VAN BUREN, Maine — Van Buren District Secondary School officials have named the honor parts for 2018 graduation ceremonies on Friday, June 8.
Abby Soucy is the class valedictorian, Danika Deschaine is salutatorian and Lyndsey Lavoie is honor essayist.
Abby Soucy (Courtesy of Van Buren Secondary School)
Valedictorian Soucy is the daughter of John and Evelyn Soucy of Van Buren. She has one sibling, sister Sierra Soucy.
While in high school, Soucy has had a rigorous workload. She has taken a full schedule of required classes, independent studies, as well as college classes. She has exceptional grades in all classes and strives for the very best in all things she does, officials said.
During her high school career, Soucy has been an active member is yearbook, Project Graduation, and National Honor Society, and has also been class president for the last three years.
She likes to lend helping hands to anyone who may be in need and enjoys serving the community, where she has helped the local Meals on Wheels program serve the Thanksgiving and Christmas lunch at the community center from 2013 to 2017, helped with the annual Veteran’s Day assembly veterans lunch from 2015 to 2018, and helped serve local veterans at their annual dinner at the American Legion in 2015.
She also assisted at senior banquets for the Classes of 2015, 2016 and 2016, and helped organize two blood drives at her school in 2018.
Soucy was awarded the Daughter of the American Revolution award in 2017, the CTE Student of the Year in 2018 and has achieved high honors throughout her high school career.
Salutatorian Deschaine, the daughter of Rodney and Joy Deschaine of Van Buren, is the fifth of 10 children and is currently enrolled at Van Buren District Secondary School, where she has successfully completed various courses.
According to school representatives, her dedication to her academics is evident through her completion of required classes, additional electives and college courses, which manifest her self-discipline and motivation.
Danika Deschaine (Courtesy of Van Buren District Secondary School)
During her high school career at SAD 24, she has participated in tennis, Student Senate and as an active leader in her class. Her peers seek her guidance for both academic and personal growth as well as a good laugh.
Deschaine belongs to the National Honor Society and is president of her chapter. She is active in her church community and is an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist at St. Peter-Chanel Parish and a reliable member of her youth ministry. She also participates in Project Grad with her classmates.
Deschaine earned high honors every quarter in her high school career. She won the Presidential Award for her academic excellence in 2017, and the Phi Beta Kappa Award for Science in 2017.
Honor essayist Lavoie is the daughter of Adam Lavoie of Van Buren and Darlene Lavoie of St. Leonard, New Brunswick. Her older sister, Vanessa Lavoie, is an alumna of Van Buren District Secondary School and of the University of Maine at Orono. Her younger brother, Colby Lavoie, is a freshman at Van Buren District Secondary School.
Lyndsey Lavoie (Courtesy of Van Buren District Secondary School)
Throughout high school, Lavoie has maintained a rigorous schedule of required classes, independent studies and college classes, as well as a job at Borderview Rehab and Living Center in Van Buren. School officials said she maintains remarkable grades in all of her classes, and strives to exceed expectations in all that she does.
While in high school Lavoie has volunteered to serve meals at banquets and events, and has shared her singing talent at multiple sports events, school concerts, assemblies and so forth. She has participated in the National Honor Society, yearbook, project graduation and Student Senate, as well as the Voice of Democracy and Poetry Out Loud competitions.
In 2017, she received an Award of Outstanding Academic Excellence from the President’s Education Awards Program. She has maintained high honors throughout all four years of high school.
In the fall of 2018, Lavoie will attend the University of Maine at Orono to pursue a degree in elementary education.
