Portland High School held its graduation at 10:30 a.m. June 4 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. This year, 228 seniors received diplomas. The following students rose to the top 10 in the class of 2015.

MIRANDA BALOW RICHMAN, Valedictorian
She is a daughter of Brad Richman and Mari Balow. She was vice president of the Photography Club, captain of Academic Decathlon, treasurer of GSTA, a member of the Environmental Club, and participated in the Global Studies certificate program. Miranda belonged to the French Language and Literary Groups and peer tutoring with Make it Happen. She took Japanese language lessons and volunteered with the Maine Democratic Party in her senior year. She was on the tennis team all four years. Miranda’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, National Merit Recognition, AP Scholar with Honor, the Longfellow Writing Award and the Harvard Book Award. Miranda plans to attend Harvard University.

FRANCESCA LEA BUTTERFIELD, Salutatorian
She is a daughter of Michele and Lou Butterfield. She was a member of the executive board, Key Club, newspaper editor, drama, Film Consideration Club and GSTA. Francesca is a volunteer with Fuller Center for Housing in Nicaragua, a teacher aide at Longfellow Elementary School, and has taken a photography class at Maine College of Art. She was on the cross country team and lacrosse team.  Francesca’s scholastic achievements earned her membership in the National Honor Society, high honors throughout her high school career, the Columbia Book Award and first place in the Classical Association of New England Writing Contest. Francesca plans to attend Barnard College.

CLARE FUYA AULD-BROKISH
She is the daughter of Thomas Brokish and Sarah Auld. She was a member of the Environmental Club, Academic Decathlon, Spanish Club and Writing Club. Clare is a volunteer at CAFAM Chinese School and the Animal Refuge League. She takes Mandarin and piano lessons. Clare’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, National Spanish Exam Awards, the Yale Book Award, and the English Book Award. Clare plans to attend Wellesley College.

DARCY HINCK
She is the daughter of Jon Hinck and Juliet Browne. She was a member of the executive board, the school newspaper, cross country team, lacrosse team, Film Consideration Club and GSTA. Darcy interned on the Bellows Campaign for U.S. Senate, and volunteered for Youth Court. Darcy’s scholastic achievements earned her membership in the National Honor Society, National Latin and Spanish Awards, the Connecticut College Book Award, and Honors and High Honors throughout her high school career. Darcy plans to attend Tufts University.

BEATRICE R. HESSELBART
She is the daughter of Carl Hesselbart and Anne Freedman. She was a member of the cross country, Nordic skiing, outdoor track teams; the Civil Rights Team, the Spanish Club, Writing Club, Anatomy of Leadership and peer tutoring.  She competed at the Eastern High School Championship for the Maine Nordic Team and was on the Southwestern Maine All- Academic Cross Country Team. Beatrice’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, the Yale Book Award and a Citizenship Award. She has been on three Apogee Adventure trips and volunteered with the Appalachian Mountain Club.

CURRAN SAXENA CLERE
He is the son of Jason Clere and Charu Saxena. He is a member of the executive board, Anatomy of Leadership, and served as president of the student council. He is a member of the hockey team, tennis team, sailing team, the outdoor club and ski club. Curran’s scholastic achievements earned him High Honors throughout his high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar Award and the Dartmouth Book Award. Curran plans to attend Boston College.

ALYSSA MARIE VACCARO
She is the daughter of Scott and Wendy Vaccaro. She is a member of the executive board, the tennis team, Key Club, Ski Club and Dream Factory. She was a member of indoor track, outdoor track and Yearbook Club. She belongs to the USTA Summer and Winter Tennis League and was on the 1st team of the SMAA All Stars Doubles. Alyssa’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, membership in the National Honor Society and the Springfield College Book Award. Alyssa plans to attend Rhodes College.

DAISY BRAUN
She is the daughter of Martin Braun and Jamie Hogan. She is secretary of the Photo Club, a member of the Film Consideration Club and French Club. Daisy is a member of the Peaks Island Chorale and was a member of the Peaks Island Ukulele Orchestra. Daisy’s scholastic achievements earned her Honors and High Honors throughout her high school career, the Mount Holyoke Book Award and a Citizenship Award. Daisy plans to attend Maryland Institute College of Art.

CONNOR ANTHONY BRUCE
He is the son of Robert Bruce and Cynthia Czajkowski. He is a member of the Writing Club, Downhill Ski Club, soccer team and lacrosse team.  He was a member of Nordic Skiing, Key Club and Anatomy of Leadership. Connor volunteered at the Maine Audubon, AMC Teen Trail Crew and Youth Court. Connor’s scholastic achievements earned him Honor and High Honors throughout his high school career, membership in the National Honor Society and the Williams Book Award. Connor plans to attend Oberlin College.

HENRY MENDOZA STODDARD
He is the son of Michael and Barbara Stoddard. He is a member of the executive board, Student Council, Key Club, Spanish Club, Ski Club, soccer team and ultimate Frisbee team.  He was a member of Anatomy of Leadership and a volunteer at Maine Medical Center. Henry’s scholastic achievements earned him Honors and High Honors throughout his high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, a Silver Medal, Honorable Mention, Magnum Cum Laude and Cum Laude on the National Spanish and Latin Exams, and the St. Michael’s College Book Award. Henry plans to attend Tulane University.

Portland High’s Class of 2015

Riman Abbas, Mohammed Abd, Farhiyo Abdi, Haydar Abdullah, Warda Abukar, Kiana Acevedo, Asma I. Ahmed, Asma O. Ahmed, Hamdia Ahmed, Hawa Ahmed, Sahra Ahmed, Brooke Ahonen, Mohammed Albehadli, Stephen Alex, Ayan Ali, Suleiman Ali, Gulad Ali, Guled Ali, Khaled Alsammrai, Margot Andreasen, Pasquale Apon, Jessy Augustino, Clare Auld-Brokish, Fadumo Awale, Faris Baziga, Eric Beaudet, Samuel Beaudet, Tyson Beaudette, Evynn Betters, Nicole Bisimwa, Matt Bliss, Jonathan Bobe, Madison Bolduc, Shannon Boyle, Daisy Braun, Molly Braun, Kelsey Brooks, Victoria Broshes, Connor Bruce, Mariza Budri, Natalia Budri, Cayli Burnham, Francesca Butterfield, Lillian Calvert, Courtney Camire, Nicole Carignan, Oscar Carroll, Gregory Cassella, Ian Chambers, Fair Charles, Lillian Charles, Adam Clark, Curran Clere, S. Christian Colson, David Cooper, Ella Coose, Kali Coyne, Marcus Cross-Robertson, King Cua, Brandon Cunningham, Rachael Dang, Hannah Day, Kaitlyn Deering, Deng Deng, Liam Densmore, Sabrina DePeter, Dominic DiMillo, Amira Djama, Kaha Djama, Khalid Djama, Said Djama, Tia Doering, Elizabeth Donato, Georgia Drew, Fedor Drown, Abdimalik Duale, Luis Dubon, Hussein, Dubow, Seth Dunn, Landon Durgan, Natasha Ellis, Joe Emerson, Annika Erikson, Anna Evans, Domenic Fagone, Evelin Feliz, Adam Flaherty, Brianna Foley, Tanner Foley, Cynthia Fonseca, Brianna Frank, Sydney Fredrick, Mary Gauthier, William Gendron, Olivia Gilbert, Greta Goode, Carole Grant, Brady Green, Melissa Gross, Dominic Guimond, Nathaniel Guptill, Aubrey Gurney, Osman Gutale, Haron Habibzai Leo Haferman, Danielle Hanscome, Beatrice Hesselbart, Leo Hilton, Darcy Hinck, Andrew Hoekstra, Colleen Hogle, Kevin Hong, Annah Houanche, Mackenzie Hoyt, Joshua Hunnewell, Ebyan Hussein, Audrey Iradukunda,  Isaiah Israel-Copeland, Jeremiah Israel-Copeland, Maire Johnson, Meredith Johnson, Tyler Joondeph, Carlos Kanda, Noela Kayamba, Jordy Kellian, Brandon Kennagh, Aren Kiladjian, Claire Kirby, Devon Lalor, Joseph Laskey, Natasha Laskey, Jacob Lesperance, Ellis Linsmith, Drew Little, Gloria Lutala, Angelo Magno, AJoung Malual, Suzana Manguda, Olivia Mantsch, Hallie Mares, Colleen Mathews, Flannery McAdam, Christopher McCabe, Hannah Mermin, Alexa Michaud, Katherine Miller, Chiara Morabito, Graham Morgan, Sheraz Muhammad-Ibrahim, Mustaf Mukhtar, Angelique Nagikundiro, Ralia Naney, Clare Naylor, Billy-Carl Ngabire, Laura Nielsen, Alexander Oja, Lily Okot, Khatra Olat, Halima Omar, Tara O’Neal, Yusuf Osman, David Otto, Kaylee Pao, Natalie Parent, Margaret Parker, Julia Pasquali, Jacob Plourde, Joseph Porcaro, Joanna Quinn, Omar Raouf, Hallie Repeta, Juan Retolaza, Esmail Rezaie, Miranda Richman, Molly Rickett, Micaella Rodriguez, Jaime Rodriguez-Lones, Chelsea Rollins, Ryan Ruhlin, Lionel Rwendeye, William Sampson, Montana Sangillo, Jack Schwartz, Rebecca Scott, Brandon Seavey, Benjamin Semukanya, Daniel Semukanya, Kafi Shardi, Misaal Shardi, Patrick Sheils, Darriana Simard, Tyler Simpson, Dorria Slaughter, Cedric Smith, Haley Snyder, Alex Stewart, Henry Stoddard, Delaney Stokes, Damien Stone, Joshua Sullivan, Abdi Sulub, Jordan Talbot, Zachary Taylor, Mack Teng, Nyra Thomas, Oling Tobias, Jessica Tran, Suleman Ugas, Evelyne Uwimana, Alyssa Vaccaro, Ryan Valley, Shelby Varney, Elizabeth Victor, Kelby Violette, Gabrielle Wagabaza, Gabriel Walker, Michaela Walker, Mamie Walsh, Stephen Walsh, Lucy Wanzer, Drew Waterhouse, Kasmira Weinberg, Charles Winkelman, Jessica Wolfe, Eric Worden, Brad Yargeau, Jonathan Yombe, Nirmala Young, Noah Youngren, Rafaella Zabot-Hall.

 

Copy the Story Link