The following local students were named to the 2022 fall semester dean’s list at Simmons University, in Boston, Massachusetts: Emma Soule, of Farmingdale, Abigail Bloom, of Waterville, and Maddie Beckwith, of Winslow.
Vassalboro Community School (contributed photo)
Freya Caison, Camden Desmond, Emma Freeman, Tucker Lizzotte, Evelyn Meyer, Sawyer Plossay, Oliver Sugden, Alivia Twitchell and Mayla Wilson.
Hunter Brown, Kamdyn Couture, Cooper Grant, Sophia-Lynn Howard, Brooklyn Leach, Landon Lindquist, Simon Olson, Landon Quint, Willa Rafuse, Alexis Reed, Asher Smith and Robert Wade.
Twila Cloutier, Xainte Cloutier, Samantha Craig, Mariah Estabrook, Riley Fletcher, Leah Hyden, Sarina Lacroix, Olivia Perry, Juliahna Rocque, Cassidy Rumba and Charles Stein.
Basil Dillaway, Zoe Gaffney, Allyson Gilman, Cheyenne Lizzotte, Adrian Sousa, Grace Tobey and Ava Woods.
Benjamin Allen, Zoey Demerchant, Drew Lindquist, Caleb Marden, Abigail Prickett and Judson Smith.
Adalyn Glidden, Noah Pooler, and Bryson Stratton.
Titus Caruthers, Parker Estabrook, Marley Field, Norah French, Henry Gray, Olivia Hartford, Finn Malloy, Bryson McKay, Gage Nason, Gabriella Reynolds, Raegin Rodgers, Sawyer Weston, Haley Witham, and Alivia Woods.
Ryder Austin, Alexander Bailey, Rylee Boucher, Braiden Crommett, Molly Dearborn, Liam Dowe, Chase Fay, Ashlynn Hamlin, Avery Hamlin, Tanner Hughes, Kendall Karlsson, Aria Lathrop, Jackson Robichaud, Keegan Robinson, and Christopher Santiago.
Lukas Blais, Dawson Frazer, Aubrey Goforth, Chanse Hartford, Aubrey Judkins, Elliott Rafuse, Isaiah Smith, Haven Trainor, and Cameron Willett.
Samuel Bechard, Bryleigh Burns, Baylee Fuchswanz, Savannah Judkins, Agatha Meyer, Jaelyn Moore and Weston Pappas.
Juliet Boivin, Tristyn Brown, Ryleigh French, Katherine Maxwell, Paige Perry, Bentley Pooler, Hannah Tobey and Reid Willett.
Owen Couture, Ryley Desmond, Peyton Dowe, Wyatt Ellis, Madison Field, Kylie Grant, Spencer Hughes, Jack Malcolm, Alexis Mitton, Kole Pratt, Grady Sounier, Kaleb Tolentino, Mackullen Tolentino and Autumn Willis.
Brayden Lang-Knights, Preston Richmond, Trenten Theobald, and Roman Wentworth
Reese Chechowitz, Levi Demerchant, Ashton Derosby, Anthony Dyer, Elliot Stratton, Gabriel Tucker and William Vincent
Kiara Apollo, Wyatt Devoe, Brandon Fortin, Camden Foster, Peter Giampietro, Lucian Kinrade, Isaac Leonard and Arianna Muzerolle.
Emily Clark, Fury Frappier, Jack LaPierre, Mia McLean and Landen Theobald.
Dominick Bickford, Gabriella Brundage, Drake Goodie, Cooper Lajoie, Trinity Pooler, Brooke Reny and Alana Wade.
Aliya Bourque, Madison Burns, Logan Chechowitz, Xavier Foss, Bailey Goforth, Mason Lagasse, Bryella Leighton, Olivia Hartford, Henry Olson, Josslyn Ouellette and Payton Thorndike.
Breckon Davidson, left, with his grandfather, John Shields. (contributed photo)
The Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra (KVYSO), is proud to feature Breckon Davidson, a senior at Erskine Academy, in South China, in our Senior Spotlight article. He is a talented, diligent musician whose participation in KVYSO has added to the quality and level of ensemble community.
Breckon began his musical journey with piano lessons, from age six until he was nine. At that point, he picked up the cello after seeing Pineland Suzuki School (an organization of strings teachers in central Maine) perform at Granite Hill Estates.
“Working with Pineland in the beginning of my cello playing was amazing, and they had such a refined program for beginners. They had so many group classes, activities, and just made learning cello something that I had a ton of fun to do,” explained Breckon, eventually joining the Allegra Orchestra (Pineland’s beginner ensemble). “My favorite piece that we played with them was the theme to Jurassic Park.”
After auditioning for Kennebec Valley Youth Orchestra (KVYSO’s intermediate orchestra), he was not able to play with them that year in person due to Covid restrictions, but it “only fueled my excitement further. In the fall of 2020, we were able to play in person for the first time in what felt like forever, and it felt exhilarating to be part of an orchestra again.” After a year with KVYO, Breckon began playing with Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony (KVYSO’s advanced orchestra). “That was a huge deal, because that would be the first time in my life that I would be playing a full, unaltered symphony in concert. This was the real deal, and I took it very seriously.”
Around this time, Breckon joined Capital Strings (Pineland’s advanced ensemble) and started taking lessons with Jon Moody. “In Capital Strings, we got to play incredible arrangements of so many kinds of music, whether they be film scores, contemporary classical, folk music, what have you, and it was a joy. Eventually, I started doing the Bach cello suites, and have loved working on them ever since.”
In addition to being a member of KVYSO and Pineland, Breckon is also a part of the Jazz Band at Erskine, where he recently picked up bass. “At first it was like a whole new language, playing bass, but eventually I got the hang of it, and recently played in a concert at Erskine where I played bass in the Jazz Band and a jazz quartet, and played cello for a solo and for my composition class group.”
Music has been part of Breckon’s life for a long time. “I absolutely adore music, and it is an ever-present part of my life. There’s rarely a time that I’m not listening to music, the majority of it being classical. I’ve loved classical music for so long, and I find its rich textures and harmonies to be unlike any other type of music that I know of.”
As for future plans, Breckon plans on going to college as a biology major to become a psychiatrist. “As much as I love music, I also have a great passion for science, and find psychology to be the most fascinating one to me, so I’ll make it my career.” We wish Breckon well as he pursues his goals after his time with us at KVYO is done.
We invite you to support Breckon and the Kennebec Valley Youth Orchestras for the Spring Concert on Friday, May 5, at 6:30 p.m., at the South Parish Congregation Church, in Augusta. Daniel Keller will be conducting our KVYO, with Jinwook Park conducting our KVYSO. The concert will feature the music of Mendelssohn, Debussy, Vivaldi, and more! In addition to joining them on May 5, please consider following them on Facebook and Instagram (Kennebec Valley Youth Symphony Orchestras). If you would like to donate to our program, please visit their website at https://www.kvyso.org/. They truly appreciate your support of our program!
Elmira College, in Elmira, New York, recently announced this year’s recipients of its annual Key Award. This year’s award was given to 761 students across 14 states and Puerto Rico. A tradition that goes back to 1935, the Key Award is presented to outstanding students in their junior year of high school or preparatory school. Those receiving the award included Emma Fortie and Jonathan Eccher Mullally, both of Oakland.
Matthew G. Parent, of Oakland, a sophomore majoring in electrical engineering, was named a Presidential Scholar for the Fall 2022 semester at Clarkson University, in Potsdam, New York.
Huard’s Sport Karate team member Lucia LaCroix, 12, of Skowhegan, captured first place in forms at the Ocean State Grand Nationals Martial Arts Tournament, in Warwick, Rhode Island, on Sunday, April 2. She also captured third place in weapons competition. (photo by Mark Huard)
Leon A. Gorman
Ten Maine community college students were awarded full tuition scholarships in honor of Leon A. Gorman for the upcoming 2022-2023 academic year. The students were celebrated Monday, May 23, 2022, in an online event with Gorman family members and L.L.Bean leadership.
This is the seventh year the Leon A. Gorman Scholarship has been given. The scholarship supports three students at Southern Maine Community College, two students at Central Maine Community College, and one student at the other five colleges. Each of the ten Leon A. Gorman Scholars will receive an award equal to a full year of tuition at a Maine community college.
Among the 2022 Leon A. Gorman Scholars recipients was Allison Pease, of Belgrade, studying as a physical therapist assistant, at Kennebec Valley Community College, in Fairfield.
Information about the Maine Community College System is available at: www.mccs.me.edu.
Carrabec High School
High honors: Jessica Benedict, Luke Carey, Joel Gehrke, Mliss Hem and Caitlyn Oliver.
Honors: Zebadiah Burnham, Lindsay Hamilton, Gabriella Manzer, Conner Peabody and Hunter Sousa.
High honors: Kolby Carpenter, Devyn DeLeonardis, Cooper Dellarma, Nevaeh Holmes, Dillon Nelson and Alyssa Schinzel.
Honors: Jayden Cates, Riley Crocker, Trevor Donahue, Molly Hay, Dylan Maynard, Daisy Page, Jordyn Plourd, Lucas Vicneire and Hailey Wyman.
High honors: Jeremy Barcelos, Lillian Cooley, Mason Courtney, Kobi Jennings, Haley McFadyen, Machaon Pierce, Seth Price, Desmond Robinson, Josephine Scheve, Brooks Sousa and Ciarrah Whittemore.
Honors: Michael Benedict, Jr., Logan Caldwell, Cortney Cote, Kallie Ebneter, Tayah Edmunds, Oakley Friend, Dayna Jean Labonte, Micayla Mercier, Seamus Miller, Levi Small, Ian Smith and Morgan Steuber.
High honors: Kara Prosser, Thomas Roderick, William Rogers, Hickory Smith and Myah Williams.
Honors: Karen Baker, Liliana Caldwell, Emma Campbell, Anna Canales, Zachary Davis, Macie Plourde and Devon Williams.
(photo credit: Erskine Academy)
High honors: Carson Appel, Kassidy Barrett, Abigail Beyor, Eve Boatright, Courtney Cowing, Breckon Davidson, Nicole DeMerchant, Lillian Dorval, Hailey Farrar, Loralei Frandsen, Lilly Fredette, Brianna Gardner, Alivia Gower, Cooper Grondin, Nabila Harrington, Grady Hotham, Grace Hutchins, Olivia Hutchinson, Hallie Jackson, Kaiden Kelley, Matthew Knowles, Meadow Laflamme, Dale Lapointe, Kendal Longtin, Malachi Lowery, Lily Matthews, Timber Parlin, Kayla Peaslee, Jonathan Peil, Gabriel Pelletier, Jenna Perkins, Sophia Pilotte, Kaden Porter, Alexis Rancourt, Cadence Rau, Samantha Reynolds, Ally Rodrigue, Conner Rowe, Noah Rushing, Jarell Sandoval, Gabriela Sasse, Zuriah Smith, Emma Stred, Paige Sutter, Mackenzie Toner, Emma Tyler, Katherine Williams, Damon Wilson and Joseph Wing.
Honors: Katherine Bourdon, Samuel Boynton, Caleb Buswell, Marianna Charlebois, Tianna Cunningham, Grace Ellis, Erin Fontaine, Ciara Glidden, Reiana Gonzalez, Carson Grass, Mallary Hanke, Kassidy Hopper, Beck Jorgensen, Acadia Kelley, Jakob Kennedy, Brady Kirkpatrick, Casey Kirkpatrick, Siena Klasson, Emmet Lani-Caputo, Dinah Lemelin, Gwen Lockhart, Brady Mayberry, River Meader, Gage Moody, Angelina Ochoa, Maddison Paquet, Hannah Patterson, Karen Potter, Paige Reed, Emmalee Sanborn, Sammantha Stafford, Sophie Steeves, Kiley Stevens, Daniel Stillman, Matthew Terry and Aidan Witham.
High Honors: Jana Alfoudari, Isabella Boudreau, Robin Boynton, Elizabeth Brown, Nolan Burgess, Carol Caouette-Labbe, Makayla Chabot, Elise Choate, Simon Clark, Alexia Cole, Brielle Crommett, Noah Crummett, Gavin Cunningham, Ciara Fickett, Hunter Foard, Aaralyn Gagnon, Caleb Gay, Hannah Kugelmeyer, Aidan Maguire, Johanna Malitz, Liberty Massie, David McCaig, Mala Meyer, Akela Mitchell, Austin Nicholas, Jeremy Parker, Nathan Polley, Jessica Pumphrey, Keith Radonis, Giacomo Smith, Adam St. Onge, Kinsey Stevens, Reese Sullivan and Baruch Wilson.
Honors: Tristan Anderson, Lacey Arp, Duncan Bailey, Heather Bourgoin, Wyatt Bray, Kaleb Brown, Hayden Chase, Connor Coull, Thomas Crawford, Caleigh Crocker, Keira Deschamps, Hailey Estes, Kaylee Fyfe, Jackson Gamblin, Brayden Garland, Leah Grant, Tucker Greenwald, Nathan Hall, Tara Hanley, Natalie Henderson, Jessica Hendsbee, Trinity Hyson, Kameron Kronillis, Stephanie Kumnick, Mackenzie Kutniewski, Sophie Leclerc, Jack Lyons, Richard Mahoney III, Holden McKenney, Gavin Mills, Lucas Mitchell, Cami Monroe, Alejandro Ochoa, Romin Riedmann, Evelyn Rousseau, Hayden Turgeon, Jack Uleau, Haley Webb and Elijah York.
High Honors: Haileigh Allen, Emmett Appel, Noah Bechard, Geneva Beckim, Octavia Berto, Lauryn Black, Brooke Blais, Olivia Brann, Keenan Clark, Madison Cochran, Hannah Cohen-Mackin, Andra Cowing, Gabrielle Daggett, Aidan Durgin, Ryan Farnsworth, Chloe French, Keeley Gagnon, Hailey Garate, Ellie Giampetruzzi, Jonathan Gutierrez, Serena Hotham, Kailynn Houle, Walker Jean, Ava Kelso, Rion Kesel, Sophia Knapp, Jack Lucier, Owen Lucier, Eleanor Maranda, Jade McCollett, Madison McNeff, Colin Oliphant, Gavyn Paradis, Wallace Pooler IV, Elsa Redmond, Lillian Rispoli, Nathan Robinson, Laney Robitaille, Aislynn Savage, Kyle Scott and Clara Waldrop.
Honors: Ava Anderson, Bryana Barrett, Jayda Bickford, Kaleb Bishop, Carter Brockway, Coleman Chase, Dylan Cooley, Lauren Cowing, Lillian Crommett, Trinity DeGreenia, Aydan Desjardins, Brady Desmond, John Edwards, Lucas Farrington, Clara French, Kaylene Glidden, Tristan Goodwin, Blake Grady, Abbi Guptill, Echo Hawk, Emma Henderson, Alivia Jackson, Rachel Johnson, Kaiden Kronillis, Cassie LaCroix, Bodi Laflamme, Chase Larrabee, Shelby Lincoln, Julian Martin, Abigail McDonough, Shannon McDonough, Elijah Moore, Makayla Oxley, Noah Pelletier, Sadie Pierce, Bronwyn Potter, Victoria Rancourt, Carter Rau, Justin Reed, Carlee Sanborn, Joslyn Sandoval Jordyn Smith, Zoey Smith, Emily Sprague, Parker Studholme, Katherine Swift, Kaylee Tims and Grace Vashon.
High Honors: Connor Alcott, Emily Almeida, Savannah Baker, Kylie Bellows, Landon Boynton, Addyson Briggs, London Castle, Nathan Choate, William Choate, Lillian Clark, Madeli Clement-Cargill, Sylvia Davis, Joshua Denis, Audryanna DeRaps, Lauren Dufour, William Ellsey Jr., Madison Griffiths, Willow Haschalk, Mia Hersom, Halle Jones, Savannah Knight, Kayle Lappin, Ava Lemelin, Paige McNeff, Parker Minzy, Jack Murray, Elijah Nelson, Bayley Nickles, Jordyn Parise, Ruby Pearson, Abigail Peil, Elijah Pelkey, Jackson Pelotte, Emily Piecewicz, Taisen Pilotte, Hannah Polley, Desirae Proctor, Michael Richardson, Owen Robichaud, Leahna Rocque, Jackie Sasse, Edward Schmidt, Felicity Seagrave, Kathryn Shaw, Madelynn Spencer, Evelyn Stevenson, Kayla Stred, Gentry Stuart, Abigail Studholme, Phoebe Taylor, Donovan Thompson, Kammie Thompson, Addison Turner and Addison Witham.
Honors: Anders Bassett, Brock Bowden, Benjamin Carle, Kolby Caswell, Claire Davis, Charles DeSchamp, Jacob Faucher, Stephen Gould, Aiden Hamlin, Aidan Huff, Kasen Kelley, Timothy Kiralis, Jacob Lavallee, Laylah Leach, Hayden Little, Aurora Littrell, Kloie Magoon, Kaiden Morin, Tucker Nessmith, Phoebe Padgett, Jacoby Peaslee, Lilian Piecewicz, Kameron Quinn, Hannah Ratcliff, Eli Redmond, Alexander Reitchel, Kameron Rossignol, Autumn Sawyer, Jaelyn Seamon, Eva Simmons, Nichala Small, Blake Smith, Trenton Smith, Benjamin Sullivan, Clara Theberge, Kamryn Turner, Charles Uleau, Isaac Vallieres, Alexander Walker, Oryanna Winchenbach, Brody Worth and Maddilyn York.
Alexis Grant, of Athens, and Sydney Veilleux, of Skowhegan, both Lasell University students from the School of Fashion, in Newton, Massachusetts, attended the Coterie and MAGIC trade shows at the Jacob Javits Center, in New York City, in February. The students met with vendors and buyers as they detailed fashion lines for the Fall 2024 season, and studied upcoming trends, colors, and silhouettes.