HOULTON, Maine — Houlton High School Principal Marty Bouchard has announced the Honor Parts for the Class of 2015.
Emily Mooers has been named valedictorian, while Noah Holmes was named salutatorian; Keegan Fitzpatrick, first honor essayist; Haven Rhoda, second honor essayist; and Natalie Rush, third honor essayist.
Mooers is the daughter of David and Nancy Mooers of Houlton. She is president of Houlton High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and is active in Youth in Government, while also participating in the New England Student Leadership Conference as well as being named a finalist in the United States Senate Youth Program. Mooers received the Principal’s Award throughout her academic career and was the recipient of the Margaret Churchill Science Award, named student of the month for excellence in English/Languages, and placed first in the psychology category of Houlton High School’s STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) Fair. She has served as a class officer for the past three years and has held the office of secretary, she is a Houlton High School Mentor and tutor, and is active in the French Club.
In addition to her academic success, Mooers has earned accolades in sports, music, and 4-H. She participated in varsity tennis, basketball, track and field, and soccer earning the Butch Shaw Award for Outstanding Play and Sportsmanship and the PVC Player of the Year title in soccer. She was chosen for the All-Aroostook Team, All-Academic Team, and the Eastern Maine Team for soccer in addition to competing at Nationals for Hershey Track and Field and at the Elks Soccer Shoot State Competition.
Mooers has participated in chorus and band receiving a Gold Award at the Choral Festival in New York City. A recipient of the 4-H Exhibitor of Character Award, she has received numerous showmanship awards for livestock in the showing of goats, pigs, sheep and rabbits. She volunteers at annual soccer camps and tournaments as a coach and referee, attends River City FC Club Soccer which was part of Seacoast United last year, teaches Sunday School, works at the Houlton Recreation Center, and participated in the Rotary Youth Exchange last year where she traveled to Austria and visited Italy.
Mooers’ interests include running, biking, reading, traveling, learning new languages, and current events. She will attend George Washington University’s Eliot School of International Affairs in Washington, D.C. pursing a degree in international relations.
Holmes is the son of Rick and Sara Holmes of Houlton. He is a member of Houlton High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and is active in the Mentoring Program. He has received the Principal’s Award throughout school, is active in Student Council, and was selected to receive the Middle School Good Citizen Award and Student of the Month, the 2014 George Eastman Young Leaders Award, and the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award and the Maine Principal’s Association Award during his senior year.
Holmes’ contributions to Houlton High School athletics encompasse his participation in varsity cross country, basketball, baseball and volleyball. His musical ambitions have included participation in chorus, band, fall musical, All Aroostook Choir, All State Chorus, and Show Choir where he was awarded the State Show Choir Musicianship Award for Vocal.
Along with his work at the Houlton Recreation Center and Whited Bible Camp, Holmes sings in a gospel trio that participates in fund-raising concerts for Adopt-A-Block and local missionaries. He is also involved in youth group, plays bass for a church worship team and Gospel Trio, and is a Bible Quiz participant. His interests include sports, music, video games, and the outdoors.
Holmes, who has been awarded the Most Valuable Student from Maine Elks Scholarship and the Assemblies of God Riggs Scholarship, will attend Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where he will study pre-med.
Fitzpatrick is the son of Brady Fitzpatrick and Jessica Fitzpatrick of Houlton. He is a member of Houlton High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and was chosen to participate in the Houlton Rotary Club’s Summer Exchange Program, where he will travel to the Netherlands this summer. Fitzpatrick has received the Principal’s Award throughout school and was awarded the Good Samaritan Award in junior high as well as having been named student of the month in middle school and also in high school for English/Language. He has served as a class officer, manager of the tennis team, on Student Council, and participates in Houlton High School’s Civil Rights Team.
In addition to being a Houlton High School Mentor, Fitzpatrick excels in all facets of the school’s music program having been named to All-State for the past four years and All-Aroostook the past six years along with being selected as a lead in the high school musical each year. His musical successes also include Show Choir, Chorus, Band, Symphonic Band, Chamber Choir, Acapella, Barbershop, Men’s Ensemble, Jazz Band, and Percussion Ensemble. His hobbies include Spanish language, knitting, origami, cats, and guitar.
He will attend the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he will pursue a bachelor of arts in vocal performance.
Rhoda is the daughter of Nannette and Greg Mills of Houlton and Brandie and Craig Rhoda of Burnham. Haven is vice president of Houlton High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and she has been selected to receive the National Academy of Future Physicians and Medical Scientists Award of Excellence. She has received Highest Honors and the Principal’s Award throughout high school and earned first place overall in Houlton High School’s 2013 STEM Fair also claiming first in the biology category.
Rhoda has been a class officer throughout high school, is a Houlton High School Mentor, and also played varsity softball. Her other accolades center around music with Rhoda receiving three lead roles in the high school musical along with being named the saxophone section leader in high school band, the alto section leader in high school chorus, and first chair in Jazz Band.
Rhoda was also selected to participate in All-State Honors Choral Festival twice, All-Aroostook Choral Festival for five years, and earned placement in the All-Aroostook Instrumental Festival as first chair for four years. Additionally, she participates in Show Choir, Camerata A Capella Singing Group, and Symphonic Band.
Her service to her community includes work with Adopt-A-Block of Aroostook; Vacation Bible School; United Way of Aroostook – Idol Fundraiser; Urban Hands Ministry in Washington, DC; and Samaritan’s Feet Ministry in Washington, DC. She has participated in missions trips to the New York Dream Center, the Los Angeles Dream Center, and the Strong Tower Orphanage in Haiti. Haven, who is employed at the Elm Tree Diner, also enjoys the outdoors, camping, kayaking, reading, manatees, making music and traveling. She will attend the Los Angeles Dream Center Leadership School in the fall.
Rush is the daughter of Stephen and Wanita Rush of Houlton. She is a member of Houlton High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and has received the Rotary Certificate of Achievement, the Williams College Book Award, and the Principal’s Award. She was elected as a Houlton High School Dirigo State representative and selected as a student delegate to the 2014 New England Student Leadership Conference.
In addition to placing first in biology and first overall in Houlton High School’s STEM Fair her sophomore year and third in chemistry her junior year, Rush has earned honors for being a 10-year participant in Houlton High School’s music program. She was selected to take the lead in the high school musical on several occasions, and participates in Show Choir, Jazz Band, Small Women’s Ensemble, Off Beat, Band, and Chorus where she was awarded Outstanding Soloist at the Vocal Jazz Festival.
Rush is a Houlton High School Mentor and her hobbies include music, science, history, social issues, advocacy, and Harry Potter. She will attend the University of New England in Biddeford to pursue a degree in nursing.
