Old Orchard Beach high school held their graduation at 2 p.m. June 7 at Seaside Pavilion. The following students rose to the top of the class of 2015.

EMILIE CHARD, valedictorian
She is the daughter of Thomas and Elise Chard and younger sister to Elissa Chard. She received high and highest honors throughout high school. Emilie was an active member of student government, serving as class vice president all four years. She also served on Student Council for four years, and was elected president her junior and senior years. In her junior year, she was inducted into the National Honor Society, and later became vice president. She played varsity field hockey all four years, and she was elected captain her junior and senior years. Emilie was involved in the Interact Club, Prom Committee, and was editor of the Oceana Yearbook. She received the Dartmouth Alumni Book Award and the Phi Beta Kappa Award, as well as the Student of the Month. She also received the Maine Principals Association Award her senior year. In the fall, Emilie will attend the University of New England to study athletic training. She hopes to pursue a career in physical therapy.

ALYSSA HINKLE, salutatorian
She is a daughter of Rick and Marcy Hinkle and older sister to Haylee Hinkle. She has been a member of the National Honor Society since her junior year and is a five-year veteran of marching band. She was secretary for the student council at the high school and secretary for the class of 2015. She was a member of the Oceana Yearbook committee and an active member of the school’s international club, traveling to Costa Rica, China, Paris and Barcelona. She was awarded the Bowdoin Book Award her junior year for her academic achievements, and earned highest honors throughout her high school career. In the fall, she will attend the University of New England School of Pharmacy, where she will earn her doctorate.

ANDREW GILLIS
He is the son of Tom and Lisa Gillis. He served as class president all four years of high school, as well as being an active member of Student Council and serving as vice president his junior and senior year. He was inducted into the National Honor Society in his junior year and served as president in his senior year. He was an active member in his school’s music program, joining the marching band while in seventh grade and becoming drum major in his senior year. He also spent three years in the jazz band and jazz choir. He will attend Boston College in the fall to pursue a degree in political science.

PAYTON BREITENFELD
She is the daughter of Dale and Tracy Breitenfeld. Since 2012, Payton has been an active participant in Student Council, Natural Helpers, Interact Club, Prom Committee, Virtual Book Club, as well as serving as treasurer for her class. In 2013, she was inducted to the National Honor Society and was elected secretary the following year. In the 2014 senior superlatives, her compassion was noticed when she was elected “Most Likely to Brighten One’s Day.” Her academics and good-standing was recognized by the Saco Bay Rotary Club, when Payton was selected by the teachers as Student of the Month for October. In the fall, she plans to attend Southern Maine Community College and continue on to the University of New England, taking the NCLEX exam to become a registered nurse. Payton is most ambitious for her entry into the Peace Corps. following her final year at college.

JOSHUA MALONEY
He is the son of Chad Maloney and the late Tammie Holman. Throughout high school, Joshua was driven by his Catholic faith and prided himself in his academics. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He served on the Catholic Youth Leadership Team during his sophomore and junior year and on the Good Shepherd Parish Leadership Team during his senior year. He was also an active member of youth ministry. He served as the Chief Squire of the Columbian Squires, and joined the Knights of Columbus in Biddeford. Joshua  volunteered to altar serve at Mass on Sunday mornings and teaching catechesis to children during his sophomore and junior year. Currently, he works at Hannaford in Saco. Joshua was accepted by Bishop Robert Deely of the Diocese of Portland to begin priesthood formation at Our Lady of Providence Seminary and Providence College this fall.

JESSICA GREENLEAF
She is the daughter of Kellie and Michael Greenleaf. Throughout high school, she took the highest level of classes possible, which included honors and advanced placement classes, as well as AP and college classes offered through outside programs. She participated in student government, the yearbook and prom committees, interact club, marching band, jazz band, jazz combo, robotics team, math team, varsity softball, and varsity tennis. Jessica will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts. Jessica hopes to travel the world and concentrate her knowledge on bridging cultural gaps and contributing to environmental efforts worldwide.

CALEB GRENIER
He is the son of Carrie and Peter Grenier. He has been an avid member of the Jazz Band for four years, where he played saxophone and guitar. In his junior and senior year, he won a Maine State High School Jazz Festival Outstanding Musicianship Award. He was a member of the National Honor Society. He also played ice hockey on the OOB/Massabesic team for three years. He will be attending Wentworth Institute of Technology in the fall to study biomedical engineering. After college, he plans to get a job that will contribute something valuable to the medical community.

RACHEL CYR
She is the daughter of Julie and Gerald Cyr Jr.  During her four years of high school she maintained high honor roll each year. Rachel was a member of her school’s mentor program, Prom Committee, Yearbook Committee, culinary internship program, Jazz Choir, and International Club. During her junior year, she was elected into the National Honor Society and named treasurer of the organization her senior year. This fall, she will attend Marist College to pursue a career in fashion merchandising.

ABIGAIL DUBOIS
She is the daughter of Ross and Ericka Dubois. She was an active member of Student Council and was inducted into the National Honors Society her junior year. She has partaken in the school’s mentoring program for the past three years. She was captain of the soccer and basketball teams her junior and senior year, and was captain of the softball team her junior year. Throughout the years, she was selected to the Western Maine First Team All-Conference for soccer and basketball, All-State for soccer, the Maine McDonald’s All Star team, and the Journal Tribune 2014-2015 Girl’s Basketball Player of the Year. She was also selected to the All-Academic team. She will attend Springfield College in the fall and major in sports biology and play on the school’s soccer team.

CRAIG FINLEY
He is the son of Charlettia and Keith Finley. He was an active member of the school’s mentoring program for three years, and a member of the Natural Helpers for two years. Craig played hockey for three years with the Massabesic and Old Orchard Beach Mustangs. He was inducted into the National Honor Society his junior year. Craig is going to Western New England University for forensic biology with a minor in chemistry.

Old Orchard Beach’s Class of 2015

Morgan Albert, Zachary Belanger, Graeme Bock, Bradford Bouthot, Hunter Boutot, Taylor Boyd, Payton Breitenfeld Jason Brown, Damian Byram, Emilie Chard, Austin Charles, Connor Cushman, Rachel Cyr, Zachary Demers, Richard Descoteaux, Abigail Dubois Sean Emhof, Craig Finley, Andrew Gillis, Andrew Graves, Jessica Greenleaf Rebecca Greenlee, Caleb Grenier, Alyssa Hinkle, Jacob Holman, Katelyn Irish, Joshua Maloney, Bobbie-Jean Mariello, Jeremiah Mariello, Michaela Marlow, Jasmine Maynard, Jessica Murphy, Bethany Pelletier Dylan Penniman, Haley Plante, Mackenzie Rague, Bryan Ramsey, Jacob Raychard, Bryan Roberts Megan Rydle, Kyle Salway, Breanna Schildroth-Blow, Vladyslav Skala, Kaycee Slick, Lauralee Small, Abbey Spear, Nicholas Stewart, Samantha Stiles, Breana Surber, Alexa Therrien, Tyson Turgeon, Andrew Valliere and Miranda Walls.

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