WINTHROP — Kerrigan Anuszewski loves to sing, so when her best friend’s mother made her go up on stage at a local restaurant, Anuszewski did not think twice.

“I took piano, picked up guitar and got to play with friends in a band to record music,” Anuszewski said.

This musical foundation led the Winthrop High School senior to her future educational home.

Anuszewski’s band, The Juveniles, was formed at Camp Medomak in Washington. Anuszewski calls the camp one of her favorite places. In fact, it is what led her to choose to attend Bates College in Lewiston.

“Camp Medomak was an inclusive, not-super-competitive environment,” she said, “and when I went to Bates, it reminded me of summer camp and it reminded me of home.”

Anuszewski is Winthrop High School’s Maine Principals’ Association Principal’s Award winner, honored for outstanding academic success and good citizenship.

One of her favorite parts of senior year, which she attended in person four days a week, was her service project for the National Honor Society.

Anuszewski got her friends and other students to donate previously worn clothing. She then washed, folded and displayed the clothes at school for students to take.

“It’s been really fun. Everyone gets excited when I put the clothes out,” Anuszewski said. “Anything that doesn’t get taken I give to the Winthrop Methodist Church, so that’s been great.”

Anuszewski said she “doesn’t function well without a schedule,” and her activities “help keep her grounded.”

Even though Winthrop had in-person schooling, which Anuszewski said “made an impact,” classes were still different, having been modified to meet COVID-19 guidelines and regulations.

“It’s been what we couldn’t have had for a while,” she said. “Last year, the end of the year was cut short, and everyone was saying not to do anything this year, but we have been grateful and thankful for the four days.”

Along with serving as treasurer of the National Honor Society at Winthrop High School, Anuszewski is class president and co-chairperson of the student leadership community, plays tennis and is captain of the field hockey team.

At Bates, Anuszewski plans to study English on a pre-law track and play on the field hockey team. She said preseason for field hockey does not begin until August, but she is counting the days.

Anuszewski said she has been able to have many of her “college questions” answered by her future field hockey teammates, which has helped eased her nerves.

“I’m not sure I’m nervous. I’m pretty ready to go,” she said. “I have a good support system with my family, and I’ll have a good one with the school and the field hockey team.”

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