READFIELD — Maranacook Community High School has announced its top 10 seniors for the class of 2024.

Christian Dunlap of Manchester, the son of Wendy Brotherlin-Dunlap and James Dunlap, is valedictorian.

He participated in the high school plays and musicals since he was a freshman, capping off his senior year by playing Jean Valjean last fall in the musical “Les Misérables.” Playing tenor saxophone, Dunlap has been a member of the Maranacook High School Band and Jazz Band, and he sang bass in the chamber choir as well. During all four years of his high school career, he has been selected for the District III Honors Festival Chorus and All State Music Festival singing bass in the mixed choirs.

Dunlap is a member of the National Honor Society as well as the Music National Honor Society. He was also elected senior representative to the Student Senate. He passed the AAPPL certification in Spanish and traveled abroad with Maranacook’s foreign language students this spring to France and Spain. Honors include the College Board’s National Rural and Small Town Recognition Program for Outstanding Academic Achievement, The Dartmouth Alumni Club Book Award, Outstanding Achievement and Interest in AP U.S. History Award, and Honors Precalculus Award of Excellence. He was also awarded the Maine Principals Association’s Principal’s Award this spring. Dunlap teaches basic ice skating through the Learn to Skate Program at the Maine Ice Vault in Hallowell, and is certified by the United States Figure Skating Association.

He plans to attend Bowdoin College in the fall. He is eager to attend a liberal arts college next year in New England and looks forward to studying cognitive science and music.

Casidy Tims of Readfield, daughter of Melissa and Jason Tims, is salutatorian. She has been a member of National Honor Society, a middle school mentor, and has completed more than 40 hours of community service. During junior year, she won second place in the Maine State National History Day contest for her written paper. She also became certified as a nurse’s aide at Capital Area Technical Center during her junior year. At CATC, she was awarded Student of the Month and won the local Skills USA portfolio competition.

Tims also has earned 18 college credits through Thomas College in world history, American history, literature, composition, ethics and psychology. She has also won the President’s Award for Educational Excellence, the Gilder Lerhrman Institute of American History Award, and the Saint Micheal’s Community Service Book Award.

Tims plans to attend Kennebec Valley Community College to become a registered nurse.

Elsa Bergdahl of Manchester is daughter of Aaron and Miska Bergdahl. She is a two-season varsity athlete and captain of the cross-country running and nordic ski team, leading her nordic team to a State Meet win her sophomore year and placed second overall during her senior year Class B state meet. She also qualified for the Maine State Nordic Team four years in a row and participated in the U16 and Eastern High School Championship races representing Maine. Bergdalh is a member of Academic, Rho Kappa Social Studies and Tri-M music national honors societies.

She also is a member of the Chamber Singers Choir, Sources of Strength Team, a suicide prevention/awareness group, and participates in middle school mentoring.

Bergdalh plans to  attend St. Olaf College to study biology with an emphasis on pre-med and an ambition to minor in studio art and/or French.

Hailey Woessner of Manchester is the daughter of Richard and Jennifer Woessner. She has been involved on the Maranacook Civil Rights team and the GSTA group throughout high school. Woessner has been working since the end of her freshman year. She also has volunteered to help read to kids at the kindergarten level. She traveled to Spain and France in April of this year with a program provided by Maranacook.

Woessner plans to attend the University of Southern Maine and study biochemistry.

Lilly Mushlit of Manchester, daughter of James and Deane Mushlit, has participated in cross country running and Track since sixth grade. Within freshman year, she obtained her varsity letter and was a captain senior year for both cross country and track. She is a member of the National Honors Society, where she serves an active role in helping out with volunteer opportunities for the community.

Mushlit has been involved in community volunteering since 2021. She is a volunteer summer track coach for the Lakers Track Club, helping mentor youth athletes in their events.

Mushlit plans to attend the University of New England and major in athletic training.

Brandon Chilton of Readfield, son of Todd and Erika Chilton, has been a part of the golf and basketball teams for the past four years of high school; he also played baseball his senior year. He was a golf state champion in 2022 and a runner up state champ in 2023. He was awarded MVC all-conference second team for basketball; he also tied for second in the MVC golf championship. He was a teacher assistant for Julie Orcutt his senior year.

He is committed to Southern Maine Community College for golf, and plans to transfer to a four-year college after his two years at SMCC.

Margaret Morrill of Wayne, daughter of Sarah and Chase Morrill, was the junior class representative, which led her to become student body president her senior year. In this role, she was able to lead the Student Council as they took on numerous events throughout the year. She has been a member of the alpine ski team for four years and was captain for two.

Morrill has been a member of the Civil Rights Team for all four years at Maranacook; her roles include vice president junior year. She is also a member of the Rho Kappa Honors Society and Sources of Strength, and a member of the writing center tutors. She is also the summer intern at the Cary Memorial Library, all while working retail for her father throughout the year.

Morrill will be attending a college for biology.

Abigail Allen of Manchester is daughter of Anne Murray and Adam Garland. She has been a part of the field hockey team for three years, the cross country team for one year and the tennis team for two years, and has been the captain of the Black Tigers Winslow Co-op Ice hockey team. She has been a part of other various activities such as Student Voice’s committee head, National Honor Society president, Rho Kappa Honor Society vice president, Tri-M honor society participant and a member of the Regional School Unit 38 board.

Allen is also a part of the Jazz and Concert band, playing the baritone saxophone. She was awarded the Saint Michaels book award her junior year for community engagement and leadership. She also spends time in the summer volunteering at the Augusta Food Bank. As NHS president she hosted a KVAC animal shelter fundraising drive.

Allen plans to major in neuroscience and minoring in forensic science at Merrimack College this fall.

Mila Barnes-Bukher of Mount Vernon is the daughter of Emil Bukher and Kate Barnes. She is an active member of her community and school. She has been involved in Maranacook theater and chamber choir since her freshman year. She is a member of Student Senate, the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the National Honor Society, and the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society. She is also a writing center coach.

Barnes-Bukher plans to attend Temple University to obtain her master’s degree in social work.

Cassidy McCormack of Readfield is the daughter of Jenna Mehnert and Andrew McCormack. She has been a member of the Maranacook Student Senate throughout high school and serves as student body secretary. Early on in high school, she served on the RSU 38 school board as an underclassman representative. She is vice president of the Maranacook National Honors Society chapter and is the Rho Kappa Historical Society Secretary. In addition to being the social media manager of the Tri-M Music Honors Society, she has participated in multiple District 3 and All-State choirs.

Throughout the school year, McCormack participated in the theater program. She is also the captain of the state champion-winning varsity girls’ tennis team. This is her third year serving as a mentor to middle school-aged students at MCMS. She has earned the Univerity of Vermont Citizen Scholar Award and the University of Rochester Fredrick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony Award. Additionally, McCormack participated in the iCivics Unplugged Fellowship.

McCormack plans to attend Gettysburg College, pursuing a degree in political science.

 

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