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South Portland High School
637 Highland Ave., South Portland | highschool.spsd.org

Graduation day: June 9, 2013
Graduation information provided by the high school


    Top 10 Seniors

    Jackson Beck- Valedictorian
    Son of Matthew and Denise Beck
    In addition to being at the top of his class, Jackson is extensively involved – and holds leadership roles - in a variety of extracurricular activities, including Swim Team (Captain), Student Senate (President), Debate Team (Captain), Spanish Club, and National Honor Society. He is one of two student representatives to the South Portland Board of Education. Interests include current events, politics, film and music. Jackson has been recognized with a number of awards and honors, including AP Scholar with Distinction, Yale University Book Award, Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Award, DAR Good Citizen Award, George Eastman Young Leaders Award, and Rotary Youth Leadership Award. Jackson was selected as one of two Maine Delegates to the United States Senate Youth Program, and interned at the District Office of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree in the fall of 2011. During the summer, he works at the Casco Bay Lines in Portland. Jackson plans to study Political Science at Yale University in the fall.

    Thuy Nguyen - Salutatorian
    Daughter of Vy Ho and Cuu Nguyen
    In addition to devoting time to academics, Thuy participates in the Outing Club, Math Team, and marching band, and is a member of the National Honor Society. Her interests include origami, piano, drawing and reading, as well as collecting stamps, fortunes, and snow globes. Thuy makes time to give back to the community by volunteering at the 21 Club at Skillin Elementary School. She has been recognized for outstanding performance in Earth Science, Math II and III, Biology, Precalculus and Chemistry, and has been a recipient of the Dartmouth College Book Award. Thuy will attend Smith College, studying to be a chemical engineer.

    Keirstan Field
    Daughter of Nicolle Field and Adam Lakari
    Keirstan participates on the swim team, tennis team, Spanish Club, Earth Action Team, and is involved in UMPG’s Blunt Youth Radio. She enjoys reading, swimming, music, Spanish, and science. Keirstan’s interest in Spanish led to a month-long excursion in the south of Spain following her sophomore year. Her strong academic achievement has earned her awards for excellence in Biology, English, Spanish, and she has received the Bausch & Lomb Science Award, Maine Youth Leadership Award, and has been selected as an alternate to the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership program. In addition to her school work, Keirstan works part-time at The Cookie Jar in South Portland. She’ll be studying Biochemistry and Spanish at Worcester Poly Tech next year.

    Conor Beck
    Son of Matthew and Denise Beck
    Conor is active in the Poetry Club, Debate Team, Interact, Spanish Club, and Student Senate. Outside of school, he enjoys fencing, discussing intense topics, looking up random articles on Wikipedia, eating cereal without milk, and sleeping. Conor’s interests include tall buildings, politics, Kanye West, and smart people, and he was actively involved with the campaign to ban tobacco in South Portland’s parks. His accomplishments have earned him a number of awards and distinctions, including AP Scholar with Distinction, Rotary Youth Leadership Award, US Presidential Scholar nominee, 2012 MYAN Anti-Tobacco Advocate of the Year, finalist in The Nation magazine’s 2011 essay contest. Conor will study Applied Math and Computer Science at Rice University in the fall.

    Brian Weden
    Son of Samuel and Tina Weden
    An accomplished musician, Brian is active in marching band, wind ensemble, and jazz ensemble. He als participates in Ultimate Frisbee, and is a member of the National Honor Society. In addition to his love of music, he enjoys spending time with friends, vacationing with family, skiing, and volunteering at Maine Medical Center and Memorial Middle School. Among the awards Brian has received are Excellence in Honors Chemistry and St. Michael’s Book Award. He is also a member – and acted as President - of the Tri M Music Honor Society. In addition to school work and extracurricular activities, Brian finds time to work as a cashier at Hannaford. He’ll be attending Boston University next year, studying biomedical engineering and pre-med, with the goal of attending medical school and becoming a physician or surgeon.

    Zoe Trout
    Daughter of Chris and Sue Trout
    Zoe has been involved in dance (ballet and modern) since age 4, and has brought that talent to South Portland’s stage as a cast member of the annual musicals. Additionally, she’s been involved with Interact, Spanish Club, and Outing Club. Zoe enjoys travel and being outdoors, and spends considerable time volunteering with such organizations as Kids First in Portland, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and at Kaler Elementary School. She is the recipient of the Wellesley College Book Award, and is a member of both the National Honor Society and World Language Honor Society. In her spare time, she works at Bono’s Pizzeria & Grille as a hostess, and is a studio assistant at Maggie Bokor Jewelry. Zoe will be attending Florida Southern College in the fall, and would like to join the Peace Corps.

    Derek Tannoia
    Son of Philip and Tracy Tannoia
    Derek excels both in and out of the classroom, and is involved in a number of extracurricular activities including the Golf Team (Captain), Ultimate Frisbee (Captain), Outing Club (President), Interact, Amnesty International, and National Honor Society (Philanthropist). Derek enjoys spending his free time skiing, golfing, playing Frisbee, swimming, watching movies, and chillin’. His interests include medicine, technology, and politics. Derek has been a recipient of the Bates College Book Award, was a 2011 delegate to Dirigo Boys State, and a runner-up in Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance, 2011. Derek works as a cashier/stocker at Legion Square Market. In the fall, Derek will be attending Lehigh University. He plans to major in Biomedical Engineering and minor in Politics, and would eventually like to pursue a doctorate.

    Emma Dadmun
    – Daughter of Dean and Rebecca Dadmun
    In addition to her academic achievements, Emma shines in the performing arts realm. She’s been a member of the renowned girls’ choir, Musica de Filia, since third grade, and has been involved in stage productions both at SPHS and in the Greater Portland community (Portland Stage Company and Madhorse Theatre). She’s active in Interact and French Club, and volunteers at Small Elementary School. Additionally, she enjoys traveling and the outdoors, and spent the fall of her junior year at the Chewonki Semester School in Wiscasset. Emma is a recipient of the Cornell Book Award and a member of National Honor Society. When not in school or performing, Emma is a kennel assistant at the Brackett Street Veterinary Clinic. Emma plans to take a gap year to travel and volunteer, and then go to Whitman College.

    Abigail Onos
    Daughter of Steven and Connie Onos
    Abby’s interests and talents are wide-ranging. She’s captain of the Swim Team, Secretary of Spanish Club, a member of Interact, Outing Club, and competes in outdoor track & field. She enjoys camping, hiking, paddle boarding, traveling, and is an accomplished artist. Her academic and artistic excellence have been recognized in a number of honors and awards, including National Honor Society and World Language Honor Society; the Smith College Book Award; the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) Book Award; Scholastic Art Award, Silver Key; Federal Junior Duck Stamp Contest, Best in Show for Maine; Maine Youth Excellence in Art; Women’s Literary Union Writing Contest, 2nd place. With all of this, Abby still finds time to work at Twisted/TCBY in the Maine Mall. She’ll be attending Smith College in the fall.

    Sonita Hav
    Daughter of Chantha Mak and Molika Preap
    Chris is active in the Outing Club and Ultimate Frisbee. Awards have included the Williams College Book Award, as well as Excellence in Biology and English, and he's a member of the World Languages National Honor Society. Chris is currently employed at Smaha's Legion Square Market. He'll be attending the University of Vermont in the fall.

    2013 Scholarships/Awards

    Andrew Gerke Memorial Scholarship Charles Key
    Ann and John Gilmore Memorial Scholarship Cheyenne Coombs
    Art in the Park Scholarship Natalie O’Donnell
    Bartlett Family Award Sonita Hav
    Bath Savings Institution Scholarship Derek Tannoia
    Beatrice and Henry Harvie Memorial Scholarship Angela Tirabassi, James Merkel III
    Blackwood Family Scholarship Nickolas Littlefield
    Bob Elliot South Portland High School Spirit Award Paige Doane
    Book Trust Award Emma Dadmun
    Burton-Roberge Memorial Scholarship Anastasija Filipovic, Sarah Mileson
    Class of 2000-Sherie Libby Memorial Scholarship Courtney Verrill
    College Club of Portland Scholarship Madeline Twomey
    Community Advocates for Social Action Scholarship Jesse Smith
    Darien Leigh Richardson Memorial Scholarship Olivia Cummings, Alyssa Marchant
    Dick Smart Memorial Scholarship Cody Munson
    Dora L. Small School PTA Scholarship Claudia Ouellette
    Ernest C. Lamson Scholarship Emily Gray
    Eva L. Alley Memorial Scholarship Anastasija Filipovic
    FAME-Educators for Maine Program Emily Gray
    Finard Properties Scholarship Libby McHugh
    Frank I. Brown Elementary School PTA Scholarship Lindsay Brown
    Fred Freise Award Benjamin Burkey
    G. Walter Johnson Class of 1922 Scholarship Bao Loc, Mykala Montecalvo
    G. Walter Johnson Football Scholarship Ryan Ely
    Gary L. Diffin Memorial Scholarship Joseph Feely, Nicholas Kinder
    Gorham Savings Bank Scholarship Thuy Nguyen
    Harry Phillips Scholarship - South Portland Lions Club Cody Munson
    Helen J. Flaherty Scholarship Emily Gray
    Helena Dyer School PTA Caleb Elsemore
    Hemond Award Justin Brown, Leah De Cesare, Courtney Verrill
    James E. Minott Scholarship Joseph Brown
    Jeanne Crocker Scholarship Abigail Onos
    Jeff King Memorial Football Scholarship Cody Munson
    Jerry Kill Memorial Scholarship Danica Gleason
    Jim and Elizabeth McAleney Memorial Scholarship Nyajock Pan, Tanner Hyland
    Jobs for Maine Graduates Award Leah De Cesare
    John L. Hawkes Boys & Girls Club Scholarship Jenacee Bradbury, Tristan Cox, Graceson Cyr, Christine McAloon, Liam Rottkov
    John A. Millington Memorial Scholarship Aleina Peluso
    John E. Walker Memorial Scholarship Jackson Beck
    John Wiggin Memorial Scholarship Abigail Onos
    Kaler Elementary School PTA Scholarship Jack Manning
    Kathleen M. Wilkinson Chisholm Scholarship Emily Gray
    Kenneth Jordan Higgins Memorial Scholarship Anastasija Filipovic
    Lancaster/McLeod Scholarship Grant - South Portland Lions Club Angela Tirabassi
    Leslie E. & Mildred A. Norwood Memorial Scholarship Daniel Tran
    Linda Sturm Scholarship Kailey Hannigan
    Loveitt Trust Award Maxwell Knutsen
    Maine Community College Scholarship - Early College for ME Sarah Dadmun, Antonio DeWitt II, Riley Erskine, Tabatha Moore, Antonio Roberts
    Maine Community College Scholarship Alyson James
    MELMAC Tyler/Grandmaison Scholarship Emma Tremblay
    Mike Downing Scholarship Adam Helmke
    Michael J. Eastman Scholarship Cody Munson
    Nancy Carroll Project Graduation Scholarship James Merkel III
    Paul E. LaVangie Scholarship Emily Gray
    Peter H. Debevoise Memorial Scholarship Brianna Woodward
    Peter MacVane Memorial Scholarship Cody Munson
    Phyllis H. Davidson Award Sonita Hav
    Portland Pipe Line Corporation Scholarship Keirstan Field, Brian Weden
    Ralph E. Cabana Scholarship Ryan Ely
    Ray Corey Memorial Scholarship - South Portland Lions Club Hannah Folan
    Richard W. Dow, Jr. Memorial Award Sarah Mileson
    Robert E. Graff Memorial Scholarship Ryan Ely
    Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution Scholarship Ryan Pelletier
    Senator George J. Mitchell Institute Scholarship Iris SanGiovanni
    South Portland Administrators' Association Scholarship Mykala Montecalvo
    So. Portland/Cape Elizabeth Community Chamber Scholarship Lia Benfatta
    So. Portland/Cape Elizabeth Rotary Club Scholarship - "Service Above Self" Samantha Fuller, Elisa Martin, Cody Munson, Brianna Woodward
    South Portland Democratic Committee Scholarship Conor Beck
    SPHS Baseball Boosters Scholarship Dillon Burns, Adam Helmke, Nicholas Whitten
    SPHS Boys Lacrosse Boosters Award Cody Munson
    SPHS Boys Soccer Boosters Scholarship Joseph Brown, Benjamin Burkey, Dillon Burns, Tristan Cox, Jacob Cyr-Carter, Damjan Draskovic, Caleb Elsemore, Adam Helmke, Joshua McDuffie, Ryan Pelletier
    South Portland High School Dollars for Scholars Scholarship Benjamin Alexander, Willoughby Andrews, Alex Anzurez, Edward Apricopoai, Carlos Baez III, Joseph Bigbee, Trevor Borelli, Lindsay Brown, Justin Brown, Dillon Burns, Luis Calderon, Calvin Carr, Jessica Claudio, Malina Cobb, Zachary Cote, Jacob Cyr-Carter, Emma Dadmun, Brianna Dechaine, Sophia Desjardins, Samantha DiBiase, Nicholas Doughty, Damjan Draskovic, Sierra Edwards, Katelin Erskine, Nicholas Fagone, Trevor Fenwick, Ashleigh Fiske, Colton Gervais, Ruby Goldberg, Austin Gotts, Nicole Grant, Stephanie Gurney, Lauren Halvorsen, Olivia Hamlin, Jari Hansen, Daniel Hodgkins, Nathaniel Hoffman, Eric Howard, Russell Hyatt, Tanner Hyland, Gabrielle Jackson, Zachary Jacobson, Alexander Kane, James Kazilionis, Maxwell Knutsen, Dakota Kucher, Lyndsay Lombardi, Emily Lowell, Iliana MacKinnon, Conner MacVane, Jessica Mandujano, Joshua McDuffie, Allison McGee, Jacqueline Merrill, Molly Miller, Kelsey Morton, Kyle Muccino, Nicola Napolitano, Nicholas Nevells-McWilliam, Katelyn Nickerson, Claudia Ouellete, Nyajock Pan, Leanne Pennell, Taryn Richards, Jaclyn Salevsky, Jonah Sanville, Samuel Seidl, Sophia Smith, Melanie So, Elliot Stack, Brianna Stark, John Tolan, Jesse Warren, Paul Wing, Joseph Zelasko
    SPHS Drama Club Award Elliot Stack, Paul Wing
    SPHS Field Hockey Boosters Scholarship BElizabeth Albert, Danielle Bergner, Lani Edwards, Samantha Fuller, Danica Gleason, Kailey Hannigan, Sarah Mileson, Jaclyn Salevsky
    SPHS Football Boosters Award Ryan Ely, Nicholas Kinder, Conner MacVane, Cody Munson, Liam Rottkov, Samuel Seidl, Daniel Tran, Paul Wing, Joseph Zelasko
    SPHS Girls Basketball Boosters Scholarship Danielle Bergner, Danica Gleason, Emily Gray, Hope Owen, Jenna Wing
    SPHS Girls Lacrosse Boosters Scholarship Lani Edwards, Jacqueline Merrill, Jenna Wing
    SPHS Girls Soccer Boosters Scholarship Jenacee Bradbury, Ericka Lightner, Libby McHugh, Aleina Peluso, Jenna Wing
    SPHS Ice Hockey Boosters Alec Neal, Nicholas Whitten
    SPHS Ice Hockey Jeff King Memorial Scholarship Alec Neal
    SPHS Latin Club Award Joseph Bigbee, Danielle Bergner, Emma Tremblay
    SPHS Music Boosters Matthew Amadei, Lia Benfatta, Spencer Cordice, Tristan Cox, Emma Dadmun, Paige Doane, Hannah Folan, Emily Gray, Anna Kavanagh, Charles Key, Iliana MacKinnon, Elisa Martin, Tabatha Moore, Thuy Nguyen, Aleina Peluso, Iris SanGiovanni, Carly Sobczak, Thomas Strout, Zoe Trout, Brian Weden, Sarah Williams
    SPHS Robotics Boosters Scholarship Aaron Davis, Jack Manning
    SPHS Softball Boosters Scholarship Erin Bogdanovich, Samantha DiBiase, Danica Gleason, Emily Gray, Kelsey Morton,
    SPHS Soychak Leadership Award Cody Munson, Iris SanGiovanni
    SPHS Spanish Club Award Conor Beck, Elisa Martin, Abigail Onos, Madeline Twomey
    South Portland Lions Club Memorial Scholarship Derek Tannoia
    South Portland McDonald's Scholarship Antonio Roberts
    South Portland/Portland Boys & Girls Club Alumni Scholarship Jenacee Bradbury, Liam Rottkov
    South Portland Super Reunion Scholarship in Memory of Ed Langlois Christine McAloon
    South Portland Teachers' Association Scholarship Bridget Mulligan
    Stella B. Lewis Scholarship Cheyenne Coombs, Danae Shurn, Sonia Zarate
    Tina M. Turcotte Memorial Scholarship Akossiwa Alognon, Colby Brown, Bao Loc, Angela Tirabassi
    Top Achieving Scholars in the Class of 2013 Jackson Beck, Thuy Nguyen, Keirstan Field, Conor Beck, Brian Weden, Zoe Trout, Derek Tannoia, Emma Dadmun, Abigail Onos, Sonita Hav
    Unity Lodge # 3 Scholarship Iris SanGiovanni
    Waldo T. Skillin Elementary School PTA Scholarship Olivia Cummings
    William M. Darling, Sr. Memorial Scholarship Jenacee Bradbury
    William H. Linskey Memorial Fund Jesse Smith

    Have graduation information or photos you'd like to submit? Email to graduation@pressherald.com

2013 graduates

Halimo Ibrahim Addan
Elizabeth M. Albert
Benjamin Scott Alexander
Akossiwa Madel Alognon
Matthew W. Amadei
Gerardo Anaya
Willoughby Brian Andrews
Tyler Joseph Angell
Alex Anzurez
Edward A. Apricopoai
Carlos R. Baez III
Conor William Beck
Jackson Colin Beck
Lia M. Benfatta
Danielle N. Bergner
Joseph Charles Bigbee
Erin Anne Bogdanovich
Trevor Roger Borelli
Jenacee Lauren Bradbury
Derrick James Brady
Ashley Marie Brown
Colby T. Brown
Joseph McGuire Brown
Justin C. Brown
Lindsay Nancy Brown
Benjamin Clayton Burkey
Dillon Andrew Burns
Luis Enrique Calderon
Dylan Roger Carlson
Calvin T. Carr
Logan Elizabeth Carter
Jessica Lynn Claudio
Malina Caitlin Cobb
Cheyenne Lynnette Coombs
Spencer Michael Cordice
Zachary J. Cote
Tristan Stephen Foley Cox
Jennifer Lee Crosby
Olivia Teresa Cummings
Graceson Michael Cyr
Jacob Bruno Cyr-Carter
Emma Katherine Dadmun
Sarah Megan Dadmun
Aaron S. Davies
Leah A. De Cesare
Yasheika Shanice Deacon
Brianna Maire Dechaine
Sophia Roxanna Desjardins
Antonio Miguel DeWitt II
Samantha Irene DiBiase
Paige Elizabeth Doane
Joseph Leo Donovan
Nick A. Doughty
Damjan Draskovic
Robert William Dunnigan
Sean S. Duong
Lani M. Edwards
Sierra Indigo Edwards
Caleb Gow Elsemore
Ryan Wellington Ely
Katelin Marie Erskine
Riley Erin Erskine
Nicholas J. Fagone
Joseph Patrick Feely
Trevor L. Fenwick
Keirstan Marie Field
Anastasija Filipovic
Ashleigh L. Fiske
Hannah Marie Folan
Samantha Grace Fuller
Colton R. Gervais
Stephen M. Gilliam
Danica Jordan Gleason
Ruby D. Goldberg
Austin Thomas Gotts
Nicole Kathryn Grant
Emily Priscilla Gray
Stephanie Anne Gurney
Lauren Elizabeth Halvorsen
Olivia Monique Hamlin
Kailey Sullivan Hannigan
Jari Coda Hansen
Tatiana Harmon
Charissa Aliya Hathorne
Sonita Hav
Adam Mark Helmke
Daniel W. Hodgkins
Nathaniel C. Hoffman
Eric W. Howard
Russell C. Hyatt
Joseph Patrick Hyland
Tanner Patrick Hyland
Gabrielle Kimberly Jackson
Zachary John Jacobson
Alyson Brooke James
Robert Samuel Jordan
Alexander Thomas Kane
Kirsten Lee Kane
Anna Elyse Kavanagh
James Andrew Kazilionis
Charles M. Key
Thanh B.A. Kieu
Nicholas Glendon Kinder
Maxwell I. Knutsen
Alexis M. Koukos
Jade Kucher
Ericka Regan Lightner
Nickolas G. Littlefield
Bao Trung Loc
Lyndsay Cherish Lombardi
Emily Elizabeth Lowell
Iliana Paloma MacKinnon
Conner Shaw MacVane
Ivy Lyn Mahaka
Jessica Mandujano
Jack Henry Manning
Alyssa P. Marchant
Elisa June Martin
Christine Brooks McAloon
Joshua Stephen McDuffie
Allison Beverley McGee
Libby Ann McHugh
James Allen Merkel III
Jacqueline Jean Merrill
Sarah Ann Mileson
Molly E. Miller
Mykala Margaret Montecalvo
Tabatha B.G. Moore
Kelsey L. Morton
Kyle John Muccino
Bridget Elizabeth Mulligan
Cody Stephen Munson
Peter Leo Murphy
Conner James Nadeau
Nicola M. Napolitano
Alec S. Neal
Nicholas Robert Nevells-McWilliam
Thuy Xuan Nguyen
Katelyn R. Nickerson
Natalie Diane O'Donnell
Abigail Angelina Onos
Claudia Jaylen Ouellette
Nyajock L. Pan
Ryan Joseph Pelletier
Aleina Linscott Peluso
Leanne Nicole Pennell
Joshua M. Pilon
Mary Elizabeth Randall
Crystal Megan Redfield
Taryn Alon Richards
Antonio Cosmo Roberts
Liam Otis Clancy Rottkov
Britney Elaine Ruotolo
Jaclyn Lauren Salevsky
Iris Blue SanGiovanni
Jonah Drew Sanville
Richard Michael Schriewer
Samuel P. Seidl
Danae Monique Shurn
Jesse Thomas Smith
Sophia L. Smith
Melanie Chandra So
Carly Allison Sobczak
Olivia Joy Sprague
Sarah Terisa St. Pierre
Elliot William Stack
Brianna Melissa Stark
John William Kilbourn Strout
Thomas Carle Strout
Charlie W. Swiger
Derek R. Tannoia
Angela Maria Tirabassi
John Alexander Tolan
Daniel Hoang Tran
Emma Snow Tremblay
Zoe Amanda Trout
Aaron M. Truman
Ryan M. Tuttle
Madeline McKenna Twomey
Courtney Jennifer Verrill
Jesse Leighton Warren
Damien J. Watts
Brian David Weden
Nicholas J. Whitten
Sarah Elizabeth Williams
Nicolas Robin Williamson
Jenna Su Morgan Wing
Paul R. Wing Jr.
Brianna Rose Woodward
Lauren M. Young
Sonia Andrea Zarate
Joseph Charles Zelasko
Nazrawit Tsegaye Zeleke

Exchange Students Receiving Certificates of Completion:
Sofia Hestenes
Eika Alexis Verdugo