READFIELD — Maranacook Community High School has announced its top 10 scholars for the class of 2019. The students are listed alphabetically.
Grace Bachelder, a lifelong resident of Wayne, is the daughter of Mark and Megan Bachelder.
She is an active member of her community and school. She volunteers her time at The Wayne Community Methodist Church and at MaineGeneral hospital.
She has participated in several clubs during her high school years and has been a member of the varsity tennis team and captain of the varsity field hockey team her senior year. In her junior year, she completed Spanish 4 and traveled to Spain with her Spanish class. During her senior year, she was enrolled in the CNA program at Capital Area Technical Center and will receive her CNA certificate. She is a member of the National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society.
Bachelder plans to attend the nursing program at Husson University in the fall. Her dream is to pursue a career in midwifery.
Luke Bartol, class salutatorian, of Manchester, is the son of Barbara Moss and Tom Bartol.
He has been a captain of the cross country running and Nordic skiing teams, as well as being a four-time varsity athlete on the track team. He has helped to lead the Nordic team to three state championships as well as taking an individual one of his own. Bartol also takes part in many other extracurriculars, such as Math Team, Model UN, Colby Orchestra, Boy Scouts, concert and jazz band, National Honors Society, Student Government, where he was treasurer, Debate where he was a captain and three-time national qualifier, and Knitting Club. He is an Eagle Scout, a National Merit Finalist, two time KJ Runner of the Year, MERITS Finalist, three-time KVAC All-Conference 1st team in both XC and Nordic, National History Day State Winner, and KVAC All Academic Team, in addition to many other awards.
Next year Bartol plans to attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick.
Grace Despres, class valedictorian, lives in Fayette with her parents Scott and Kathy Despres.
During her four years at Maranacook she has participated as a varsity player in soccer, basketball and track and field teams. She served as captain her senior year for all three sports, including helping the soccer team to their first Class C regional title. Besides playing sports, she has also been involved in music at Maranacook. She has played the alto saxophone for four years in both concert band and jazz band. as well as being a part of Chamber Singers for the past two years. She has been involved in several student community groups such as student senate as a member of the Health Advisory Committee and the National Honors Society.
Despres plans to attend Case Western Reserve University in the fall to study biomedical engineering.
Madelyn Dwyer, of Manchester, is the daughter of Jessica and Matthew Dwyer.
Throughout her years at Maranacook, she has participated in cross country running, serving as a captain her senior year, and a member of the tennis team, being a captain her junior and senior year. She is a member of student senate, peer mentoring and National Honors Society. Dwyer has been a member of Senior Dance Society for all four years at Vicki’s School of Dance, where she performs in many styles throughout the year.
Dwyer plans to attend Tufts University in the fall to major in civil engineering.
Jilleon Farrell, of Manchester, is the daughter of Chris and Danielle Farrell.
She has played field hockey for the last three years and started playing lacrosse last year. She is an active member of the National Honor Society, vice president of Interact Club, and a part of Outreach of student senate committee. She has also volunteered at MaineGeneral for the past four years.
Farrell plans to major in bio-chem in college.
Mckenzie Freise, of Readfield, is the daughter of Ryan and Lisa Freise.
She is graduating a year early to pursue her dreams of being a wildlife biologist. She was a part of the high school ski team for three years, which she plans to continue in college. She received her academic letter her freshman year. In her senior year, she traveled to Germany for three weeks with her German class.
Freise plans to attend college to study wildlife biology.
Gabriel Jones, of Readfield, is the son of Rachael and Matthew Jones.
In his high school career, he has been a tenor in the chamber choir for four years, a trumpeter for three years and a trombonist for one year in jazz band, and a French hornist in concert band for three years. For music festival choirs, he has been accepted into District III four times, All-States three times, and for his final year of high school he went to Pittsburgh for All-Easterns. In theater, he has been a part of five musicals, one that he did in sixth grade, and two plays where he played as a nerd both times.
He also was part of the National Honors Society and volunteered by mentoring a middle schooler for three years. In terms of sports, he played soccer all four years playing varsity his senior year, he was a runner in track for two years, and he has been doing karate for almost 10 years. He earned his black belt in August 2018. He also was a part of the pathways program through Thomas College to graduate with an associate degree.
Jones plans to attend the University of New Haven for college to earn a degree in music and sound recording.
Kathryn King, of Wayne, is the daughter of Paul and Kim King.
She is an active member of her community and school. She has been a member of the soccer team for four years and manager of the girls’ lacrosse team for two years. King is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Interact Club, both of which are committed to volunteering around the community. She actively volunteers at the Cary Memorial Library and Tabitha’s Closet.
This fall, King plans to attend college in New England.
Madeleine Ricker, of Readfield, is the daughter of Louise and Greg Ricker.
She has been a member of chamber choir for four years, concert chorus for two years, and plays the piano in her free time. She had the opportunity to be a member of the District III Choir for the last four years. In her early days of high school, Ricker participated in the Maranacook musicals “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Into the Woods,” where she sang, danced, and acted. Additionally, she is a member of the National Honor Society, Yearbook, and the Teen Issues Committee, where she has the chance to coordinate special events and bring her community together.
She will be taking a gap year to study music and work on her craft.
Duncan Rogers, of Manchester, is son of Alec Rogers and Julie Ingham-Rogers.
He has been a dedicated three-season varsity athlete for the Maranacook Black Bears during his high school years, playing soccer, basketball and baseball. He was on the state championship winning soccer team as a junior, and served as a captain in his senior year, going on to be named as a Maine State Class C All-Star. He also earned high honors as an MABC/McDonald’s Academic All-Star for basketball this year.
A student with wide and varied interests, in addition to his involvements in Maranacook sports, he loves performing on stage, playing roles in two Maranacook musicals, and singing with the chamber choir. He is an active member of the National Honor Society and on Student Senate he has helped lead the School Spirit Committee.
Duncan has been accepted to enroll at the University of Michigan in the fall.
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