Class known for its spirit, contributions

Cheverus High School held its graduation ceremony at 8 p.m. on June 5 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland and presented diplomas to 116 students.

Diplomas were presented by the Rev. Ronald J. Amiot, S.J., school president; John H.R. Mullen, the principal; the most Rev. Richard J. Malone, Th.D., bishop of Portland; and Peter Turner, chairman of the board of trustees.

The keynote address was given by the Rev. Robert D. Farrell, S.J., professor of English at Boston College.

The class speakers included Christopher Romeo, the valedictorian; and Anna Peaco, an outstanding senior and all-around student.

Mullen said this year's senior class was an outstanding group of young people who did a lot for their class and the community.

He said the class provided Thanksgiving dinners to more than 400 families and donated $2,500 to the junior class.

"They contributed a lot to their own class and school in terms of school spirit," Mullen said. "They were a very spirited group of students and took great pride in the spirit they generated among all their classmates."

On the night before graduation, during the baccalaureate ceremony, awards were presented to the class valedictorian, Romeo; and the salutatorian, Kristen Hess.

At graduation, awards were presented to Peaco, the outstanding senior and all-around student.

Hugo Robinson received the loyalty and school spirit award; Meaghan Mingo received the leadership award, and Romeo received the activities and achievements award.

The St. Ignatius Award was presented to Maria Cardona; the Thomas C. Bove Scholarship was presented to Siobhan Arey; the Rev. Pedro Aruppe, S.J. Award/J.S.E.A. Award was presented to Colleen Kavanagh and Christopher Keneagy.

Several students received academic excellence awards.

Mullen said this group of students is well-equipped to deal with the challenges in and out of the classroom.

"I know that there is a lot of anxiety among the students, but I believe that the teachers have provided them with a well-rounded education, and their parents have prepared them as well. They are a bright, inquisitive group, and they have been challenged. Their lives will become far more complicated, but I do believe that they are equipped to meet them," Mullen said.

TOP OF THE CLASS

CHRISTOPHER ROMEO: Chris is the son of Louise Thomas and Richard Romeo of Cape Elizabeth. He has distinguished himself as the Valedictorian of his class and is a National Merit Finalist. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Math Team, Chess Team, Key Club, and Lacrosse Team. He is a Harvard Book Prize and Rensselaer Medal recipient, and received the Undergraduate of the Year Award. He is the recipient of the U. S. Air Force Math and Science Award, the John Philip Sousa Band Award, the United States Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence, and is an Academic Excellence Award winner in Math, Science and English. He is also the recipient of the Activities and Achievement Award. An accomplished saxophone player, Chris will attend Cornell University in the fall.

KRISTEN HESS: Kristen is the daughter of Steven and Anne Marie Hess of Falmouth. She has distinguished herself as the Salutatorian of her class. She is a Yale Book Award winner, a member of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, Math Team, and the Spanish Club. She has been a stellar member of the Soccer and Lacrosse Teams. Kristen is the recipient of the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Scholar Athlete Award and the United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award. She will be attending the University of Virginia in the fall.

KATE MCLAUGHLIN: Kate is the daughter of Gina Cass of Old Orchard Beach and James McLaughlin of Scarborough. She has distinguished herself as an All-State member of the Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams and a valuable member of the Soccer Team. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Key Club and a Worcester Polytechnic Institute Book Award winner. Kate is the recipient of the Army Reserve National Scholar Athlete Award. She will be attending Lehigh University in the fall.

DIONISIOS SPARANGIS: Dionisios is the son of Aristidis and Giannoula Sparangis of Biddeford. A Cornell University Book Award winner and a member of the Film Club, Dionisios was awarded a Gold Prize Certificate for Academic Excellence. He is an avid mountain biker. He is the recipient of the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church Memorial Scholarship. Dionisios will be attending the University of Southern Maine in the fall.

SARAH SLATER: Sarah is the daughter of Cecile and David Slater of Gorham. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, and has served as a Peer Tutor. Sarah is a Boston College Book Award winner, the recipient of an Academic Excellence Award in Social Studies, and the recipient of the United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence Award. Sarah will be attending Gettysburg College in the fall.

RYLAND BAUER: Ryland is the son of Edward and Lucy Bauer of Kennebunk. He is a member of the Math Team and Tennis Team. He is a Silver Prize Certificate recipient for Academic Excellence and the recipient of the PresidentŐs Educational Award. He will be attending the University of Connecticut in the fall.

THƒRéSE GRATTO: Therese is the daughter of Dennis and Bernadette Gratto of Portland. She is a Williams College Book Award recipient, a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club and student Council. She is a member of the Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams and the Cross Country Team. She is an Eagle Associate Award recipient and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Portland Alumni Association Arnold E. Green Scholarship recipient. She is also the recipient of an Academic Excellence Award in Theology. ThŽrse will be attending St. Anselm College in the fall.

ALISSA BURGESS: Alissa is the daughter of Craig and Anita Burgess of Bath. She is accomplished dancer. She is the recipient of the PresidentŐs Educational Award. Alissa will be attending the University of Maine in the fall.

COLLEEN KAVANAGH: Colleen is the daughter of James and Janice Kavanagh of Wells. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Student Council Executive Board, and the Drama Club. She is a Dartmouth College Book Award winner, the recipient of a Gold Prize Certificate for Academic Excellence, the Rev. Pedro Aruppe, S.J. Award, the JSEA Award, and the National School Orchestral Award. Colleen will be attending Boston College in the fall.

MARC BEAUDOIN: Marc is the son of Michael and Mary Beaudoin of Chelsea. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, Cross Country Team, Football Team, Basketball Team, and Lacrosse Team. He is the recipient of the Pierre A. Harnois Outstanding Athlete, the Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Scholar/Athlete and the Cheverus High School Athlete of the Year Award. Marc will be attending Providence College in the fall.

JOSEPH SESTO: Joseph is the son of Louis and Sue Sesto of Portland. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Key Club, and Math Team. He is a St. Anselm Book Award winner, a member of the Substance Abuse Policy Review Board and an active member of the Ministry Group at St. Pius X Church. Joseph is a member of the Soccer Team and the Indoor Track Team. He is the recipient of the Kevin MacDonald Scholarship and will be attending Manhattan College in the fall.

AWARDS

The following students received ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE AWARDS:

English: Christopher Romeo, Math: Christopher Romeo, Science: Christopher Romeo, Social Studies: Sarah Slater, Art: Austin Pickering, French: Brittany Rowe, Spanish: Brianna Payton, Latin: Anna Peaco, Music: Jaeger Wells and Christopher Romeo, Theology: ThŽrse Gratto, Computer Science: Joseph Gaudet.

President's Award: Kenneth Cianchette

Principal's Award: Brittany Rowe

Rev. Philip C. Welch S.J. Award: Sean Costigan

Pierre A. Harnois Outstanding Athlete: Meaghan Mingo, Marc Beaudoin

Kevin McDonald Scholarship: Joseph Sesto

National Awards for Excellence in the field of Music

John Philip Sousa Band Award: Christopher Romeo

Louis Armstrong Jazz Award: Jaeger Wells

National School Choral Award: Colleen Kavanagh

National School Orchestral: Kate OŐDonnell

Adam Worth Sherlock Memorial Award: Jaeger Wells

Maine Principals' Association Principals' Award: Christopher Romeo

Rev. C. Martin O'Toole, S.J .Scholarship: Anthony Ardito

Eagle Associates Award: Therese Gratto

Army Reserve National Scholar-Athlete Award: Kathryn McLaughlin, Anthony Ardito

DAR Good Citizen Award: Anna Peaco

MELMAC Education Foundation Maine Principal's Scholarship: Ashley Hall

Jolly John Auto City Scholarship: Ashley Hall

Abraham S. and Fannie B. Levey Award: Nicholas Sweatt

Unity Lodge # 3 Scholarship: William James Hannigan

Annual Cheverus Alumni Athletic Award: Alexander Arthur, Caitlin Barber, Todd Pelkey, Graham Whitelaw

Maine Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Scholar Athlete: Kristen Hess, Marc Beaudoin

Carrol M. Rhines Sports Person of the Year: Elizabeth Libby, Samuel Johnson

Cheverus High School Athlete of the Year: Heidi Allen, Marc Beaudoin

United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete: Kristen Hess, Sam Johnson

United States Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Award for Musical Excellence:

Stacy Burton, Christopher Romeo

United States Marine Corps Scholastic Excellence: Sarah Slater, Samuel Johnson

U.S. Air Force Math & Science Awards: Christopher Romeo

Arnold E. Green Scholarship: Therese Gratto

Maine Sports Legends: Casey Cox

National Merit Scholarship Finalist: Christopher Romeo

GRADUATES

Suzanne Carol Agro, Jonathan Alexis Alberghini, Sean Michael Allen, Heidi Lynn Allen, Lindsey Brooke Alston, Jonathan Joseph Anton, Anthony Eugene Ardito, Siobhan Maureen Arey, Alexander Jensen Arthur, Alexander George Babikian, Aoife Elizabeth Patricia Baker, Caitlin Elizabeth Barber, Ryland John Russell Bauer, Adam Scott Beatty, Marc Christopher Beaudoin, Gregory Michael Benoit, Daniel Joseph Blais, Max George Blumenthal, Marissa Rose Boucher, Alissa Godin Burgess, Stacy Lynn Burton, Braxton David Campbell, Maria, Theresa Bautista Cardona, Christopher James Chamberlin, Kenneth James Cianchette, Sean Coleman Costigan, Matthew Derek Cote, Alexander Ivan Coulombe, Casey Lee Cox, Michele Anne Davis, Ryan William Dawson, Harper Mollen Dorsk, Scott Nicholas Eshbach, Patrick Barnaby Foley, Daniel Paul Fouquette, Joseph Aaron Gaudet, Daniel Arturo Gaviria, Charles George Gendron, David William Getchell, Jr., ThŽrse Irene Gratto, Ashley Marie Hall, William James Hannigan, Joshua Thomas Hart, William Wallingford Hayes, Kristen Marie Hess, Sean Flynn Hurley, Karl Joseph Hurtubise, Joseph Adel Ibrahim, Timothy Edmond Jalbert, Samuel Giles Johnson, Michael Louis Johnson, Jeffrey Thomas Jones, Samuel Hockley Kaplan, Constantine Christo Kapothanasis, Colleen Jo Kavanagh, Christopher Allen Keneagy, Anthony John Keneborus, Kara Marie Kenny, Jordan Sumner Lailer, Joshua Edgar LaQuerre, Benjamin Stephen Leavitt, Christopher Stephen Leavitt, Monique Nicole Lefebvre, Elizabeth Anne Libby, Elizabeth Ashley Little, Mary Holland Loane, Eric Michael Love, Elizabeth Anne MacCarthy, Kelsey Jean Mann, Erin Elizabeth McCann, Kathryn Lee McLaughlin, Sarah Aileen Michaud, Meaghan Elizabeth Mingo, James Malcolm Morrill, Paul Andrew Morrison, Thomas James Moseley, Samuel Reed Napolitano, Patrick Allen Nichols, Kate Delaney O'Donnell, Zachary Samuel Paris, Anthony Michael Pastore, Brianna Leigh Payton, Anna Danielle Peaco, Todd Curtis Pelkey, Sade Linsey Peters, Austin John Pickering, Alexandra Sagan Pope, Alaina Anne Pouliot, Adrianna Katelyn Rada, William Thomas Ridge, Kyle Clayton Robbins, Hugo James Patrick Robinson, Matthew Carl Rogosienski, Christopher Thomas Romeo, Philip Angelo Rotolo, Brittany Alexandra Rowe, Michael Xavier Savasuk, Daniel Matthew Scala, Danielle Marie Segal, Joseph Anthony Sesto, Edward Oscar Shevenell, Sarah Alice Slater, Dionisios Sparangis, Nicholas Martin Sweatt, Spencer Ryan Thibodeau, Kathleen Johnston Trombly, Adam Gregory Wallace, Jaeger Norton Wells, Graham Arthur Whitelaw, Matthew Edwin Samuel Williams, Olivia Bethany Wilson, Whitney Olivia Wilson, William Emery Winslow, Harrison Walter Wirth, Ryan Robert Zenahlik, Peter Andrew Zrioka