GARDINER — The following Gardiner Area High School students have been selected to attend the American Legion Auxiliary’s Dirigo Girls State and the American Legion’s Dirigo Boys State programs:

Will Bucci is the son of John and JoAnne Bucci of West Gardiner. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Civil Rights Team, and the World Languages Club. He currently serves as class president and student council representative. In addition, he serves on the prom committee and has performed in several Pizazz productions. He is the recipient of several academic awards including Rotary Student of the Month, Spanish I and II, Honors English, Honors US History, Honors Algebra II and Health. As a member of the high school band and jazz ensemble, Bucci’s talent and dedication earned him a place at the District III and All-State Music Festivals for the past two years including top tenor saxophone score for this year’s All State Music Festival. In the community, Bucci is involved with the Boy Scouts of America. His sponsor is the Gardiner-Augusta Lions Club.

Additional Photos

Coughlan

Adam Fortier-Brown

Peacock

Bucci

Amy Fortier-Brown

Williams

Lang

Caldwell

Moran

Beneski

Heath

DeSoto

Josh Caldwell is the son of Jim and Susan Caldwell of West Gardiner. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the Math Team. Josh was selected to attend the Maine Youth Wilderness Leadership Program in 2013. He participates in sports including soccer, indoor track and lacrosse. In lacrosse, he received a place on both the first and second All Conference teams. In the community, Caldwell volunteers at public suppers and at an organic farm. His sponsor is American Legion Post 4.

Adrian Heath is the son of Richard Heath and Barbara Oesterlin-Heath of Gardiner. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the World Languages Club, the high school band and jazz ensemble, Band Board and is a student council representative. Heath is the recipient of several academic awards including Career and Technology, Spanish I and US History. He participates in sports including football and lacrosse. In the community, Heathvolunteers at the middle school football camp, with the Student Conservation Association and at local farms. He is sponsored by the Gardiner Federal Credit Union.

Adam Fortier-Brown is the son of Rob Brown and Nancy Fortier-Brown of Randolph. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Civil Rights Team, the Drama Club, the high school band, jazz ensemble and is a student council representative. Fortier-brown has also been a cast member in several of the school’s musical and drama productions. He participates in sports including golf and tennis. In the community, he volunteers at the alzheimer’s clinic and as director of the middle school drama productions. He is sponsored by the Gardiner Rotary Club.

Andrew Moran is the son of David and Nathalie Moran of Randolph. He is a member of the National Honor Society, the Drama Cub, the Math Team, the high school band and Band Board. Moran has also been an integral part of the technical crew for the school’s musical and drama productions. He is the recipient of several awards including Rotary Student of the Month, Algebra II and English. In the community, Moran volunteers with the middle school drama productions. Moran is an alternate for the Boys State program.

Amy Fortier-Brown is the daughter of Rob Brown and Nancy Fortier-Brown of Randolph. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Upward Bound program, chorus, show choir, color guard, the Civil Rights Team, the Drama Club, the Health Team, Yearbook and the World Languages Club. She has also been a cast member in several of the school’s musical and drama productions. In the community, Fortier-Brown is a volunteer in the Big Brothers/Big Sisters program, is the lead set painter with the middle school drama productions and spearheaded the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser for children’s cancer. Her sponsor is Staples Funeral Services.

Samantha Beneski is the daughter of Brian Beneski of Gardiner. She is a member of the National Honor Society, chorus, Show Choir, the Civil Rights Team, the Drama Club and the Book Club, currently serving as president. Beneski is the recipient of the Journalism Award, the Rotary Student of the Month Award and has been a two-time finalist in the Poetry Out Loud competition. She has been a cast member in several of the school’s drama productions and has participated in sports including soccer, lacrosse, tennis and indoor track. In the community, Beneski has volunteered as an assistant in the middle school drama program, at a daycare and with the music department. Her sponsor is the Gardiner Augusta Lions Club.

Brie DeSoto is the daughter of Phillip and RayeAnne DeSoto of Gardiner. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the World Languages Club, the high school band and Band Board, a student council representative and has received the Rotary Student of Month Award. She has participated in sports including lacrosse and field hockey, serving as captain this year. DeSoto has been a cast member in several of the high school’s musical and drama productions and assisted with Pizazz. In the community, DeSoto volunteers with the middle school drama and Johnson Hall Shenigans production. She is sponsored by The Bank of Maine.

Abbey Coughlan is the daughter of Peter and Gail Coughlan of Randolph. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the high school band, a student council representative and member and vice president of the World Languages Club. In addition, she currently serves on the prom committee and as back stage manager for Pizazz. Coughlan has participated in sports including basketball and volleyball, serving as captain this year. She has received several academic awards including Honors Algebra I, Spanish I and II, Lab Biology, Career and Technology, and Honors Geometry. In the community, Coughlan has volunteered with youth basketball, the Thanksgiving Basket Project and the book fair. She is sponsored by the Gardiner Federal Credit Union.

Meaghan Williams is the daughter of Steve and Cathy Williams of Augusta. he is a member of the National Honor Society, Upward Bound, the high school band, color guard, the Civil Rights Team and the Health Team. She is currently class vice president and has participated in sports including swimming and tennis. In the community, Williams volunteers at an animal shelter, a homeless shelter, community gardens, at public suppers and Christmas fairs and has conducted research for published books. She is sponsored by American Legion Auxiliary, Post 4.

Mariah Lang is the daughter of Karyn Crowley of Gardiner and Charles Lang of Gardiner. Lang is a member of the National Honor Society, the Civil Rights Team, the Drama Club, the World Language Club, chorus, Show Choir and also serves as a student representative on the School Administrative District 11 School Board as well as a representative of student council. She is the recipient of the French II Academic Award and the Theater Arts Award. Lang participates in sports as a member of the varsity cheering team. In the community, she volunteers with the middle school drama program and with the cheering programs for the elementary and middle school. Lang is an alternate for the Girls State program.

Kylie Peacock is the daughter of Debbie and Doug Peacock of West Gardiner. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Civil Rights Team, the Drama Club, the World Languages Club, color guard, the high school band and Band Board. Peacock has been the backstage manager for several drama and Pizazz productions, participated in sports as a member of the swim team and is the recipient of the Geometry Award. In the community , Peacock volunteers at Grace Community Chapel and at the Helen Thompson School. She is an alternate for the Girls State program.

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