Boothbay Region Elementary School graduated 50 eighth graders at the Eighth Grade Recognition Night held in the BRES gym on Thursday, June 15.

Principal Mark Tess spoke about hearing about the class of 2021 before he met them, jokingly telling them that their reputation for being ‘tough’ preceded them. But by the end of the ceremony, he had nothing but praise for the students earning eighth grade certificates, for their generosity, compassion, and respect for each other, for their teachers, and for the community.

Several Harold B. Clifford awards were given out. Lauren Brown and Tim Rice presented the Physical Education awards to Isabelle Harkins and Cameron Holbrook. Maren Whitney was the recipient of the Chorus Award, presented by Genie O’Connell. Elizabeth Tilton handed out math awards to Nathan Rideout, Cody Field and Cortney Meader. Language Arts Awards were presented to Emma Brewer and Ryan Russell by Cordelia Chase. Mame Anthony passed out Science Awards to Jenna Cohen and Mason Erhard. Kristin Gray awarded two awards for Social Studies to Adam Lowery and Kalista Andrews.

Character awards went to Tresna Spence and Kyle Toizer, with Tess praising them for their loyalty, respect, and consideration. The Maine Scholar Leader Award went to Marisa Peters, in part for her quiet confidence and dependability. Kylie Brown, Jonathan Genrich, and Meghan Clifford were awarded Academic Excellence Awards.

The Secretary of State Distinguished Citizen Award was presented to Glory Blethen for her leadership within the school, her church and in the community.  

After certificates were handed out, a reception was held in the back of the gymnasium.

Graduates were, in alphabetical order: Haley Abbott, Kaleb Ames, Kalista Andrews, Jaden Arsenault, Owen Barter, Glory Blethen, Isaac Bradstreet-Doughty, Emma Brewer, Kylie Brown, Charles Chapelle, Meghan Clifford, Jenna Cohen, Kaeden Davis, Fox Elder, Mason Erhard, Cody Field, Jonathan Genrich, Rachel Gentry, Kasey Graves, Sophia Gudroe, Christopher Hamblett, Isabel Harkins, Brady Harmon, Deakon Harrington, Kyle Hicks, Gareth Hodgdon, Cameron Holbrook, Jackson Holbrook, Matthew Hyson, Jameson LaBrecque, Kayla Latter, Abigail Little, Adam Lowery, Bailey Maguire, Cortney Meader, Destiny Meserve, Wyatt Oakes, Benjamin Pearce, Marissa Peters, Kameron Poore, Sullivan Rice, Nathan Rideout, Ryan Russell, Zada Smith, Treshna Spence, Kyle Tozier, Maren Whitney, Hailey Wilson and Jonah Zipperer.