R. W. Traip Academy held its graduation at 6 p.m. June 12 in the school gymnasium. The following students rose to the top 10 in the Class of 2015.

HALEY PEREIRA, valedictorian
Haley is the daughter of Scott and Colleen Pereira. Haley was involved in Student Council, National Honor Society, Team Green, and Project Search, a program offered by the University of New Hampshire. Haley was active in varsity soccer, indoor track and track & field. She was named to the Western Maine Conference All-Academic team in all three sports this year. As a junior, Haley received the Society of Women Engineers Certificate of Merit, and she was named a Rotary Student of the Month on two occasions during her senior year. Haley plans to study criminology and psychology at Saint Michael’s College.

CLARA HANNIGAN, co-salutatorian
Clara is a daughter of Daniel and Bonnie Hannigan. While at Traip Academy, Clara was activein the Student Council and the National Honor Society. She was an active member of the Dramatic Arts group and had roles in “Pippen” and “Once Upon a Mattress” during her sophomore and senior years. Clara was also involved in Project Search, a program offered by UNH. Clara is an accomplished vocalist and a competitive step dancer who is currently ranked 17th in New England. She was selected by audition for the 2014 and 2015 All State Music Festivals. In the fall, Clara intends to study dance science at Elon University.

CAMILLE WILLIAMS, co-salutatorian
Camille is the the daughter of Alexander and Sherry Williams. As a military child, Camille attended four high schools during her secondary school career. She was active with Student-to-Student, Interact, Robotics, and Student Council. In the community, Camille has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and Homes for Troops. Her post-secondary plans include attending California Polytechnic State University, where she will major in food science with a minor in military science. She intends to join ROTC at Cal Poly.

ELORA MCCUDDY
Elora is the daughter of Rebecca & Aaron Johnson and Michael and Kara McCuddy. She is ranked third among the Class of 2015. She is a member of the National Honor Society and served as the Student Council President during her senior year. Elora served as a student representative during the school’s recent NEASC accreditation process. Elora played soccer all four years and served as team co-captain during her senior season. She played basketball for two years but switched to indoor track as a junior and excelled in the Conference at the 400m dash. In outdoor track, Elora has made her mark at the state championships as well as the New England Regional level and has been named to the All State Championship First and Second teams while in high school. Elora will attend the University of Vermont, where she intends to continue her track and field career at the collegiate level.

CHRISTOPHER BAILEY
Christopher, the son of Timothy and Lauren Bailey, is ranked fourth in his class. Chris is a member of the school’s NHS chapter and was a charter member of the Traip Academy VEX Robotics team, traveling to California in 2014 to compete at the national level and serving as the team’s captain in 2015. Chris was a dedicated member of the school’s basketball team for three years. As a senior, he pursued the dramatic arts program and played principal roles the fall musical and the school’s one-act competition play. Chris enjoys composing and performing music and produced an original album this year as part of his Senior Capstone Project. In the fall, Chris will study robotics engineering at Worcester Polytechnical Institute.

ISABELLA MUTCH
Isabella, the daughter of Steven Mutch and Donna Rigor da Eva, is ranked fifth in the class. Isabella played varsity soccer all four years and co-captained the team during the 2014 season. She was active in both indoor and outdoor track during all four years of high school. As a junior, Isabella was among the cast of the school’s annual fall musical, “Pippin.” She has been a member of leadership cabinet every year in high school, serving as the senior class treasurer this year. Isabella received the Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award for Traip Academy. Especially noteworthy is Isabella’s volunteerism. For four years, she taught an art class in Lowell to economically disadvantaged students. Isabella loves to travel and is especially interested in cultures, people and languages. She studied the violin for 13 years. In the fall, Isabella will attend the University of New Hampshire to study Spanish and secondary education.

JOSHUA SCHNEIER
Joshua, ranked sixth in his class, is the son of Jeff and Tess Schneier. Josh played soccer and basketball all four years and was named All-Conference first team in soccer in 2013 and 2014 and the All-Conference first team in baseball as a junior. He captained the soccer and baseball teams as a senior. In the community, Josh has been active as a Kittery Recreation Department youth basketball coach and camp counselor. He enjoys surfing and snowboarding. Joshua will attend the University of Maine in the fall.

EMILIA BYRNE
Emilia, daughter of Mike and Lillian Byrne, is ranked seventh in her class. Emilia’s most notable contribution has been in the performing arts. She had the lead role in Traip’s annual musical production as a junior and senior in “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Once Upon a Mattress.” In the seacoast area, she was in the 2014 Prescott Park production of “Shrek the Musical” and Patrick Dorow Productions’ “Fame last winter.” Emilia was chosen to be Traip Academy’s ambassador to Maine Youth Leadership as a sophomore and was invited back by MYL to be a counselor as a junior and senior. She is a four-year member of the school’s competitive cheering team and received the 2015 Western Maine Conference Citizenship Award. A member of the National Honor Society, Emmi has been a four-year member of the school’s band and chorus. She has been a member of her class leadership cabinet all four years of high school and is the Class President this year. She was also recognized as a Rotary Student of the Month by the school’s visual and performing arts department. Emilia will study biological engineering at the University of Maine in the fall.

PETER ROBINSON
Peter, the son of Alan and Melissa Robinson, is ranked eighth. While at Traip Academy, Peter was a standout musician as first chair trombone for the school’s concert and marching band. In his second year as a member of the National Honor Society, Peter was elected chapter president. He has always been ready to lend a helping hand and is a thoughtful and committed volunteer who has accrued nearly 300 hours as a volunteer at the Seacoast Science Center. He has also volunteered at Portsmouth’s annual Children’s Day, for the Kittery Rotary Club, and with Canine Companions for Independence. Peter continues to faithfully participate in church activities and has a special interest in art. He also enjoys fishing, kayaking, and kneeboarding. This fall, Peter will attend the University of Maine to study biological engineering.

HANNAH NIGHTINGALE
Hannah, ranked ninth, is the daughter of James and Amy Nightingale. As a student at Traip Academy, Hannah was an active and dedicated member of the band as a bass clarinet player for four years. She is also an accomplished indoor and outdoor track athlete with impressive showings at the local, conference and state levels. In the community, Hannah has been a junior fire fighter with the Kittery Fire Department. She enjoys photography, snowboarding and surfing. She plans to study studio art at the University of Maine in the fall.

BRYCE CONDON
Bryce, the son of Peter Metsch and Lizz Metsch, is ranked tenth. Bryce made significant marks in both the athletics and performing arts arenas during his years at Traip Academy. He has been in three of the school’s annual fall musical productions and played the title role of Pippin during his sophomore year. He was also in the one-act competition play during his junior and senior years, and earned All-Cast honors in both productions at the Regional Drama Festival. Bryce was a dedicated member of the school’s varsity football and baseball teams as well. He earned an All-Academic Award in football and received the Justin Robinson Award. Bryce is also an accomplished vocalist and was selected by audition to the District One Chorus all four years and the All State Chorus during his junior and senior years. He will study engineering at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell in the fall.

Traip Academy’s Class of 2015 and their future plans:

Braden Armstrong, University of New England; Alexander Bailey, University of Maine; Christopher Bailey, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Leah Baker, University of Maine at Machias; Flynn Battcock-Emerson, York County Community College; Tyler Blasi, Southern Maine Community College; Jacob Brown, Full-time employment; Tyler Buffington, Full-time employment; Emilia Byrne, University of Maine; Kennedy Canfield, Citrus College; Haley Carson, Roanoke College; Laura Clapp, University of Southern Maine; Bryce Condon, University of MA, Lowell; Michael Costello, Southern Maine Community College; Cameron DeFelice, University of New Hampshire; Cassandra Draker, Southern Maine Community College; Amity Graham, Southern Maine Community College; Tucker Gray, PNSY Apprenticeship Program; Megan Hallissey, Husson University; Clara Hannigan, Elon University; Nathan Henderson, Maine Maritime Academy; Kayla Kilty, University of North Texas; Colin Macomber, Outreach 360; Elijah Martonosi, Lincoln Technical Institute of Automotive Technology; Elora McCuddy, University of Vermont; Tyler McInnis, Lyndon State; Jaden Miller, York County Community College; Tristan Moreau, volunteering; Aidan Morrill, University of Maine; Isabella Mutch, University of New Hampshire; Hannah Nightingale, University of Maine; Brady O’Brien, Husson University; Haley Pereira, St. Michael’s College; Arianna Pesarik, Wheaton College; James Potter, Southern Maine Community College; Morgan Reed, St. Joseph’s College of Maine; Tatiana Reyes, University of South Carolina; Austin Ridlon, full time employment; Peter Robinson, University of Maine; Kayla Sanborn, York County Community College; Michael Sault, Full-time employment; Joshua Schneier, University of Maine; Joseph Spinney, Full-time employment; Daniel Tokarz, Southern Maine Community College; Michael Turner, Full-time employment; Cla’saun Ware, Undecided; Madison White, St. Joseph’s College of Maine; Beatrix Wiggin, University of New England; Camille Williams, California Polytechnic State University; William Yuva, Full-time employment; and Leonardo Zoia, returning to Italy.