Five represent Class of ’16
HOULTON, Maine — Houlton High School Principal Marty Bouchard has announced the honor parts for the Class of 2016.
June Choi has been named valedictorian, while Amira Abouleish and Chelsea Gentle have been named co-salutatorians. Rachel Provost has been selected as the first honors essayist, while Megan Collett is second honors essayist.Choi is the daughter of Keun-Hyung and Jung-Ran Choi and resides with guardians Alois and Robin Provost of Houlton. She is the president of Houlton High School’s Student Council, vice-president of the National Honor Society, and she was recently named Student of the Month for excellence in Social Studies.
Choi was class treasurer her junior year and is currently the senior banquet organizer. An honors student, she has received certificates of excellence in social studies and English and a certificate of merit for excellence in science and mathematics from the Society of Women Engineers.
In addition, June has received the National School Development Council’s Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning, a certificate of recognition from the Phi Beta Kappa Association of Maine, and certificates of achievement from the New England Student Leadership Conference and the Houlton Rotary Club. She has received the Principal’s Award throughout her academic career and has received STEM (Science, Technology, Engineer, and Mathematics) Fair awards in environmental science (first) and biology (second), as well as placing second overall during STEM Fair.
In addition to her academic successes, Choi excels in musical, show choir, jazz band, jazz combo, and symphonic band having received certificates of achievement for all. She is a student representative to the RSU 29 Board of Directors, a student mentor, and a member of the varsity tennis team.
Choi, who is a perfect attendance award recipient, also enjoys playing piano, travelling (especially to South Korea), and exploring new towns and shops. She plans to attend the University of Richmond in Virginia.
Abouleish is the daughter of Dr. Hassan and Yvette Abouleish of Houlton. She is president of Houlton’s Chapter of the National Honor Society, a Williams College Book Award recipient, and was a top 10 nominee for the State Board of Education. An honors student, Abouleish has received the Principal’s Award each year and was named Student of the Month for excellence in English and Languages, received the Excellence in English Award, and was a Princeton Book Award nominee as well as taking first in Chemistry during STEM Fair.
Along with her academic accolades, Abouleish is involved in musical, show choir, percussion ensemble, A Capella group, and symphonic band with her hobbies including piano and dance. Along with being a student mentor and a member of student council, she is a tutor and student/instructor at the Houlton School of Dance. She will attend Mount Allison University in New Brunswick, Canada where she will study pre-law.
Gentle is the daughter of Cheryl and Heath Gentle and resides in Houlton. She is an honors student who is a member of Houlton High School’s Chapter of the National Honor Society and winner of the Junior Class Math Award and Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award in 2015. She was a freshman mentor and excels on the Shire varsity basketball and soccer teams having made team captain for two years and playing in two basketball state championships.
In addition, Gentle was an All-Northern Maine soccer player in 2015, an All-Aroostook soccer player in 2014 and 2015, an All-Eastern Maine soccer player in 2014, a PVC All-Academic for soccer in 2015, a PVC/Big East All-Academic for basketball in 2015/16, and she was on the PVC second team for Class C soccer in 2014 and the PVC first team for Class C soccer in 2015. Gentle also earned the PVC/Big East Defensive Award and was named Student of the Month for Athletic Achievement. She was also recognized for student leadership in 2014 and 2015 and enjoys reading and playing soccer and baseball in her spare time.
Gentle will attend Husson University in Bangor where she will study pre-pharmacy.
Provost is the daughter of Alois and Robin Provost of Houlton. She is a National Honor Society Member, a National Technical Honor Society Member, and student of the month award recipient. A Principal’s Award recipient throughout her school years, Provost had received the Greater Houlton Christian Academy Eagle Award, was a student mentor, a Student Council member, and class officer for two years.
She has also been a member of the volleyball team throughout high school and was a member of the Houlton School of Dance for eight years with a special interest in ballet. She enjoys volunteering in her community, cooking and is currently employed at Mardens department store. Provost will attend the University of Southern Maine where she will study biochemistry and pre-dental before going on to dental school.
Collett is the daughter of Peter and Lisa Collett of Houlton. She is an honors student and a member of the National Honor Society who was recognized for student leadership in 2014 and 2015. She is a student mentor and a four-year member of Houlton High School’s varsity basketball and soccer teams, having been named a PVC All-Academic and serving on two state championship teams.
In addition, she was junior varsity team captain for basketball and soccer three years in a row and volunteers with Little League and the Southern Aroostook Minor Hockey Association. Collett, who will serve as Class Marshal during the Class of 2016 Commencement Exercises, enjoys sports, water skiing, and reading. She will attend Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts majoring in accounting.
