June 11, 2004
South Berwick, Maine
Berwick Academy announces top seniors of 2004
MEG WEBB, VALEDICTORIAN
Meg Webb is the Valedictorian of Berwick Academy's Class of 2004. Webb, daughter of Bill and Judy Webb of Wells, Maine, was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a junior. She has been a high honor student at Berwick Academy since sixth grade.
Additional academic achievements include earning the Harbored Book Award, the Cogswell Book Award, Maine Scholars Achievement Award and the Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (Johnson & Johnson) college scholarship.
Webb played varsity basketball, varsity lacrosse and was a member of the French Honor Society. She also earned her Black Belt in traditional Japanese Karate and was a contributing writer to "Teen Ink" publication.
Throughout her six years at Berwick Academy, Webb has volunteered at Laudholm farm, Portsmouth Maritime Music Festival, Beach to Beacon Road Race, New England Medical Technology show and The International Student exchange program, hosting and visiting students in Italy and France.
In the fall, Webb plans to attend New York University, McGill University or Brown University.
SARA ROSE AFIENKO, SALUTATORIAN
Sara Rose Afienko, daughter of Joseph and Kathleen Afienko of Kittery, Maine, is the Salutatorian. Afienko was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a junior. Sara has been an honor student since ninth grade at Berwick Academy. She was inducted into the Latin Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society, received the Society of Women Engineers Award, and received Departmental Recognition Awards in English and the Arts. In addition, she has also received two silver medals and one gold medal for the National Latin Examination.
Afienko has been a member of the varsity softball team for four years and has participated in JV basketball and soccer. She was on the math team for her senior year and has been an active member in numerous other activities. She was accepted in the District One Music Festival twice playing the Euphonium and was a member of the Seacoast Wind Ensemble. Last summer at the Southern Maine Music Academy, she was selected as the principle Euphonium. She has also pursued her interest in acting and was a member of the cast of Berwick's production of Agatha Christie's The Unexpected Guest. In addition to this, Afienko has extended her love of the theatrical into her part time job as Chuck E. Cheese.
Outside of her school activities, Afienko has done charity work through PurelyPassion.org, a nonprofit organization established to help cancer victims and their families with social and financial assistance.
During the final two weeks of school, Sara will be shadowing a Superior Court Judge of New Hampshire and hopes to gain a better understanding of the Judicial System as she completes her senior project.
In the fall, Afienko plans to attend Bowdoin College.
The remaining Cum Laude Seniors are listed in alphabetical order.
WHITNEY BROWN
Whitney Brown is the daughter of Suzanne Brown of New Castle, New Hampshire. Brown was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a junior. She also received the Brown Book Award her junior year. An accomplished French student, Brown was inducted into the French National Honor Society in tenth grade and has placed 9th, 8th, and 7th respectively in the State of Maine of the National French Exams Levels 5, 4, and 3. Brown was also honored with a Departmental Award in English.
Contributing to the life of the school beyond academics, Brown has been involved with chorus, African flute, and the climbing wall activity. An avid athlete, Brown has been a member of Berwick's lacrosse team, playing JV and varsity each for two years. She also played on the ice hockey team as a freshman and on the JV soccer team her first two years in upper school, earning the MIP award her freshmen year. She has been a member of Berwick's championship varsity cross-country team her junior and senior years.
During her two-week senior project, Brown has been working behind the scenes in the organization of and preparation for Woofstock, Berwick's grand finale performing arts production. After summer break, Whitney will attend Boston College in the fall.
ALEXANDER CONNORS
Alexander Connors is the son of Mary and Russell Connors of Kittery Point, Maine. Connors was inducted into the Cum Laude Society and the National Latin Honor Society this year. He received Silver Maxima Cum Laude recognition on the National Latin Levels 1, 2 and 3 Exams. He also received a Departmental Recognition Award in science.
Connors has been a member of numerous extracurricular activities on campus including the Math Team, Chemistry Magic and African Drumming. Athletically, Connors played soccer his freshman and sophomore years and was a vital member of the JV tennis team for four years.
Off the Berwick Academy hilltop, he has pursued his interests in sailing, karate, tennis and snowboarding and also studied piano for six years.
Connors will be working on and off campus in computer programming engaging his interest in Astronomy during his two-week senior project. He looks forward to attending Colby College in the fall.
NICHOLAS JON DeDOMINICI
Nicholas Jon DeDominici, son of Jim and Dianne DeDominici of Wells, Maine, was recently inducted into the Cum-Laude Society. He entered Berwick Academy as a freshman. He was privileged to be one of three recipients of the four- year, full tuition, Berwick-Tyco Scholarship. Nick maintained High Honors all four years at Berwick Academy and was a National Merit Scholarship Commended Student. He received Math and Science departmental recognition awards and was a member of the Math team, which consistently placed second in the state. DeDominici was awarded the Bausch and Lomb Science Award from the University of Rochester and was nominated for the National High School Heisman Award. He was inducted into the National Latin Honor Society and into the National Music Honor Society.
An accomplished vocalist, he represented Berwick Academy at the Southern Maine and All-State Music festivals, finished 3rd in the state at Maine NATS and showcased his voice in the Upper School Musicals. DeDominici has been a valued member of the basketball, swim, lacrosse and championship soccer teams. Most recently he was selected a New England East/West Lacrosse all-star. Off campus, DeDominici was an assistant coach for jr. high indoor soccer and lacrosse, a member of St. Mary's youth ministry, a church lector and guest soloist. He volunteered at Wells Urgent Care, Brook Area Medical Center in San Antonio and is presently doing his senior project by assisting in the emergency room at York Hospital. Because of all of his hard work, DeDominici has had many options for college. He was accepted at West Point, The Air Force Academy, Dartmouth College, Boston University, the College of the Holy Cross, Stonehill College, the University of Rochester, UNH, and U Maine Orono.
He was awarded the Navy's immediate selection scholarship, Army R.O.T.C. scholarships and Air Force R.O.T.C. scholarships. DeDominici has decided to pursue his goal of being an officer and doctor in the United States Military by attending Boston University in the Honors Program as a University Scholar award recipient as well as the recipient of a four-year full tuition, room and board Army R.O.T.C. scholarship.
ISAAC NEEDELL
Isaac Needell, son of Sally and Jerry Needell of Durham, New Hampshire, was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a senior. He has been both an honor and high honor student for four years. He began attending Berwick Academy in the second grade. He has received Departmental Recognition Awards in history, English, and chemistry.
Needell was a member of the math team his senior year and has participated in numerous other committees and activities. He has been a part of the JV basketball and soccer teams, has played on the varsity lacrosse field and raced for the varsity swim team. At the end of this spring's lacrosse season, he will have finished his twelfth upper school athletic season. Needell has been taking tenor saxophone lessons throughout high school, performing in an assortment of recitals and concerts over the last four years. Needell hopes to continue his well-rounded education when he attends Colby College in the fall.
During the final two weeks of school, Needell will be volunteering with the Woodslands group at UNH as he completes his senior project. Following his project, he looks forward to pursuing his interest in sea kayaking as an assistant sea kayak guide in Portsmouth.
ALYSON RIDGWAY
Alyson Ridgway, daughter of Hap and Susan Ridgway of South Berwick, Maine, was inducted into the Cum Laude Society her junior year. She received Departmental Recognition Awards in Latin and mathematics. She was inducted into the Latin National Honor Society as a sophomore. Ridgway maintained honor roll status all fours of upper school.
Ridgway played four years of varsity ice hockey and lacrosse and co-captained the soccer, hockey and lacrosse teams her senior year. She was the assistant captain on the Seacoast Women's Ice Hockey team in Exeter, New Hampshire, during her junior and senior years.
Ridgway was accepted at Bates, Bowdoin, Colby, and Connecticut College. She plans to pursue a pre-medical education at Connecticut College in the fall.
EMILY ROSENFIELD
Emily Rosenfield, daughter of Sally and Gerson Rosenfield, of Kittery Point Maine, was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a senior. Rosenfield has attended Berwick Academy since the 1st grade. She has placed on the high honor roll since her sophomore year. Rosenfield received the Smith College Book Award her junior year, as well as Departmental Recognition Awards in English her junior year, and in History her sophomore year. Rosenfield placed 6th on the level 5 National Spanish Contest and has been a member of the Spanish National Honors Society since her sophomore year.
Rosenfield was co-captain of her varsity cross-country team, as well as an avid participant in her schools' JV basketball program. Rosenfield founded and is co-president of the youth group, United Synagogue Youth, at her synagogue, Temple Israel in Portsmouth. She is an assistant teacher at her synagogue as well. Rosenfield is a member of Berwick Academy's Student Government and Wellness Committee. She is passionate about dance and has had dance training in ballet, hip hop, and jazz since she was a little girl.
For her senior project, Rosenfield is organizing an Israeli song and dance show for the Temple Israel Religious School. She will attend Brandeis University in the fall.
ERIC STEVENSON
Eric Stevenson, son of Richard and Karen Stevenson of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a junior. He enrolled at Berwick starting in the 9th grade where he has consistently been an honor student. He was inducted into the National Spanish Honor Society, received the Rensselaer Math and Science Medal along with three Departmental Recognition Awards in math, English and language.
Stevenson has been a member of the math team for three years and a participant in many other school activities. He was goalkeeper for the successful Men's Varsity Soccer team where he was elected to the Eastern Independent League's 1st Team. Stevenson has also been in the scouting program for eleven years and became an Eagle Scout last fall.
Throughout his years at Berwick Academy, Stevenson has achieved a balance of academics, athletics and service and hopes to continue this balance once he enters the College of Engineering at Cornell University in the fall.
During the final two weeks of school, Stevenson will be volunteering at the Lincoln Akerman Elementary School in Hampton Falls.
JOCELYN WEBBER
Jocelyn Webber is the daughter of Dr. George Webber and Dr. Joyce Easter of Kittery Point, Maine. Jocelyn was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a senior. She has been an honor student since she began attending Berwick Academy in the second grade. She was inducted into the French National Honor Society and the National Art Honor Society and also received Departmental Recognition Awards in math, science and art.
Jocelyn served on the Outreach Committee for two years and directed or acted in five upper school drama productions during the last four years. She has also played on Berwick's basketball, soccer and lacrosse teams. Last year, she attended a summer program with the New York Film Academy at Harvard University. She will cap off her last two weeks of upper school by working for the Portsmouth Herald as she completes her senior project.
Webber will be studying film at the University of Southern California next year.
NATHANIEL (NATE) WITHERBEE
Nathaniel (Nate) Witherbee, son of Roz and Jonathan Witherbee of Cape Neddick, Maine, was inducted into the Cum Laude Society as a senior. He has been on the honor roll or high honor roll since the fifth grade. In his sophomore year, he was inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society, the Spanish National Honor Society and received a Departmental Recognition Award in Spanish.
Witherbee has been on the B.A. math team since sophomore year and other teams and committees. He has been a varsity soccer and lacrosse team member as an upper school athlete. An avid thespian, Witherbee has had a lead role in Berwick's musicals each winter, most recently as Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls and Albert Peterson in Bye, Bye Birdie.
A member of student government, Nate was class president his freshman and junior years. Recognized as a musician, he studied guitar with Guitar Gods Chip Harding and Kent Allyn for many years. Along with fellow seniors Mike Armenta, Al Bos and Tim Wilson, Witherbee plays music off the hilltop in their band "Groove Cake." During his sophomore year, he competed in the Maine State Rock-Off in the band, "Nota Bene." Witherbee and his current band will be working on recording a CD during his final two-week senior project.
Witherbee has been involved in many activities in the Berwick community and looks forward to attending Bates College in the fall.
