Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) class of 2025 Salutatorian Anna Gosselin looks forward to walking across the stage at graduation and celebrating the achievements of her peers. “I’m going to miss basketball and pep rallies and getting ready for prom with my friends. I’m going to miss my family and Southport. So many of my classmates are staying in New England, but I’m going far, I’m going to Florida (Palm Beach Atlantic University) to study marine biology,” she said.

Gosselin grew up on the peninsula, attending Edgecomb Eddy before BRHS. The region’s natural beauty inspired her interest in marine biology and ocean conservation. Math and science classes topped her list, but she is also considering advancing her study of English. Mike Cherry is her favorite teacher. She admires the way he presents the subject. “His classes are always so interesting, and he’s very encouraging – He has never had a bad thing to say about anything I’ve written.”

Gosselin’s GPA and academic achievement earned her the title of Salutatorian. “I was very excited to hear I was Salutatorian when Dr. (Tricia) Campbell called me into her office,” she said. “It felt like all my hard work had finally paid off. I don’t really like to be in the spotlight, but it was nice to be recognized for my achievements.”

Gosselin is a three-year Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute fellow, a two-year National Honor Society member and a recipient of the Mountain Valley Conference Academic Honors of Distinction. She was awarded the Boothbay Region Garden Club Scholarship, and the Arthur S. Bryant Scholarship and she shares a Harlan P. & Alys K. West Memorial Scholarship with Valedictorian Madeline Orchard. Gosselin received a Harvard Book Award in her junior year.

She has played basketball and soccer all four years of high school, leading the teams as a captain her senior year. She is also an All-Star athlete in both sports, and a soccer MVP. This year, a torn ACL put her on the bench, but she was still in the game as a crucial leader. When not on the court or field, she enjoys karate, currently as a purple belt.

Her dedication to “service above self” was honed during her four-year tenure in Interact Club and she looks forward to attending a Christian college near the beach. “What I love about my college is that it’s right downtown and only one mile from the beach.”

Before she goes, Gosselin will spend the summer working at Harbor House Inn. Her favorite school cafeteria food? Chicken patties. And when asked who’s the worst driver in her class, she laughed and said, “Probably me.” She considers earning the title of Salutatorian to be her highest achievement and plans to spend graduation night at a Wallows concert in Portland. Her parting words, “Be kind to everyone. You don’t often know how you’re affecting people, so being kind, offering kind gestures can help someone who needs it – it can make their day.”