HODGDON, Maine — Stephen J. Fitzpatrick, superintendent and principal of Hodgdon Middle-High School announced Tuesday, April 21, the top honors for the Class of 2020.
Seth Ethan-Michael Tapley has been named valedictorian, while Katherine Berube was chosen as salutatorian and Lauren Ann McGillicuddy was named first honor essayist.
Tapley, the son of Wendy Toner and Douglas Tapley from Hodgdon has received many awards throughout his four years of high school, but the one that speaks of his mature understanding of the human condition was his $1,000 scholarship award from the Disabilities Council of Maine, according to Fitzpatrick.
“His essay was submitted on behalf of those whose disabilities do not get in their way of being great citizens and remarkable human beings,” Fitzpatrick said. “Seth has shown persistence, hard work, and an ability to ‘get the job done’ during his high school career.”
A member of Hodgdon’s National Honor Society, Tapley is a four-year member of the band, a four-year member of JMG and a four-year member of the soccer team. His hard work on the soccer field and on the basketball court was well appreciated by his team and by his school.
“Seth has kept his focus on ‘teamwork’ and helping others throughout his four years here at Hodgdon Middle-High School,” Fitzpatrick said. “He is most proud of having been able to help CLA’s Special Olympics Group, being a part of a well working team of JMG students, and helping to take the soccer team the farthest that it has been during a soccer season, including being able to kick a winning goal to make that happen.”
During his time at Hodgdon, Tapley was recruited as a student worker in the IT Department, and it was there that he cemented his ideas of working in technology for a career. He will use his EMBARK scholarship of $2,000 at NMCC in the fall, where he will pursue a major in computer networking technology.
Tapley offered the following words of advice to the underclassmen at Hodgdon, “Make your own decisions and try to make your own path that you will then look back on and always be proud of.”
Katherine Berube has been named salutatorian for the Class of 2020 at Hodgdon Middle-High School.
(Courtesy of Hodgdon Middle-High School)
Berube, the daughter of Melissa Berube of Hodgdon and David Berube of Ludlow, has been a class officer and both the head of the Community Organization group and a member of the executive council for two years in JMG.
“Her leadership style of quiet reflection and then jumping in and doing what needs to be done has earned her respect from both her peers and the adults in charge around her,” Fitzpatrick said.
Berube has been an active four-year participant in the band and JMG. She is also an active member of St Mary’s of the Visitation youth group, attending conferences and leadership workshops when available and actively participating as a youth altar server for years. Her presence at church is a constant and one that reflects on her person and character, Fitzpatrick said.
“Katherine is an academic, taking the usual college preparatory track and then adding to it with Honors, Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment, and Early College Courses,” he said. “She is also an artist and writer. Several of her pieces of art have been auctioned for events at school, and have also been given as thanks to veterans at the Veteran’s Day Breakfast. She has several pieces of writing waiting to be published, waiting to be shared with others who will appreciate the worlds she has created and the characters with whom she has put her heart into. Her high school looks forward to some first editions, both authored and illustrated by her.”
Berube will graduate with 28 college credits and will attend the University of Maine in Farmington or Orono in the fall of 2020, where she will major in creative writing.
“Do not be afraid to try new things,” Berube said to the younger generation. “Put yourself out there, meet new people, but most importantly do what you love and find happiness in those around you- in your family and friends.”
Lauren McGillicuddy has been named first honor essayist for the Class of 2020 at Hodgdon Middle-High School.
(Courtesy of Hodgdon Middle-High School)
Lauren Ann McGillicuddy, daughter of Mary and Edward McGillicuddy of Hodgdon, has been a leader of her class throughout her four years, serving as vice president of her class and previously treasurer; vice president of the National Honor Society and previously secretary as well as vice president of JMG and previously a member of the executive council.
In addition, McGillicuddy was a four-year varsity soccer player, rising to speaking captain for two years, and was a three-year varsity basketball player for which she was selected as an All-Star Player. She also managed the varsity baseball team.
McGillicuddy was also a member of the Future Farmers of America Club, giving credence to her family’s long time involvement in farming in the area. She was chosen as a Morgan Lynn Portrait Senior Representative and a Blush Presque Isle Ambassador.
“Combining a college preparatory set of courses with dual enrollment and early college courses augmenting her transcript, she applied and was accepted to several schools of nursing,” Fitzpatrick said.
She has chosen the University of Maine in Presque Isle where she will matriculate in the fall in the registered nursing program, bringing with her a total of 35 college course credits to her major right out of high school. McGillicuddy said she has every intention of staying in Aroostook County, a place she calls “home,” with the goal of eventually becoming a nurse practitioner.
