AUGUSTA — The Maine Senate has sustained Republican Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of a bill that sought to improve school attendance.

The Republican-led Senate voted 18-16 on Tuesday to uphold LePage’s rejection of Democratic Sen. Nate Libby’s bill. It would’ve made 5- and 6-year-olds enrolled in kindergarten and first grade subject to the same truancy laws as those 7 years and older. Libby said the inability for schools to deploy truancy officers to addresses chronic absences among younger children is a problem.

LePage said in his veto letter that the bill interferes with “the rights of parents to decide when their children are ready for school.”

But the bill would have applied only to children who are already enrolled and given parents a 45-day window to withdraw their kids from school.

A four-bedroom house built by dozens of Portland-area high school students over the course of four academic years left Portland on Friday for its new home. Professional contractors moved the Cape Cod-style home, which was built by Portland Arts and Technology High School students, in several large pieces that were carried away on a separate truck.

The modular house was then assembled on its new foundation in Durham. The interior is already painted and the house is ready for plumbing and electrical connections.

A couple who were moving back to Maine from out of state had learned about the school project and bought the finished product for $38,263, roughly covering the costs of the supplies that the school had purchased over the years, said Frank Kehoe, carpentry instructor at PATHS. That price doesn’t include the land, foundation and cost of moving the structure.

Kehoe said the work was done by second-year students specializing in carpentry and plumbing at PATHS and others studying electrical work at Westbrook Regional Vocational Center.

The project was somewhat more complicated than the smaller ranch-style homes the school’s students have built in the past. But Kehoe said the project took four years because funding for it trickled in.

Miles Spadone graduated from the Maine College of Art in 2013 with a bachelor of fine arts degree in ceramics. As an undergrad, he never really thought of himself as a businessperson – a label he associated with monetary gain rather than artistic excellence. Then he took a class on entrepreneurship his junior year, taught by a visiting teacher from Babson College.

“It was really mind-opening for me,” said Spadone, who now works for a small product-design firm and sells his ceramic creations. “I went in thinking it would be a very monetarily focused class where you’re discussing the value of things, discussing the viability of an idea in the marketplace. And really it wasn’t about that at all. It was more about empathizing with people so you can better understand their problems in order to solve them.”

Students with a grounding in business principles and entrepreneurship are now the norm at MECA, reflecting a shift in the school’s mission and how it approaches the preparation of its students for life after graduation. Those students may be mastering screen printing and slip casting instead of spreadsheets, and studying Fauvism rather than finance, but make no mistake that the MECA students who graduated this month are as entrepreneurial as the graduates of a business school.

Artists have by necessity always been entrepreneurs if they wanted to make a living, but they’ve never liked to discuss it in those terms, says Don Tuski, MECA’s president since 2010.

And neither did art schools. In the past, art schools provided years of artistic training, then left the students to figure out on their own how to succeed after graduation.

That, however, is changing. Tuski believes the school’s mission should be to ensure that graduates cannot only make art, but that they can make a living by making art. “We’re helping them be entrepreneurs before they graduate,” Tuski says. “What we’re doing at MECA is putting much more emphasis on it; we’re much more intentional about it because we live in a capitalist society where you have to make a living.”

Nationally, art school graduates earn about $45,000 a year, relatively close to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ overall U.S. annual wage of $47,230.

In the past four years, MECA has added courses like “The Art of Business” and begun offering workshops on topics such as public speaking, how to use LinkedIn and perfecting your “elevator pitch” to a prospective client or investor. It has created a new department, called Artists at Work, with three full-time employees dedicated to helping connect students and alumni with professional development opportunities, internships, jobs and art commissions.

A year and a half ago, the school changed its mission statement to include “creative entrepreneurship” as one of the three key tenets of a MECA student’s education experience, along with “artistic excellence” and “civic engagement.”

“There’s a sense that making a living and making art are separate and what we’re interested in is bridging that divide,” says Jessica Tomlinson, director of MECA’s Artists at Work department.

The changes at MECA are part of a larger shift going on around the country, both at art schools and in the workplace, where over the past half-dozen years employers have begun putting more stock in employees who can bring creativity and innovation to their jobs, both areas where art students are well-versed after four years of creating, building and finishing projects under deadline.

“What you get in art school is so much more viable to the economy than trying to memorize things in the liberal arts approach,” says Tuski, who came from a liberal arts background and has a Ph.D. in anthropology. “You still do some of that in art school, but really you use your head, your heart and your hands to make things and create things on the computer or in an analog way. You’re creatively problem solving. You learn to see things in different perspectives, and for a business that’s really valuable.”

This is not a new idea, but it’s taken longer for art schools to catch up. The MFA, the master of fine arts degree, is the new MBA, quipped Daniel Pink in his 2005 book “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule the Future.” Fast Company and Harvard Business Review have both published articles with titles that are a variation on that theme.

“In many ways artists are more akin to entrepreneurs than most people recognize,” says Elizabeth Jabar, a professor of printmaking at MECA, its assistant dean and director of public engagement in the Artists at Work program. “Entrepreneurship requires creativity and innovation – these are two things that artists inherently possess and pursue. And in many ways, artists are used to creating opportunities for themselves, forging a path of opportunity where there isn’t one, and I think this is very entrepreneurial.”

MECA AS A HUB

The Maine College of Art was founded in 1882 as part of the Portland Society of Art, which also included the Portland Museum of Art. The school and museum split in 1982.

Since then MECA and its flagship building on Congress Street have become the anchor, along with the art museum, of Portland’s vibrant arts district, which includes art galleries, artist studios, performance spaces and an art supply store.

The college has roughly 100 full-time employees, another 145 part-timers, and an annual budget of $16 million.

It currently has 460 students, a nearly 31 percent increase from five years ago, and offers three degrees: a bachelor of fine arts in 11 studio majors, a master of fine arts, and a master of arts in teaching.

The school is a net importer of creative young people, Tuski says. While only 35 percent of MECA students hail from Maine, roughly 50 percent of those who graduate stick around to start their own businesses or bring their creative problem-solving skills to local employers, according to the school’s data.

John Coleman, CEO and co-founder of The VIA Agency, a design firm in Portland, estimates that at least 50 MECA students and graduates have worked at VIA as interns or full-time employees over the past 20 years. In fact, one of his co-founders was a MECA alumnus and many of the ad agency’s first hires were alumni of the art school.

“So I knew the caliber of the individuals coming from the college (right from the start),” says Coleman, who also sat on the school’s board of trustees for 14 years. “These people weren’t just artists or designers. They were thinkers. They could innovate. They could talk about what was happening in society and talk about what was happening in the business world and contribute to how we could help clients grow their businesses in a way that was very sophisticated.”

Coleman cites another important skill that art students develop during their school years: the ability to give and take feedback. That skill can make a huge difference in a professional workplace, says Coleman, who has witnessed it firsthand.

Say VIA hires a recent graduate of an Ivy League school, Coleman says. The new hire shows up at VIA, where collaborative critiquing by peers is the norm. Typically, a person will hang up his or her work on the wall for review. If the work isn’t that good or not quite the direction the team thinks the design project should go, that feedback can be tough to take if the recent grad isn’t used to it.

“These people don’t know how to process it and it’s almost debilitating,” says Coleman, making sure to note that he’s witnessed this, but that it’s not the case for all liberal arts graduates who arrive at VIA. “They’ve had incredible privilege to get a wonderful education, but they have not learned how to dialogue about their work, and it’s a skill that’s necessary.

“When you hire students out of the Maine College of Art, they know how to critique. It makes them frankly much higher-performing members immediately.”

SKILLS REMAIN RELEVANT

Those qualities translate into other corporate settings as well. MECA alumni are employed across a broad range of businesses, including Idexx, TD Bank, Town and Country Federal Credit Union and L.L. Bean.

Fletcher Kittredge, CEO of Great Works Internet in Biddeford, has advocated for years that students should seek a solid foundation in an arts or liberal arts education because technology is moving so fast now that it doesn’t make sense to tailor education to a particular job that could soon radically change or disappear.

He doesn’t know if GWI currently employs any art school graduates, but he says he wouldn’t hesitate to hire one.

“I’m not usually the hiring manager, but I try to convey the message to hire for talent and we’ll train them on the skills later,” says Kittredge, whose niece attended MECA.

In 2010, IBM conducted a survey of 1,500 CEOs from 60 countries and 33 industries worldwide and found that “creativity” was the most important factor that businesses need more of in the future.

Because of the so-called innovation economy, the number of people working in art- and design-related fields is expected to grow from the current 25 million to 28 million by 2020, according to the U.S. Department of Labor.

“I think the conventional wisdom used to be that going to art school was a frivolous degree,” Coleman said. “Now I view it as the more practical degree, and I think that’s a big shift for a lot of people.”

Art schools around the country are realizing that this shift is happening, and many are moving in the same direction as MECA, according to Sally Gaskill, director of the Strategic National Arts Alumni Project, which has surveyed more than 92,000 art school alumni in the country.

“If there’s one data point that sticks out … it’s that art schools need to do a better job preparing their students for making a living,” says Gaskill.

MECA alumni do well compared to the national average. Sixty-seven percent of MECA alumni work as professional artists, compared to a national average of 56 percent, according to the project’s survey data. And 61 percent of MECA alumni are self-employed, independent contractors or freelancers, compared to a national average of 45 percent.

Brian Wilk, a 1995 graduate of MECA and current board member, is now a vice president of design at toy giant Hasbro in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.

After receiving his bachelor of fine arts degree at MECA, Wilk went on to earn a master of business administration, so his experience bridges the art and business worlds. He currently has two MECA students as interns in his department.

“I think the best assets you have in this day and age are storytelling and your intellectual property. That’s your point of difference,” Wilk says.

ART FOR LIVELIHOOD’S SAKE

Spadone, the ceramics grad who now works for a small product-design consultancy called Vital Innovation, continues to make art with ceramics. The Portland Museum of Art recently chose Spadone for its biennial retrospective of Maine artists.

He credits his entrepreneurial and artist’s training with helping to hone the skills he brings to his work at Vital Innovation, which focuses on human-centered design.

“If you don’t have that empathy, that ability to understand what people need or where people are deficient, then your ideas can feel disingenuous and I think people have a hard time feeling a part of that,” he said. “I think it’s the same with art. It’s conveying ideas and communicating ideas and hoping people can empathize with them in the same way you empathize with a product you use and devices you use.”

John Nelson founded his own metal fabrication shop not long after graduating from MECA in 2012 with a BFA in sculpture. You can see his metal work at several restaurants in Greater Portland, including Slab and Elsmere BBQ. Nelson’s first commission after art school was to build the large conference room table at ThinkTank, a co-working space on Congress Street.

While his entrepreneurial spark predates his time at MECA, Nelson says art school instilled in him a strong work ethic and improved his ability to approach and solve the day-to-day problems that any entrepreneur must confront.

“Art school really helps you become a really good problem solver, it helps you learn to work really hard because there is no final answer, so the work is unlimited,” Nelson says.

To help and inspire graduating students to pursue their own entrepreneurial ideas, MECA has created a grant program that hands out $500 grants to six students a year to help them start their own businesses.

Katie Ackley, who graduated from MECA this month with a BFA in illustration, received one of this year’s grants. She used it to help launch her own printmaking business called Inky Blue. She is now working at Liberty Graphics, a printmaking shop in the Waldo County town of Liberty.

A Machias native, she never thought of herself as an entrepreneur before arriving at MECA. But during her junior year she had the opportunity to make products to sell at MECA’s annual holiday sale.

“I had such an amazing experience. People actually liked my products and wanted to purchase them and it was very empowering,” Ackley says.

Through the college’s Artists at Work program, Ackley was able to get an internship with Eliza Curtis, a designer she admires who is based in Limington.

“I never went (to MECA) thinking I wanted to be a business owner,” she says. “It was just such an incredible transformation.”

That realization is at the core of Tuski’s philosophy. As president of MECA, he believes the school and its faculty have an “ethical responsibility” to help prepare its students to make a living before they graduate.

“The most empowering thing you can do is make somebody understand how to make a living as an entrepreneur, because then you empower them for life.”

One of only two schools in Maine that trains vet techs is struggling to emerge from tough times.

The University of Maine-Augusta had traditionally been a two-year school that offered associate degrees, but in recent years it transitioned most of its programs to four years. The vet tech major offered on the Bangor campus, however, remained a two-year program – one that was bleeding red ink.

So when the time came to balance the budget last year, the program – which ran a deficit of about $250,000 every year – was targeted for elimination.

The fact that its graduates had no trouble getting jobs didn’t seem to help. But “a huge outcry in the community” at the news of a possible closure did, according to Brenda McAleer, associate provost at the University of Maine-Augusta.

The school rethought its plan and instead managed to trim the losses to $100,000 annually. It then redesigned the vet tech program, adding business and biology research courses so that graduates can get work as practice managers, or in research facilities such as the Jackson Laboratory. At the same time, the school turned the vet tech track into a four-year program.

Nonetheless, last year the school was put on two years’ probation for its accreditation – which students need to sit for their licensing exam – because the program director left to return to clinical practice.

“We for the past year have not had a full-time vet on staff,” McAleer said. She added that the school has now offered the job to someone. If it’s accepted, the probationary period will end.

But the school’s decisions about the program are not universally supported. Bill Bell of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association said Maine veterinarians are not happy with the new four-year program because it means the graduates will command higher salaries than he says vets in the state can afford to pay. The median annual wage for vet technologists and technicians in 2012 was $30,290 per year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The unfortunate thing is our vets really don’t need four-year graduates,” Bell said. “The salary that they can pay competitively does not really justify a four-year student.”

McAleer counters that business and laboratory research skills now being taught will make the school’s graduates more employable. “If I can help you run your business, or I can design your marketing for you, or design your system to keep track of your clients, maybe that’s worth a little more,” she said.

— MEREDITH GOAD

When it comes to paying for veterinary care, Michael Doran doesn’t have the deep pockets of a larger farm. He’s raising 14 beef cattle and eight pigs on a Berwick farm that he took over after his father died.

For the past three years, when Doran’s livestock needed veterinary care, he has had trouble finding help. The veterinarian the farm used when Doran was growing up has long since retired. So sometimes Doran just asks “old timers” what to do, or he takes care of the animals himself.

“I can do quite a few things myself,” he said, “but there comes a time when you have to call somebody.”

That’s what happened a couple of weeks ago, when one of his cows was giving birth. The calf was trying to come out backwards, hind legs first, but it was so large Doran couldn’t turn it to the correct position himself. The cow began bleeding internally and Doran found himself frantically calling around for help. Eventually, he connected with a veterinarian, and ultimately both cow and calf survived.

Doran wonders if having help from a veterinary technician early on – basically an extra set of hands – might have prevented the emergency. That kind of help could have been interpreted as making a diagnosis, which is illegal under the Maine Veterinary Practice Act, the law that regulates what vet techs can do without supervision. Still, Doran’s farm emergency highlights the need for all levels of basic veterinary care at the growing number of small farms in Maine that are raising not only cows but animals such as goats, sheep, llamas and alpacas. “Unless you’re a big dairy farmer, there really isn’t any support for you in the area,” Doran said. “There’s a lot of people around raising a cow or two, or a pig, and there’s no vet around.”

WANTED: VET TECHS

Veterinary technicians and technologists could help fill in the gaps, but some Maine experts say there aren’t enough of them. And over the next decade the need will only grow: The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment in this category will grow 30 percent from 2012 to 2022. Growth will be particularly strong in rural areas, according to the agency.

In Maine, many small farms are being started as second, or alternative, careers by newcomers with little experience. They may need more help with veterinary care since they haven’t grown up around farming like Doran, who knew just what to do when his cow got into trouble. They are also more likely to experience sticker shock when they get the vet bill.

Using a vet tech for minor issues that don’t require a vet’s expertise can save veterinarians time and rural farms money. But at a time when jobs are plentiful for vet techs, the two schools in Maine that train them are in flux. The 15-year-old program at the University of Maine-Augusta’s Bangor campus has had such serious budgetary issues, it was on its way to being dropped last spring before a public outcry saved it. (See sidebar.) It is now being turned into a four-year program – a move some veterinarians oppose – and its accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association is in question.

“We’re very concerned about where that’s headed in the future,” said Bill Bell, executive director of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association.

A new vet tech program at York County Community College started offering classes in fall of 2013. That program is not yet accredited, but it’s two-thirds of the way through the process, according to Peg Wheeler, the director, and the school is having no trouble filling classes.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Licensed veterinary technicians and technologists serve as an extra pair of hands for veterinarians. Veterinary technicians graduate from a two-year program, while veterinary technologists graduate with a bachelor’s degree. Technologists often work in research-related jobs.

Vet techs perform the lab tests that aid the vet in diagnosing problems. They take case histories, administer medications, draw blood, take and develop X-rays, prepare tissue samples for examination, provide dental care, prep animals for surgery, and provide nursing care or emergency first aid. By law, only veterinarians can diagnose, make prognoses, prescribe or initiate treatment, or perform surgery.

“A licensed vet technician is definitely worth their weight (in gold) because they come with a lot of training already done, and then you can do continuing education,” said Matt Townsend, a Fairfield vet who sees both small and large animals. Townsend said that on the large animal side of his practice, sending his techs out to farms to do vaccinations and collect blood samples allows him to focus on more important things.

“That can potentially free me up to do more with each farmer,” Townsend said. “And you can make a case that by doing those things, that would allow me to travel a farther distance to other farms.”

Farm animal care, including large food animals such as cows and smaller farm animals like goats, pigs and even chickens, is where the biggest need lies. (There’s more money in equine care, so there is no shortage of vet techs there.)

“Where there’s a huge gap is in ruminant medicine,” said Brion Reagor, a small animal vet in Berwick who is on the advisory board of the vet tech program at York County Community College. “It’s really difficult for my friends who have smaller ruminants on these farms to find someone who can come out.”

Wheeler, the director of the York County program, said that neighboring New Hampshire has pushed the focus on large animal vet techs in its schools because of a surge in livestock in the state. Wheeler sees the same need in Maine and so plans to develop a similar focus at the York County school.

STUDENT OUTLOOK

About a quarter of the school’s students are interested in large animal work, Wheeler said. Many of them choose the vet tech career path over pre-vet programs that are more expensive and leave them saddled with student loans. Some may decide to go on to vet school.

Sarah Tanguay, a 24-year-old vet tech student who lives in Biddeford, has completed three semesters in the York County program. She considers the two-year program “a good foot in the door for me to decide what I really want to do.”

“Going to school for eight years to become a veterinarian is just not for me,” she said.

Tanguay would like to stay in Maine after she graduates and is leaning toward working with large animals. She likes cows, and “there’s not a huge demographic of people who work on farm animals. A lot of times the veterinarian and the technician are from hours away.” And she can’t help but notice the increasing number of small farms around the state.

A REAL SHORTAGE?

Not everyone agrees that the word “shortage” applies when it comes to vet techs. Each vet asked about the topic seems to give a different opinion.

A few years ago, the state had too few veterinarians, but loan forgiveness and scholarship programs designed to keep vets in rural areas have mostly fixed the problem, according to Michele Walsh, the state veterinarian. “Yes, we have a lot of new small farms, and that’s really exciting,” Walsh said. “I love to see that. I’m not really sure that changes the demand for veterinary services, necessarily.”

A lot of smaller farms simply make do. They turn to other farmers for help, or to the Cooperative Extension service, because they don’t have the money to pay a vet to drive 50 miles.

“I guess shortage implies that there’s a need that can’t be filled, and I think practices find a way to fill it,” said Bell of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association. “They will hire someone as a vet assistant who does not have the same qualifications.”

Some vets worry that the work of vet techs will eat into their bottom lines, but to Townsend it’s a question of figuring out how best to use these employees.

Townsend not only thinks there is “a large need” for more vet techs, he thinks the veterinary profession should start talking about how to expand their role and training, making them more like nurse practitioners in human health care. He says having vet techs with different levels of training would give vets like him more leeway. He’d like, for example, to be able to send a vet tech to a farm to check on a couple of sick goats and let the technician decide whether it’s an illness that can wait until tomorrow or requires the vet’s urgent attention.

Michael Doran wishes a vet tech had been available to play bovine midwife during his emergency, so that maybe things might not have progressed into dangerous territory. His cow stopped bleeding in the early morning hours, and his new vet returned for a follow-up a couple of days later.

“You put the care in,” he said, “and you don’t want anything to happen to them.”

LEWISTON — Nearly 500 seniors graduated from Bates College on Sunday in a ceremony highlighted by encouragement from award-winning mathematician and Princeton professor Manjul Bhargava, who gave the commencement address.

Bhargava devoted most of his speech to “the relationship that exists between mathematics and art, between science and humanities, and more generally the surprising unity of all fields of human endeavor and what this all means in terms of the value of a liberal arts education.”

Alex Bolden, a senior from Cleveland, gave the senior address.

“If there is nothing else I have learned from this campus it is that there are no bounds to the change a community can effect when it is grounded in love,” Bolden said. “It is out of love that we have become allies to those who are struggling and it is out of love that we stand for those who cannot stand for themselves.”

Maine-based furniture designer Thomas Moser, Olympic runner Joan Benoit Samuelson of Freeport, and Mark Abelson, an ophthalmological researcher, all received honorary degrees.

Bates College President Clayton Spencer handed out degrees to 484 graduates during ceremonies that were held inside the Merrill Gymnasium.

The director of an alternative school on Mackworth Island in Falmouth will be the town of Brunswick’s new assistant superintendent of schools.

In a letter sent out to staff, students, parents and community members, the Brunswick School District said it has hired Pender Makin.

She has been director of the Real School since 2003.

“She comes to us with a stellar reputation for creative programming, teaching and learning, grant writing and problem solving,” Superintendent Paul K. Perzanoski said. “I have high hopes for her future contributions and success.”

According to the Real School’s website, Makin has been an educator since 1995.

Makin was the lead teacher in Westbrook at Wescott Junior School’s Alternative Learning Center from 1997 to 2003.

“Pender believes that alternative learners are the best hope for the future of our world, because they were born to think outside of the box,” her profile on the Real School website states.

Since 2008, she has been on the faculty of the graduate school of the University of Maine and has acted as a consultant speaking on the issues of adolescent behavior and alternative education.

The Real School serves students in grades 7 to 12 who have failed to thrive in other school settings.

It offers an adventure-based alternative school program and an adventure-based special education school program.

Cheverus High School held its graduation on June 1 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. A total of 119 diplomas were awarded to seniors. The following students rose to the top 10 percent for the class of 2015.

Kaitlyn Dostie, valedictorian, is the daughter of Thomas Dostie of Raymond and Lynne Dostie of Yarmouth. She has been a member of the Spanish Club, Haiti Solidarity Club, the Student Life Committee, the math team, and the Key Club. She is also a dedicated athlete who has participated on the swim team, cross country team, and the indoor and outdoor track teams. Her junior summer she travelled to Guatemala as part of the Safe Passage mission trip. She is a member of the NHS and was recognized at an MPA Awards Banquet earlier in the spring. Kaitlyn will attend the University of Virginia next year.

Eva Niedermeyer, salutatorian, is the daughter of Dr. Thomas Niedermeyer and Dr. Linda Mulski of Buxton. She is a three-sport athlete who has been a member of the soccer team, the swim team, and the outdoor track team. She has participated on the math team, the debate team, and the Key Club, and she plays the oboe in the school band and at various music festivals. A volunteer at her church and at the Ocean Avenue Elementary School, she is a member of the National Honor Society and a National Merit Finalist. She will attend Georgetown University in the fall.

Haley Bauman is the daughter of Robert Bauman, of Buxton; and Laurie Bauman, of Cape Elizabeth. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Haiti Solidarity Club, and she is an active member of the Girl Scouts of America. She is also a member of the softball team and a talented member of the Scarborough Dance Center Competition Team since age nine. She will attend the University of New England next year.

Joshua Boynton is the son of Aaron and Wendy Boynton of West Newfield. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the math team, recycling team and ski team. Josh plays saxophone for the Cheverus Jazz and Concert Band. He has volunteered for the March of Dimes and Heart Walk, as well as the Susan G. Komen bike ride and is an altar server at his local parish. Josh will attend Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the fall.

Georgia Caso is the daughter of Michael and Molly Caso of North Yarmouth. She has been a four year member of the cross country, indoor, and outdoor track teams, and has participated in the Key Club, the Haiti Solidarity Club, the Spanish Club and student council. She is also a Kairos leader and a member of the National Honor Society. She will attend the University of Rochester next year.

Joseph DeGrinney is the son of Dr. Timothy and Susan DeGrinney of Scarborough. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the math and robotics teams and a four year member of the soccer team. Joseph is a committed volunteer who participated in the Safe Passage trip to Guatemala and is a dedicated member of the Boy Scouts earning his Eagle Scout designation earlier this year. He is a violinist with the Cheverus String Ensemble. Joseph will attend the University of Notre Dame in the fall.

Shangwei (Kevin) Deng is the son of Yi Deng and Ping Li of China. He is president of the International Club, a member of the swim team, the Math Team, the Civil Rights Club and Model United Nations Club.  He has been an outstanding school volunteer and mentor to other students. Shangwei will attend Bates College next year.

Jacob Dixon is the son of Jeffrey and Leslie Dixon of Falmouth. He is a member of the National Honor Society and has been an outstanding member of the indoor and outdoor track teams for four years. He has also been a member of the soccer team. Jacob volunteers at Ruth’s Reusable Resources and at Partners for World Health. He will attend the University of Virginia in the fall.

Caroline George is the daughter of John and Kathleen George of Limington. She is an accomplished violinist and trombone player. She has been a member of the Cheverus Equinox Jazz Combo, the Portland Youth Wind Ensemble, the Portland Youth Orchestra, this year as its concertmaster. She also served on the Key Club and the Model United Nations Club, and she has attended the Seeds of Peace Camp the last two summers. She volunteers as a ski instructor for children and adults with physical and mental disabilities and she plays lead trombone for the Saco River Jazz Ensemble that plays at Alzheimer and dementia clinics. She will attend Wellesley College next year.

Zoë LeBlanc is the daughter of Norman and Laurie LeBlanc of Lyman. She has involved herself with the Cheverus community through her active participation in the Drama Society, Math Team, Academic Decathlon, Outing Club, Spanish Club, Model United Nations, and the Massabesic Leo’s Club, a volunteer organization. She is a scholar and member of the National Honor Society, and she will attend Tufts University next year.

Margaret Meserve is the daughter of Paul and Patricia Meserve of Falmouth. She is a member of the National Honor Society and has been a member of the swim team, the Waynflete crew team, the Student Life Committee, the Key Club, Latin Club, and the Model United Nations Club. She has served as a retreat leader and extensively as a volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House, Maine Medical Center and the Adaptive Dance Program. She is also a member of the National Latin Honor Society. She will attend The University of Notre Dame in the fall.

Louise Nielsen is the daughter of Drs. Gary and Cathie Nielsen of Sidney. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Key Club, the Math Team and is a founding member of the Robotics Team. She has actively participated on the sailing team, swim team, cross country and track teams. Louise’s social conscience is evident in her participation in Peace Jam and with her fundraising efforts for the American Lung Association in the Trek Across Maine bike ride. She will attend Franklin W. Olin College of engineering in the fall.

Cheverus High School’s Class of 2015

Madison Aldrich, R. Elliot Amberson, Lyndsey Anderson, Haley Bauman, Nolan Bell, Abigail Biegel, Christopher Billings, Joshua Boynton, Josie Bradshaw, Heather Bridge, George Budri, Dominique Caron, Joseph Casale, Georgia Caso, Camron Chea, Anthony Ciampi, Wilson Cianchette-Ball, Hope Correia, Katherine Corwin, Caleb Crocker, Gavin Curran, Mira D’Amato, Anthony Dean, Joseph DeGrinney IV, Shangwei Deng, Samuel Devine, Isabella Diamond, Jacob Dixon, Kaitlyn Dostie, Matthew Drouin, Benjamin Duddy, Elliot Engelman, Quintin Farr, Elizabeth Ferreira, David Fitzpatrick, Joseph Fitzpatrick, Sean Foley Owen Freeman, Gabriella Gaspardi, Matthew Gedaro, Frederic Gemmer, Caroline George, Justin Gervais, Abigail Goodrich, Kevin Hall II, Derek Hammond, Zachary Handley, James Hannigan, Drew Harris, Isaac Herman, Daniel Hinrichs, Laura Holman, Zordan Holman, Taylor Jackson, Zexuan Jia, Amanda Jimenez, Yifei Jin, Alexander Johnsey, Michael Jones, Courtney Kane, James Kane, Aston Kritzer, Liam LaFountain, Thomas Lawson, Zoë LeBlanc, Jean-Claude Lemieux Alexander Libby, Jillian Libby, Spencer Lindsley, Kelsey Masselli, Declan McGarrity, Jonathan Merritt, Margaret Meserve, Parker Montano, Patrick Mourmouras, Olivia Mull, Matthew Myers, Anna Niedermeyer, Eva Niedermeyer, Louise Nielsen, Nicholas Noyes, Elizabeth O’Brien, Daniel O’Brion, Matthew O’Leary, Milena Opielowski, Richard Penk, Benjamin Peterson, Cody Pierce, Nicole Pineau, Joseph Pirone, Carla Rein, Bryce Reinhard, Margaret Rigney, William Risigo, Carmen Rivera-Frain, Hayley Roche, Julia Rodrigues, Jacob Salter-Gurau, Megan Sawicki, Nicholas Schleh, Jacob Schott, Samantha Sessler, Kyle Severance, Casey Simpson, Elizabeth Sprague, Quinn Snyder, Bennett Sterrer, Matthew Sweret, Keegan Thomas, Cole Tracy, Harriett Train, Nicholas Turner, Austin Tyson, Gerald Wagner, Natalie Waite Marykate Walsh, Nicholas White, Tiancheng Xu and Taylor Yarn.

Maine has experienced a record number of chicken pox outbreaks in the 2014-15 school year, and in most cases the virus has infected unvaccinated or under-immunized children, according to the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

Four outbreaks started at a school or day care facility in Maine this school year, the most since the vaccine became a requirement for entrance to school in 2003.

An outbreak is defined as three or more cases occurring in one school or day care. Overall, Maine has had 84 cases so far this school year, nearly double the number during the 2013-14 school year. Of those 84 cases, 57 occurred in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children, according to data released last week by the CDC.

The CDC did not identify the school districts where the outbreaks occurred, saying that was against policy because it is not in the public interest to make that information public, said CDC spokesman John Martins. None of the outbreaks is ongoing, according to the CDC.

But Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a Yarmouth pediatrician who researches vaccines, said that since Maine’s vaccination rates have fallen in recent years, driven by parents who voluntarily opt out of the vaccines for their children, the state should consider releasing the names of school districts where outbreaks occur.

She said it would be helpful to people who live in the community to know where the outbreaks happen, even if they don’t have school-age children, because chicken pox can be contracted at any age, and can be more severe with age.

“Knowledge is power, and the more the community knows about these outbreaks, the better,” Blaisdell said. “We have to change our strategy now that we are at risk of these infectious diseases coming back.”

LIFE-OR-DEATH ISSUE IN SOME CASES

For the Jones family of Alna, the varicella vaccination rate among children in the community is a life-or-death issue. Noah Jones, 16, has leukemia and his immune system is suppressed. If he were to come down with chicken pox, he would likely have to stop his chemotherapy treatments, undermining his recovery.

Children with cancer who contract varicella also can develop complications and die.

“It’s absolutely frightening,” said Noah’s mother, Cathy, who noticed an outbreak of chicken pox this winter in their Lincoln County community, forcing them to be extra careful about whom they associated with, and avoiding some public events.

“None of this is playing around. Noah has one shot at remission and staying disease-free,” she said.

Adults who were not vaccinated as children and never came down with chicken pox – the vaccine wasn’t introduced until 1995 and did not become a school requirement in Maine until eight years later – can still be vaccinated. Before the vaccine was introduced, about 10 percent to 15 percent of the population had never contracted chicken pox as children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Maine has one of the highest rates in the country of parents forgoing vaccines for their children, with most opting out on philosophic grounds. Parents often choose to opt out because they fear their children will be injured by the vaccine, or that the vaccines cause autism. But numerous studies have shown that vaccines do not cause autism and are overwhelmingly safe.

Chicken pox used to sicken 4 million children per year, with 10,000 needing to be hospitalized, but that number has dropped by more than 90 percent since the vaccine was introduced, according to the federal CDC.

CHARTING THE UNVACCINATED RATES

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it more difficult to opt out of vaccines required for school, by mandating that parents first get a consultation and signature from a medical professional.

According to school-by-school data released last month by the Maine CDC, the distribution of unvaccinated children in the state is uneven. Maine has an overall voluntary opt-out rate of 3.9 percent, but some individual schools have much higher rates, with clusters of parents who live near each other and decide against vaccinating their children. About 60 elementary schools in Maine have more than 10 percent of their kindergartners or first-grade students opting out of vaccines.

In some cases it’s much greater, especially when looking at rates of individual vaccines.

For instance, in Great Salt Bay Community School, the public elementary school near the Jones family, only 26 percent of first-graders have received both doses of the varicella vaccine this school year, according to the database.

The Jones children attend private school, but it’s a small community and they are often around public school children, Cathy Jones said.

‘HERD IMMUNITY’ HELPS PROTECT ALL

Statewide, about 90 percent of schoolchildren get all the required doses of the varicella vaccine, said Dr. Christopher Pezzullo, Maine’s chief health officer, which is below the national average. That puts the state at risk for outbreaks.

“The concern for us is that we have 90 percent coverage for the chicken pox vaccine, which leaves us with 10 percent of the children who are susceptible,” Pezzullo said. “The number of children being immunized for varicella is not going up. It’s remained flat.”

When almost all of a population is vaccinated – usually 95 percent or greater – “herd immunity” is achieved, in which the high number of vaccinations protects the unvaccinated and immune-compromised populations from preventable diseases.

Blaisdell said that those fearful of vaccines often skip varicella because chicken pox is generally not as dangerous as measles or polio.

“Parents, when they’re making vaccine choices, consider varicella a ‘may have’ and not a ‘must have’ vaccine,” Blaisdell said. Some parents, she said, even ask about “chicken pox parties” to intentionally expose their children to varicella, in hopes they contract the disease and obtain natural immunity.

DANGER TO PREGNANT WOMEN, BABIES

Blaisdell said healthy children will most likely recover from the disease without any lasting complications. But if chicken pox spreads through the community, it could sicken those with compromised immune systems, babies too young to have had the vaccine or unvaccinated adults who never got the disease as children. For those populations, chicken pox could be a severe illness, she said.

Chicken pox also can cause complications for pregnant women, especially closer to birth, because it can cause life-threatening infections in a newborn.

Cathy Jones said her family lived in fear of the chicken pox for weeks this winter, when cases occurred at Noah’s school at Lincoln Academy, and in other schools or among people she knew. In a few cases, parents vaccinated their children after hearing about Noah’s condition, and she’s grateful for that. But she said there’s still far too many who opt out of vaccines.

“We’re relying on the community to keep Noah safe,” Jones said. “You can’t live in a bubble, but it’s scary sometimes.”

Graduation exercises for Catherine McAuley High School were held at 2 p.m. on May 31 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. Most Reverend Robert P. Deeley, J.C.D., Bishop of Portland Diocese, conferred diplomas, assisted by Kathryn Woodson Barr, Head of School.

Viviane C. Kostin, valedictorian, is the daughter of Mark and Katharine Kostin of Yarmouth. During her time at McAuley, Kostin served as class vice-president for three years and participated in the student council and the Ambassadors Club. She was a member of the National Honor Society, recognized as both an AP Scholar and a National Merit Finalist and was active with horseback riding, piano and her church youth group. She  was the recipient of the DAR Good Citizenship Award, the University of Rochester’s George Eastman Young Leader Award and the Princeton Book Award. In the fall, Kostin will attend Barnard College.

Siobhan K. Kenneally, salutatorian, is the daughter of James and Mary Esther Otts Kenneally of Kennebunkport. While at McAuley, Kenneally participated in Key Club and served as secretary; the Yearbook as business editor; varsity tennis and Poetry Out Loud. She was an AP Scholar, a member of the National Honor and French National Honor Societies, as well as the recipient of the Dartmouth College Book Award. Kenneally will study English at Simmons College in the fall.

SunYool Park is the daughter of Minsung Park and Youngsil Kim of South Korea. During her time at McAuley, Park was a member of the school’s varsity field hockey team, International Club as president and Key Club as vice-president, as well as the National Honor Society. Park, who was also named to the Field Hockey All-Academic Team, will study Science at Oberlin College.

Rachel M. Taylor is the daughter of Austin and Mary Taylor of Portland. While at McAuley, Taylor served as class president for three years, as well as captain of both the indoor track and varsity lacrosse teams. In addition to receiving the Syracuse University Book Award, Taylor was the recipient of the SMAA Citizenship Award and a member of the National Honor Society. She will study journalism at the University of Missouri (Columbia) in the fall.

Mary E. Furlong is the daughter of Patrick and Katrina Furlong of Old Orchard Beach. During her time at McAuley, Furlong was active with the school’s varsity basketball and tennis teams and acted as varsity club president. She was a member of the National Honor Society, the SMAA All-Academic Team and the Maine McDonald’s All-Academic Team. She will major in Pre-Med at Stonehill College in the fall.

Isabel T. Terracciano is the daughter of Carmine Terracciano and Kerrie Dowdy of Portland. At McAuley, Terracciano was a member of the school’s French National Honor Society, Drama Club, Book Club and math team. She volunteered her time at Hall School and worked with students through the theater/arts group, A Company of Girls.  She will continue her education in the fall at Barnard College.

Madeleine B. Walker-Elders is the daughter of Jeff and Dawn Walker-Elders of Lisbon Falls. During her four years at McAuley, Walker-Elders participated in ballet and the Girl Scouts, as well as the school’s math team and Book Club. In addition, she was honored with the Rensselaer Medal Award and was a member of both the National and French National Honor Societies. In the fall, Walker-Elders will study Environmental Engineering at Drexel University.

Alexandria R. Dow is the daughter of Karen Dyar and Amy Brocher of Hiram. As a McAuley student, Dow was a member of the National Honor Society, the Drama Club (Head Costumer) and One-Acts Team (Assistant Director, Stage Manager and Costumer), as well as co-president of chorus. She received the Elmira College Key Award and will study Psychology there in the fall.

Lydia B. MacDonald is the daughter of Ian and Lori MacDonald of Yarmouth. While at McAuley, MacDonald was a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Club, Ambassadors Club and Campus Ministry. She received the Spanish Award for Excellence, along with the Phi Beta Kappa Award. MacDonald, who tutors regularly and directs a children’s theater group, will study Elementary Education at the University of Maine (Farmington).

Anna E. Dubé is the daughter of Peter Dubé, Sr. and Joan Dubé of Windham. As a McAuley student, Dubé was active with Campus Ministry (Social Justice Chair), Cross Country (Co-Captain) and Irish Step Dancing through the Stillson School of Irish Dance (Open Champion Dancer).  In addition, Dubé was a National Honor Society and SMAA All-Academic Team member and active as a Eucharistic Minister and youth ministry volunteer through her church. Dubé will be a nursing major at Saint Anselm College in the fall.

Catherine McAuley’s class of 2015

Megan Diane Bailey, Electra Meridian Maquoit Bals, Elise L. Baribault-Lee, Safia Muktar Bashir, Christel N. Batshiondo, Celeste Bouthot, Sharon Chikuta, Ashley Mae Connelly, Olivia Florence Dalphonse, Greta L. DiPierro, Brianna Noelle Doerfler, Alexandria R. Dow, Anna Elizabeth Dubé, Mary Eileen Furlong, Marisa Jayne Gochie, Katherine Johanna Hodgdon, Monica Glen Hutcherson, Jillian N. Jacobson, Natalie E. Juris, Sarah Elizabeth Kaiser, Siobhan Kailee Kenneally, Viviane Christine Kostin, Lydia Baker MacDonald, Drew K. Martinez, Keyly Martinez, Kathryn Mary McBrady, Rebecca Minh-Chau Davis McNamara, Mikayla M. Moran, Deborah Richard Mrema, Kathleen Claire O’Brien, SunYool Park, Elizabeth Ainsley Possiel, Devri Nicole Ramsey, Hawraa Fakher Rikan, Emily Elizabeth Rogan, Avery Camilla Roma, Amanda Denise Spink, Allison Michelle Tardif, Ayla M. Sheehan-Tartre, Rachel McKee Taylor, Isabel Terracciano, Jennifer Somers Walker, Madeleine Belle Walker-Elders, Adele Werner and Taylor Rose Whaley.

AUGUSTA — The Farrington Elementary School principal, named a National Distinguished Principal of the year in 2013, resigned within two weeks of the disclosure that mathematics assessment results for 106 students there will be thrown out because of testing irregularities.

Lori Smail of Winthrop had been principal at Farrington on Eastern Avenue for four years. Before that, she spent two years as principal of Lincoln Elementary School on the west side of Augusta.

The school superintendent wrote recently in a letter to parents that two rooms where the tests were administered “inappropriately” contained math “reference sheets and posters.”

In a separate letter addressed to “Farrington Families,” Smail wrote that she plans to remain in education. Smail’s letter telling of her resignation is dated May 29. It says she resigned formally on May 12 to be effective at the end of the year.

However, she has not been at Farrington recently, and the school department already has posted the job opening. It says applications for the post must be submitted by June 12. Also, a public forum is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday at the school so people can talk about what they would like to see in a new principal.

Reached by cellphone Tuesday, Smail said, “I am incredibly proud of the work, the climate and the culture (change) that has taken place under my leadership over the last four years at Farrington, but I do not want to comment on the testing invalidation or my resignation. Unfortunately, they coincided.”

She added, “With regard to testing, the error that was made was unintentional.” She declined further comment.

Superintendent James Anastasio informed parents by letter on May 27 that the results of the Maine Educational Assessments for 212 mathematics tests taken by 106 students in third through sixth grade would be invalidated because of “unfair testing environmental advantages.” The tests were administered March 30 through May 15.

“It is with regret I must inform you that testing irregularities occurred at Farrington Elementary School,” he wrote. “Two testing rooms were inappropriately supplied with mathematic reference sheets and posters.”

The superintendent said the English and literacy results were not affected and would be reported to parents.

Anastasio indicated that his office had conducted an investigation at the request of the state education department.

The determination to invalidate the scores came from the department’s Assessment Division.

While his letter does not refer to Smail, a news story about Smail being named the state’s 2013 distinguished principal said the school was showing improvement in academic performance.

Farrington received a letter grade of “C” for the 2013 proficiency tests, which is the latest year available through the school department’s website. In mathematics, 57.3 students scored proficient or better and 67.3 percent of students scored proficient or better in reading.

Jaci Holmes, interim spokeswoman for the state Department of Education, said Wednesday that she was unaware of scores being invalidated at any other schools under similar circumstances.

“This situation at Farrington has been reviewed internally by the school department, and we are doing an internal review of it right now,” Holmes said. “We’ve had testing protocols that were reviewed by staff here and shared as protocols to be followed.”

She said the department’s decision was to invalidate the scores and not to have the students retake the mathematics portion.

“It will show lack of participation for those students in those math tests,” she said.

Holmes said the department was not involved in the principal’s resignation.

“That was a local decision,” she said.

Holmes said aggregate scores from the 2015 testing would be available in June with more detailed scores out in late August or early September.

Anastasio, who was dealing with a bomb threat Tuesday at Cony High School that forced an early dismissal and a closing of the school until Wednesday morning, did not immediately return a call or email for comment on the Farrington situation.

Hundreds of Portland residents made it clear Tuesday that they don’t want the city’s school board to consolidate the Hall and Longfellow elementary schools into a “megaschool.”

City officials and members of the Board of Education received a petition signed by more than 560 residents who are calling on the city to replace the Hall Elementary School but not consolidate it with the Longfellow school.

The Maine Department of Education has offered to fund construction of a school to replace Hall – estimated to cost $20 million – but is asking school officials to consider the efficiencies of building a larger, consolidated school on one site.

Jessica Marino, who has three children at the Longfellow school, emailed the petition to Mayor Michael Brennan and other city officials Tuesday. She presented the petition to the school board at its workshop. Marino said it took her group, Portlanders for Neighborhood Schools, just five days to collect the signatures.

“Neighborhood schools are an essential component of sustainable, healthy, walkable communities and help to make Portland a vibrant and livable city,” the petition reads. “Smaller, walkable schools also result in better health and educational outcomes for our students. We believe strongly that our children’s educational needs will not be met in a suburban style, auto-oriented school of 700-800 students.”

The petition asks school officials “to demonstrate patience” as the state considers future funding for renovations at Longfellow and four other Portland elementary schools. Supporters have no objections to building a new Hall school, and suggest Longfellow remain on the state’s waiting list for funding assistance.

Though the city has been assured that state funds to replace the aging Hall school are certain, the state has challenged Portland to consider the benefits of consolidating the schools, after learning earlier this year that there will be fewer students in the district than expected in future years.

School board members were udpated on the city’s building options and demographic data Tuesday night by the project’s architect, Oak Point Associates.

One problem with consolidation is that there is no available land for such a large project, said board Chairwoman Sarah Thompson. She said the state suggested that the city explore two building options on city-owned land, if it chose a megaschool.

Thompson said building a consolidated school on land next to Evergreen Cemetery or on the Deering High School football field doesn’t make a lot of sense – at least to her. “I’m not sure those are our best options,” Thompson said.

She said no decisions have been made about how to proceed. A decision could be made at the board’s June 16 meeting, Thompson said.

If the city decides to build a new Hall school, voters will be asked in 2016 to approve state funding for the $20 million project.

Deering High School held its graduation ceremony on June 3 at Cross Insurance Arena in Portland. The following students rose to the top 10 in the Class of 2015.

OLIVIA BLOM
She is the daughter of Lynn and Eric Blom, of Portland. She plans to attend University of Pennsylvania.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10th, 11, and 12th, High Honors in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, National Honor Society, Honor Band and Vocal Festivals, Harvard University Book Award.
Activities: Math Team (Captain 11th), Key Club (President 11th), Musica de Filia Girls Choir, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Deering Ambassadors, Student Senate (11th), Breccia Literary Magazine (President 11th), Natural Helpers, band and handbells.

CHRISTOPHER RICHARDSON
He is the son of Ann Richardson, of Portland. He plans to attend University of Pennsylvania and major in economics with a concentration in management.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10th, 11, and 12th, High Honors in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, National Honor Society (President 11th and 12th), Class Treasurer (9th-12th), QuestBridge College Prep Scholarship and National College Match, Yale University Book Award, Key Club (Vice-President 11th and 12th).
Activities: Student Government, Future Teachers of America, DHS Concert Band, Key Club, Deering Ambassadors and handbells.

NATASHA RICHARDSON
She is the daughter of Anne and George Richardson, of Portland. She plans to attend the University of New Hampshire and major in biology.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, High Honors in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, National Honor Society, Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award.
Activities: Spanish Club, Animal Refuge League Volunteer, Deering Ambassadors, Unity Project (Secretary 11th), Environmental Club, Student Study Center and Future Teachers of America.

COURTNEY BRETT
She is a daughter of Stephanie and Steven Brett, of Portland. She plans to attend University of Maine at Orono and major in athletic training.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, High Honors in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, National Honor Society, Purple and White Award, Ram Award, John Casavola Sportsmanship Award, SMAA Citizenship Award, MIAAA Scholar Athlete Award.
Activities: Varsity Soccer Team (Captain 12th), Varsity Basketball Team (Captain 12th), Key Club, Student Senate, Natural Helpers, Preble Street Soup Kitchen Volunteer.

KATHY CHU
She is a daughter of Van Chau and Duc Chu, of Portland. She plans to attend Boston University.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, High Honors in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, National Honor Society, Colby College Book Award.
Activities: Student Senate, Cross Country Team, American Red Cross Volunteer, Future Teachers of America, Deering Ambassador, Rams and Lambs, French Club (President 12th).

HAYAT FULLI
She is the daughter of Ayesha Baye and Mahfuz Fulli, of Portland. She plans to attend Bowdoin College and major in biology.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10th, 11, and 12th, High Honors in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, National Honor Society, MIST (Muslim Interscholastic Tournament): Grade 10 – Original Oratory (1st), Basketball (4th), Grade 11 – Original Oratory (2nd), Quran Recitation (2nd), 3D Art (4th), Grade 12 – Original Oratory (1st), Community Service (2nd), Basketball (3rd), Smith College Book Award, Portland Rotary Club’s Youth Service Award.
Activities: T.E.A.C.H (teens, educating, advocating and campaigning for health), Cooking and Gardening Club, Portland Champions’ MIST Team, Maine Medical Explorers, Masjid Al-Huda Community Garden Group, Stormwater Management Research Team, Model UN, Voices for Change, MYLA (Maine Youth Leadership Alliance), SEALSfit, MMCRI High School Biomedical Research Series.

BRYANNA BRIDE
She is a daughter of Patricia and Daniel Bride, of Portland. She plans to attend Franklin Pierce University and major in health care administration.
Honors, awards, and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10, 11th, and 12th grades, Honor Roll in 9th, 10th, 11, and 12th grades, Cornell University Book Award, Kiwanis Recognition, Presidential Scholarship.
Activities: Competitive Dancer at Scarborough Dance Center, Key Club (Secretary 12th), Future Teachers of America, employed at Saco Drive-In, manage Kiosks at Maine Mall.

JULIAN KOUBA
He is a son of Janice Tevanian and Dennis Kouba, of Portland. He plans to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and major in civil engineering.
Honors, awards, achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10, 11th, and 12th grades, Honor Roll in 9th, 10th, 11, and 12th grades, Phi Beta Kappa Book Award.
Activities: Football Team, Model UN and Spanish Club.

KERRY RANDAZZO
He is a son of Marianna Ciampi, of Portland and Michael Randazzo of Brooklyn, New York. He plans to take a Gap year interning at the Deertrees Theatre and the Portland Stage Company.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grades, Honor Roll in 9th, 10th, 11, and 12th grades, Dartmouth College Book Award.
Activities: Drama Club (Secretary 10th, Vice-President 11th and President 12th), HOBY Leadership Seminar, Natural Helpers, Cross Country, Indoor and Outdoor Track Teams, Student Ambassador, Key Club, French Club, Swim Team, Portland Culture Club Intern, Chorus (select quintet), District 2 Choir, Wrote and Directed The CanterburyTales for the Maine State High School One-Acts Competition.

ROBIE NEWMAN-PARIS
He is a son of Davida Newman and Susan Paris, of Portland. He plans to attend Northeastern University and major in biology.
Honors, awards and achievements: Academic Letter in 9th, 10, 11th, and 12th grades, Honor Roll in 9th, 10th, 11, and 12th grades, Black Belt earned.
Activities: Martial arts, wrestling and Maine Medical Explorers.

Deering High School – Class of 2015

Fadumo Abdikadir Abdi, Ahmed Mahdi Abdirahman, Sumaya Abdirizak Abdullahi, Charles Aboda, Ahmed Abdi Abukar, Marguerite Elizabeth Aceto, Muna A. Adan, Trey Michael Adell, Edna-Thecla Akimana, Gofran Ali, Mano Omar Ali, Francisco Alexander Alvarez, Gabriella Ann Alvarez, Isaiah L. Amado, Griffin Henry Asbury, Maimun Gadhaye Ashkir, Rolande Ayinkamiye, Kayla Marie Baldwin, Tony Paul Banga, Tatiana Elizabeth Bark, Jack Lacey Barnes, Catherine Lucia Bart, Kerry W. Bell, Nicholas Joseph Belliveau, Tovic Oker Ben, Shannon Marie Beote, Matthew Bernier, Nicholas James Bevilacqua, Samuel Biacho, Marija Blazevic, Olivia Ruby Blom, Courtney Marie Brett, Bryanna Elizabeth Bride, Rasha Burkeba, Marianthi Cala, Evan Anthony Cavallaro, Jason Cheng, Kathy My Chu, June Clarissa Conley, Meghan L. Connolly, Emma Lee Coombs, Jacob Coon, Ezekiel Senu Cordeiro-Akilo, Michael James Cummings, Nhi B. Dang, Zakeriye Abdikadir Daud, Derek Dewey, Gabrielle Nicole Deyo, Sophia Lugia DiFillipo, Gabrielle Nicole DiPhilippo, David Philip Doering, Kayleigh Elizabeth Doten, Chantrea El, Denzel Thomas Ellis, Caleb Leon Emerson, Veronica Pihsey Eng, Maile Kimiko Farnsworth, Kathryn McLaughlin Farrell, Adam Joseph Flaherty, Patrick L. Flaherty, Elizabeth Carolyn Fowler, Rachel Blair Friedman Hayat Mahfuz Fulli, Juliana Gaju, Miles Rodney Gardner, Daniel Hunter Gatchell, Yordanos Hagos Gebremikael, Nathaniel Gikas, Kevin Benjamin Goldberg, Asahel Eli Gomez, Dylan Griffin, Tyler James Griffin Julia Cecile Haberstick, Vanessa Hakizimana, Sadiya Handule, Lowell Michael Harmon, Kailey Luxton Harris, Benhamin Soren Henckel, Sahal Hersi, Heather Alyssa Hills Taylor Samantha Hills, Tina Thanh Hoang, Katie Ann Howard, Chiyratha Hrom, Kathleen Elizabeth Hunt, Danielle Diamond Hurtubise, Fadumo Hussein, Yahye Hussein, Kelvin Anh Huynh, Clarisse Igirubuntu, Nancy Inamahoro, Abdullahi Mahamed Isack, Hala Ismail, Naimo Issack, William Charles Johnson, Jade Marie Jordan, Charles E’Nkul Kanakan, Rose Nakepiri Kani, Amna Mansoor Khalifa, Daniel Patrick Kimball, John Hoima Kong, Julian Tevanian Kouba, Matthew Paul Krusiec, Nicole Shafer Labbe, Bridget Mary Lally, Bristyn Judith Leasure, John Hill Leighton, Berta Edward Lindos, Alexa Loeurm-Ho, Duncan O’Meara Lowell, Samuel Edward Luebbert, Roberto Luis-Lopez, James Alan Mack, Sarem Samer Mahmoud, Shizar Samer Mahmoud, Yassin Mohammed Mahmoud, Garang Deng Majok, Sierra Marston, David Obale Mathew, Erin Margaret Mathews, Shannon Lisa Mathews, Stephen Malcom Matoian, Joshua Alan McCann, Brendan Anthony McNally, Joseph Thomas Minervino, Alannis Willow Minnerly, Anisa Abshir Mohamed, Khadija Mohamed, Sundus Omar Mohamed, Zimzim Mohamed, Maryama Ahmed Mohamud, Evelyn Vanessa Molina, Joel Nkase Muheto, Moretti-Igor Muheto, Daniel Laurence Munson, Briana Marie Murphy, Daniel Paul Murphy, Isahak Mohamed Muse, Christelle Desiree Mutoniwase, Raymond Paul Nadeau, Alain Jean Marie Pierre Ndayegamiye Irumva, Jessica Joee Ndayishimiye, Clancy Nee, Robie Gabriel Newman-Paris, Louie Nguyen, Eric Nibizi, Allisson Ketty Nishimwe, Nasro Farah Noor, Bertin Bayingawa Ntamakemwa, Aubine Ntibandetse, Mohamed Nur, Stephen B. Ochan, Fatuma Rashid Olhaye, Muna Omar, Christina Teeda Ong, Lyly Lim Oum, Miranda Gail Palmer, Tyler Benjamin Perron, Jacob Plourde, Granville Dexter Pullen, III Nicole Elizabeth Queen, Danielle Rain Rafferty, Hany A. Ramadan, Kerry Vincent Randazzo, Ryan Vannarod Rarn, Robert Reed, Madeleine Vivian Reid, Christopher Daniel Richardson, Natasha Marie Richardson, Nicole Ann Richardson, Jonah Joseph Rogers, Kate Elizabeth Rogers, Anthony M. Russo, Olivia Marie Ryan, Logan James Sanphy, Madison Sargent, Tony Joseph Semuhumuza, Jean Philippe Shaka, Iid Aweys Sheikh Yusuf, Maqtal Aweys Sheikh Yusuf, Aury Souvenir, Jordan Sparks, Kerry Anne Sullivan, Mary Musse Tadsse, Samuel Thornton Terry, Jason Thach, Michael Joseph Thiboutot, Nikolay Krasimirov Todorov, Rylie Turner, Hannah Kathryn Tuttle, Emme Renee-Helen Urbanczyk, Jolie Usanase, Antonia Marie Vail, Courtney Nicole Valente, Joyce-Carla Valenzuela, Anthony Vandeventer, Michaela April Vanpembrook, Natalie Jacqueline Veilleux, Griffin Alexander Villetta, Erin Dawn Watson, Molly Anne Watterson, Christopher Richard Weaving, Jonathan R. Wedgewood, Meaghan Wells and Hanan Yousaf.

Deering High School celebrated its 141st commencement Wednesday at the Cross Insurance Center, sending off a graduating class of 205 students.

The flurry of purple-and-white caps, thrown into the air to mark the students’ unofficial transition to adulthood, drew deafening applause from all parts of the auditorium, as family and friends celebrated the achievements of the new graduates.

Deering’s ceremony on Wednesday was among the first public high school commencements of the season. Portland’s two other four-year high schools – Portland High School and Casco Bay High School – will hold commencements Thursday. Many southern Maine high schools are scheduled to hand out diplomas at commencement ceremonies this weekend.

Deering Principal Ira Waltz started proceedings Wednesday, greeting audience members and faculty. The DHS Concert Band played a rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar as the students processed in, dressed in their gowns, girls in white and boys in purple.

A group of eight seniors sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Co-class presidents Mohamed Nur and Stephen Ochan provided an official welcome and introduced Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk. Caulk delivered a well-received speech about milestones, quoting a Langston Hughes poem – “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly” – and exhorting the students to cling to their aspirations.

Senior Muna Adan read aloud a poem of her own that explored the struggles that teenagers face, and the achievement of pulling through.

There followed musical interludes composed by Jack Bullock and Stephen Schwartz, a witty and lighthearted salutatory from Christopher Richardson, and a deeply personal valedictory from Olivia Blom.

“Our lives are all interconnected,” Blom said at one point during her speech. “I believe that relationships are at the core of the human experience.”

At last, there was the presentation of diplomas. Each and every student went up individually and received a diploma from Waltz and Caulk, and walked offstage while audience members clapped for them.

Commencement ended with the co-class presidents congratulating the graduating class one final time, and everyone throwing their caps into the air to rapturous applause.

Sam Norman can be reached at 791-6366 or at:

snorman@pressherald.com

The state’s decision to keep the public in the dark about which schools were affected by chicken pox outbreaks this year appears to break with past practice. In at least three cases in the 2000s, the state identified the schools or towns where outbreaks had occurred.

Keeping the school names private has drawn criticism from some health advocates, who say it is in the public’s interest to know if they might be exposed to a communicable disease.

When a chicken pox outbreak sickened schoolchildren in Brunswick in 2006, the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention issued a public health alert that revealed the name of the school – Longfellow Elementary – and said it had more than 30 cases over the holiday season. The Maine CDC did the same in 2004 and 2008 when issuing public alerts for whooping cough and hepatitis outbreaks, according to public records.

But in a health alert issued last week announcing that Maine experienced four chicken pox outbreaks this school year with 84 total cases, no schools or districts were named, and the Maine CDC refused to release that information when asked by the news media. The four outbreaks – defined as three or more cases at a school or day care facility – were the most during a school year since 2003, when the chicken pox vaccine became a requirement for entering school, according to the CDC.

Last fall, the Maine CDC also refused to name the school district in Penobscot County where a chicken pox outbreak occurred, or name a restaurant where a hepatitis A case was reported in October.

Dr. Christopher Pezzullo, chief health officer with the Maine CDC, who was promoted in March to replace outgoing health officer Dr. Sheila Pinette, said late Wednesday that he would look into why the CDC may have changed its policies.

A 2010 CDC policy statement, revised in 2012, says that “only the minimum amount of data necessary” should be released to “protect public health.” The policy says that releasing such information could result in identifying individuals who have contracted diseases.

Maine CDC spokesman John Martins said that naming the school district where an outbreak occurred is not in the public interest, but declined to explain why, other than to point to the CDC’s policy, which is designed to protect personal privacy. State law gives the Maine CDC wide discretion to weigh personal privacy against public health concerns.

Martins described the health alerts as a “technical communication with the medical community.” However, the alerts are released to the public, and the media sometimes reports on them.

DISCLOSURE MAY BENEFIT PUBLIC HEALTH

Dr. Lani Graham, a former director of the Maine Bureau of Health, the predecessor of the CDC, said she couldn’t remember how such information was handled when she headed the agency in the early 1990s.

But Graham said that she would lean heavily in favor of disclosing where outbreaks occur because informing people about an infectious disease circulating in the community benefits public health.

“The benefit is the increased awareness among the public and the potential increased ability to limit the spread of diseases,” Graham said.

Schools send notes home with students when outbreaks occur, but adult residents of those communities who don’t have school-aged children wouldn’t know about an outbreak if there is no public announcement.

Adults who catch chicken pox typically experience more severe symptoms than children. The disease can also be dangerous to infants who are too young to be immunized, the elderly and to people whose immune systems are suppressed because of diseases such as cancer and AIDS.

Dr. Laura Blaisdell, a Yarmouth pediatrician who researches vaccines, said Tuesday that the state should consider releasing the names of school districts where outbreaks occur so residents of those communities can take precautions.

“Knowledge is power, and the more the community knows about these outbreaks, the better,” Blaisdell said.

Graham said public disclosure also increases awareness of why getting immunized is important, which could lead to improved vaccination rates. Studies have shown that vaccines are safe, but Maine has one of the highest rates of parents opting out of school vaccinations because of unfounded fears that children could be injured by them.

“There is a real problem we are having in Maine right now. There’s a red flag on the field,” Graham said.

SCHOOL VACCINATION RATES LISTED

Lawmakers are considering a bill that would make it more difficult to opt out of school-required vaccines. Currently, parents can sign a form opting out for philosophic or religious reasons. The bill, if it becomes law, would require a consultation and signature from a medical professional to get permission to forgo vaccines on philosophic grounds.

Dr. Dora Anne Mills, the Maine CDC’s director from 1996-2011, declined to comment to the Press Herald, although under her tenure the CDC did release the names of the schools and towns that experienced outbreaks, and the health alerts had her name on them.

In addition to sending notes home with children, schools currently must bar unvaccinated children from school for 16 days during an infectious outbreak, according to state law.

Although the Maine CDC has not been disclosing where disease outbreaks occur, last month the agency did, for the first time, release school-by-school vaccination rates for the 2014-15 school year. Previously, only a statewide average was released. State officials have said they released the information because it was in the public’s interest to do so.

Just weeks after system trustees approved a new budget, incoming University of Southern Maine President Glenn Cummings said he is facing a $2.5 million shortfall because fall enrollments are unexpectedly down about 11 percent from last year.

“Given that enrollment may continue to decline, we are still going to make some tough choices,” Cummings said in an interview Wednesday with the Portland Press Herald editorial board. “There are still austerity measures ahead.”

Over the past year, 51 faculty positions and five academic programs have been eliminated to cut costs.

But any new cuts will not be to academic programs, said USM Interim Chief Financial Officer Buster Neel. He said the school expects to fill the roughly $2.5 million gap by using some savings, putting off facility upgrades for a year and/or not filling vacancies immediately.

“From a student perspective, they will really see no impact,” Neel said.

USM’s $128 million budget for the year beginning July 1 had assumed enrollment would stay steady. But as of mid-May, USM had 572 first-year students planning to attend in the fall, an 11 percent drop from the 644 planning to enroll at that time last year.

Cummings, the former speaker of the Maine House, said his first priority is to rebuild trust with students and faculty following the deep spending cuts already made.

“First we have to do some healing and some listening. (Outgoing President David) Flanagan was the general responsible for the battle. I have to build a Marshall Plan,” he said, referring to the U.S. effort to rebuild Europe after World War II.

IMPROVING RECRUITMENT, RETENTION

Jackie Jacobson, who graduated in May, questioned how the school could grow if there is a budget shortfall.

“It’s hard to look at a future of growth and austerity at the same time,” said Jacobson, who served as the USM graduate student representative to the University of Maine System board of trustees. “I appreciate that there is realism infused in the vision, but what is the right balance that will serve people who are currently students and invested in the programs and make it a viable future?”

Cummings, who most recently served as interim president of UMaine-Augusta, said he plans three initiatives to improve enrollment numbers: stemming the dropout rate at USM, improving outreach to high school students and strengthening marketing, particularly to out-of-state students.

Cummings said a recent survey found that many students felt “lost” at USM, and he plans to add services so freshmen and sophomores feel more engaged with the school and community.

“It’s a lot easier to keep customers than go out and look for new ones,” he said.

USM’s student retention rate has lagged behind the national average, with a six-year graduation rate of 33.5 percent, compared with a national average of 57 percent. Cummings noted that USM’s student population is about 40 percent non-traditional, older students who tend to take fewer classes while juggling work and family, factors that can affect the school’s overall graduation rate.

Cummings also wants to widen the pipeline into the school, with more aggressive outreach to high schools in the area. Partnerships could allow high school students to take USM courses, or have USM professors go to high schools to teach college-level courses.

Cummings, who once led a charter school in Maine, said he also wanted to explore the idea of opening a charter school or “university lab school” for high school juniors and seniors on USM’s Gorham campus. The state pays about $10,000 for each student in charter schools, which is higher than USM’s annual tuition of about $8,000 a year. The school would also be a resource for USM education students who want to student-teach, he said.

Marketing will also be key, particularly for out-of-state students who pay more in tuition. USM recently hired a new enrollment director and is considering hiring an outside company used by other UMaine campuses to boost enrollment.

In the meantime, Cummings said USM this summer would be actively recruiting non-traditional, older students for the fall semester, noting that those students tend to enroll later.

USM’s financial struggles are reflected in higher education nationwide, with 59 percent of public colleges missing their enrollment targets in 2013-14, according to the Education Advisory Board, a private education consultancy firm based in Washington, D.C.

Enrollment in the UMaine System overall last fall was down 2.5 percent from 2014, and it is down 7.5 percent over five years.

A BATTLE AMID THE HEALING PROCESS

Other ideas that USM is exploring include seeking a private developer to build dorms or facilities on the Gorham campus, embedding a full-time USM recruiter at Southern Maine Community College, and working out new academic partnerships with UMaine in Orono to make more graduate programs available to USM students. Under this proposal, a student could enroll at USM in a five-year program that includes Orono graduate courses and leads to a master’s degree.

An example of that kind of partnership is already underway, with the plan to create a single graduate center to unify the university system business and law schools.

Cummings said the USM community has felt “real pain” in recent years.

“What happened at USM … was very, very difficult, and painful for the community to watch,” said Cummings, who lives a few blocks from the Portland campus. “Letting people tell their stories, by listening, that’s a natural part of the healing process.”

But the enrollment drop and budget gap mean “the battle is not over yet,” he said.

“We have to be organized and move forward. Just having constancy of leadership will help a lot,” Cummings said. “It’s going to take a year or two.”

Chancellor James Page said he hoped the community would rally around Cummings and his plans for USM.

“My impression is that the community is really looking for signals and reasons to rally behind the university,” Page said. “I am hopeful that the community is going to rally in a really big way.”

The American Civil Liberties Union of Maine on Thursday honored high school students from South Portland and Lewiston for their efforts to preserve constitutional rights.

The seven students were recognized in a ceremony at the Lewiston campus of the University of Southern Maine, according to a news release.

Lily SanGiovanni, Gaby Ferrell and Morrigan Turner wrangled for months with faculty leaders and administrators at South Portland High School over their proposal to inform students that saying the Pledge of Allegiance is optional under state and federal law.

Their effort stirred community opposition and drew national attention, eventually resulting in a new procedure for the daily morning ritual.

Kalgaal Issa, Chandler Clothier, Iman Abdalla and Muna Mohamed successfully fought for their right to hang a #BlackLivesMatter poster at Lewiston High School in the wake of racially charged riots and protests in Ferguson, Missouri, and New York City.

They also helped to lead a protest march to bring attention to racial injustice and police brutality.

“These students are an inspiration for their brave stands on behalf of civil liberties,” said Alison Beyea, executive director of the ACLU of Maine.

“Not only were they successful in their efforts, but their conviction to publicly share their stories means that other students in Maine seeking social change will have role models to look up to.”

The students received the organization’s Baldwin Award, which is given annually to a group or activist that has made a distinguished contribution to the protection and promotion of civil liberties in Maine.

The award is named for Roger Baldwin, an ardent activist for social justice who helped found the American Civil Liberties Union and served as its director until 1950.

“These seven students in Lewiston and South Portland were willing to tackle important civil liberties issues in spite of the controversy their actions generated,” said Susan Peck, president of the ACLU of Maine.

“The ACLU is so excited to honor their work and to recognize their courage in speaking out for what is right.”

Kelley Bouchard can be reached at 791-6328 or at:

kbouchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: KelleyBouchard

Portland High School held its graduation at 10:30 a.m. June 4 at Merrill Auditorium in Portland. This year, 228 seniors received diplomas. The following students rose to the top 10 in the class of 2015.

MIRANDA BALOW RICHMAN, Valedictorian
She is a daughter of Brad Richman and Mari Balow. She was vice president of the Photography Club, captain of Academic Decathlon, treasurer of GSTA, a member of the Environmental Club, and participated in the Global Studies certificate program. Miranda belonged to the French Language and Literary Groups and peer tutoring with Make it Happen. She took Japanese language lessons and volunteered with the Maine Democratic Party in her senior year. She was on the tennis team all four years. Miranda’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, National Merit Recognition, AP Scholar with Honor, the Longfellow Writing Award and the Harvard Book Award. Miranda plans to attend Harvard University.

FRANCESCA LEA BUTTERFIELD, Salutatorian
She is a daughter of Michele and Lou Butterfield. She was a member of the executive board, Key Club, newspaper editor, drama, Film Consideration Club and GSTA. Francesca is a volunteer with Fuller Center for Housing in Nicaragua, a teacher aide at Longfellow Elementary School, and has taken a photography class at Maine College of Art. She was on the cross country team and lacrosse team.  Francesca’s scholastic achievements earned her membership in the National Honor Society, high honors throughout her high school career, the Columbia Book Award and first place in the Classical Association of New England Writing Contest. Francesca plans to attend Barnard College.

CLARE FUYA AULD-BROKISH
She is the daughter of Thomas Brokish and Sarah Auld. She was a member of the Environmental Club, Academic Decathlon, Spanish Club and Writing Club. Clare is a volunteer at CAFAM Chinese School and the Animal Refuge League. She takes Mandarin and piano lessons. Clare’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, National Spanish Exam Awards, the Yale Book Award, and the English Book Award. Clare plans to attend Wellesley College.

DARCY HINCK
She is the daughter of Jon Hinck and Juliet Browne. She was a member of the executive board, the school newspaper, cross country team, lacrosse team, Film Consideration Club and GSTA. Darcy interned on the Bellows Campaign for U.S. Senate, and volunteered for Youth Court. Darcy’s scholastic achievements earned her membership in the National Honor Society, National Latin and Spanish Awards, the Connecticut College Book Award, and Honors and High Honors throughout her high school career. Darcy plans to attend Tufts University.

BEATRICE R. HESSELBART
She is the daughter of Carl Hesselbart and Anne Freedman. She was a member of the cross country, Nordic skiing, outdoor track teams; the Civil Rights Team, the Spanish Club, Writing Club, Anatomy of Leadership and peer tutoring.  She competed at the Eastern High School Championship for the Maine Nordic Team and was on the Southwestern Maine All- Academic Cross Country Team. Beatrice’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, the Yale Book Award and a Citizenship Award. She has been on three Apogee Adventure trips and volunteered with the Appalachian Mountain Club.

CURRAN SAXENA CLERE
He is the son of Jason Clere and Charu Saxena. He is a member of the executive board, Anatomy of Leadership, and served as president of the student council. He is a member of the hockey team, tennis team, sailing team, the outdoor club and ski club. Curran’s scholastic achievements earned him High Honors throughout his high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar Award and the Dartmouth Book Award. Curran plans to attend Boston College.

ALYSSA MARIE VACCARO
She is the daughter of Scott and Wendy Vaccaro. She is a member of the executive board, the tennis team, Key Club, Ski Club and Dream Factory. She was a member of indoor track, outdoor track and Yearbook Club. She belongs to the USTA Summer and Winter Tennis League and was on the 1st team of the SMAA All Stars Doubles. Alyssa’s scholastic achievements earned her High Honors throughout her high school career, membership in the National Honor Society and the Springfield College Book Award. Alyssa plans to attend Rhodes College.

DAISY BRAUN
She is the daughter of Martin Braun and Jamie Hogan. She is secretary of the Photo Club, a member of the Film Consideration Club and French Club. Daisy is a member of the Peaks Island Chorale and was a member of the Peaks Island Ukulele Orchestra. Daisy’s scholastic achievements earned her Honors and High Honors throughout her high school career, the Mount Holyoke Book Award and a Citizenship Award. Daisy plans to attend Maryland Institute College of Art.

CONNOR ANTHONY BRUCE
He is the son of Robert Bruce and Cynthia Czajkowski. He is a member of the Writing Club, Downhill Ski Club, soccer team and lacrosse team.  He was a member of Nordic Skiing, Key Club and Anatomy of Leadership. Connor volunteered at the Maine Audubon, AMC Teen Trail Crew and Youth Court. Connor’s scholastic achievements earned him Honor and High Honors throughout his high school career, membership in the National Honor Society and the Williams Book Award. Connor plans to attend Oberlin College.

HENRY MENDOZA STODDARD
He is the son of Michael and Barbara Stoddard. He is a member of the executive board, Student Council, Key Club, Spanish Club, Ski Club, soccer team and ultimate Frisbee team.  He was a member of Anatomy of Leadership and a volunteer at Maine Medical Center. Henry’s scholastic achievements earned him Honors and High Honors throughout his high school career, membership in the National Honor Society, a Silver Medal, Honorable Mention, Magnum Cum Laude and Cum Laude on the National Spanish and Latin Exams, and the St. Michael’s College Book Award. Henry plans to attend Tulane University.

Portland High’s Class of 2015

Riman Abbas, Mohammed Abd, Farhiyo Abdi, Haydar Abdullah, Warda Abukar, Kiana Acevedo, Asma I. Ahmed, Asma O. Ahmed, Hamdia Ahmed, Hawa Ahmed, Sahra Ahmed, Brooke Ahonen, Mohammed Albehadli, Stephen Alex, Ayan Ali, Suleiman Ali, Gulad Ali, Guled Ali, Khaled Alsammrai, Margot Andreasen, Pasquale Apon, Jessy Augustino, Clare Auld-Brokish, Fadumo Awale, Faris Baziga, Eric Beaudet, Samuel Beaudet, Tyson Beaudette, Evynn Betters, Nicole Bisimwa, Matt Bliss, Jonathan Bobe, Madison Bolduc, Shannon Boyle, Daisy Braun, Molly Braun, Kelsey Brooks, Victoria Broshes, Connor Bruce, Mariza Budri, Natalia Budri, Cayli Burnham, Francesca Butterfield, Lillian Calvert, Courtney Camire, Nicole Carignan, Oscar Carroll, Gregory Cassella, Ian Chambers, Fair Charles, Lillian Charles, Adam Clark, Curran Clere, S. Christian Colson, David Cooper, Ella Coose, Kali Coyne, Marcus Cross-Robertson, King Cua, Brandon Cunningham, Rachael Dang, Hannah Day, Kaitlyn Deering, Deng Deng, Liam Densmore, Sabrina DePeter, Dominic DiMillo, Amira Djama, Kaha Djama, Khalid Djama, Said Djama, Tia Doering, Elizabeth Donato, Georgia Drew, Fedor Drown, Abdimalik Duale, Luis Dubon, Hussein, Dubow, Seth Dunn, Landon Durgan, Natasha Ellis, Joe Emerson, Annika Erikson, Anna Evans, Domenic Fagone, Evelin Feliz, Adam Flaherty, Brianna Foley, Tanner Foley, Cynthia Fonseca, Brianna Frank, Sydney Fredrick, Mary Gauthier, William Gendron, Olivia Gilbert, Greta Goode, Carole Grant, Brady Green, Melissa Gross, Dominic Guimond, Nathaniel Guptill, Aubrey Gurney, Osman Gutale, Haron Habibzai Leo Haferman, Danielle Hanscome, Beatrice Hesselbart, Leo Hilton, Darcy Hinck, Andrew Hoekstra, Colleen Hogle, Kevin Hong, Annah Houanche, Mackenzie Hoyt, Joshua Hunnewell, Ebyan Hussein, Audrey Iradukunda,  Isaiah Israel-Copeland, Jeremiah Israel-Copeland, Maire Johnson, Meredith Johnson, Tyler Joondeph, Carlos Kanda, Noela Kayamba, Jordy Kellian, Brandon Kennagh, Aren Kiladjian, Claire Kirby, Devon Lalor, Joseph Laskey, Natasha Laskey, Jacob Lesperance, Ellis Linsmith, Drew Little, Gloria Lutala, Angelo Magno, AJoung Malual, Suzana Manguda, Olivia Mantsch, Hallie Mares, Colleen Mathews, Flannery McAdam, Christopher McCabe, Hannah Mermin, Alexa Michaud, Katherine Miller, Chiara Morabito, Graham Morgan, Sheraz Muhammad-Ibrahim, Mustaf Mukhtar, Angelique Nagikundiro, Ralia Naney, Clare Naylor, Billy-Carl Ngabire, Laura Nielsen, Alexander Oja, Lily Okot, Khatra Olat, Halima Omar, Tara O’Neal, Yusuf Osman, David Otto, Kaylee Pao, Natalie Parent, Margaret Parker, Julia Pasquali, Jacob Plourde, Joseph Porcaro, Joanna Quinn, Omar Raouf, Hallie Repeta, Juan Retolaza, Esmail Rezaie, Miranda Richman, Molly Rickett, Micaella Rodriguez, Jaime Rodriguez-Lones, Chelsea Rollins, Ryan Ruhlin, Lionel Rwendeye, William Sampson, Montana Sangillo, Jack Schwartz, Rebecca Scott, Brandon Seavey, Benjamin Semukanya, Daniel Semukanya, Kafi Shardi, Misaal Shardi, Patrick Sheils, Darriana Simard, Tyler Simpson, Dorria Slaughter, Cedric Smith, Haley Snyder, Alex Stewart, Henry Stoddard, Delaney Stokes, Damien Stone, Joshua Sullivan, Abdi Sulub, Jordan Talbot, Zachary Taylor, Mack Teng, Nyra Thomas, Oling Tobias, Jessica Tran, Suleman Ugas, Evelyne Uwimana, Alyssa Vaccaro, Ryan Valley, Shelby Varney, Elizabeth Victor, Kelby Violette, Gabrielle Wagabaza, Gabriel Walker, Michaela Walker, Mamie Walsh, Stephen Walsh, Lucy Wanzer, Drew Waterhouse, Kasmira Weinberg, Charles Winkelman, Jessica Wolfe, Eric Worden, Brad Yargeau, Jonathan Yombe, Nirmala Young, Noah Youngren, Rafaella Zabot-Hall.

Portland High School held its 194th graduation ceremony Thursday as family and friends crowded into Merrill Auditorium to celebrate the 234 members of the Class of 2015.

Dressed in blue and white gowns and each holding a single rose, the students processed in to the sound of the organ playing “Pomp and Circumstance” by Elgar.

“Milestones along the road are constructed as points of reference,” Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk told the seniors. “Graduation from high school is a very significant milestone on the path of life.”

Class President Aren Kiladjian, Salutatorian Francesca Butterfield and Valedictorian Miranda Richman also spoke. Richman, who plans to attend Harvard College next year, spoke on the subject “A New Legacy.” She celebrated global progress over the last 18 years, pointed to the diversity and dynamism of the graduating class, exhorted everyone to stand together to face geopolitical crises, and finally thanked everyone “for an inspiring four years.”

Music was very much a feature of the ceremony: The entire class joined together in a rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and various student bands played John Mayer’s “Gravity,” Caroline Cotter’s “This Place” and Billy Joel’s “Vienna.”

Principal Deborah Migneault presented various awards and then the diplomas as each of the 234 students came up to shake her hand, receive their diploma and get applauded offstage. When this came to its conclusion, the entire class sang the school song, “The Blue and White,” and finally exited the stage to scenes of rapturous celebration.