Legends to honor pair of CHS students with scholarships

6 years ago

CARIBOU, Maine — The Maine Sports Legends will present Caribou High School seniors Gabrielle Marquis and Evan Desmond with scholarships at the annual Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors induction banquet being held June 24 at Alfond Boys and Girls Club in Waterville.

Mark Rossignol, John Habeeb and Richard Cormier are this year’s Maine Sports Legends Hall of Honors inductees representing the northern division.

Gabrielle Marquis

Marquis will graduate from Caribou High School fourth in her class with an academic average of 94.8. She is the daughter of Paul and Beth Marquis of Caribou.

She participated in varsity soccer, basketball and tennis all four years of her high school athletic career. She was the captain of the soccer team for one year and the basketball and tennis teams for two years.

Marquis received post-season awards in all three sports. In soccer, she was named to the All-Aroostook Team and the Penobscot Valley Conference All-Academic Team. In basketball, she has received several Big East Conference honors, made the All-Aroostook Team, the PVC All-Academic Team and was the team MVP the past two seasons.

In tennis, Marquis has made the All Aroostook Team for three years, was All-State two years and team MVP three years. She was named PVC Player of the Year twice and is participating in the State Singles Tournament for the fourth consecutive year.  

Along with varsity sports, she was class president, a National Honor Society member, a Gifted and Talented program member, a member of the Caribou Offshore Wind Power team and played in the school’s concert, marching and jazz bands.

For community involvement, Marquis participated in packaging meals for ‘End Hunger Aroostook,’ organized a Muscular Dystrophy fundraiser, volunteered coaching a ‘Mini Vike’ soccer clinic to elementary students, volunteered at the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen and volunteered as a summer tennis instructor.

She received a full scholarship to attend Explo at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, for three weeks in 2017 by being a Richard Steele Scholar.

Marquis will be attending the University of Maine at Orono, majoring in pre-med in the fall as a sophomore as she completed her college freshman courses while in high school.

Evan Desmond

Desmond will graduate from Caribou High School sixth in his class with an academic average of 94.3. He is the son of Steve and Michelle Desmond of Caribou.

Desmond participated in varsity cross country, Nordic skiing and track and field all four years and was captain of all three teams.

Caribou’s Evan Desmond checks his time after crossing the finish line first in the 1,600-meter run, ahead of teammate Dylan Marrero and several other competitors, during the May 10 varsity track meet in Presque Isle. Desmond is the male winner of the Maine Sports Legends – Northern Division scholarship. (Kevin Sjoberg)

He was chosen for the All-Aroostook Cross Country Team and his Caribou Cross Country Team was Eastern/Northern Maine Champion three years. In Nordic skiing, he placed 15th at the state meet and in track and field he qualified for the state meet in the race walk.

Desmond has had many academic awards in high school by being a three time Math Award winner with highest honor and he received the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award.  

He is a member of the National Honor Society, serving as recording secretary for two years, and he is a member of the student council, serving as vice president for two. Desmond also serves as president of the school’s Key Club.

In the community, he has been active in the Caribou Little League, working at the annual Viking Run youth running event and setting up cross country courses for the races. He also has served as a tutor.

Desmond will attend the University of Maine at Orono in the fall as he has been accepted into the College of Engineering. Due to his outstanding academic performance, he will receive the UMaine Flagship Scholarship each year.