Spaulding High School Top 10 Graduates 2017

The Spaulding High School faculty and staff are proud to announce the Top 10
graduating seniors for the Class of 2017. Rankings are based on the cumulative grade
point average through the third quarter of this year. The honored graduates are listed in
alphabetical order, as the determination of valedictorian and salutatorian, based on
grades for the entire four years of high school, will be calculated and announced at
graduation, June 16, 2017.
Rachel Bamford, apart from being an exceptional student, has distinguished herself in
local, regional and national tournaments as an extraordinary bowler. Captain of the
Spaulding Varsity Bowling Team for three of her four years in high school, Rachel was
recognized by the NHIAA and the Rochester Athletic Association as a Student Athlete
of the Month for January, earned the title of U15 Going for the Gold Champion and
became the 1st New England Heavy Weight Bowling Champion (competing against the
boys). She placed in the top ten percent of the country at Junior Gold National
Championship where she ranked 26 out of 285 girls.
Rachel, who received the Smith College Book Award, tutors her peers in math
through Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), engages in community service through
National Honor Society and Spanish Honor Society, served as an editor for the
yearbook and coaches at youth leagues and adult training clinics.
For all of her love of bowling, Rachel described her most personally meaningful
activity as caroling with the National Honor Society at local nursing homes and
elementary schools prior to Christmas. It was inspirational, and proved that one small
act of kindness can have a huge impact.
Rachel, who is the daughter of Daniel and Monique Bamford of Gonic, was
accepted at Franklin Pierce University, Monmouth University, Sacred Heart University
and University of New Hampshire. Rachel will pursue a degree in biology and compete
on the bowling team at Sacred Heart University. She plans to study veterinary medicine
in the future.

Emily Benson, who will enter college with an open-mind about her ultimate college
major, knows that she is drawn toward the humanities and history as a means of better
understanding people and promoting both tolerance and equality in the world.
Having spent the summer at St. Pauls Advanced Studies Program where she
took a course called Changing the World, Emily describes that experience as life
changing. It ignited a passion that enabled her to learn not only the course material,
but also to tap into her personal courage and recognize her own ability to make a
positive difference by acting on her convictions.
At Spaulding, Emily participated on Class Council for four years and has been
involved in the Student Senate as secretary, vice president and now co-president. In her
role as co-president she has been a student participant at meetings of the Rochester
School Board where she reports on school events and projects and offers a student
perspective on issues.
 Volunteering as a mentor in our Mentor/Mentee program and serving on the
Student Leadership team formed by our principal, Emily is one of a small group of
students who took the initiative to provide experiences for students that promote
tolerance and acceptance and began to re-ignite Spauldings strong sense of
community. She also served as the Faculty and Underclassmen Editor for the yearbook,
was a member of the Spaulding High School Band for two years and participated in
Project SEARCH and the National Honor Society.
Emily is a four-year member of the varsity ski team (Sportsmanship Award and
Most Improved), serving as captain for two years and is a three-year member of the JV
volleyball team, serving as co-captain for two years. She helped design and produce
lighting effects for the Masque and Dagger Drama productions for four years, serving as
co-leader for two of those years. Through Granite State Racing Services, she also
volunteered as a timer at both cross country and track meets.
Accepted at Allegheny College, Champlain College and Dickinson College, she
will study at Dickinson College in the fall.
Emily is the daughter of Kimberly and Christopher Benson of Rochester.

Jordan Gosselin, a NH Scholar and Scholar Athlete, is the son of Cindy and Kevin
Gosselin of Rochester.
A four-sport athlete soccer (Most Improved Player), baseball, indoor track and
unified basketball, Jordan also plays Buddy Ball outside of school. Additionally, Jordan
volunteers at Rochester Middle School as an assistant baseball coach.
It is unified basketball that Jordan identified as his most personally meaningful
activity in high school. He noted that being able to interact and become good friends
with these students whom he might not otherwise have known has been a life-changing
and deeply memorable experience for him.
Beyond sports, Jordan belongs to the Spanish Honor Society and Mu Alpha
Theta (math honor society) through which he tutors his peers who may need support
with math.
Jordans passion for math has led him to consider a future career as an actuary,
an accountant or a financial advisor. Accepted at Castleton University, Curry College
and Fisher College, he will begin his studies in either accounting or statistics as a
member of the Honors program at Fisher College where he was also recruited to play
baseball.

Rebecca Knight, daughter of Michele and Jesse Knight of Rochester, is a young

woman with clear goals for her immediate future.
Accepted at Brigham Young University and the University of Redlands, Rebecca
will attend Brigham Young University in the fall with the intention of majoring in
business. She will attend for one year and then take an eighteen-month hiatus to
engage in mission work. Upon completion of her mission, she will return to BYU to
complete her degree. Rebecca is intrigued by the possibility of opening her own
business in the future and has taken courses in high school to prepare her for that goal.
In terms of commitments outside of school, Rebecca dedicated herself to
attending an early morning (before school) seminary class at her church every single
school day throughout her four years of high school. She also volunteered her time at
the New Beginnings Thrift Boutique, a non-profit organization that donates all proceeds
to local women and children in need.
With a passion for running, she participated in both lacrosse and cross-country
during her school career. Rebecca was the recipient of the St. Anselm College Book
Award, participated in the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and Mu
Alpha Theta (math honor society) and was named to the National Technical Honor
Society, as well. Through Mu Alpha Theta she tutored her peers in math. Rebecca was
a member of the SHS Marching Band for two years.

Elise Nelson has been active in a wide range of activities during her high school years
and was honored to receive the Holy Cross Book award in recognition of her
scholarship and service.
Elise, the daughter of Michelle and Michael Nelson of Rochester, identified the
week she spent at RYLA (Rotary Youth Leadership Awards) as the most meaningful
experience in her high school career. Always involved in activities, Elise nonetheless felt
that she was someone who lacked the confidence to speak up. At the RYLA program,
she learned how to use leadership skills to shine the light on others who may lack the
confidence to speak up. She learned how to interact with others without
overshadowing them.. It was a life altering experience for her because this camp
and the people there helped me to not only discover but also uncover my voice.I wish
I could go back and attend again!
The extra-curricular school commitments that Elise pursued include the Interact
Club (treasurer), Mentor/Mentee program, Project SEARCH and JV volleyball (co-
captain junior year). She was also inducted into both the National Honor Society and the
Spanish Honor Society and spent countless hours engaged in community service
activities through each of these organizations. Her volunteer efforts included
participating in Rochester Clean-up Day, sorting clothes at Gerrys Food Pantry,
painting faces at Octoberfest, assisting with the Haunted Tunnels, helping at the soup
kitchen in No. Berwick, ME, volunteering as a Welcomer at Ward 2 on Election Day
and helping to coordinate the Class of 2017 Color Run events.
Looking ahead to the future, Elise would like to become a pediatric disability
occupational therapist. Having been accepted at both University of New England and
the University of New Hampshire, she will attend the University of New Hampshire with
a major in occupational therapy.

Madison Provencher, daughter of Pamela and Jody Provencher of Rochester, is a

highly competitive athlete and scholar who has always made time to offer her support
and services within the community. She was a volunteer at St. Charles Childrens
Home, the Gafney Home and the Chamberlain Steet School Aftercare program.
Additionally, she participated in the James Foley Run, tutored students in math,
assisted at soup kitchens and middle school volleyball clinics and at an annual wiffle
ball fundraiser for metastatic breast cancer.
Volleyball and softball have been mainstays in Madisons life since elementary
school; she has been playing both sports year-round with NH Seacoast Volleyball and
the Rochester Slammers softball team. A scholar-athlete, she was also named to New
Hampshire All-State First Team for softball her junior year and Dream Team for
volleyball her freshman year. She was a captain of the volleyball team her senior year.
Madison tutors students in math through Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society)
and performs community service through the National Honor Society. She has also
been active in the French Honor Society and the Student Leadership team.
The most personally meaningful activity identified by Madison took place on the
senior class community service day. A group of students spent the day at the Gafney
Home hosting an Olympic Games Day. In addition to the fun-filled competitions held,
the Gafney Home seniors shared their dance moves and regaled the Spaulding seniors
with stories of their own high school days. I was able to bond and create
relationshipsit was both entertaining and rewarding and a day I will never forget.
Passionate about math, Madison is considering possible careers as an actuary,
an accountant or a math teacher. Having been accepted at Lasell College, St. Anselm
College, St. Joseph College, St. Michaels College and the University of New
Hampshire she has chosen to study math at St. Josephs College in the fall where she
will also play volleyball.

Emily Smiley is a young woman who would like to be defined by her passion for
helping those who have no voice. Her goal of studying to become a civil rights attorney
in the future should go a long way to cement that plan.
Throughout her years at Spaulding, Emily has participated in the Interact Club,
currently serving as treasurer. She loves the community service opportunities, as well
as the affiliation they have with the local Monarch School. This year, our local Rotary
Club sponsored the Interact officers on a trip to New York City, a trip that Emily
identified as her most personally meaningful event in high school. She not only
experienced being in a big city, observed the United Nations and celebrated the
importance of Rotary as an organization, but she also visited the 9/11 Memorial which
had a tremendous impact on her. She described that memorial as being extremely
powerful, and serving as a catalyst to her rediscovering the depth of what it really
means to her to be an Americanan unforgettable moment.
In addition to the Interact Club, Emily is co-president of the Human Rights Club,
belongs to the Spanish Honor Society, serves on the Teen Advisory Board for the public
library and volunteers through her church. She was the recipient of the Colby-Sawyer
Book Award.
Accepted at Becker College, Champlain College, Franklin Pierce University,
Simmons College, Susquehanna University, University of New Hampshire and
University of Vermont, she will study political science at the University of New
Hampshire in the fall.
Emily is the daughter of Robin Morrison-Smiley and David Smiley of Wakefield.

Spencer Wiles has been quoted as saying: To be perfectly honest, I live and breathe
music. That assessment gives context to the depth of his involvement in the
instrumental, choral, theatrical, leadership and composition aspects of our music
program.
 A trumpet player freshman year, he became a percussionist his sophomore year
and was this year named percussion captain. Similarly, he joined chorus sophomore
year and worked his way up to co-president of chorus as a senior. In our Masque and
Dagger drama productions, Spencer played Robertson Ay in Mary Poppins, wowed the
audience as Lord Farquaad in Shrek: The Musical and most recently delighted the
crowds as Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast.
He earned the second highest snare drum score at the New Hampshire All-State
Music Festival last year and returned to the festival this year to walk away with the top
snare score in New Hampshire.
Apart from music and drama, Spencer has been on the Spaulding Granite State
Challenge team and a member of both the National Honor Society and the French
Honor Society. He has also volunteered at several fellowship kitchens at the local
United Methodist Church.
Spencer aspires to earn his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Music Composition
with the intention of joining the faculty of a college or university. Ultimately, he would like
to compose music and travel as a clinician and educator.
Knowing his goals, its easy to understand why he described the most personally
meaningful activity in which he participated as an event that occurred on May 16 of this
year. Spencer, with the permission of the percussion instructor, Mr. Goodwin,
composed a six-minute-long percussion ensemble piece, Rising Sun, which he
performed with fourteen of his best friends at the final band concert of his high school
career. When the performance ended, I received my very first standing ovation for a
piece of music that I had created. It was an experience that cemented his decision to
study music composition which he will begin by studying music education at the
University of New Hampshire this fall.
Spencer is the son of Michael and Christine Wiles of Rochester.

Ashley Wilkins, daughter of Brian and Tara Wilkins of Rochester, has managed to
nurture and grow her natural leadership abilities through the activities in which she
chose to engage during high school.
As a Girl Scout since first grade, Ashley earned the prestigious Gold Award (the
equivalent honor to the better known Eagle Scout award earned through Boy Scouts).
Her project involved coordinating events at the Rockingham County Nursing Home that
brought teens and residents together to begin to bridge the gap between youth and the
elderly. She is currently a representative on the Board of Directors for Vermont and New
Hampshire Girl Scouts.
She was chosen to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) her
sophomore year and began to develop the skills needed to grow as a leader. She
became a volunteer facilitator at RYLA her junior year and it is that activity that Ashley
found to be most personally meaningful for her. In reference to RYLA, Ashley simply
states: there is no place on Earth like it . The facilitators provide positive,
engaging, encouraging support that creates a safe place for expressing thoughts and
taking on personal challenges. Now, as a facilitator herself, she has found that that role
has enabled her to continue to expand her own confidence even as she supports the
campers in their initial journey. She intends to participate in RYLA for as long as she
can because RYLA is changing the world one person at a time, and I want to help.
 Ashley received the Harvard Book Award her junior year for academic
excellence, strong character and achievement in other fields. She served as secretary
and head of school events for the National Honor Society, participates in the Latin
Honor Society as well as the Latin Club, and Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society)
through which she tutors students in math before school, twice a week.
Additional activities include writing for the Wandering Pen, participating in Project
SEARCH, serving on Class Council and playing varsity tennis for three years.
Accepted at Cedar Crest College and Stony Brook University, Ashley will study
biology with a concentration in neuroscience at Cedar Brook College. Her goal is to do
research in the area of neuroscience in the future.

Kerry Winfrey, a scholar-athlete and committed volunteer, is the son of Cindy and
Frank Williams of Rochester, and Darick Winfrey of New York City.
A two-year recipient of both the Varsity Hockey Sportsmanship Award and the
Most Valuable Player Award, and also named for two years to the New Hampshire All-
State Hockey Second Team, Kerry served as varsity captain both his junior and senior
years.
In addition to hockey, Kerry played football, ran track and served as a pinch
runner for the varsity baseball team.
A passionate athlete, Kerry is also a passionate scholar. Apart from always
pushing himself to exceed his own high expectations, his academic strength was further
validated when he attended the St. Pauls Advanced Studies Program last summer. He
studied Artificial Intelligence and earned not only a Superior ranking, but also an
invitation from his teacher to return as his intern in the future.
Kerry identified his St. Pauls summer as his most personally meaningful high
school experience. He noted that he now knows how it feels to be surrounded by
students who are as driven to learn and to push themselves beyond their own
perceptions of themselves as he has always been. To undertake the study of an
unfamiliar topic and find a way to stand out among his peers helped him to recognize
the limitless potential of his future academic pursuits. As a part of his class experience
he worked on a project with the University of Delawares GoBabyGo! program to
convert electric toy cars to assistive mobility devices for physically disabled children. It
was an especially inspirational experience.
A member of Mu Alpha Theta (math honor society), Kerry tutors his peers in
math, he attends Project SEARCH and participates on the Principals Student
Leadership Team. It was at the student leadership retreat that Kerry proposed the idea
of the Diversity Alliance, which he founded and facilitates. It is an after school
discussion group that addresses issues of tolerance for and acceptance of those whose
race, religion, sexual orientation, culture or socio-economic background may be
different from our own.
His volunteer efforts include coaching youth hockey for the Mites, helping at the
Rochester United Methodist Church Soup Kitchen, assisting with the Rochester Middle
School spring track meet, and cleaning the SHS art studios each Friday.
As an initiative of the Diversity Alliance, Kerry and others ate lunch in the
cafeteria with our ESOL students to help them feel more connected in our school
community.
 Kerry was accepted at Boston College, Colorado College, Connecticut College,
Davidson College, Dickinson College, New York University, Occidental College,
Providence College, University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts Amherst
and Lowell, University of New Hampshire, University of Pittsburgh and University of
Rhode Island. He will attend Davidson College and pursue his studies in either pre-
medicine or engineering.

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