On Thursday, May 28th, the Deering High School community gathered for our annual Senior Awards Night, an evening centered on honoring the exceptional achievements, hard work, and unique leadership of our graduating seniors. Guided by our motto, "Learning Together, All One School — That is the Deering Difference," we came together to celebrate the distinct milestones of the Class of 2026. We extend our deepest gratitude to our honorable invited guests and community presenters who joined us to present these awards, including Maine State Senator Jill Duson, Maine State Representative Samuel Zager, Assistant Principal Carlie Frederick, and Athletic Director Michael Daly, alongside the many faculty members and community partners who support our students year after year. To our seniors: your achievements are a true reflection of your grit and passion, and we are immensely proud of every single one of you.

The evening opened with major state and school honors recognizing peak academic excellence. The Maine Principal's Award was presented by Assistant Principal Carlie Frederick to Hilina Gugsa and Jack Borland, while Maine State Senator Jill Duson presented the Maine Legislature Certificate of Achievement to Ellis Wood and Ellis Retzer.

Departmental awards celebrated focused strengths across disciplines, presented by our faculty members and guests. Ms. Emily Serway presented the 2D Art Award to Brianna Shaw and Amanda Shaw, the 3D Art Award to Luisa Kiangata Mandiangu, and the Multimedia Technology Award to Awod Deing. Mr. Johnathon Graffius presented the Computer Science Award to Katya Sanchez, and Ms. Alyssa Rojecki recognized Merritt Holman for Drama. Mr. Bilal Hussein and Maine State Representative Samuel Zager presented the Debate Award to Alma Wallace, Ellis Retzer, Margo Bean, Ivy Varbanova, Noah Rasheed, and Zach Lee. Ms. Jaime Romano honored Zachary Lee with the English Award in memory of the Elsie S. Whidden Book Award, and honors were given by Ms. Kathryn Hogan to Kira Manuana for Language Acquisition, Fiston Ishimwe and Olak Garang for Academic Growth, and Cristiano Afono alongside Cristian Poron Acuta for the Community Morale and Character Award. Ms. Mellissa Labbe presented the Mathematics Award to Alma Wallace and Ellis Wood, while Ms. Melissa Labbe awarded the Pi Cone Math Award to Ellis Retzer. Ms. Abby Hutchins and Ms. Bridget DePaula honored Charlene Zheng and Spencer Fieldroy with the Music Award. Mr. Cyle Davenport presented the Christine Wagner Memorial Science Award to Amanda Shaw, the Science Award to Ellis Wood, and STEM Endorsement Medals to Ali Samatar, Jalen Curtis, Spencer Fieldroy, Alma Wallace, Ellis Retzer, Jack Borland, Trieu Chung, Peter Rank, Ellis Wood, Charlene Zheng, and Norka Kalonji. Ms. Jessica Bean presented the Social Studies Award to Ellis Retzer, the Elizabeth Ring Award to Noah Rasheed, and the Social Studies in Action Award to Hilina Gusga. Additionally, Adam Ellenwood received the Physical Education Award, Isabella Galindez received the Resurgam Award, and Zachary Lee and Ivyala Varbanova were recognized for World Language excellence.

We also celebrated our seniors who earned the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy to honor their linguistic proficiency, alongside our Key Club members. The Seal of Biliteracy recipients, presented by Ms. Reva Eiferman, include Alfonso Cristiano, Ariza Roderick, Ayurambi Jonathan, Jack Borland, Isaias Coc Colindres, Elizeth Francisco, Jose Guilherme Francisco, Maria Ibanda, Luisa Kiangata, Zachary Lee, Bernardo Luna, Maria Luyeye, Kiria Manuana, Adilson Massamba, Charisa Mbala, Alicia Mendoza Arana, Diomar Morales, Joel Mpangi, Isabel Mucala, Simao Ndombasi, Peter Rank, Elias Salomao, Elizabeth Samuel, Evie Tshlamutshala, Ivy Varbanova, Alma Wallace, Ellis Wood, and Charlene Zheng. Many of these same multi-talented students were also recognized by Ms. Sarah York with DHS Key Club Medallions, an honor shared by Margo Bean, Roderick Ariza Jr., Adelyn Blackburn, Harry Carr, Lattecia Cole, Sophie Li, Noah Rasheed, Ellis Retzer, Amy Tran, and Devashree Thomson.

Athletic Director Michael Daly recognized a large group of student athletes with individual and booster honors. The Merv Kilgore Coaches Award went to Joey Foley, Ellis Wood, Hilina Gugsa, and Sofia Nieves, the Sam Aceto Award went to Finn Ridge, and the DHS Football Parents Award went to Vinny Cavallaro. Joey Foley and Vinny Cavallaro shared the Ryan Jordan Gridiron Scholarship, Jordan DiBiase received the Portland Youth Football PYFL Scholarship, and Michel Butera took home the DHS Boys Basketball Award. The Ernie Harmon Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Excellent Uwizeye and Payton Legassey, the Angelique Abraham Memorial Scholarship Award went to Anna Tague LaCrone, and the DIRIGO Athletic Leadership Awards recognized Ivy Varbanova, Almarina Abore, Jalen Curtis, and Jack Borland.

The evening continued with specialized community and memorial foundation scholarships. The Bernard Troubh Prize went to Zoe Stilkey, the Brendan Conway Memorial Scholarship went to Norka Kilangi, and the Muslim Student Association Scholarship went to Ava (Sadaf) H. Safa alongside the Ishak Muse Memorial Scholarship to Ayub Isaak. The Valtimar and Sally Mollineaux Music and Arts Scholarship was given to Michaelray Albeyta, the Keeley Folan Memorial Scholarship went to Hilna Gusga, and the Stephen Jacobson Memorial Award went to Zade Smith alongside the Zerner Student Athlete Scholarship Fund to Ellis Wood. The Kevin Ryan Memorial Scholarship was presented to Faiso Hagi. The DHS Unified Basketball Scholarship went to Carlos Gonzales, Anna Tague Lacrone, Mackenzie Smith, and Elizabeth Samuel. The Boosters Ramily Scholarship went to Ivayla Varbanova and Joey Foley, and the Cumberland County FCU Loomis Scholarship went to Mackenzie Smith. The Mary Stiles Altrusa Scholarship was presented to Ava (Sadaf) H. Safa.

The final segment of the evening celebrated the DHS In-house scholarship presentations. This year, Asmaa Abdi received the Mary Townsend Memorial Scholarship, Michaelray Abeyta received a Dwight Parker Award, Cristiano Afonso received the Janine Lauze Nursing Scholarship, Siyad Ali received the Louise Haddock Scholarship, and Noralhuda Almohammed was awarded the Woman's Literacy Union Scholarship Fund. Roderick Ariza received the Arthur S. McFee and Iris G. Scholarship, Margo Bean received both the Patricia Mavodones Award and the Kate Robinson Memorial Award, Jack Borland received the John E. Ham Jr. Award and the Portland Education Award, and Laura Callaghan was honored with the Portland Administrator Association Award. Ntotila (Sergio) Capitao received the Reny's Charitable Foundation Scholarship, Harry Carr received the Ursala Lukas Slavick Award for Peace and a Dwight Parker Award, and Trieu Chung received the Harry E. Cummings award. Rocco Ciccomancini earned the Rotary Club Scholarship, Devon Cobbett received the Philip Chadbourne award, Dani Cole received the Arthur S. McFee and Iris G. Scholarship, and Jalen Curtis received a Dwight Parker Award. Nevaeh Cote and Isiah Cote each received the Trice Scholarship Award, Kameron Deering received the Woman's Literacy Union Scholarship Fund, Awod Deing received the Clarence and Dorothy MacDonald Memorial Scholarship, and Spencer Fieldroy received a Dwight Parker Award. Elizeth Francisco received the Roger Calderwood Award, Olak Garang received the Bath Savings Institution Scholarship, and Ishimwe Gaella Rutagengwa, Faiso Hagi, and Guilherme Jose each received a Mitchell Scholarship. Merritt Holman received the Advancing the Arts Scholarship, Fiston Ishimwe received the Arthur S. McFee and Iris G. Scholarship, and Norka Kalonji received the Ralph C. Little Scholarship. Joao Landu-Tambu received the Reny's Charitable Foundation scholarship. Zachary Lee received the Carleton L. Wiggin Award and a Dwight Parker Award, Sophie Li received the Sgt. Lee Adams Memorial Scholarship, and Bernardo Luna Almaraz received the Phillip H. Chapman Scholarship. Kiria Manuana received a Dwight Parker Award. Natalia Mbadu received the Mary Bogh Memorial Scholarship, the Rising Ram Scholarship, and a Mitchell Scholarship. Charisa Mbala received the Reny Charitable Foundation scholarship, Munira Mohamed received a Dwight Parker Award, and Metusalem Mputu Kitoko received the Neal S. Manley award. Peter Rank was awarded the John J. McCann Memorial Scholarship, Ellis Retzer received the Katherine O'Brien Scholarship, and Finn Ridge received the Louis S. Tripaldi Award. Rounding out the final awards, Elizabeth Samuels received the Janice M. Hutchinson Award, Amanda Shaw received the Saco and Biddeford Savings Scholarship and the Tyler Melmac / Grandmaison Scholarship, Brianna Shaw received the Frances Hueston Scholarship, Amy Tran received a Dwight Parker Award, Alma Wallace received the Levey Foundation Award, and Ellis Wood was honored with the Arthur Robert P. Couri Memorial Scholarship Award.

We capped off this beautiful night with a special celebration for our Top Ten Academic Scholars, who were invited to step up on stage as the ceremony came to a close. It was a wonderful moment to stand together and extend our collective congratulations to Ellis Wood, Ellis Retzer, Alma Wallace,  Amanda Shaw, Trieu Chung, Peter Rank, Noah Rasheed,, Ivayla Varbanova, Jack Borland, and Zachary Lee, and for their exceptional scholastic drive and achievements.

To all the family members, parents, guardians, and mentors, thank you for your steady support of these students throughout their high school journeys. Your guidance made this beautiful night of celebration possible. Congratulations once again to the Deering High School Class of 2026, we look forward to seeing how you continue to clear your own paths.