VALEDICTORIAN KAYLA M. PEARD is the daughter of William and Maureen Peard and sister to Shaunna. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society, German chapter. Kayla was the recipient of the Bausch and Lomb Science Award and the St. Michael's College Book Award her junior year and also received numerous awards over the years in a variety of school subjects including math, English, science, German, history, and music. She was a member of the Student Listener Program at the elementary schools, and she served as a math tutor for a 1st grade class. Kayla played trumpet in the York High School jazz and concert bands as well as in the New Hampshire Youth Band. She also played in the 2005, 2007, and 2008 District 1 Concert Bands, as well as the 2007 Maine All-State Concert Band and the 2008 Maine All-State Orchestra. Kayla plans to attend the University of Maine Orono in the fall. She will be a part of the University of Maine Honors College and will pursue a degree in Music Education.
SALUTATORIAN KATHERINE RASCHE is the daughter of Steve and Tori Rasche of York, and sister to Anna, Sam, and Thomas. She was a member of the World Language Honor Society (German), recipient of the Williams College Book Award and the Principal's Award, and during her senior year she served as a Senior Facilitator. Katherine is an accomplished athlete, and in addition to co-captaining the high school soccer, indoor track, and outdoor track teams, she plays club soccer year-round. Katherine is also an avid artist and enjoys photography and traveling. This fall she plans to attend Skidmore College where she is looking forward to playing on the soccer team and pursuing an education in the field of Studio Art.
(Remaining Commencement Scholars listed in alphabetical order)
ALLISON BAILEY is the daughter of Ed and Heidi Bailey of York. She has been a member of the cross country team for four years as well as the indoor and outdoor track teams for two years. She was a member of the newspaper staff, National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society for Spanish and participated in Key Club, the Student Listener Program, Prom Committee, and served as a Senior Facilitator and Girls' State delegate. She volunteered through the Bridges Program at York Hospital once a week and was on the honor roll all four years of high school while maintaining a year-round job. Allison is a recipient of the Hussey Scholarship and a merit scholarship from the Honors College of the University of Connecticut, which she will attend next year with an undecided major.
CARA NICOLE CAVALIERI, daughter of Stacy and Gregory Cavalieri, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She moved to York from Malden, Massachusetts in 1998. She was a four-year member of the varsity cross country team as well as a tri-captain this last fall. Cara was also a member of the indoor track and softball teams for two years. She participated in a variety of clubs at YHS including the World Language National Honor Society for Spanish, Interact, and the Prom Committee. She was a two-year manager for the boys' varsity ice hockey team. Cara maintained honors throughout high school and challenged herself by taking Advanced Placement classes each year. Cara had planned to attend New York University in the fall, but rethought her decision and recently decided on a more practical solution; she will attend the University of Southern Maine to attain her core credits, then possibly continue on with her studies elsewhere.
ALEX HYMANSON, son of Patty and Alan Hymanson, brother of Michael and Anna, has been a York High School honor and high honor student all four years, recipient of the Latin Award and inducted into the World Language Honor Society in Spanish. Alex was a member of Key Club, the newspaper, Gang Green and played varsity golf, wrestling and baseball throughout his high school career. He placed third in the Maine State Individual Golf Championship and won the Western Maine Regional Wrestling Championship in his weight class. He was co-captain of the wrestling team. Alex is an expert downhill skier. Attending Colby College, he plans to study chemistry and environmental sciences.
MICHAEL HYMANSON has grown up in York with his parents Alan and Patty, his brother Alex and his sister Anna. An honors and high honors student throughout his years at York High School, he earned academic achievement awards in Spanish and chemistry. He is a member of the World Language Honor Society for Spanish. His activities included the Student Government, Civil Rights Team, Student Listener Program, and tutoring at the writing center. Active in sports, he is a three-sport varsity athlete in golf, wrestling and baseball, competing in Maine State championships in golf and wrestling, perhaps in baseball this season. He has volunteered for community services and will travel to Honduras this summer on a construction service trip. In the winter, Michael can often be found skiing. This fall, Michael will attend Deerfield Academy for a post-graduate year to continue his academics and athletics before pursuing his interests in economics thereafter in college.
NATALIE KAKNES, daughter of Gregory and Kathryn Kaknes and younger sister of Derek and Nicholas, has been a devoted student-athlete throughout her four years at York High School. She was secretary of both the National Honor Society and the Key Club and was also a member of the French World Language National Honor Society, Young Women's Leadership, and Student Government. Natalie has maintained honor roll throughout high school and has received awards in French, Health, as well as the Wellesley College Book Award in 2007. She was selected to attend RYLA, a leadership workshop in 2006. Natalie has been a weekly volunteer through York Hospital's Bridges Program, a volunteer at Coastal Ridge Elementary School, and a Student Listener to a fourth grade girl. She has also been involved in varsity sports throughout her time at YHS, including soccer, cross country, lacrosse, and ice hockey where she was named captain of the newly founded program. Natalie will be attending the University of Vermont next year where she hopes to study nursing or physical therapy.
JESSICA KOFMAN is the daughter of Michael Kofman and Kim McCabe-Kofman of York. She is a member of the National Honor Society, a two-year member of the World Language National Honor Society French chapter, and a four-year member of Young Women's Leadership. She has participated in the Student Listener Program for the past two years and was chosen as a Senior Facilitator her senior year. Active in her community, Jessica was a volunteer at the Old York Historical Society for the past eight years, took part in the Junior Docent program last summer and will take advantage of that program again this summer. During her high school career, Jessica played on the junior varsity soccer and varsity tennis teams. Jessica's passion for singing led her to participate in four years of chorus as well as the YHS Chamber Singers her senior year. This fall, Jessica will attend the Honors College of the University of Maine Orono and plans to pursue a degree in history.
KEVIN MARAN, son of Thomas and Laurie Maran, was a member of the varsity baseball and hockey teams for four years and served as varsity baseball captain his senior year. He participated in many other activities while he was at YHS, including the Chess Club and AIDS Team. For the past two years, he was a member of the World Language Honor Society for Spanish. Although holding a year-round job, he still maintained honors. Next year Kevin plans to attend Bentley College in Massachusetts where he will study business and finance.
KATHERINE McGUIGAN, daughter of Stuart and Pam McGuigan of York, has participated in many clubs, including Gang Green, the Nutrition Team, World Language Honor Society (French), Prom Committee, Senior Facilitator, and was a RYLA participant. She also ran two years of cross country and was on the tennis team for four years where in her senior year she was a captain. She received the French Award, Geometry Award, Chemistry Award and the Middlebury Book Award. Next year she plans to attend Colgate University where she will pursue a liberal arts education.
RYAN MEANS, son of John and Jeanine Means, is a proud member and captain of the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams, a two-year member of the National Honor Society and the World Language Honor Society, as well as an active Senior Facilitator throughout his senior year. An enthusiastic musician, Ryan is a member of two rock bands outside of school and a member of the percussion section of the YHS Concert Band. Ryan remained on the honor roll all through high school, was selected to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), and earned the St. Michael's College Book Award his junior year. This fall, Ryan will attend the University of Maine at Orono, pursuing a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
EMILY MORIN is the daughter of Nan and Daniel Morin. Emily was a member of the World Language Honor Society (Spanish) and was the Class of 2008 vice-president her senior year. She was a member of the varsity field hockey and lacrosse teams and captain of both as a senior. Emily had All-State recognition in field hockey both her junior and senior years. She was the recipient of several academic awards, including the Rensselaer Medal and the Yale Book Award, and managed to maintain honors all four years. Emily will attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY where she plans to study engineering and play field hockey.
BRITTANY LYNNE MORLEY is the daughter of Robert and Janelle Morley of York, Maine. She was actively involved throughout her career at York High School in numerous clubs and activities, including the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society for German, Young Women's Leadership, the Civil Rights Team, a delegate for Dirigo Girl's State and a Student Listener at Coastal Ridge Elementary School. Active in sports, Brittany was a member of both the varsity field hockey and softball teams. She is currently a senior leader for her church youth group and has volunteered the past three years on their annual mission trip. Brittany maintained honors and high honors throughout her entire high school career. This fall, Brittany will attend the University of New England on an Honors Scholarship Award from The Arts and Sciences Honors Program, where she will take accelerated coursework along with research opportunities. Brittany's plans are to pursue a career in the field of psychology.
LINDSAY PUTNAM is the daughter of Michael and Bonnie Putnam of York. She was a member of the National Honor Society as well as the World Language National Honor Society for German. Lindsay was editor-in-chief of the school newspaper, The Pawprint, her senior year and was also a three-year member of the Key Club. An active athlete on the cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track teams, Lindsay also wrote newspaper articles for the York Independent for the cross country and track teams. Lindsay was also active outside of school and attended RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) her sophomore year and Girls' State her junior year, and also volunteered at the York Public Library over the past two years. Lindsay was on the honor roll throughout high school and was also the recipient of the St. Joseph's College of Maine Book Award her junior year. Lindsay will attend Colby College this fall where she hopes to pursue a career in journalism.
BRIDGET McDERMOTT RHINEHART is the daughter of Deborah McDermott and Roger Rhinehart. She was involved in many activities during her years at YHS; a member of the National Honor Society, vice president of her class sophomore year, and president of her class junior year, she also participated in the Civil Rights Team, AIDS Education Team, Gang Green (the environmental team at YHS), and was one of two students on the Crisis Intervention Team. Bridget also carries a love for music. She was in the YHS concert and jazz band for four years, a District musician for three, and was an active spokesperson for the auditorium proposal. Among the honors received at YHS were the Phi Beta Kappa Award of Maine, as well as academic awards in English, Spanish, and music. She was the sole YHS representative to the Maine Youth Leadership conference her sophomore year, one of several attending the Rotary Youth Leadership conference her sophomore year, as well as Girls' State her junior year. Just as important as her school activities, is her community involvement. Bridget has volunteered at the Table of Plenty every Tuesday for three years, as well as events for the American Red Cross and the Seacoast Democrats. In the fall, Bridget will attend Smith College where she plans to pursue degrees in International Relations and African Studies.
KYLIE MORGAN VALLEE is the daughter of Steve Vallee and Janet Hanson of York. She is an active member of many clubs and organizations at YHS, including the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society (French), Prom Committee and served as a Senior Facilitator as well as a Girls' State delegate. She ran cross country all four years, indoor track for three and outdoor for two years. Kylie received two Most Improved Athlete awards two years in a row and was a captain and MVP her last year running cross country. This spring she completed her second half-marathon. While maintaining a year-round job, she was also on the honor roll all four years. This fall, Kylie will attend Bentley College where she plans to pursue a career in International Financing as well as continuing to run cross country.
KENNETH WEIGEL is the son of William and Helen Weigel of Wilton, Maine and Glastonbury, Connecticut respectively. He was born in Yarmouth, Maine, where he lived until the age of ten, when he moved to York during the fourth grade. He was recognized for his leadership skills and received the Maine Scholar Leader Award. At York High School Kenny was a member of the World Language Honor Society for Spanish, the Chess Club, and the soccer team. Outside of school he pursues his passion for surfing and snowboarding. He surfs competitively and is both a snowboard and surf instructor. This fall, Kenny will attend the University of Rhode Island and pursue a career in Biomedical Engineering while still continuing to follow his passion for surfing.
