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Graduation day: June 11, 2012
Graduation information provided by the high school
- Top 10 Seniors
VALEDICTORIAN ALANA THYNG, daughter of Dana and Richard Thyng, was born in Newton, Massachusetts. Singing, dancing, and acting since the age of six, she has performed in over forty community and professional theater productions in the seacoast area including Agnes of God, Aida, and Hamlet. At York High School, she was a member of the Chamber Singers and an editor of YHS's newspaper The Pawprint. Alana participated in the Société Honoraire de Français and the National Honor Society. A lover of travel, Alana studied abroad in Brittany, France with the Experiment in International Living, after which she volunteered as an after-school enrichment teacher at Coastal Ridge Elementary School teaching French. She has also had the good fortune of pursuing her academic endeavors through courses at Johns Hopkins University and Boston University. She was a National Merit Finalist and received the Phi Beta Kappa Academic Achievement Award and the Yale College Book Award. Alana looks forward to attending Yale University in the fall where she plans to pursue interests in French and philosophy.
SALUTATORIAN AARON PRUGAR, son of Tom and Mary Prugar and brother to Zach, Jared and Noah, was a four-year member of the football, basketball, and track and field teams. He was a captain of both the football and track teams. Aaron was selected to the Western Maine All-Conference Football Team in his sophomore and junior years and to the All-Academic Team his senior year. He was also a member of the World Languages Honor Society for German for two years and a member of TIDALWAVSE for three years. Aaron will attend Boston College in the fall where he plans to pursue interests in biology and mathematics as a pre-medical student.
SARAH BAKER is the daughter of Emerson and Margaret Baker. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Société Honoraire de Français and also won the Wellesley Book Award. She has served as an editor of the school newspaper for the past two years and has been a Student Listener and member of the Civil Rights Team. Sarah has been busy in the community as well. She has been a junior docent at Old York Historical Society since 2006 and works year-round at When Pigs Fly Pizzeria, while maintaining honor roll status. In her free time she enjoys hiking with her friends and playing with her dog Lucy. Sarah will be attending Bates College where she plans to major in Environmental Studies.
RACHEL ANN BARROWS, daughter of Jay and Jen Barrows, has lived in York since she was two years old. As she has grown, she has remained committed to helping others through First Parish Church on mission trips, service days in Dorchester, serving at the Table of Plenty, and childcare in the church nursery. She has also served her community through the Interact Club at York High School and was President her senior year. This was also Rachel's third year as Class President. Throughout high school, Rachel has been a committed member of TIDALWAVSE, a group of student advocates for a chemical-free lifestyle, and served as Vice President for her senior year. Other leadership opportunities included being a member of Student Government and acting as a Senior Facilitator to help freshman in their transition into high school. Rachel is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Société Honoraire de Français. Other academic achievements throughout her high school career include awards in Geometry, English, Art, Child Development, Teaching Young Children, Spanish II, and Spanish III. This year, Rachel was selected by the YHS faculty as a recipient of the Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award. She was also recognized by Rotary for her accomplishments as Interact Club President. Rachel plans to attend Providence College in the fall where she will study marketing.
JACK DARRELL BRIGGS, son of Rasa and Darrell Briggs, was born in Dover, New Hampshire, but grew up in York, Maine. He is a member of the Société Honoraire de Français. This year, Jack co-taught a computer aided design course for a teacher on maternity leave. He was also a tutor at York High School's Writing Center. Because he enjoys the outdoors, he volunteers at Mount Agamenticus during the summer. Jack has an interesting blend of left and right brain strengths as he is both artistic and logical. Jack has been painting for twelve years and sells his art through galleries and commissions. Although he will continue with his art, Jack plans on finding work in the field of engineering. In the fall he will be attending the Honors College of the University of Maine Orono, where he will study mechanical engineering on a merit scholarship.
ALANNA EATON is the daughter of Nancy and Randall Eaton of York. During her high school career she has been a member of the Leadership Team for three years, Sober Friends, Senior Facilitators, the National Honor Society, and the World Languages Honor Society for German. In addition to these activities, she has been an avid participant in First Parish Church's youth group. She has gone on mission trips to New York and New Hampshire, and will participate in an additional trip this summer to New Haven, Connecticut. Alanna was involved heavily in athletics at York High School. She ran cross-country, outdoor track, and indoor track, and was elected captain for cross-country during her senior year. This fall Alanna will attend Providence College. She plans to major in Global Studies while completing a pre-medical curriculum.
BRIANA EATON is the daughter of Nancy and Randall Eaton, and sister of Jacqueline, Meghan, Matthew, Nicholas, and Alanna Eaton. Her passion for running has led her to participate in all three seasons of running her senior year, notably captaining both the cross country and outdoor track teams. Prior to running indoor track, she was a member of the York High School varsity girl's basketball team. At the high school, she has enjoyed participating in many activities, including TIDALWAVSE, Yearbook, and Sober Friends. She also served as the treasurer for both her class and the National Honor Society. Briana is a member of the World Languages Honor Society for Spanish. In her free time, Briana participates in a research project at Choose to Be Healthy, located in Kittery, Maine, educating others about the harmful effects of tobacco and marijuana related products sold at convenience stores that the organization believes are targeted towards youth. She also is an active member of her church youth group at First Parish Church. During her sophomore year, she traveled with her classmates to Costa Rica to help those less fortunate than herself. Lastly, Briana, along with her fellow peers, created an Invisible Children group at her school and contacted the organization to visit the high school in order to raise awareness on war issues in Africa. This summer Briana plans to attend the United States Naval Academy to study either economics, political science, or aeronautical engineering. Following college she hopes to become an EOD (Explosives Ordinance Disposal Technician) in the Navy.
EMILY HOROWITZ is the loving daughter of Susan and Dr. Robert Horowitz. Throughout her high school career, Emily achieved honor roll and high honor roll status and is a member of the National Honor Society and Société Honoraire de Français. She was the recipient of the St. Michael's Book Award for Scholarship and Service and has received several academic awards throughout her high school career including those in English, French, European History and Newspaper. Throughout her four years at YHS, Emily served as staff writer, editor and Editor-in-Chief of the YHS newspaper The Pawprint. Emily was a Senior Facilitator and a Student Listener at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, as well as the founder of York's Gay Straight Alliance. A lover of music and art, Emily sang alto in the Chamber Choir and worked at Creative Arts Music and Performance camp. She is thrilled to be returning this summer to teach Creative Writing. Active in her religious youth group, Emily has been a participant and a teen leader in the National Federation of Temple Youth's Northeast region. As a staff member at the URJ Kutz Camp this summer, she will work with teens on the autism spectrum. Emily eagerly awaits the challenges and adventures her future will surely bring at Brandeis University in the fall.
RACHEL KELLEY is the daughter of Brian Kelley and Judi Rubin of York. Born and raised in York, Rachel has been actively involved in her school and her community. She has been part of the cross-country team for all four years of high school and was a captain during her senior year. Throughout high school, Rachel studied a wide variety of languages including Mandarin Chinese, Russian, and Latin and was a part of the World Languages Honor Society (both German and French) during her junior and senior years. Next year Rachel will travel to Vechta, Germany, for a gap year exchange program where she will study German language and culture. After that, Rachel will return to the U.S. and attend American University in Washington, D.C., to study language, linguistics and area studies.
MICHAEL KING is the son of Carol and Daniel King. He participated in four years of varsity basketball where he was just recently named to the Western Maine All-Academic team. He has also been a volunteer at the Charlie Brown Basketball Tournament and a coach at the Ocean Side Hoop Camp. This past season he joined the track team and helped York win the Maine Class B State Championship. Michael has maintained honor roll status the past four years and was a member of the World Languages Honor Society for Spanish. He has been awarded multiple academic awards over his high school career including his most recent award in AP Calculus. He was also a proud member of T.I.D.A.L.W.A.V.S.E. (Teens in Drug Awareness Leading, Working, and Valuing Self-Esteem). Michael looks forward to attending Pennsylvania State University to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
ADDISON LEIGH LABONTE is the daughter of Robin and Richard LaBonte and the sister of Trevor and Delaney. She participated in four years of soccer, basketball, and outdoor track, and captained each during her senior year. Addison was a part of three Maine Class B State Championship teams. She received all-conference and all-state recognition in soccer her senior year. In addition to her high school sports, Addison also played soccer for Seacoast United. This past fall, she devoted her time to coaching her younger sister's U11 travel soccer team. Outside of sports, Addison was a dedicated member of TIDALWAVSE, a group that promotes a substance-free lifestyle. During her high school career, she was a member of the National Honor Society, Interact, and the Société Honoraire de Français. Addison was also secretary of Student Government and served as a Senior Facilitator. She was selected to attend RYLA where she met high school students around Maine and learned the true meaning of leadership. She has been recognized for her academic work in Health, Algebra II, Pre-Calculus, and French. This fall she plans to attend the Honors College of the University of Maine Orono where she will study mathematics and play soccer for the Maine Black Bears.
MICHAEL O'CONNOR, son of Lezlee and James O'Connor, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. He was a member of several clubs and activities during his high school career including the National Honor Society, World Languages Honor Society for Spanish, Chamber Singers, and Senior Facilitators. He held many leadership positions during his time at York High. He was the President of National Honor Society and also was captain of the cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams during his senior year. He volunteered for two summers as a York Recreation Department track assistant, helping with the younger athletes and running events during meet days. He won several awards at YHS including the St. Michael's Book Award. Michael is looking forward to attending the Honors College at the University of Maine Orono. He intends to study mechanical engineering, pursuing his interests in math and science.
NOAH RICKERICH is the son of Dana and Steven Rickerich of York. While at York High School, he enjoyed playing for the varsity soccer and lacrosse teams as well as mentoring through the Student Listener program. Noah, a member of the National Honor Society and the World Languages Honor Society, founded York Community Volunteering, a student and community initiative linking students to organizations offering volunteering opportunities. A dedicated musician, he sang in the York High School Chamber Singers, played trumpet in the jazz band, and served as concertmaster in Portsmouth's Bow Street Youth Ensemble. His junior year, Noah received School Year Abroad's (SYA) Italian Merit Scholarship, enabling him to spend his senior year in Viterbo, Italy, studying language, history, and the classics. At SYA, he worked with an Italian orchestra and choir, served on the school's Disciplinary Committee, and explored the country's rich cultural heritage. He was the recipient of the Williams College Book Award and the Bausch and Lomb Science Award as well as being a US Presidential Scholar nominee and a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. In his free time, Noah is an outdoor enthusiast, enjoying hiking, biking, and skiing. He looks forward to attending Dartmouth College in the fall, where he plans to study economics, mathematics, and international relations.
EMILY RUMBLE, daughter of Brennen and Liz Rumble, has been an active member of the community since elementary school. She has donated her time every week to help third grade students with their reading and writing, which started when she gave up her recesses in fourth grade to help edit papers. She has been a Junior Docent at the Museums of Old York and received the Silver Award after ten years in Girl Scouts. Within school, Emily dedicated her time to the Action Team, Debate Club, and Yearbook Committee. Emily was a Senior Facilitator, Student Listener, and Writing Center tutor. She was captain of the varsity girls' tennis team and is now preparing for her black belt in karate, which she has been working up to for nine years. She was part of the Société Honoraire de Français, the National Honor Society, and the National Society of High School Scholars and has also received numerous academic achievement awards throughout high school. She was awarded the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and will be returning to the leadership camp as a counselor this summer. Emily has just recently been inducted as a George Mitchell Scholar and will be attending the University of Maine at Farmington where she plans to study education in their honors program.
HALEY SPENCER, daughter of Thomas and Wendy Spencer, was born in Ft. Carson, Colorado. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the World Languages Honor Society for Spanish, and she was a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student. She was also a member of Interact Club and served as a Senior Facilitator. Haley has been on three summer mission trips and volunteered for her church youth group. She was a co-captain of the field hockey, indoor track, and outdoor track teams during her senior year. In addition to sports, Haley enjoys reading and spending time with family and friends. She will be attending Colgate University in the fall where she will study biology as a pre-medical student.
Scholarships
York Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Award $1,000 Aaron Prugar
York Golf & Tennis Club Appreciation Award $1,000 Abby Raynes
Billy Cheverie Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Addison LaBonte
Lawrence Ellis Memorial Scholarship $1,500 Addison LaBonte
Milton F. Todd Memorial Scholarship $500 Addison LaBonte
York Soccer Club Scholarship $1,000 Addison LaBonte
Grant Award Silver Bowl Alana Thyng
Search for Knowledge Award Silver Bowl Alana Thyng
Stonewall Kitchen Scholarship $2,000 Alanna Eaton
York Rotary Scholarship $4,000 Alanna Eaton
Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce $100 Andrew Hayford
Early College for ME $2,000 Andrew Kilpatrick
Don Morrison Memorial Scholarship $2,500 Benjamin Young
Robert G. Pacitti Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Benjamin Young
George N. Perkins Performing Arts Scholarship $1,000 Caitlin Kelly
St. Aspinquid Elizabeth Haskell Memorial Award $1,500 Caitlin Kelly
York Teachers' Association Scholarship $2,700 Caroline Hird
Carter Furber Scholarship $1,000 Colleen Tourigny
Billy Cheverie Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Craig Decato
Maine State Golf Association $1,500 Craig Decato
Matthew Cruz Memorial Scholarship $2,000 David Cartier
Kennebunk Savings Bank Scholarship $1,000 Elizabeth Fiorentino
York Student Scholarship Fund $1,000 Elizabeth Hall
Margaret S. Sewall Fund $1,000 Elliot Friar
Academic Boosters Scholarship $500 Emily Horowitz
Family and Friends of Linda Masella $500 Emily Rumble
Mitchell Scholarship $6,000 Emily Rumble
Billy Cheverie Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Greg Fililas
York Rotary Scholarship $2,000 Haley Spencer
Early College for ME $2,000 Hannah Cooper
HomeHealth Visiting Nurses of Southern Maine Schol. $100 Hannah Gundlah
Wolfrett "Sport" Eldredge Scholarship $1,000 Joseph Galante
York Athletic Boosters Scholarship $500 Julia Hird
Stonewall Kitchen Scholarship $2,000 Kasey Poulin
York Rotary Scholarship $4,000 Kasey Poulin
National Alliance on Mental Illness- York $1,500 Kimberly Walker
The Bank of Maine $1,000 Laura Cannata
York Soccer Club Scholarship $1,000 Liam Langaas
Early College for ME $2,000 Lucas Bibeau
York Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship Award $1,000 Mallory Evans
Billy Cheverie Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Margeaux Maertens
York Art Association $750 Margeaux Maertens
Andrew Swiedler Award $1,000 Matthew Eaton
Erika Jolie Memorial Scholarship $500 Meghan Schindler
Sanford Institution for Savings Scholarship $1,000 Michael King
John F. Welch Scholarship $1,000 Michael O' Connor
Don Morrison Memorial Scholarship $2,500 Michael St. Denis
Maine Masonic Charitable Foundation $1,500 Michael St. Denis
The Tyler/Grandmaison MELMAC Scholarship $1,500 Michael St. Denis
Ken Sullivan Memorial Award $500 Nathan Diffin
Robert " Bob" Masi Scholarship $1,000 Nathan Diffin
Sentry Hill Scholarship $1,000 Nathan Diffin
Sanford Institution for Savings Scholarship $1,000 Nicole Tremblay
John K. Schroeder Award Silver Bowl Rachel Barrows
York Mentor Recognition Award $1,000 Robert Henson
Sanford Institution for Savings Scholarship $1,000 Ryan Twohig
York High School Faculty Improvement Award Silver Bowl Samantha Stocks
York Rotary Scholarship $2,000 Savannah Young
Robert Fennelly Memorial Scholarship $1,000 Shaheen Ganem
Gerety/Kerrigan Scholarship $2,000 Thomas Arsenault
Mike Ford Memorial Scholarship $5,000 Thomas Arsenault
St. Aspinquid David Rocray Memorial Scholarship $1,500 Timothy McMahon
York Athletic Boosters Scholarship $500 Tyler Martin
Kenneth Burke Memorial Scholarship $500 William Martin
WCSH6 TEENS WHO CARE AWARD $2,000 Makayla Carpenter
Have graduation information or photos you'd like to submit? Email to graduation@pressherald.com
2012 graduates
VALEDICTORIAN: ALANA THYNG
SALUTATORIAN: AARON PRUGAR
COMMENCEMENT SCHOLARS (Top 10% of Class)
Sarah Baker
Rachel Barrows
Jack Briggs
Alanna Eaton
Briana Eaton
Emily Horowitz
Rachel Kelly
Michael King
Addison LaBonte
Michael O'Connor
Aaron Prugar
Noah Rickerich
Emily Rumble
Haley Spencer
Alana Thyng
HONOR GRADUATES (90% GPA or higher)
Sarah Woods Baker
Conor Grealy Banfield
Rachel Barrows
Devon MacKenzie Bettinson
Abigail Wyatt Boisvert
Meghan Alise Boria-Meyer
Jack Briggs
Laura Ann Cannata
Makayla Rae Carpenter
David Cartier
Madison Mae Cromwell
Craig Decato
Nathan Ryan Diffin
Alanna Eaton
Briana Noelle Eaton
Matthew Eaton
Mallory Sian Evans
Mitchell Distefano Finitz
Elizabeth Fiorentino
Bryan Edward Fountain
Elliot Friar
Hannah Kate Gundlah
Elizabeth Catherine Hall
Andrew Richard Hayford
Nicole Heroux
Caroline Mary Hird
Julia Marion Hird
Emily Ann Horowitz
Rachel Leah Kelley
Caitlin Kelly
Michael Alexander King
Addison Leigh LaBonte
Liam Finnegan Langaas
Carolyn Jane Lee
Andrew Lusty
Ryan Lusty
Margaux Alexe Maertens
Tyler S. Martin
Timothy White McMahon
Andrea Michael Mountford
Conor James O'Brien
Michael Paul O'Connor
Taylor Palmer
Elizabeth Peck
Kasey Morgan Poulin
Aaron Prugar
Abby Louise Raynes
Noah Woodbridge Rickerich
Kyle Robinson
Emily Kate Rumble
Chelsea Charlotte Schilling
Meghan Elizabeth Schindler
Philip Solimine
Haley Frances Spencer
Shelby Elizabeth Spencer
Samantha Mitchell Stocks
Francesca Tabora
Alana Michael Thyng
Colleen Tourigny
Nicole Jennifer Tremblay
Ryan Twohig
Kimberly Ann Walker
Zoe M. Weston
Zachary Thai Hoa White
Rowan Winters
Benjamin Andrew Young
Savannah R Young
GRADUATES (In Alphabetical Order)
Thomas Paul Arsenault
Halle Amy Ayers
Sarah Woods Baker
Conor Grealy Banfield
Rachel Barrows
Andrea Nicole Beaulieu
Tyson E Bernard
Devon MacKenzie Bettinson
Lucas Alan Bibeau
Andrew Steven Bird
Abigail Wyatt Boisvert
Meghan Alise Boria-Meyer
Jack Briggs
Laura Ann Cannata
Makayla Rae Carpenter
David Cartier
Lindsey Casey
Raymond John Connolly
Hannah Cooper
Madison Mae Cromwell
Jake Thomas Cryan
Hannah Jean Daigneault
Craig Decato
Nathan Ryan Diffin
Meaghan Elizabeth Dillon
Kyle Gordon Dunn
Alanna Eaton
Briana Noelle Eaton
Matthew Eaton
Austin Ehret
Mallory Sian Evans
Gregory Arthur Filias
Mitchell Distefano Finitz
Elizabeth Fiorentino
Mitchell Fleri
Bryan Edward Fountain
Elliot Friar
Joseph James Galante
Shaheen N. Ganem
Abby L Geiling
Troy Giguere
Ellie Giles
John Goyetche
Hannah Kate Gundlah
Elizabeth Catherine Hall
Andrew Richard Hayford
Albert Robert Henson
Nicole Heroux
Francis Xavier Hines III
Caroline Mary Hird
Julia Marion Hird
Emily Ann Horowitz
Ryan Scott Horr
Shane Conner-Francis Hughes
Samuel Albert Jennison
Jacob Tanner Johnson
Rachel Leah Kelley
Caitlin Kelly
Michael Khan
Andrew Timothy Kilpatrick
Michael Alexander King
Kristina Ellen Kisthart
Addison Leigh LaBonte
Liam Finnegan Langaas
Daniel Tucker Langenheim
Carolyn Jane Lee
Andrew Lusty
Ryan Lusty
Margaux Alexe Maertens
Tyler S. Martin
William Nunan Martin
James Patrick McCafferty
Nicole McCarthy
Edward Linnehan McDade
Danielle Nicole McGarry
Lily McGee
Daryl James McKenna
Timothy White McMahon
Jackson Stewart Mitchell
Andrea Michael Mountford
Anna Jean Murphy
Conor James O'Brien
Michael Paul O'Connor
Eric P. Offermann
Taylor Palmer
Caroline Joy Patterson
Elizabeth Peck
Jared Petruzzella
Cari Rose Posternak
Kali Potito
Kasey Morgan Poulin
Samuel David Preston
Connor Scott Prewitt
Aaron Prugar
Thomas Rasche
Abby Louise Raynes
Eilish Nancy Reynolds
Noah Woodbridge Rickerich
Kyle Robinson
Carley May Rodrigues
Christopher Douglas Rogers
Emily Kate Rumble
Ripley Schafer
Chelsea Charlotte Schilling
Meghan Elizabeth Schindler
Abby Schriefer
Philip Solimine
Haley Frances Spencer
Shelby Elizabeth Spencer
Michael St. Denis
Gabriella Steffenberg
Samantha Mitchell Stocks
Andrew Jacob Stotz
Sarah Stump
Francesca Tabora
Alana Michael Thyng
Colleen Tourigny
Nicole Jennifer Tremblay
Pierce Twohig
Ryan Twohig
Olivia Vail
Kimberly Ann Walker
Austin Taylor Wallace
Zoe M. Weston
Zachary Thai Hoa White
Rowan Winters
Alexa Witham
Keenan Roliston Woodbury
Benjamin Andrew Young
Savannah R Young