Congratulations to Spaulding High's Top Ten graduating seniors

ROCHESTER - Spaulding High on Tuesday announced the Top 10 graduating seniors in the Class of 2018. Rankings are based on the cumulative grade point average through the third quarter of this year. The honored graduates are listed in alphabetical order, as the determination of valedictorian and salutatorian, based on grades for the entire four years of high school, won't be calculated and announced till graduation on June 15.

Hannah R. Bamford, daughter of Keith and Lynne Bamford of Rochester, will study engineering at the University of Maine, Orono where she was recruited to play soccer.

Hannah has been actively involved in a wide range of activities and community service efforts throughout high school. She was a member of the National Honor Society, French Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT), Student Leadership Team and the Interact Club (serving as secretary for three years). Through her affiliation with these organizations, Hannah volunteered at the Monarch School, visited elementary schools, raised money for infrastructure improvements in Zimbabwe, mentored students new to the high school and sang carols at area senior housing facilities. Additionally she served as facilitator for middle school volunteers through Crusaders for Caring.

Having played varsity soccer all four years, serving as captain junior and senior years, Hannah was named First Team All-State this year. She also played soccer with the Seacoast United Soccer Club, serving as captain of her team for three out of four years. They were state champions three times. She additionally spent three years playing with Futsal, NH (which I've learned is indoor soccer on a hard surface using 5 players/side including goalie). They were regional champions for 2 years.

Beyond soccer, Hannah is passionate about pursuing a degree in engineering. She studied engineering for 2 years at the Creteau Technology Center and was on the Skills USA Engineering Team named State Champions this year. Hannah additionally was recognized by the Society of Women Engineers for excellence in science and math.

Interact Club was Hannah's most meaningful activity in high school because of the amount of community service and volunteering in which they engaged. Her favorite experience was visiting elementary schools and connecting with the students. It was powerful to be looked up to by the younger students and to recognize that "...to them we are role models, and there isn't any other feeling quite like that."

Isabel Beaulieu, recipient of the Harvard Prize Book Award, has been an active member of the Spaulding community throughout high school. Her affiliations include: class council, National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), Project SEARCH and the mentor program that matches an older student with a student new to high school for support and friendship.

Isabel played varsity softball and varsity volleyball for Spaulding and also volunteered at Roger Allen Park with the Buddy Ball program. Buddy Ball pairs a volunteer non-disabled athlete with an athlete who has developmental disabilities to facilitate their opportunity to enjoy the game of baseball. Isabel commented that she loves "...to share my love of the game with them!"

In addition to her activities, Isabel works as a camp counselor during the summer and weekends at Market Basket during the school year.

Isabel described tutoring students in math through Mu Alpha Theta as her most rewarding activity in high school because it gives her the opportunity to "...use my predilection for math to help other people."

Accepted at Clark University, Connecticut College, Emmanuel College (Honors Program), University of New Hampshire, University of Vermont and Wheaton College, Isabel will pursue the study of mathematics in the University or New Hampshire Honors Program as a Hamel Scholar.

Isabel is the daughter of Kristen and David Beaulieu of Rochester.

Jillian A. Currier, recipient of the Smith College Book Award, is the daughter of Julie Evenson and Matt Currier of Wakefield.

Passionate about making a positive difference in the world, Jillian devoted herself to experiences that enabled her to act on that passion. She raised money to travel to Zimbabwe by swimming 6.6 miles around a local lake. She spent her 3 weeks there living with the locals, assisting at an orphanage, painting a church and laying groundwork for a medical clinic. She describes that experience as most meaningful because it opened her eyes to the importance of a community that gives freely of compassion and love even while experiencing deep poverty. She stated that she "...learned how I want to act, think, and treat others."

Jillian participated in National Honor Society, Project SEARCH, Poetry Out Loud, Varsity Swim team and Interact Club (co-president) at Spaulding. Outside of school, she was a youth delegate for her church, performed with SCAMP (local theater group in Wakefield) and sponsors a child in Zimbabwe by providing for her educational needs.

Recognized for excellence in English and biology her freshman and sophomore years, Jillian was recipient of the Rotary Youth Leadership Award her sophomore year as well. She attended the St. Paul's Advanced Studies Program last summer where her primary course was, not surprisingly, called "Changing the World".

Jillian, for the past three years, has been working as a dishwasher at the Wakefield Inn and doing housekeeping for a widowed gentleman in her community.

Accepted at Mount Holyoke College, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont, Jillian will attend Mount Holyoke where she will pursue her interests in international studies, journalism and social sciences. Her intention is to become an international journalist with a focus on third world issues.

Hannah L. Gemas, recipient of the St. Michael's College Book Award, is looking to continue a family tradition and pursue a career in the field of education. Accepted at Endicott College, Lesley University, Simmons College, Southern New Hampshire University and the University of New Hampshire, Hannah will pursue a degree in elementary education with certification in general special education through the Southern New Hampshire University Honors Program. She will ultimately study for a master's degree in counseling in order to pursue a career as a school counselor.

Hannah participated in the National Honor Society (president), Spanish Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and also served as president of the junior class. She attended Project SEARCH and class council and, outside of school, volunteered her time providing child care for the William Allen School PTA and participating in Rochester Clean-up Days.

When commenting on the most meaningful activity in which she engaged in high school, Hannah spoke of her experience with the "Collaborative Language" course at Spaulding. In that course peer leaders assist the teacher, as well as plan and implement lesson plans with teacher collaboration, to help special needs students learn a language. Hannah "...was a buddy to multiple special needs students and developed awesome friendships...I left every day with a feeling that I made a difference...even though a small one. They inspired me..."

Hannah is the daughter of Lynda and Bill Gemas of Rochester.

Noah J. Lapointe, son of Marc and Cathleen Lapointe of Rochester was the recipient of the St. Michael's College Book Award.

Noah has been involved in a great many activities and community service experiences throughout his high school career. Future Business Leaders of America, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), National Honor Society, Mentor/Mentee Program and Student Athletic Leadership Team (SALT) were his primary associations apart from athletics. Through these organizations, Noah helped at a local soup kitchen, assisted with Rochester Clean-up Day, joined with the Pease Greeters in welcoming in and seeing off our troops, participated in a Muscular Dystrophy Walk and sang carols in area nursing homes. He has worked as a camp counselor at the Rochester Recreation Center during summers.

A four-year, three-sport athlete, Noah was quarterback on the varsity football team, serving as captain this year. He played Unified Basketball, ran indoor and outdoor track and played baseball his junior year.

The activity he found most meaningful was when the football team came together to host a dodgeball tournament to raise money to cover medical expenses for the team's honorary player and friend, Teagan House. Noah noted that it was very special "...to be able to raise money to help a friend...a brother...in a time of need."

Noah was accepted at Bentley University, Bryant University, Salve Regina University and the University of New Hampshire. Noah will study business administration at the Paul School of Business at the University of New Hampshire as a Paul Scholar, a Hamel Scholar and a Presidential Scholar.

Marlys Mason's vast array of activities and commitments have led her to many unique experiences and opportunities. She played flute in the Spaulding band for three years and privately studied both violin and dance. She earned a varsity letter in tennis and this year, joined the ski team. Through her affiliation with the Interact Club, the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society (president), the National Technical Honor Society, and the Mentor/Mentee program Marlys has enjoyed organizing and participating in an eclectic mix of community and global service projects.

When asked about her most personally meaningful activity, Marlys spoke of her role as the youngest fellow on the Democratic Coordinating Committee during the 2016 Presidential Election. In that role she built strong relationships with people in the community by phone and in person through canvassing door-to-door and averaging 240 phone calls per week. She discovered "...a passion for working with others toward a greater good."

Last summer, she attended the Harvard University Pre-college Program in which she dedicated herself to the study of Civil Liberties and Constitutional Law.

Marlys, recipient of the Holy Cross Book Award, is undecided about her college major or her ultimate career goal at this time, but has a strong interest in both mathematics and science. Accepted at Emmanuel College and the University of New Hampshire, she will begin her studies in the Honors program at Emmanuel College with a Presidential Scholarship.

Her parents are Harley and Heidi Mason of Rochester.

Talyn McGarrity, who aspires to pursue a career in elementary education in the future, is the daughter of Amy and Joseph McGarrity of Rochester.

Talyn is a "big" with the Big Brother/Big Sister program, is a section leader for flutes in the Spaulding band, served as treasurer of class council, participated in Project SEARCH, the student senate, the Interact Club, the Masque and Dagger Drama Club and the stage crew (assistant manager). She was also inducted into both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society through which she has participated in a great many community service activities with her peers.

Band is what Talyn defines as her most meaningful activity in high school. She appreciates that she was given the opportunity "...to embrace my leadership qualities" and to make lifelong friendships."

Talyn was accepted at Keene State College, Lesley University, Plymouth State University, Rivier University, Salem State University and the University of New Hampshire. She will study elementary education at Keene State College as a Presidential Scholar.

Emily C. O'Brien has always had a fascination with the brain and how it functions. Her goal is to become a pediatric neurologist and to that end will begin studying neuroscience (on a pre-med track) at Stonehill College with a Father Basil Moreau Scholarship. Emily was also accepted at Brandeis University, Fordham University, Johnson and Wales University, Providence College, the University of New England and the University of New Hampshire (Honors program).

Emily served as vice president of the French Honor Society and secretary of the National Honor Society at Spaulding. She also altar served at her church and volunteered at a soup kitchen.

Dancing with Sole City Dance has been a huge part of Emily's life for the past twelve years. She helps in the office and volunteers as stage manager for shows in which she is not dancing. For the past eight years she has danced with the Ensemble and performed each year in the Nutcracker Ballet. Emily describes her involvement with dance as the most meaningful activity in which she has engaged during high school. "Dancing has taught me the importance of perseverance and time management...." while making "amazing friends" and providing an outlet for her creativity.

Emily is the daughter of Glenn and Christy O'Brien of Rochester.

Patrick D. Stanley, recipient of the St. Anselm College Book Award, achieved perfect attendance his first two years of high school, missing a total of five days his final two years. Patrick is the son of Jeanne Marie and Bryan Stanley of Rochester.

A participant in Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), the Spanish Honor Society and the National Honor Society, Patrick also participated in the Masque and Dagger Drama Club, Honors Band (Drum Major), and Honors Chorus (selected Top Bass Vocalist in New Hampshire this year). During his freshman year, he ran track, belonged to the Praxis Society (philosophy club) and also the chess club. He currently works 20 hours/week at Hannaford where he was recently promoted to a service desk associate.

Patrick found his affiliation with the music department to be the most meaningful activity in which he engaged for a variety of reasons. It was there that he developed great friendships over the years, shared some of his happiest moments and "...figured out who I am".

Planning to pursue a career in business management, Patrick applied and was accepted at Plymouth State University, the University of New Hampshire and the University of Vermont. He will major in Professional Sales and Business at Plymouth State University as a Presidential Scholar.

David B. Suoth has been extensively involved in an eclectic mix of extra-curricular activities and leadership opportunities throughout his high school career. He has been active in class council for three years, serving as president his senior year, he mentors a younger student new to Spaulding and has been a regular participant in Spaulding's annual Poetry Out Loud competition (placing 2^nd his sophomore year).

Selected to serve on the Student Leadership Team, David helped plan activities to promote a healthy and vibrant school culture. He was a member of the Diversity Alliance, Interact Club (co-president senior year) and HYPE a regional philosophy club. As a "Proctor" in HYPE, he helped organize their annual event which incorporated approximately 1300 seacoast area students.

David was a member of the French Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society) through which he tutored students who needed help with math and participated in Project SEARCH (to "...further expand my thinking and knowledge of the outside world...").

He competed in jumping and sprinting through outdoor track for four years (captain junior and senior year), and indoor track for three years (captain senior year).

Of all of his many interests and activities, David identified as most meaningful his efforts, along with a classmate, to organize a school-wide walkout to speak out for the safety of students everywhere. David was among the students who spoke at this event, they had also arranged for guest speakers and had voter registration tables available for eligible Rochester and Wakefield students to register to vote. David felt empowered by the recognition that in a democracy "...everyone has a voice..." and has a responsibility to use it. "...I also understand that it's important to stand up for what you know is right despite the opinions of others...."

David, the son of Billie and Voni Lie Suoth of Rochester, was accepted at the University of Maine, the University of Rochester and the University of New Hampshire. He will dual major in mathematics and philosophy as a Presidential and Hamel Scholar at the University of New Hampshire.