Waterville Senior High School has announced its top 10 students for the class of 2024.

Beatrice Beale Tate is graduating first with an unweighted GPA of 98.663. She participated in a variety of clubs and organizations, including National Honor Society (president), Tri-M National Music Honor Society (vice president), varsity cross country (twice captain), Jazz Band, Pit Orchestra, Science Olympiad, Queer Alliance (secretary), class officers, Student Council, varsity swimming, varsity track and field, Thespian Honor Society, and Maine All State Band (all four years).

Tate was honored with a Dartmouth Book Award, Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, Renaissance Award, and recognized as a College Board National Rural and Small Town Scholar. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction, won gold and silver at the Maine State Science Olympiad Competition, is a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference All Conference Cross Country runner, and medaled at both the Cross Country Regional Championship and State Track & Field Championship. She also volunteers at the Waterville Public Library.

Tate plans to attend Yale University in the fall. She is the daughter of Winifred Tate and Scott Beale of Waterville.

Lilian Taylor is graduating second with an unweighted GPA of 98.064. She has participated in various clubs and organizations, including the National Honor Society (tutoring co-chair), Civil Rights Team, and class officers (recording secretary). She won a Smith College Book Award and a WSHS Renaissance Award for Academics. She works as a teacher’s assistant at George J. Mitchell School Childcare. She frequently volunteers to help at GJMS events such as math and bingo nights and the PTA Carnival. She tutors high school students, and is involved with voter registration drives and counting absentee ballots.

Taylor plans to attend a four-year college and major in secondary education with a concentration in English. She is the daughter of Kim Taylor and Dylan Dillaway of Vassalboro.

Marianne Renaud is graduating third. She participated in indoor track and field, outdoor track and field, National Honor Society (treasurer), Tri-M Music Honor Society, Jazz Band, Student Council, Homeroom Buddies, Pit Orchestra, Pep Band, French Honors Society, Kennebec Valley District Honors Band, and soccer. She was recognized with a Princeton Book Award, an AP Scholar Award, a Renaissance Award, a Maine Principals’ Association Sportsmanship Award (indoor track), was a National History Day Regional Semi-Finalist, and was named a College Board National Rural and Small Town Scholar. She works at The Apple Orchard in Fairfield.

Renaud is a peer tutor through NHS, volunteers at the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s Heritage Apple Orchard, assists at multiple WSHS concerts, and in the WSHS media center. Renaud plans to attend either Tennessee Technological University in Tennessee or Dalhousie University’s Agricultural Campus in Nova Scotia. She is the daughter of Paul and Michelle Renaud of Waterville.

Maddie Yakimchick is graduating fourth. She participated in class officers, Student Council, Green Team, National Honor Society (tutoring chair), indoor track (captain), outdoor track (captain), and Homeroom Buddies. She was recognized with a WSHS Renaissance Award, is a Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference Champion in long jump and triple jump, and a Maine State Champion in long jump. Her track talents have allowed her to participate in the Junior Olympics.

Yakimchick volunteers with the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, helps tutor students, is a Waterville elections poll worker, and helps at various school events. She is employed by a local Subway restaurant. Yakimchick plans to attend the University of Rhode Island and major in physical therapy. She is a daughter of Jessica Grondin and Stephen Yakimchick of Waterville.

Alice Willette is graduating fifth. She participated on the Robotics Team (captain), Green Team (co-president, artistic coordinator), Queer Alliance, Civil Rights, Homeroom Buddies, National Honor Society, class officers, and theater. She was a two-time state finalist for Poetry Out Loud and was awarded a WSHS Renaissance Award. She volunteers as a Waterville elections worker and at the Missoula Children’s Theatre. She works as a hostess at Buen Apetito.

Willette plans to attend a four-year college and major in aerospace engineering. She is the daughter of Ann and Paul Willette of Waterville.

Julia Scott is graduating sixth. She participated in class officers (president), Queer Alliance (co-president), National Honor Society (vice president), Tri-M Music Honor Society (treasurer), Jazz Band, Concert Band, Swim Team (captain), cross country, and the Feminist Action Board. She was recognized as a College Board Rural and Small Town Scholar, earned a WSHS Renaissance Award, a Saint Michael’s Book Award, a Maine Section of the Society of Women Engineers Award, an AP Scholar Award, and a Kennebec Valley Athletic Council Cross Country Team Sportsmanship Award. She works as a lifeguard at the Alfond Municipal Pool and volunteers as a peer tutor and as a swim instructor.

Scott plans to attend Pitzer College in  Claremont, California, to major in political science and chemistry, and she hopes to join the surf club. She is the daughter of Kate Scott, and Jim Scott and Erin Sheets of Waterville.

Gabriela Garcia-Pollis is graduating seventh. She participated in Yearbook (co-editor and chief), Tri-M Music Honor Society (secretary), National Honor Society (tutoring chair), Homeroom Buddy, Class Officers, Pit Orchestra, Jazz Band, and Pep Band. She was awarded a Renaissance Award by WSHS faculty. In her spare time, she works as a dance instructor.

As a volunteer, Garcia-Pollis helps teach fourth graders Spanish, helps at Waterville elections, is active in Maine Youth Leadership as a Youth Advisory Board Member, and helps out at various school events.

Garcia-Pollis plans to attend Endicott College in Beverly, Mass., and study elementary education. She is the daughter of Jami Pollis of Waterville.

Aurora Smith is graduating eighth. She is a member of the National Technical Honor Society. She recently won a Bronze medal in the local culinary competition and was named student of the month twice at Mid Maine Technical Center. She was chosen by faculty for a WSHS Renaissance Award. She volunteers by packing meals for school events, donating clothes, toys, and books, donating food to the food pantry, and organizing books in the media center.

Smith is planning to attend Southern Maine Community College to study culinary arts as she pursues her dream to own and run a bakery. She is the daughter of Tia Bouchard of Oakland and Roger Smith of Brunswick.

Leo Koch is graduating ninth. He is involved in track and field and class officers (vice president). For indoor track, he was named to the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference All-Conference and All-Academic Teams. Koch was chosen for a Williams College Book Award, recognized as a College Board Rural and Small Town Scholar, and earned a Waterville Board of Education School Medallion.

He plans to attend Macalester Collegein St. Paul, Minn., and double major in neuroscience and economics, while continuing participating in track and field. Koch is the son of Arne and Hilary Koch of Waterville.

ILana Lizzotte is graduating 10th. She was chosen by faculty for a WSHS Renaissance Award. She is passionate about computer science and enhancing her 3D modeling and animation skills.

Lizzotte plans to attend college in the fall to study computer science and animation. She is the daughter of Craig Lizzotte and Lisa Pressey of Waterville.

 

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