PARIS – Members of the top five percent of the Class of 2016 were presented to the SAD 17 Board of Directors at its Monday, June 6 meeting.

“This is a special class,” Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Principal Ted Moccia told directors of 272 students in the Class of 2016, including 13 students who met academic requirements to be in the top five percent of their class.

“It’s just a tremendous class. They have taken advantage of everything they could. When given a choice they are the kids that said, ‘Yes,’” Moccia said.

The 13 students each stood and introduced themselves and then remained for refreshments and a meet and greet with board members and administrators.

The students will graduate on Saturday, June 11, during Commencement Exercises beginning at 7 p.m. in the Gouin Athletic Complex.

The following students, starting with the first ranked, were acknowledged:

• Benjamin Andrews of Norway, son of Jeffrey and Roberta Andrews, class Valedictorian. He will attend Bowdoin College with an undecided major.
• Theresa Wilson, of Harrison, daughter of Lydia Pohl-Graham, class Salutatorian. She will attend Bowdoin College studying biology.
• Kayleen Fellows of Harrison, daughter of Danielle Withey, will attend St. Lawrence University to study psychology.
• Carina Sclafani of Harrison, daughter of Charles and Monica Sclafani, will attend Wheaton College where she will study biochemistry.
• Kimberly Smith of South Paris, daughter of Clifford and Tammie Smith, will study international and global affairs at the University of Maine at Farmington.
• Isaiah Alexander of Harrison, son of Wayne and Anna-Jean Alexander, plans to attend Babson College and study accounting.
• Ellen Bessette of Norway, daughter of John and Kim Bessettee, will go to Boston University to study biomedical engineering.
• Prentiss Kurtz of West Paris, son of Lisa Floster, will attend Susquehanna University Political and study science and education.
• Taylor Gudeahn-Alleano of Norway, son of George and Linda Young, is volunteering on a mission trip after graduation.
• Zachery Gilbert, of South Paris, son of Ronald and Karen Gilbert, will attend the University of Southern Maine where he will study accounting.
• Taye Brown, of West Paris, son of Glean and Rebecca Brown, will attend the University of Maine at Orono to study mathematics and electrical engineering.
• Christian Ricci of Oxford, son of Brendalee Collins, is the class president. He plans to attend Wake Forest University and study political science.
• Jared Hall, of Norway, son of Everett and Dawn Hall, plans to attend a plumber apprenticeship.

Moccia said this year 90 percent of the students in the Class of 2016 are graduating. A total of 23 students of the 272 graduating class will receive their diplomas this summer after completing coursework. Only four or five years ago, the high school graduation rate was about 65 percent, he said.

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