Class of 2014: Cheverus High School Top Ten Percent
Valedictorian: Libby DesRuisseaux-Libby is the daughter of David and Angela DesRuisseaux of Buxton. She graduated Summa cum Laude and is a member of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, the Math Team, the Debate Team, the Home Team and is on the Field Hockey Team. Libby is the recipient of the Williams College Book Award and the United States Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award. She will attend Tufts University in the fall.
Salutatorian: Léon Taquet is the son of Eric and LuBett Taquet of Windham. Léon received the Yale University Book Award in the fall. He is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. He is a member of the French Club, the Model UN Club and the Do Something Club. He has also been a member of the Cross Country and Track Teams, the Tennis Team, the Swim Team and has volunteered as youth basketball coach. Léon will be attending Tufts University in the fall.
Brittany Bell: Brittany is the daughter of Shawn and Lisa Bell of Lewiston. She is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. Brittany received the Regis College Book Award in the fall. She is a member of the Spanish Club, the Blue Ribbon Club and the Model UN and is on the softball team. She actively volunteers for the Dempsey Challenge. Brittany will attend Boston University.
Laura Bither: Laura is the daughter of Dr. Michael and Louise-Chasse Bither of Freeport. She is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. She has been a member of the Haiti Solidarity Club, the Homefront Club, and the Key Club, serving the last two years as treasurer and vice president. She has been an active member of the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, and since freshman year she has volunteered regularly at a local nursing home. She was presented with the United States Marine Corps Athletic Excellence Award and the Academic Excellence Award in Science, at graduation. Laura is a member of the Math Team, the Wescustago Youth Chorale, the Field Hockey Team, and the recipient of the Holy Cross Book Prize. She will attend Wesleyan University in the fall.
Kun Cao: Kun is the daughter of Mr. DingGi Cao and Ms. Zhoa Zhang of Zhengzhou, China. Kun is a member of the International Club, the Math Team, the Key Club and the Indoor Track Team. She has also been actively involved in the Big Brother Big Sister Program. Kun graduated Summa cum Laude and will be attending Boston University in the fall.
Yue Dai: Yue is the daughter of Mr. Kangping Dai and Mrs. Hua Bai of Shanghai, China. She is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. Yue is also a member of the International Club, the Math Team, the Model UN Club, Key Club and the Literature Writing Club. Yue volunteers as a teacher of Chinese and dancing for teenagers through the Chinese and American Friendship Association of Maine. She is a recipient of the Lemoyne College Book Award , the Rev. Pedro Aruppe, S.J., “Service to Others” Award and has been recognized for her superior performance in national math examinations. Yue will attend the University of Michigan.
Peter Dutton: Peter is the son of Scott Dutton and Melissa Maher of Portland. He was selected as the Outstanding Senior and All Around Student of his senior class. He is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. Peter is a member of the Jazz Choir, the Math Team, the Model UN, the Drama Society, Junior Achievement and has participated in the Seeds of Peace International Camp. He is also a member of the football and baseball teams. Peter is a recipient of the Springfield College Book Award and the MPA Principal’s Award. He plans to attend Brown University.
Timothy Jerome: Timothy is the son of Christopher and Barbara Jerome of Falmouth. He is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. He is a member of the Spanish Club, the Key Club, the Math Team, the Swim Team and Outdoor Track Team. He is an active participant in his parish and is the recipient of the Boston College Book Award. He will attend The College of the Holy Cross in the fall.
Julia Lambert: Julia is the daughter of John Lambert and Kim Caldwell of Cumberland Foreside. She is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. She has been a member of the Ice Hockey Team, the Key Club (serving as its president) and has been captain of her Sailing and Math Teams. Julia received the Harvard Book Award in the fall and the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Scholar Athlete Award at graduation. She has also served as a Pink Concussions intern, developing guidelines for concussion management. Julia will be attending Stanford University.
Alexandra Logan: Alexandra is the daughter of James and Faith Logan of Brunswick. She is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. Alex has been a member of the Key Club, the Homefront Club, and the Haiti Solidarity Club. She was a four-year member of the Varsity Field Hockey and Lacrosse teams and was selected as an All-American lacrosse player. Alex started her own non-profit foundation in 2012 called Lacrosse-4-ME, which provides free lacrosse equipment and instruction to underserved youth in Maine. She is the recipient of the John J. Flaherty Prize in Classics, the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Maine Academic Achievement Award, the Dartmouth College Book Award, the Academic Excellence Award for Latin and the Maine Sports Hall of Fame. Alex will attend and play lacrosse for Bowdoin College next year.
Emily Manter: Emily is the daughter of Brad Manter and Rebecca Darling of Scarborough. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, the Do Something Club and the Jazz Chorus. Emily graduated Summa cum Laude, participated in a mission trip to Guatemala last June and was awarded the Fairfield University Book Award and the Rensselaer Medal this past fall. She received the Academic Excellence Award for French at graduation. Emily will attend Bates College.
Hannah Ray: Hannah is the daughter of Kenneth and Allyson Ray of Cumberland Foreside. She is actively services both her school and her community. Hannah has performed in ice skating shows and has been a guest speaker and presenter at multiple conferences in Maine and Massachusetts. She is interested in music, having produced a CD in 2013. Hannah has completed a novel and is in the process of writing a second one. She graduated Summa cum Laude. Hannah is attending Skidmore College in the fall.
Kathryn Smith: Kathryn is the daughter of Michael Smith of Portland and Kimberly Smith of Windham. She is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated Summa cum Laude. Kathryn is also a member of the Spanish Club, French Club, Pink Ribbon Club, Do Something Club, and the Model United Nations Club. An accomplished piano player, she learned how to play the flute as a member of the school band, and she has been a valuable member of the volleyball and tennis teams. She has been an acolyte at her church since freshman year and she has also served as a youth ministry group leader. She will attend Northeastern University next year.
Class of 2014 Graduation
Cheverus High School held its graduation ceremony on Monday, June 2, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at Merrill Auditorium. Fr. William R. Campbell, S.J., President, Mr. John H. R. Mullen, Principal, The Most Reverend Robert P. Deeley, J.C.D., Bishop of Portland, and Mr. Richard W. Peterson, Board of Trustees Chair, presented diplomas to 120 graduates. Mistress of Ceremonies and Class President Gillian Coates, Valedictorian Libby DesRuisseaux, and Outstanding Senior and All-Around Student Peter Dutton addressed their classmates. Special guest speaker was Mr. Joseph F. Boulos, Cheverus High School, Class of 1964.
Graduation Awards Valedictorian: Libby A. DesRuisseax, Salutatorian: Léon C. Taquet, Outstanding Senior and All Around Student: Peter B. Dutton, Loyalty and School Spirit: Kodiak Simpson, Leadership: Gillian Coates, Activities and Achievements: Elyse Caiazzo, St. Ignatius Award: Meredith Willard, The Rev. Pedro Aruppe, S. J. Award/ J.S.E.A. Award: Yue Dai and Gregory Grinnell, Jr.
Academic Excellence Awards: English: Gregory Strong, Jr., Math: Yue Dai, Science: Laura Bither, Social Studies: Peter Dutton, Art: Sarah Nappo, French: Emily Manter, Spanish: Alfred Baldenweck, Latin: Alexandra Logan, Music: Grace Shapiro, Theology: Sarah MacLeod, Computer Science: Emma Ryan.
Baccalaureate Awards
Abraham S. and Fannie B. Levey Award: Katherine Randall
Adam Worth Sherlock Memorial Award: Isaac Yeboah
Amable A. Caron and Vivian Caron Scholarship: Stephanie McKew
Amable A. Caron and Vivian Caron Scholarship: Christian Cilley
Baccalaureate Speaker: Meredith Willard
Carrol M. Rines Sportsperson of the Year Award: Katherine Randall
Carrol M. Rines Sportsperson of the Year Award: Elijah Yeboah
Carrol M. Rines Sportsperson of the Year Award: Isaac Yeboah
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Rylie Archer
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Patrick Ball
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Jason Blier
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Elizabeth Ford
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Georgia Ford
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Catharine Galligan
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Alexander Grant-Roy
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Timothy Jerome
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Ethan Jordan
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Charles Mull
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Kiera Murray
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Mitchell Powers
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: MaryKathryn Slattery
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Noah Stebbins
Cheverus Athletic Achievement Award: Christopher Tinsman
Cheverus High School Female Athlete of the Year Award: Meredith Willard
Cheverus High School Male Athlete of the Year Award: Cody O’Brien
Courtney DeWitt Memorial Scholarship: Cody O’Brien
Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office Police Athletic League Scholarship: Samuel Cross
Fr. Joseph Devlin, S.J. Award: Christian Cilley
Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Female Scholar/Athlete: Julia Lambert
Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Male Scholar/Athlete: Jonathan Ruterbories
Maine Principals’ Association Award: Peter Dutton
Maine Sports Hall of Fame: Alexandra Logan
MELMAC Education Foundation Maine Principal’s Scholarship: Gregory Grinnell, Jr.
National Awards for Excellence in Music/Armstrong Jazz Award: Benjamin Lamontagne
National Awards for Excellence in Music/Choral Award: Christian Cilley
National Awards for Excellence in Music/Sousa Band Award: Grace Shapiro
Perfect Attendance Award: Samuel Cross
Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood STAR Scholarship: Alexandra Logan
Pierre A. Harnois Outstanding Athlete: Elyse Caiazzo
Pierre A. Harnois Outstanding Athlete: Cavan Dudley
Pierre A. Harnois Outstanding Athlete: Jonathan Ruterbories
Portland Youth Football Scholarship: Patrick Ball
President’s Award: Emily Manter
Principal’s Award: Christopher Tinsman
Rev. C. Martin O’Toole Scholarship: Laura Bither
Rev. Philip C. Welch, S.J. Award: Brittany Bell
Rev. Philip C. Welch, S.J. Award: Bradford Carney
Robert S. and Elizabeth E. Nanovic Scholarship: Alexander Barris
Robert S. and Elizabeth E. Nanovic Scholarship: Samuel Cross
Rotary Club of Portland Youth Service Award: Jenna Roberge
Salutatorian: Léon Taquet
Senior Class President: Gillian Coates
Southern Maine Swim Officials Association Scholarship: John Devine
Southern Maine Swim Officials Association Scholarship: Sarah Nappo
Southern Maine Swim Officials Association Scholarship: Jessica Soucy
Southwestern Maine Activities Association Award: Meredith Willard
Southwestern Maine Activities Association Award: Michael Sinclair
Spanish Honor Society: Brittany Bell
Spanish Honor Society: John Devine
Spanish Honor Society: Timothy Jerome
Spanish Honor Society: Stephanie McKew
St. Francis Xavier, S.J. Campus Ministry Award: Hannah Johnston
St. Francis Xavier, S.J. Campus Ministry Award: Abigail Maker
St. Francis Xavier, S.J. Campus Ministry Award: Nicolas Russo
St. Francis Xavier, S.J. Campus Ministry Award: Michael Sinclair
United States Army Reserve National Female Scholar/Athlete: Libby DesRuisseaux
United States Army Reserve National Male Scholar/Athlete: Peter Dutton
United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award: Laura Bither
United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award: Felix del Vecchio
United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award: Kathryn Smith
United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award: Joseph Smith
United States Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award for Music Excellence:Grace Shapiro
Unity Lodge # 3: Sarah MacLeod
Valedictorian: Libby DesRuisseaux
The President’s Educational Award
The students receiving this award have worked hard and maintained an impressive standard of excellence by graduating with a GPA of 3.75 or higher. In a letter from the President of the United States, President Obama writes: “I am delighted to join your family, friends and community in congratulating you. By earning this honor, you have shown a deep personal commitment to educational excellence and I commend you for your hard work.”
Alfred Baldeweck
Brittany Bell
Laura Bither
Elyse Caiazzo
Kun Cao
Samuel Cross
Sophia Dai
Libby DesRuisseaux
John Devine
Rebekah DuDevoir
Peter Dutton
Emma Engelman
Alexia Fornaro
Sydney Hallowell
Sara Hoffman
Timothy Jerome
Lisette Labbé
Margaret Kathryn LaFountain
Julia Lambert
Alexandra Logan
Sarah MacLeod
Emily Manter
Sarah Nappo
Katherine Randall
Hannah Ray
Kathryn Smith
Léon Taquet
Members of the Class of 2014
Alec James Anderson
Riley Thomas Archer*
Alfred Francis Baldenweck***
Patrick Joseph Ball
Alexander Theodore Barris*
Adam Michael Batchelder
Brittany Paige Bell +***
Marko Michael Benjamin
James Henry Biegel +**
Katherine Elizabeth Binford
Laura Elise Bither +***
Jason Roland Wayne Blier
Samuel Andrew Boucher +*
Kaitlyn Montgomery Burton
Elyse Marie Caiazzo +***
Kun (Cici) Cao***
Bradford Thomas Carney*
Isabella Donatelli Casale +**
Walker Graham Church +*
Christian Smith Cilley +**
Gillian Elizabeth Coates +**
Anthéa Angèle Colinet
Connor Thomas Conley
Alexander John Connolly
Samuel Joseph Cross +***
Yue Dai +***
Felix Anthony del Vecchio V*
Libby Anne DesRuisseaux +***
John Seamus Cotten Devine +***
Peter Paul Dubé, Jr.
Rebekah Renee DuDevoir***
Cavan Glynn Dudley
Peter Burke Dutton +***
Emma Bronwyn Engelman +***
Stephen James Fasulo II
Madeleine Anne Fenderson +*
Georgia Louise Ford**
Elizabeth Louise Ford +**
Alexia Concetta Fornaro +***
Catharine Mary Galligan*
Alexander James Grant-Roy +*
Gregory Doane Grinnell, Jr.+**
Colin Edward Grove +*
Cassidy Jean Grover
Michael John Haith
Sydney Hayes Hallowell +***
William Frank Hilton
Sara MacDonald Hoffman +***
Emmanuel Mekki Ismail
Nicholas Andrew Jensen*
Timothy Joseph Jerome +***
Rachel Elizabeth Johnsey*
Hannah Caler Wylie Johnston +**
Devon Lyon Jones
Ethan Edgar Jordan +*
Owen Curtiss Kivela +*
Lisette Ann Labbé +***
Margaret Kathryn Marie LaFountain+***
Julia Baldwin Caldwell Lambert +***
Elita France LaVopa +*
Lily Adrian Lehto*
Brett MacKay Libby*
Maxwell James Liberty
Alexandra Margaret Logan +***
Sadie Delaney Lyons
Sarah Elizabeth MacLeod +***
Abigail Evelyn Maker
Emily Darling Manter + ***
Mikayla Jean Martin +*
Stephanie Jeanne McKew +**
William David McMahon
Haley Elizabeth McOsker
Kathryn Maria Michaud
Charles Michael Mull*
Kiera Rose Murray +**
Maria Christina Nappi +**
Sarah Eilene Nappo +***
Cody James O’Brien +*
Colleen Thayer O’Connell
Patrick Isaac O’Hanlon**
Caroline Anne Petitti*
David Michael Philiphose +*
Zachary James Poulin +*
Mitchell James Powers
Qiwen Qi
Katherine Jeannette Randall +***
Hannah Elizabeth Ray***
Madeline Rose Richardson
Sarah Carrie Richter
Jenna Leigh Roberge*
Ariana Elizabeth Russo *
Nicholas David Russo*
Jonathan Justin Ruterbories**
Emma Montgomery Ryan**
Grace Isabel Shapiro +**
Maggie Louise Shellene +*
Matthew Mahony Silberstein**
Kodiak Manley Simpson
Michael James Sinclair +*
MaryKathryn Rose Slattery +**
Colby Philip Smith
Damian Avedis Smith*
Joseph Kenneth Smith*
Kathryn Leshan Smith+***
Sophia Raeleen Smith + *
Jessica Bernadette Soucy +**
Matthew Michael Sprague
Alisha Barbara Starbird +*
Noah Paul Stebbins +**
Gregory Edward Strong, Jr.
Jackson Joseph Sutton
Léon Christian Taquet +***
Christopher Aaron Tinsman*
Alexandra Anne Walker*
Charles Michael Walsh
Christine Claire Walsh +*
Meredith Claire Willard +*
Jiewen Xiao*
Yuanzhen Xu**
Isaac Manu Yeboah +**
Elijah Manu Yeboah +**
Shan Sam Zhao
+ National Honor Society
***Summa Cum Laude
**Magna Cum Laude
*Cum Laude
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