WASHBURN, Maine — Carsyn Koch of Wade, a senior at Washburn District High School, and daughter of Peter and Liane Koch, has been selected to receive the 2014 Principal’s Award, Principal Ron Ericson announced March 19. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals’ Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic achievement and citizenship.
Throughout her years at Washburn High, Carsyn has distinguished herself in the classroom and as an outstanding athlete. She has been a National Honor Society member for three years, junior sports editor and head sports editor her junior and senior years, respectively, and played in the school band for two and a half years. Carsyn was a member of the Destination Imagination team her freshman year and won at the regional and state level, giving them the opportunity to compete at the national level. Carsyn was selected student of the month twice, received the highest English grade award her freshman year and has been a part of the Gifted and Talented program.
Athletically, Carsyn is amazing. She has been captain of many of the teams she has been on. She has participated in track and field all through high school and has been state champion in five events so far. She won the individual State Cross Country Championship four times plus one State Championship with her team. Carsyn played varsity basketball all four years of high school and helped her team win state championship titles all four years. Carsyn played soccer three years and helped her team with the state championship in her senior year.
Carsyn has done a tremendous amount of community service work. She has been extremely involved with her church, including traveling around the Northeast with the Northern Lights Youth Choir performing at various churches. Carsyn has volunteered her time with Operation Christmas Child, at the Caribou Nursing Home caring for the elderly, the Ride Aroostook as a volunteer traffic controller, as a children’s farm helper at the Northern Maine Fair, Special Olympics, and the Washburn August Festival. Carsyn is a leader in every sense of the word.
“Our community and school are very proud of her. Carsyn very much deserves this special recognition,” said Ericson.
Carsyn Koch, Principal Ericson and other award winners and their principals attended an Honors Luncheon at the Spectacular Event Center on Saturday, April 5, at 12:30 p.m.
The Honors Luncheon recognizes these outstanding students with the presentation of an individual plaque and the awarding of five $1,000 scholarships in the names of Horace O. McGowan and Richard W. Tyler. Mr. McGowan and Mr. Tyler were former Maine principals and executive directors of the Association. This year an additional five $1,000 scholarships will be presented through the efforts of the MPA Scholarship Golf Tournament and support from Berlin City Auto.
The Principal’s Award is presented in more than 140 Maine public and private high schools by member principals of the MPA, the professional association which represents Maine’s school administrators.
