Wells High School Graduation and Top Ten list for 2018

Post date: May 30, 2018 12:16:18 PM

Wells High School will hold commencement exercises on June 10th at 1:00 pm at Warrior Memorial Field. Estelle Reardon is the Class of 2018 Valedictorian and Anya Chase is Class Salutatorian. This year’s commencement speaker will be Wells High School Class of 2004 alumnus and musician/rapper, Ryan Peters, known professionally as “Spose”.

The Wells High School Guidance Department has released the names of the top ten academically ranked students for the Class of 2018. What follows is an alphabetical listing along with abbreviated school biographies.

Kylie Belanger is the daughter of Lili and Todd Belanger of Wells. She will be attending Worcester Polytechnic Institute to major in Biotechnology. Kylie has challenged herself at virtually every opportunity with honors-level coursework as well as Advanced Placement (AP) courses throughout high school. Not only has she been a solid, committed member of the WHS Basketball, Lacrosse and Soccer teams but has held leadership roles in the Interact Club, Student Council (president), FEMS in STEM, Philosophy Club and the National Honor Society (president). She has received WHS book awards, including the St. Michael’s College Book Award, Student of the Trimester award and is a 2017 recipient of the National School Development Council’s Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership. She has participated on the Prom Committee and performed with the WHS Select A Cappella group, Chorus, and Drama Club. Kylie has volunteered for numerous community service opportunities including the “Shootin’ for a Cure” breast cancer fundraiser, Tour de Cure for Diabetes, Catholic Charities of Maine, National Reading Day, Band Boosters Turkey Dinners, Preble Street Food Shelter and at the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. She has served the homeless at special events and is a valued member of her local church.

Anya Chase is the Class of 2018 Salutatorian and daughter of Sophia and Matt Chase of Wells. Anya will be attending the Massachusetts Institute of Technology majoring in Biological Engineering. At WHS, she has received a plethora of academic awards including a Literacy Achievement Award, WHS book awards in numerous subjects including the Dartmouth Book Award and Student of the Trimester recognition. She is not only an AP Scholar with Distinction but actively involved in the WHS Student Council, Quiz Show Team, Math Team, and the National Honor Society. Anya has made a solid commitment to the WHS Field Hockey, Basketball and Softball teams earning numerous athletic awards, including Western Maine Conference All-Star, MaxPreps National Player of the Week, Journal Tribune Softball MVP, Portland Press Herald “Softball Player to Watch,” as well as earning recognition on the All-State Softball Team. Anya has dedicated her time to the community by participating in the “Shootin’ for a Cure” fundraiser and volunteering at Wells Parks and Recreation. She has tutored 8th-grade math students and volunteered at the Wells Public Library.

Olivia Durfee is the daughter of Tracy and James Durfee of Wells. Olivia will be attending Sewanee: The University of the South majoring in Biology/PreMed. At WHS she has been a member of the Student Council, FEMS in STEM, the Philosophy Club, and National Honor Society. She is also a 2017 recipient of the National School Development Council’s Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership. She has served as vice-president and president of the Interact Club and has volunteered her time throughout the community including for “Shootin’ for a Cure”, the Preble Street Food Shelter, the Ronald McDonald House, and numerous blood drives. Olivia has been a solid member of the WHS Soccer, Basketball and Softball teams and has received the Warrior Pride Award plus an MVP award in soccer.

Raven Goodell is the daughter of Jason and Deanna Goodell of Wells. Raven will be attending the University of Maine at Orono majoring in Music. She is a Questbridge College Prep Scholar, a recipient of a Breakfast of Champions recognition and numerous WHS book awards. She has been a member of the WHS Select A Cappella group, the WHS Band and the Jazz Band, Chorus and Winter Guard. She has donated countless hours at the Safe Haven Humane Society, as well as volunteering with “Starz for Broadway” at Wells Elementary School.

Mitchell Libby is the son of David and Karen Libby of Wells. Mitchell will be attending the University of Southern California this fall majoring in Electrical Engineering. While at WHS, he has been a four-year member of both the Track & Field and Cross Country teams. Mitchell has also made solid, four-year commitments to the WHS Jazz band and Concert Band programs. A member of the Philosophy club, he is also Captain of both the Math Team and Cross Country teams. Libby also received WHS’s Athlete of the Month for October of 2016 and October of 2017 for running on the boys cross country team. In November of 2017, he represented WHS in the 2017 New England Cross Country Championships. Previously to that, he won the Western Maine Conference Division II Championship and finished 2nd in the state Class B championship. Mitchell was voted “Mr. WHS” by his peers in the fall of his senior year.

Estelle Reardon is the Class of 2018 Valedictorian and the daughter of Daniel and Muazzez (Gul) Reardon of Ogunquit. Estelle will be attending the University of Chicago where she will major in Political Science and Creative Writing. She has received numerous academic accolades while at WHS including first place in the Daughters of The American Revolution Good Citizenship Award in New England/New York, Literary Achievement Awards, selection to the New England Young Writers’ conference, recipient of the Phi Beta Kappa and Williams College Book Awards, semifinalist in the Letters about Literature contest, as well as Student of the Trimester and Breakfast of Champions recognitions. As a freshman, she received Second Place in Voice of Democracy (the VFW’s high school equivalent to Patriot's Pen) youth writing contest. She is a member of the National Honor Society, president and founder of both the Philosophy and Real Facts Clubs and president of FEMS in STEM. She has done two medical internships over the last two summers at the Maine Medical Research Center and the University of Southern Maine respectively. At WHS she has also participated in outdoor track and cross country. She has published a story in a prominent Vermont literary magazine as well as an online novel. The novel, entitled Elimination, has been read by over two thousand and is ranked five stars on the Inkitt website.

Megan Schneider is the daughter of Cheryl Turner and Ronald Schneider Jr. of Wells. Megan has been accepted to St. Michael's College where she will major in English. At WHS she has been co-president of the National Honor Society and vice-president of the Student Council. Megan is a three-sport athlete, a frequent recipient of Warrior Pride Awards and is one of this year’s recipients of the Good Citizen Award of the Western Maine Conference. Megan has served as team captain for both the volleyball and lacrosse programs and has made a solid, four-year commitment to the school’s basketball program as well. She has received WHS book awards, is an AP student and recipient of the UNE’s Department of Environmental Studies Award. She has received a Silver Key and an Honorable Mention for Photography in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. She has volunteered for Links for Liza, Shootin’ for a Cure, Little Dribblers, and at the Congregational Church of Wells.

Madison Szczygiel is the daughter of Matthew and Debbie Szczygiel of Wells. Madison will be attending Dalhousie University to major in Medical Sciences. At WHS she has been a member of Interact, FEMS in STEM, Math Team and a member of the National Honor Society. She is secretary of the Student Council and president of the senior class. She has received the Good Citizenship Award of the Western Maine Conference, numerous WHS book awards including the Anselm Book Award. She has received Athlete of the Month, Breakfast of Champions and Student of the Trimester recognitions. She was involved with indoor/outdoor track, is captain of the Varsity Soccer team, manager of the Ice Hockey team and is a recipient of Varsity Track 30C Citizenship and Leadership awards. She was also a Western Maine Conference leadership representative.

Leah Tufts is the daughter of Karen and Charles Tufts of Wells. She has been accepted to Bentley University as a member of their Honors and Women’s Leadership programs and will major in Business. Leah has been president of the Student Council and has received numerous academic book awards, sportsmanship awards - including the WMC Good Sportsmanship Award, and scholastic recognitions including Student of the Trimester. She was captain of both the WHS Lacrosse and Soccer teams and a member of the Girls Basketball team. Leah has also been class treasurer, a member of the Philosophy Club, Math Team, Quiz Show Team, National Honor Society, Interact Club, and vice-president of the FEMS in STEM club. Leah has volunteered with Shootin for a Cure, Special Olympics York County, Future Stars Basketball Camp, The Ronald McDonald House; the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital at Maine Medical Center and at Preble Street Food Shelter. Earlier this year, Leah was selected by WHS Principal Eileen Sheehy to receive the Maine Principals’ Award.

Channing Wang is the son of Michael and Celia Wang of Wells. He will be attending Rice University to major in Economics. At WHS, he served as treasurer of the Student Council and secretary of the National Honor Society. Channing has served as class vice-president and secretary, is a member of the Quiz Show Team, Math Team, and the WHS Basketball team. He also won a Silver Key for Photography in the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Channing is a Questbridge College Prep Scholar and National College Match Finalist.