Waterville Senior High School has announced its top 10 seniors for the class of 2023. The students are listed by academic standing.

Karin Zimba is graduating first in the Waterville Senior High School Class of 2023 with an unweighted GPA of 99.562. She participated and held various leadership roles in a variety of clubs and organizations throughout her high school career including the National Honor Society (president), Tri-M Music Honor Society (president), Key Club (vice president), varsity tennis (captain), Science Olympiad, Math Team, class officers (second vice president), Jazz Band, Pit Orchestra, Pep Band, Mid-Maine Youth Orchestra, and Thespian Honor Society.

She was awarded a Princeton Alumni Book Award, a Phi Beta Kappa Award for Academic Achievement, a Maine Section of the Society of Women Engineers Award, a Renaissance Award, and is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist. Zimba is an AP Scholar with Honor, won Gold at the Maine State Solo and Ensemble Competition, won Gold and Silver at the State Science Olympiad Competition, and was named KVAC All-Conference for Tennis.

She volunteers at the Mid-Maine Regional Adult and Community Education program, and is a peer tutor. She plans to attend Princeton University, majoring in neuroscience with a minor in public health on the pre-med track. She is the daughter of Yasameen and Travis Zimba of Waterville.

Andrew Turlo is graduating second with an unweighted GPA of 98.089. He has been a member of the National Honor Society, cross country team, track team, swim team, and the Green Team.

Turlo won a Princeton Alumni Book Award, MVP award in Cross Country, MVP award in Swim, and is a Questbridge National Match Winner. He assisted with the junior high school swim team and the Junior Dolphin Swim team. He teaches swim lessons and is a lifeguard.

Turlo plans to attend Dartmouth College as part of the Questbridge program and will major in chemistry. He is the son of Ericka Turlo of Waterville.

Angela Errigo is graduating third with an unweighted GPA of 97.905. She participated in class officers, Queer Alliance, and Select Choir. Errigo was selected into the National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and Tri-M Music Honor Society.

She has volunteered with community and school clean-ups, and works at Five Guys. Errigo plans to attend the University of South Carolina and major in business management. She would like to open a restaurant after graduation.

Errigo is the daughter of Nicole and Dennis Vachon of Waterville, and Jennifer and James Errigo of Summerville, South Carolina.

Cole Bazakas is graduating fourth with an unweighted GPA of 96.667. He participated and held various leadership roles in a variety of clubs and organizations throughout his high school career including Green Team (co-president), Science Olympiad, Key Club (treasurer), Math Team, Civil Rights Club, class officer (treasurer), National Honor Society, French Honors Society (treasurer), Tri-M Music Honor Society, soccer (captain), and tennis (captain).

Bazakas was awarded a College Board Rural and Small Town Award, a Williams College Book Award, a Renaissance Award for Academics, Service/Character, and Good School Citizen, was named to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference (KVAC) All Academic Team in soccer, and the KVAC First Team for Tennis. His proudest accomplishment is winning five medals at the Maine State Science Olympiad competition.

He volunteers in the Mid-Maine Regional Adult and Community Education program, in the Big Brother/Big Sister program, and is a peer tutor. He plans to attend Tufts University and major in political science and international relations. Bazakas is the son of Jennifer Yoder and Greg Bazakas of Waterville.

Logan Tardif is graduating fifth with an unweighted GPA of 96.540. He participated in soccer, basketball, tennis (captain), cross country, and intramural volleyball. He is a member of the National Honor Society and the WSHS orchestra.

Tardif was awarded a Renaissance award for academics, the Clarkson Leadership and Academic Merit Scholarship award, and was named to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference (KVAC) All-Academic team, the KVAC All-Conference Tennis first team, Rookie of the Year (cross country) and was a foul shooting state finalist in the McDonald’s All Star Games. He volunteers as an academic tutor in Chemistry and Mathematics.

His proudest accomplishment was when the tennis team won the Northern Maine Regionals and advanced to the MPA state championship tournament. He is committed to the PharmD program at Husson University and plans to earn a doctorate degree in pharmacy. Tardif is the son of Andrea and Jason Tardif of Waterville.

Nicholas Poulin is graduating sixth with an unweighted GPA of 96.215. He participated and held various leadership roles in a variety of clubs and organizations throughout his high school career including Green Team (treasurer), Science Olympiad, Jazz Band, Math Team, tennis (captain), basketball (captain), golf, Key Club, National Honor Society (treasurer), French Honor Society (president), Tri-M Music Honor Society (vice president), class officers, and Student Council.

Poulin was honored with a Dartmouth Book Award, a Renaissance Award, named to the Kennebec Valley Athletics Conference First Team (tennis), and to the KVAC All-Academic Team (basketball). He volunteers in the Mid-Maine Regional Adult and Community Education program. He works at Hannaford Supermarket.

He plans to attend Northeastern University majoring in mechanical engineering. Poulin is the son of Matthew and Sara Poulin of Waterville.

Alejandra Garcia-Polis is graduating seventh with an unweighted GPA of 95.990. She is a member of the Waterville Queer Alliance, Green Team, National Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Jazz Band, Yearbook, French Honor Society, Pit Orchestra, Feminist Action Board (FAB), and the KV Music Honors Festival. She is a Hispanic Scholarship Fund finalist, was awarded a Renaissance Award, and a George Eastman Young Leaders Award.

Garcia-Polis has volunteered within WSHS and at the Waterville City Polls on election day. She plans to attend a four-year college, and is proud of the work she has done with groups like the Feminist Action Board, and strives to make change in communities.

Garcia-Polis is the daughter of Jami Pollis of Waterville.

Alexa DeWitt is graduating eighth with an unweighted GPA of 95.780. She is a member of Waterville Select Choir (sound check), All State Choir, Waterville Queer Alliance, National Honor Society, French Honor Society, and Tri-M Honor Society. She was recognized with a Smith College Book Award.

DeWitt volunteers at WSHS by tutoring other students. Her proudest accomplishment is getting accepted into All State Choir all four years of high school. She plans to attend Smith College and major in Biology and Mathematics.

DeWitt is the daughter of Melissa Glenn and Owen DeWitt of Waterville.

Brianna Bates is graduating ninth with an unweighted GPA of 95.733. She is a member of the class officers (president), Key Club, Green Team, National Honor Society, Homeroom Buddy, and Spanish Club. Bates was recognized with a Saint Michael’s Book Award and a Renaissance Award.

She is involved in community service by tutoring through National Honor Society, cleaning up around the community, fundraising for Ukraine through the Key Club, and collecting school supplies for students in need through the United Way. She was employed by TJ Maxx.

She plans to attend Thomas College and major in business and marketing. Bates is the daughter of Cory Bates of Damariscotta, and Michele Lyons of Waterville.

Kassidy Gordon is graduating 10th with an unweighted GPA of 95.596. She is involved in cross country, track and field, Waterville Queer Alliance, Green Team, National Honor, Society, and French Honor Society.

Gordon was honored with a Renaissance Award and a Susan B. Anthony Scholarship. She has volunteered within WSHS and at the Waterville City Polls on election day.

She plans to pursue a pathway to become a registered dietician. Gordon is the daughter of Susan and Thomas Gordon of Waterville.

 

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