Places second in state
HOULTON, Maine — Houlton High School has announced that Adam Casillas has been chosen to receive the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Good Citizen Award. Each year this prestigious award is presented to a high school senior who exemplifies the qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism.
Casillas was among three outstanding members from the Class of 2016 to be nominated for the honor by faculty at Houlton High School before being voted in as the winner by the senior class. In addition to local recognition, he competed against other DAR winners from throughout Maine in the Good Citizen Essay Scholarship Contest where his essay on “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving It” took second place.
Casillas will travel to the Esther Eayres Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Orono on April 4 where he will be honored for his accomplishments.
Casillas is an honors student who is actively involved in a multitude of activities within the community and at school. His contributions to Houlton High School encompass his participation in the National Honor Society, Student Council, Youth in Government, Dirigo Boys State, the Mentor Program, the New England Student Leadership Conference, and the Bridge Year Program.
He has also served as a Class Officer holding the position of Vice-President as a sophomore and as President the past two years. In addition, his involvement in Youth in Government resulted in him being elected as Speaker of the House his senior year and selected to attend the Youth Conference on National Affairs in North Carolina the past two years.
He was also a Maine Youth Leadership Seminar Ambassador and Junior Counselor during his sophomore and junior years respectively, a Good Citizen Award recipient, President’s Education Outstanding Academic Achievement Award winner, and was invited to participate in the RSU 29 Future Search discussion and planning forum.
Casillas’ academic accolades include placing in the Engineering Division during the Science Fair, earning the Rotary Club Achievement Award, being named a PVC All-Academic Scholar Athlete, and earning the Principal’s Award repeatedly.
He also excels in athletics taking the field as a Shire in soccer, baseball, cross country, and track and field as well as donning the Black Hawk uniform in hockey.
Adding to his well-rounded school portfolio, Adam is a member of band, symphonic band, percussion ensemble, jazz band, All-Aroostook band, chorus, acapella/barbershop, show choir, and high school musical productions. His areas of special interest include history, forestry, engineering, and outdoor studies.
Along with his work as a swim instructor, lawn maintenance worker, farm laborer, land surveying assistant and Christmas tree trimmer, Casillas performs with McGill’s Community Band and participates in the Soap Box Derby taking home a Committee Award, Tech Award, and various place awards. His community volunteer work encompasses the Military Street Baptist Church’s Terrific Tuesday and Choices After-School Program, St. Mary’s Catholic Church Summer Bible School, After School Tutoring for Houlton Middle School, Knights of Columbus dinners, the United States Postal Service Food Drive, and helping community members clear snow, rake leaves, and do odd jobs. In his spare time Adam also enjoys attending Youth Group, running, and snow sledding.
He hopes to pursue a career in mechanical engineering with an interest in military service. Casillas resides in Houlton with his parents Alfredo and Rose Casillas.
