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TOP 10

Kennebec Journal Staff

GARDINER -- Gardiner Area High School has announced its top 10 students in the class of 2010.

Katie Schide, daughter of Patricia Hart and John Schide of Gardiner, is valedictorian. She is a Gardiner Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and a past Dirigo Girls State delegate. Schide has served her class as vice president. She is president of the student council and has also served as secretary. She is a band member, including concert band and jazz band, and serves on the Band Board. She has been involved with the Civil Rights Team and the Latin Club. She has been awarded AP Scholar Recognition, the Air Force Math and Science Award, the Smith College Book Award, and Rotary Student of the Month Award. Schide is captain of the varsity field hockey team, winning a state title this year. She is also captain of the varsity tennis team and has been a member of the varsity indoor track team and on the KVAC and All-State Field Hockey teams. She was selected as the Kennebec Journal's Field Hockey Player of the Year. She has been stage manager for musicals at the school and has also helped with the summer theater camp at Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center. Schide has also volunteered at Gardiner Public Library and at youth field hockey and track clinics. She enjoys skiing, snowboarding, biking, and hiking, completing 185 miles of the Long Trail in Vermont. Schide will attend Middlebury College in the fall with a major in environmental science.

Brian Jortner, son of Marianne Ringel and Wayne Jortner of Gardiner, is salutatorian. A Gardiner Scholar, Jortner is a member of the National Honor Society and a past Dirigo Boys State delegate. He is a member of the Civil Rights Team and the Math Team. He has received awards for AP English, honors English, honors science, honors world history, honors U.S. history, honors algebra II, career and technology, Spanish II and Spanish III, as well as the Yale Book Award, the Phi Beta Kappa Award, and the Rotary Student of the Month Award. Jortner is a member of the varsity tennis team and earned the Most Valuable Player award his sophomore year. In the community, he volunteers for Habitat for Humanity and Konbit Sante. He enjoys skateboarding and traveling.

Jortner will attend Oberlin College in the fall with an undeclared major.

Kasey Villeneuve, daughter of Judith and Joseph Villeneuve of Pittston, is ranked third. She is a Gardiner Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. She is a member of the band, the Art Club, the Civil Rights Team, and the Math Team. Villeneuve has received awards for science, history, English and Spanish, as well as the St. Anselm's Book Award, the Bausch & Lomb Award, the Psychology Award, the Rotary Student of the Month Award, and a letter of commendation from National Merit Scholarship. In the community, she volunteers at the Boys/Girls Club in Gardiner. She enjoys knitting.

Villeneuve will attending Bowdoin College in the fall with a major in biology.

Santina Snow, daughter of Dedra Snow and Sam Snow of Pittston, is ranked fourth. She is a Gardiner Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and a past Dirigo Girls State alternate. She has been a member of the high school band and serves on the Band Board. Snow is on the varsity swim team, serving as captain. She earned the Most Valuable Player award and secured a place on the KVAC All-Academic Team. She has received awards for Wellness I, keyboarding, honors English, French II and III, world history, pre-calculus, the Air Force math and Air Force science, as well as the Wellesley Book Award. She has volunteered as a tutor, worked on Pizazz, helped assemble and deliver Thanksgiving baskets, and was a blood drive volunteer. In the community she is involved as a lifeguard and swim instructor at the Kennebec Valley YMCA and enjoys mini-cup racing.

Snow will attend Bates College in the fall with a major in biology.

Cody Russell, son of Ilene and Anthony Russell of Gardiner, is ranked fifth. He is a Gardiner Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. He is a member of the band and jazz band and serves on the Band Board. He is a member of the varsity football team. In the community, Russell has been involved with Gardiner youth football and has volunteered at Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center. He enjoys weightlifting.

Russell will attend the University of Maine at Orono in the fall with a major in civil engineering.

Emily Kozma, daughter of Edward and Stephanie Kozma of Pittston, is ranked sixth. She is a Gardiner Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and a past Dirigo Girls State delegate. Kozma has served as class president and student council treasurer. She is vice president of the student council. She also serves on class council. She is a member of the band and serves as secretary of the Band Board. She is a member of chorus and the newly formed Show Choir. She was a member of the Spanish Club and is a member of the Drama Club. Kozma was a member of the junior varsity basketball team, advancing to the varsity team and serving as captain. She is also a member of the varsity soccer team and varsity lacrosse, serving as captain of both, and is a member of varsity tennis teams. Kozma received the Rotary Student of the Month Award, was selected Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership representative and representative for the Maine Youth Leadership Training Program. In the community, Kozma has coached at youth soccer, basketball, and lacrosse camps, tutored students, and helped senior citizens with house and yard work. She enjoys horseback riding, playing the guitar and piano, and drawing.

Kozma will attend the University of Southern Maine in the fall with an undeclared major.

Annah Kimball, daughter of Russell and Sandra Kimball of South Gardiner, is ranked seventh. She is a Gardiner Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and a past delegate of Dirigo Girls State. Kimball served as class secretary and class treasurer, as well as homeroom representative and as student council representative, serving as treasurer. She has been a yearbook staff member, serving as editor, and is also on the Math Team. She is a member of the varsity basketball team and the varsity soccer team, serving as captain. She received the Most Valuable Player award, a place on the All-Conference Second Team, and the All-Academic Team. She has received awards for Latin, math and art, as well as the St. Michael's Book Award, honorable mention in the Medical Society Essay Contest, and was an art sculpture winner in the A Matter of Conscience art contest. In the community, Kimball volunteers at blood drives, soup kitchens, youth soccer and basketball camps, sports medicine clinics, and assembling and delivering Thanksgiving baskets. She enjoys sports, running and art.

Kimball will attend Saint Anselm College in the fall with a major in nursing.

Allison Casey, daughter of Diane Morabito of Gardiner and of Jerry Casey and Patrice Putman of Winthrop, is ranked eighth. She is a Gardiner Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, and a past Dirigo Girls State delegate. She serves as a homeroom representative as well as student council representative. Casey is a member of the band, serving on Band Board and holding the offices of secretary and president. She is a member of the Spanish Club and Drama Club, serving as secretary and president. She was a member of the junior varsity tennis team and the varsity team. She has received awards for English and algebra as well as the Williams Book Award and the Rotary Student of the Month Award. She has participated in the high school musicals as well as with Pizzaz, serving as chairwoman. In the community, she has participated in Trek Across Maine, and served on the Maine State Youth Council, UCC.

Casey will attend The George Washington University in the fall with a major in international affairs.

Travis Mason, son of Ron and Tammy Mason of Gardiner, is ranked ninth. He is a Gardiner Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. Mason has been a member of the freshman basketball team, advancing to the junior varsity basketball team, and is a member of the varsity tennis team. He has received awards for Web page design, lab biology, lab chemistry and American Studies. In the community he has volunteered at the Maine Veterans' Home and participated in the Outward Bound Program.

Mason will attend Thomas College in the fall with a major in computer science and technology.

Emilie Hillman, daughter of Tom and Lisa Hillman of Gardiner, is ranked 10th. Hillman is a Gardiner Scholar and a member of the National Honor Society. She was a member of both the junior varsity and varsity soccer teams, advancing to the varsity team and serving as assistant captain. She was a member of the indoor track and field team and is a member of the outdoor track and field team. She received the Most Outstanding Performer for Girls' Track and Field Award, a place on the All-Academic Soccer and Indoor Track teams, as well as the All-Conference Indoor Track team. In the community, Hillman has volunteered for the Boys and Girls youth summer track and field program. She enjoys dancing with the Uptowne Dance Competition Team, serving as captain.

Hillman will attend Lyndon State College in the fall with a major in atmospheric science.