Competition close for top academic awards

This year Laconia High School named two graduating seniors as co-valedictorians — Michael Audet, son of Jan and Robert Audet, and Steve Tuttle, son of Benjamin and Barbara Tuttle. But as unusual as that might seem, according to Laconia High School principal Jon Freeman it's simply an indication of just how close the academic competition can be among the school's top students.

"This isn't the first time we've had a tie," he said Friday, recalling several other instances over the past few years.

As if to highlight the difficulty, Freeman pointed as well to the competition for the salutatorian award, which ultimately was presented to Micaela Carwell. "At first it looked as though it was going to her twin sister Claire," the principal noted. The Carwell twins are the daughters of Mark and Carolyn Carwell.

Joining those four students in the top ten were Kara Irwin, daughter of Peter and Sarah Irwin; Maleia Fink, daughter of Dr. Charles Fink and Jaylene Bengtson; Maria Simoes, daughter of Albert and Doretta Simoes; Nathan Borgman, son of Gary and Susan Borgman; Benjamin Coffey, son of James and Jill Coffey; and Cameron Riley, son of James and Judy Riley.

"All of them are terrific," Freeman said of the young scholars. "I'd put them up against any students in New England."

While all ten of the scholars proved their mettle academically, Freeman said he was equally impressed with their devotion to extra-curricular and community activities, and the diversity of their interests.

Tuttle, he described as a superb athlete, while he noted that Audet had a great interest in drama and theater, a characteristic shared by Nate Borgman. "Each is a leader," Freeman said, "though in different ways."

A significant number of the top-ten grads have had considerable success on the playing fields and plan on pursuing athletics in college — including the Carwell twins. Indeed, both Micaela, who will be attending Dartmouth and participating in the track & field program, and Claire, who's headed to the University of Connecticut, to play field hockey, ultimately based their decision as to which school to attend on athletics.

"They would have entertained the idea of going to the same school," their mother said, acknowledging that this will be the first time the girls have been separated. "But the coaches and the programs were a big influence affecting their choices."

Likewise with Irwin, who has selected Trinity College because of its softball program.

Simoes, however, based her decision to attend the University of New Hampshire on its music program, her mother revealed. "She's majoring in early childhood education and will minor in music," Doretta Simoes explained. "For her it's been a neck and neck choice between teaching and music, and she like the spirit and the diversity of programs at UNH."

Almost all of the top ten will be headed to New England campuses, with Dartmouth and U.N.H. the top choices.

"We don't have many students who express an interest in west-coast campuses," Freeman noted. "Most of them choose to stay close to the Northeast."

"Maria wanted to be close to her family," Simoes mother said in explaining her daughter's choice of U.N.H. instead of one of the major music conservatories in other parts of the country. "She's always included the family in her plans, and I'm sure other students do as well."