John Bapst Memorial High School, Bangor

BANGOR – John Bapst Memorial High School Head Mel MacKay has announced the honor parts for the Class of 2008. The commencement ceremony will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at the John Bapst Auditorium.

Carolyn H. Ryder, daughter of Megan and Michael Ryder of Levant, has been named valedictorian for the Class of 2008. She will attend Dartmouth College to study biomedical engineering.

She is a Presidential Scholars Award semifinalist, National Merit finalist, Princeton Book award recipient, and Society of Women in Engineering Achievement Award winner. She serves as vice-president of the John Bapst Chapter of the National Honor Society and is a member of the school’s civil rights team, Key Club and math team.

Ryder has been recognized with several awards including selection to the John Bapst Chamber Ensemble, Honors Band, and All-State Music Festivals for flute in 2006 and 2007. She earned varsity letters in cross country and swimming in which she served as co-captain her senior year, as well as in track and field, for which she was selected to the Penobscot Valley Conference All-Conference 2nd team for 2006-07. She was also honored as a 2008 PVC Scholar-Athlete.

Maren Askins, daughter of Joanna Dotts-Askins and Gregory Askins of Bangor, has been named salutatorian for the Class of 2008. She will attend Bowdoin College to study biology.

She is an AP Scholar, a recipient of the Williams College Book Award, and a two-year member of the National Honor Society. In her junior year she completed an MDI Biological Laboratory internship which led to joint authorship of a research paper presented at a national seminar this past winter.

Askins has performed with the Bangor Youth String Ensemble, is a member of the John Bapst Chamber Ensemble, participated in All State Classical Festivals for cello in 2005 through 2008 and participated in the All Eastern Honors Orchestra in 2007. She earned varsity letters in cross country, Alpine and Nordic skiing, and track and served as co-captain of the cross country and ski teams during her senior year. She was selected to the Penobscot Valley Conference All-Conference 2nd teams in cross country and track and field for 2006 and 2007. She earned the title of Maine State Class C SkiMeister in 2007 and 2008 and was recently honored as a 2008 PVC Scholar-Athlete.