JACKMAN — Forest Hills High School senior Samantha Begin, of Jackman, has been selected to receive the 2015 Principal’s Award. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic achievement and citizenship, according to a news release from Principal/Assistant Superintendent Denise Plante.

Begin has earned the distinction of valedictorian and has successfully completed a rigorous high school program. She has earned the highest academic achievement in every class she has taken and has earned Student of the Month recognition numerous times. In her junior year, she was nominated by her peers and staff for the prestigious Miss Forest Hills award. Begin has also distinguished herself as a student leader in student government and an accomplished athlete. She has served two years as the student member of the district’s school board. She has served on many district committees representing the student body such as MELMAC College and Career aspirations team, Focus School leadership team, Community Leadership Team and the Live2Learn after school and summer program advisory team. Additionally, Begin was elected into the National Honor Society her sophomore year, top competitor on the school’s Math Team, editor of the school yearbook, member of the Color Guard as well as many volunteer hours and work. Samantha plans to further her education at the University of Prince Edward Island majoring in pre-vet medicine.

Samantha Begin

Begin, Plante and other award winners and their principals will attend an honors luncheon Saturday, April 11, at the Spectacular Event Center in Bangor.

The luncheon recognizes these outstanding students with the presentation of an individual plaque and the awarding of five $1,000 scholarships in the names of Horace O. McGowan and Richard W. Tyler. McGowan and Tyler were former Maine principals and executive directors of the association. This year an additional five $1,000 scholarships will be presented through the efforts of the MPA Scholarship Golf Tournament and support from Berlin City Auto.

The Principal’s Award is presented in more than 100 Maine public and private high schools by member principals of the MPA.