AUGUSTA – Seventy middle school pupils were honored at the Maine Middle Level Scholar-Leader Awards Banquet on May 31 at the Augusta Civic Center.

First lady Mary Herman and Commissioner of Education J. Duke Albanese addressed the young leaders at the banquet.

The criteria for the statewide award includes demonstrating academic initiative and scholarship, providing service to classmates and school, exemplifying positive attitudes and demonstrating leadership in the classroom and at school activities.

The event is sponsored by the Maine Association of Middle Level Education and the New England League of Middle Schools. Plaques were presented to the following students from 35 schools:

Auburn Middle School, Auburn: Hannah Giasson, Matt Sonagere; Biddeford Middle School, Biddeford: Rebecca Kerner, Joel Tourigny; Boothbay Region Middle School, Boothbay Harbor: Casey Latter, Emily Moore; Cape Elizabeth Middle School, Cape Elizabeth: Amanda Tuttle, Joseph Unnold; Elm Street School, Mechanic Falls: Jaime Dorion, Emily Goss; Falmouth Middle School, Falmouth: Hallie Applebaum, Kimberly Hassett; Freeport Middle School, Freeport: Tess Marstaller, Jeff Smith; D.R. Gaul Middle School, Union: Jacob Boggs, Katie Jo Boynton; A.D. Gray Middle School, Waldoboro: Emily Havener, Sarah Hunter; Harrison Middle School, Yarmouth: Erik Fisher, Courtney Peterson; Holbrook School, East Holden: Katelyn Andrle, Brian Roach; Jay Middle School, Jay: Jenna Lord, Kariss Richards; Lake Region Middle School, Naples: Monica Bell, Kimberly Tremblay; Lewiston Middle School, Lewiston: Eric Carvalho, Beth Schutt; Livermore Falls Middle School, Livermore Falls: Bradley Bryant, Jenna Collins; Mount Ararat Middle School, Topsham: Clay Bode, Lisa Guerette: Mount Blue Middle School, Farmington: Tom Anderson, Mike Spaulding: Mount Jefferson Junior High School, Lee: Michaela Ham, Shelby Pickering; Newport Elementary School, Newport: Dana Andrews, Sarah Bradstreet; Orono Middle School, Orono: Ana Blagojevic, Katie Wagner; Reeds Brook Middle School, Hampden: Amy Dumont, Scott Simpson; Rockland District Middle School, Rockland: Thomas Chartrand, Karen Landry; Saco Middle School, Saco: Devin Hilton, Janna Pendleton; SeDoMoCha Middle School, Dover-Foxcroft: Alyssa Robinson, Caitlyn Walsh; Shapleigh Middle School, Kittery: Katherine Sousa, Victoria Sousa; Southern Aroostook Community School, Island Falls: Katie McNally, Thomas St. Pierre; Sugg Middle School, Lisbon Falls: Lindsy Baril, Juston Blouin; Thomaston Grammar School, Thomaston: Willow Henry-Ewell, Thora Moss; Tripp Middle School, Turner: Claire SeSoi, Levi Jackson; Warsaw Middle School, Pittsfield: Matthew Huff, Jeremy West; Winthrop Middle School, Winthrop: Nicole Emery, Aimee Simoneau; Wiscasset Middle School, Wiscasset: Kevin Jewett, Sarah Whitfield; York Middle School, York: Katelyn Kaminske, Anna Lauren Levy.

Dr. Robert Spear, executive director of the NELMS, noted that “recognizing students for all the good things they do at this turbulent time in their lives sends a clear message to them about what is important and valued by schools, parents and the society generally.”

For information on the Maine Middle Level Scholar-Leader Award, contact Wallace Alexander, MAMLE executive director, at 581-2497.