01-04-2025
Traip senior honored; Oyster River robotics champs: Education news
DURHAM — Several Oyster River Middle School (ORMS) robotics teams earned awards at the 2025 NH/VT Robotics State Championships on March 9.
Sixteen ORMS robotics teams competed, making up 41 percent of the teams in the event at Manchester Community College.
This year, students competed in the VEX IQ Robotics Competition Rapid Relay. During this competition, students compete in the Teamwork Challenge using two robots on a rectangular field, working together to score points in one-minute-long matches. Points were awarded based on how many goals are scored, how many switches are cleared, and how many successful passes the team completes before scoring.
Teams also competed in the Robot Skills Challenge, where one robot takes the field to score as many points as possible. During this contest, students are challenged to operate their robots using both driver-controlled skills and autonomous coding skills.
Oyster River students claimed 10 spots out of the top 13 in the Teamwork Challenge and had 10 of the top 12 highest-placing robots in the Robot Skills Challenge, including the top six spots.
The following teams received special awards at the tournament:
2820A "Flying Cockroaches": Excellence Award winner (best overall team based on interviews, documentation of engineering process and robot performance).
2820B "Howler Monkey": Skills Champions and Amaze Award winner.
2820C "Aimbot": Innovate Award winner.
2820R "The Octonauts": Design Award winner.
2820T "The Condiment Crew": Judge's Award winner.
2820Y "The Green Giants": Teamwork Champions.
Teams "Flying Cockroaches" and "The Green Giants" earned invitations to compete in May at the 2025 VEX Robotics World Championship in Dallas. The World Championship is the largest robotics competition in the world.
KITTERY, Maine — Meredith McGonigle of Kittery, Maine, a senior at Traip Academy, has been selected to receive the 2025 Principal's Award for her school, Principal Jane Durgin announced. The award, sponsored by the Maine Principals' Association, is given in recognition of a high school senior's academic achievement and citizenship. Ms Durgin stated, "Meredith is a Senior who embodies intellect, kindness and talent. A positive role model, she demonstrates integrity and a strong sense of responsibility."
Meredith is a senior at Traip Academy who stands out not only for her academic excellence but also for the quiet strength and grace she brings to every aspect of her life. She is an artist, with a passion for creativity that shines through in everything she does. Her work reflects not just talent but a deep sense of introspection, a way of seeing the world that is both unique and inspiring.
Though she's naturally artistic, it's her character that truly defines her. She is humble and kind, and her love for her family is evident in every interaction. Family is her foundation, and it's clear that the support and values she's received from them have shaped her into the person she is today.
As a role model, she leads by example. She doesn't need to be the loudest or most outspoken in the room—her actions speak for themselves. She's the one who steps up when something needs to be done, who listens carefully before offering advice, and who encourages others to strive for their best, even when no one is watching.
Her classmates admire her, not only for her achievements but for the way she makes others feel. Whether it's a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, or simply being present, she lifts the spirits of those around her. She embodies what it means to be strong and compassionate and as she prepares to move on from her school years at Traip Academy, she leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire
The MPA Honors Luncheon recognizes these outstanding students with the presentation of an individual plaque and the awarding of ten $1,000 scholarships in the names of former Maine principals and MPA Executive Directors: Horace O. McGowan, Richard W. Tyler, and Richard A. Durost.
The Principal's Award is presented in more than 100 Maine public and private high schools by member principals of the MPA, the professional association which represents Maine's school administrators.
ROCHESTER — Spaulding High School had an impressive showing at the 53rd New Hampshire Future Business Leaders of America State Leadership Conference, held March 20-21. Forty Spaulding students competed in various events, with 23 students earning top placements in both individual and team competitions.
In addition to strong individual performances, Spaulding earned several chapter awards, including:
2nd place – Scrapbook Competition
3rd place – Conference Exhibit
2nd place – FBLA Week Competition
Honor Chapter Award
State Chairperson Award – One of only two schools to complete all six State Projects
3rd place – Defeat the Darkness State Officer Project
3rd place – Pathway to Potential State Officer Project
3rd place – Community Connect State Officer Project
Individual & Team Awards:
Business Ethics – 1st: Sydney Daly & Damiya Perkins; 3rd: Connor Tune & Jayden Brown
Economics – 3rd: Scarlett Liu
Graphic Design – 3rd: Ashley Steward, Maddie Hartman, Samantha Krafton
Impromptu Speaking – 2nd: Rusty Keefe
Introduction to Business Presentation – 3rd: Cody Sprowl, Seth Jones, Logan Boutwell
Introduction to Social Media – 2nd: Avery Grant, Lindsay Seaver, Sarah Hogue; 3rd: Tyler Lindsay, Andrew Brooks
Social Media Strategies – 2nd: Mada Gauthier, Lexi Sanders
Sports and Entertainment – 2nd: Haleigh Raab
Human Resource Management – 4th: Wade Jones
Public Service Announcement – 4th: Ryleigh Sprowl, Lauren LaRose
Spaulding also earned the prestigious Gold Seal Chapter Award for the second year in a row, recognizing excellence in leadership, community involvement, and overall success.
Adding to the excitement, 10th grader Rusty Keefe was elected to the NH FBLA State Officer Team as Regional Coordinator.
ROCHESTER — The Salmon Falls School PTA announced the launch of an initiative: the Community Resource List, spearheaded by Samantha Smith, the incoming president of the Salmon Falls PTA and current president of the Chamberlain PTA. This innovative project aims to bring the Rochester community directly into the classroom and school events, fostering meaningful connections between schools, local individuals, and businesses to enrich the educational experience for students.
The initiative invites individuals and businesses to contribute their talents, services, and resources to enhance classroom learning and school events. From sharing exotic pets, historical artifacts, or fascinating collections to offering workshops in music, dance, theater, or technology, the list provides a wide range of opportunities for community members to get involved. Skilled gardeners, beekeepers, bakers, or carpenters are encouraged to teach students about nature, culture, or hands-on crafts, while those in public safety, medicine, or the military can share career insights to inspire the next generation.
Businesses are also encouraged to participate by offering guest speakers for career days, sponsoring supplies and materials, providing food and refreshments for events, hosting workshops, or offering discounts and giveaways for teachers, students, and PTA events. For example, Guyer Travel has committed to providing DJ services, oversized yard games, event sponsorships, and even participating in fun activities like getting slimed.
For information, contact Samantha Smith via email at salmonfallspta@
EXETER — The Exeter High School Future Business Leaders of America chapter recently participated in the State Leadership Conference in Manchester, alongside more than 450 students from across New Hampshire. This event offered students valuable opportunities to network with peers, engage in workshops designed to enhance their business skills, and compete in various business-related events.
The following students placed in the top three of their chosen event:
Jasmine Winham – 1st place in Data Analysis.
Alexander Thomas - Batchelder – 3rd place in Hospitality & Event Management.
Kaelyn Cooper – 3rd place in Business Law.
Jacob Filomeno – 3rd place in Accounting.
A special congratulations goes out to Caroline Normand for being nominated as a 2025-2026 NH State Officer.
The Seacoast School of Technology FBLA chapter also participated in the State Leadership Conference. Seacoast School of Technology is attended by several area high schools.
These students received awards:
Amaya Beckles (Newmarket HS) SST Digital Media Arts – 1st place with Distinction in Graphic Design
Hayden Gullage (Exeter) – SST Digital Media Arts 3rd Place in Visual Design
Julia Thomas (Exeter) – SST Digital Media Arts – 3rd Place in Visual Design
Autumn Fabiano (Exeter) - SST Digital Media Arts & Tied for 3rd Place in Visual Design
Emma Cannon (Exeter) SST Digital Media Arts – 3rd Place in Impromptu Speaking.
KENNEBUNK, Maine - School nutrition teams showcased their culinary skills using local ingredients at the regional Maine Farm-to-School Cook-Off held at Kennebunk High School on Tuesday, March 18.
The competition, now in its 10th year, featured teams from RSU 21 and MSAD 60 preparing breakfast and lunch meals using locally sourced ingredients.
This year's challenge ingredients included local eggs donated by Maine family farms and pollock from the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association. Teams were also required to incorporate one USDA food item to balance meal costs.
Gary Hoover, kitchen manager at Kennebunkport Consolidated School (KCS), prepared a Jamaican callaloo frittata for breakfast and a Jamaican Pollock Escabeche for lunch.
Hoover was joined in the kitchen by KCS third-grade teacher TrudyAnn Morrison, a native of Jamaica, who came up with the ideas for both dishes.
The four-person judging panel included KHS juniors Brayden Collard and Sam Matthews.
The regional competition was the first of three planned events. The winning team, MSAD 60, now advances to the state finals in Augusta.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Traip senior honored; Oyster River robotics champs: Education news
