with second-graders at Skillin Elementary School. She plans to attend Vassar College, majoring in earth science.

Bevan Whitehead, son of Camilla Dunham and Tom Whitehead, received the College of the Atlantic Book Award, and was a member of both the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society. He was active as a member of the musical stage crew, played ultimate frisbee, and was a member of the history club. He plans to attend Vassar College, majoring in chemistry and history.

Abby Young, daughter of Danielle and Stuart Young, is the class salutatorian. She received the Harvard Book Award, and was a member of the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society. She also served as vice president of the Spanish Club and was a member of the Interact Club. Young played softball and soccer, and has volunteered as Brown Elementary School. She plans to study mathematics at Bentley University.

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