Mark B. Jago, headmaster of Greater Houlton Christian Academy, is pleased to announce the honor parts for the graduating class of 2009.
Valedictorian is Britta Sjoberg, the daughter of Fred and Marilyn Sjoberg of Hodgdon and the granddaughter of Ruby Sjoberg, also of Hodgdon. Britta has attended Greater Houlton Christian Academy since second grade and has been an excellent student from the beginning. Britta was recognized this year with the Maine Principal’s Association Award. She is a three-year recipient of the Rotary Club’s Student Recognition Award, recognizing outstanding students from area schools. She has been chosen for Who’s Who Among High School Students and was a nominee for National Youth Leadership. Britta has also been honored with the Distinguished Christian High School Student Award and is on the National Honor Roll. Greater Houlton Christian Academy has awarded Britta many academic achievement and character awards over her school career.
Britta has been a member of the varsity cross country team for all four years and served as baseball manager for two years. She sang in the school choir for one year. She has also shown leadership abilities in her role as class president for two years and a member of student council for two years. She served one year on the yearbook staff at school.
Her involvement doesn’t end with school hours, as she continues to serve her community as a Meals on Wheels volunteer, church youth group leader, and a leader in her church’s kids’ club. She has accomplished all of this in addition to holding a part-time babysitting position with a local family.
In the fall, Britta plans to attend Indiana Wesleyan University, where she will study elementary education.
Kaitlyn Bell, daughter of Brian and Debbie Bell of Houlton, has been named Salutatorian of the class of 2009. Kaitlyn has been a student at GHCA since her first day of kindergarten. She has been an outstanding student throughout her high school years. She was chosen for the President’s Education Award, received the Houlton Rotary Club Certificate of Achievement, and was named a Distinguished Christian High School Student. Because of Kaitlyn’s outstanding academic performance, she has received many academic certificates of excellence in all academic disciplines over the last four years.
Kaitlyn is a talented musician and has used her gifts as a member of the Houlton Full Gospel Praise Team and on the recent Inner City Mission Team to Los Angeles. She also often performs at school functions and has been a member of the school choir and the community choir.
Kaitlyn plans to further her education at Valley Forge Christian College in Pennsylvania.
Mackenzie Burns, the son of Randall and Melanie Burns, is the First Honor Essayist of Greater Houlton Christian Academy for the class of 2009. Mackenzie is another young person who has been a GHCA student since kindergarten. His diligent work as a student has earned him many school academic awards as well as the President’s Education Award for Educational Excellence. He has also been honored by the Houlton Rotary Club with a Certificate of Achievement. GHCA has been proud of Mackenzie’s participation in the Northern Maine Math League.
Mackenzie has been active in the sports program throughout his high school career. He has been on the soccer, basketball, baseball, volleyball and cross country teams. His leadership is also shown in his involvement with student council and his participation on the chapel sound team and praise team.
Outside of school, Mackenzie has been a volunteer in many activities of his home church, Military Street Baptist Church. He has been a choir assistant at Terrific Tuesday Kids’ Club. He has also been involved in his church youth group, choir and worship team. He attended Junior National Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C.
Mackenzie’s education at GHCA has been enhanced by his many opportunities to travel including trips to Nicaragua, Israel, New Zealand and Australia. He has also been a member of missions’ teams traveling to Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.
In the fall, Mackenzie plans to attend Biola University in California.
