Top five PIHS graduates recognized
PRESQUE ISLE — Donna Lisnik, principal at Presque Isle High School, has announced the top graduates for the Class of 2011. The commencement was held June 10.
Paul Elish
Graduating first in the class was Paul Elish, son of Walt and Therese Elish. In addition to taking the most demanding course load offered at PIHS, Elish has been extremely active in extracurricular activities, including the Math Team, Debate Team, and the Critical Issues Forum on Nuclear Non-Proliferation. During his junior year, Elish was inducted into the National Honor Society, represented Maine as a delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program, and was selected as a Bezos Scholar to the Aspen Institute Ideas Festival in Aspen, Colo.
An excellent musician, Elish has played in the PIHS Jazz Band, UMPI Community Band, and the Shipmates’ Playhouse Pit Band. At this year’s academic awards banquet, he received the English, Spanish, and Math Department awards and was the only student to achieve a GPA of 95 or greater throughout the first 15 quarters of his high school career, making him a four-year Presidential Honor Student and earning him the Honor Ring.
A National Merit Scholarship finalist, this fall Elish will attend Yale University.
Stephen Goulet
Stephen Goulet, son of Amy Goulet and Darren Goulet, has graduated second in Presque Isle High School’s Class of 2011. A well-rounded student, Goulet has taken a strong academic course load and has been involved in a wide variety of extra-curricular activities. He has been a member of band, Debate Team, Math Team, Jazz Band, Varsity Club, and was a delegate to Dirigo Boys State during his junior year. Goulet was also a member of the track and field team and swim team throughout high school and was named captain to both his senior year.
At this year’s academic awards banquet, Goulet earned the French Department Award and Academic Honor Bar. As Senior Patrol Leader with the Boy Scouts, Goulet has also been active in the community. This fall he will attend the University of Maine as a Pulp and Paper Scholar, majoring in engineering.
Graduating third is Divya Bisht. At this year’s academic awards banquet, Bisht received the Honors/AP Award, indicating that she has completed at least 14 of the 16 most academically challenging courses offered at PIHS. She also received the Science Department Award and Academic Lamp of Learning.
Divya Bisht
Bisht has been a strong school citizen, participating in the school musical, Debate Team, Math Team and Student Council, to which she was elected president her senior year. During her junior year, she was inducted into the National Honor Society. Bisht also was a member of the Tennis Team (captain her senior year) and Swim Team (captain her junior year). As a Girl Scout, Bisht has earned her Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.
The daughter of Rita and Vikram Bisht, she will attend Colby College as a bio-chemistry major.
Brock Cassidy
Brock Cassidy, son of Dr. Donald and Kathleen Cassidy, has graduated fourth in the Class of 2011. As well as carrying a challenging academic load, Cassidy has also been an active member of the school community, where he has been on the Debate Team, Varsity Tennis Team, Swim Team, and Baseball Team. During his junior year, he was a delegate to Dirigo Boys State and was inducted into the National Honor Society, to which he was elected president his senior year.
As a NHS member, Cassidy served as chairperson for the Spring Special Olympics for Aroostook County. He was also a member of the Student Council, serving as treasurer his junior year and vice president his senior year. As a junior, he also received the Springfield College Book Award. At this year’s Academic Banquet, Cassidy received the NAASP/Herff Jones Principal’s Leadership Award and the Honors Lamp of Learning. This fall he will attend Bowdoin College, where he will study government.
Caleb Mathers
Graduating fifth in the Class of 2011 is Caleb Mathers, son of Mike and Jolayne Mathers. Mathers has been enrolled in a challenging academic program and has been a strong school citizen. Inducted into the National Honor Society his junior year, he helped coordinate the annual blood drive. He also represented PIHS as a Dirigo Boys State Delegate.
Mathers has been a member of the Soccer, Tennis, and Debate teams, Varsity Club, Critical Issues Forum, and Competition Play, where he worked as stage manager his senior year. During his senior year, he served as captain for both the Volleyball and Tennis teams.
At this year’s Academic Awards Banquet, Mathers earned the Honors Lamp of Learning. This fall, he will attend the University of Maine as a mechanical engineering major.
