Van Buren District Secondary School

VAN BUREN – Roderick P. Wright, principal of Van Buren District Secondary School, has announced the honor parts for the Class of 2001. Graduation exercises will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, June 1, at the high school gymnasium. The senior banquet will be at 6 p.m. May 29 at the high school cafeteria.

Valedictorian is Myra Cyr, daughter of Roland and Nancy Cyr of Van Buren. She is a member of the Crusader Chapter of the National Honor Society, the HOPE Team, and Maine Educational Talent Search. She also has served on the Crusader Student Senate for three years and is senior class secretary.

She has taken part in varsity soccer for four years and varsity tennis for three years, obtaining letters in both. She attended the Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Seminar and received the Bausch & Lomb Honorary Science Award, the Maine Scholar’s Achievement Award and the Heisman Award. She works at Phil’s Pizza and the Ouellette-Thibeault Funeral Home. She will attend Saint Joseph’s College in Standish to study biology and chemistry.

Salutatorian is Matthew Lajoie, son of Lorraine and Brian Lajoie of Van Buren. He is a member of the Crusader Chapter of the National Honor Society and has been a member of the Crusader Student Senate for three years, serving as president of both. He is vice president of Project Graduation and editor of the yearbook. He also was a member of the one-act drama competition cast, the County Scholars team, a member of the Crusader Band, band captain during his senior year. He also took part in sports with letters in soccer, tennis and cross-country skiing.

Lajoie was a state finalist for the Wendy’s High School Heisman Award, attended Dirigo Boys State and received the Samsung-American Legion Scholars Achievement Award, the International Foreign Language Award, the local Maine Principals’ Leadership Award, and the United States Achievement Academy National Award. He has achieved high honors during all four years at the school. He also has served the community, volunteering at the Special Olympics, Red Cross blood drives, and as a peewee soccer coach. He enjoys playing free concerts with his band for community events and is involved in his church as a lector and recipient of the Timothy Award at the Youth Ministry Convention. He plans to attend Bowdoin College, Brunswick.

Nathan Dionne, son of Clarence and Norma Dionne of Van Buren, is the third honor recipient. He was class treasurer, a member of the Crusader Chapter of the National Honor Society, and yearbook staff. He has focused on computer technology and took part in a cyberschool JAVA course. He attended Dirigo Boys State and maintained high honors throughout high school. He also received the University of Maine Scholars Achievement Award. He works at the Van Buren Tastee Freeze and has enlisted in the U.S. Air Force delayed entry program. He will attend the Air Force Community College to study computer technology.