DURHAM — Oyster River High School has announced their top 10 students for the Class of 2022. The following is an alphabetical list of the students:
Ethan Bessette
Ethan Bessette of Durham is the son of Hannah and Bryan Bessette. Ethan is graduating as the Class of 2022 valedictorian and is the 2022 recipient of the Rensselaer Medal. Outside the classroom, Ethan is a member of the varsity cross country team, a varsity pole vaulter on the track team, and works as a shift manager at a local nonprofit, The Freedom Café. Ethan is part of the Jazz and Classical All-State Festival and the Rockingham Choral Society (bass voice). He has composed lessons at Portsmouth Music Arts Center with Mike Effenberger. Ethan will graduate a NH Scholar with a STEAM emphasis in celebration of his grade point average and a primary elected focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Fine Arts courses. Ethan was also inducted into the Spanish Honor Society.
Having received acceptances from Champlain College, Plymouth State College, University of New Hampshire, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Ethan will be attending Berklee College of Music next fall. He plans to study game and interactive media scoring. He has a long-term of goal of writing music for video games. Ethan is the proud recipient of the Berklee World Tour Scholarship.
Zoe Boyd
Zoe Boyd of Durham is the daughter of Heather and Shawn Boyd. Zoe was the 2021 recipient of the Society of Women Engineers certificate of merit. Outside the classroom, Zoe is a member of our Girls’ Varsity Field Hockey team where she was awarded the Bobcat Award for team spirit. She is starting second baseman for the varsity softball team and plays for Rips City USA Softball. Zoe is an active member of the swim team too. Zoe will graduate as a New Hampshire Scholar with a STEM emphasis and is a member of our school’s chapters of the French Honor and National Honor societies.
Having received acceptances to Wake Forest University and University of Pittsburgh, Zoe plans to attend Syracuse University next fall. Here she will study biochemistry and minor in French. Zoe plans to take part in biochemical research in her undergraduate work with a long-term goal of becoming a physician.
Lauren Hoppler
Lauren Hoppler of Durham, is the daughter of Robert Hoppler and Melissa Gerry. Lauren is a valued member of the Oyster River High School community holding the role of Co-Captain of the volleyball team in large part due to her positive attitude and leadership on and off the court. In addition, she participated in the 603 United Volleyball Club throughout her time at Oyster River High School. She was selected for the Clarkson 21st Century Leadership Award for her service and academic achievement and is a New Hampshire State Scholar with a STEM emphasis. Lauren was inducted into the Spanish Honor Society and is the op-ed editor for the school publication, Mouth of the River. Lauren enjoys spending time outdoors and works as a camp counselor in the summer. Lauren has a strong interest in sustainability and environmental science and is planning to attend the University of New Hampshire in the fall undeclared in the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture.
Isabella ‘KK’ Kalinowski
Isabella ‘KK’ Kalinowski of Durham is the daughter of Fanny and Michael Kalinowski. KK is the Class of 2022 president, co-founder and vice president of the FBLA, and vice president of the Red Cross Club. She is a frequent volunteer working with local food pantries, the library, and assisting with town elections. KK’s academic accomplishments are many including being named a New Hampshire State Scholar with a STEM emphasis, her induction into the National and French Honor Societies, and achieving the rating of superior in the St. Paul’s Advanced Studies summer program. She is the recipient of the Smith College Book Award and achieved first place in the National History Day competition for the State of New Hampshire. KK’s leadership extends to the debate team where she holds a position on the leadership team.
Having been accepted to Loyola University Chicago, Stevens Institute of Technology, and Rochester Institute of Technology, KK has chosen to attend Carnegie Mellon University to pursue a major in physics.
Sarah Lyon
Sarah Lyon resides in Lee and is the daughter of Jennifer and Mark Lyon. She has an emerging interest in a law-related career field. She was a member of the Merrimack County Teen Court Program, acting as a volunteer in trying and deliberating teen offense court cases in a youth mentor diversion program. She served the prominent role of Chief Litigator on the Teen Court bar during her time. She was a standout on the debate team as the president and invitee to compete in the Coolidge Cup. She plays violin privately and for the Oyster River High School strings orchestra.
Sarah is as a New Hampshire Scholar with a STEAM emphasis and is a member of our school’s chapters of the Spanish Honor and National Honor Societies. Additionally, she was her class recipient of the Society of Women Engineers: High Honors recognition in the spring of 2021.
Having received acceptances to the University of New Hampshire, University of Washington, University of Connecticut, Champlain College, and Fisher College, Sarah will enter the Honors College at the University of Vermont in the fall, studying an undeclared major in the College of Arts and Sciences.
Benjamin Montgomery
Benjamin Montgomery lives in Durham with his father Andy Montgomery and stepmother Kristen Beckley. His standing in the top 10 is also celebrated by his mother Ann Montgomery in Hillsborough, California. Ben is a standout leader in his class, this year serving the role of vice president in student government. He is also the captain of the varsity boys tennis team (recipient of the Most Improved Player award last season) and Oyster River High School math team.
This year, Ben was one of approximately 5,000 students to be nominated for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. In the spring of 2021, he received the Clarkson University Achievement Award, and he graduates in June as a New Hampshire Scholar with an emphasis on STEM. He is also a member of the Spanish Honor Society.
Ben has strong interests in economics and computer science, and he is exploring a potential future career in software engineering. He received offers of admission to Bentley University, Clarkson, the University of Connecticut, and University of Massachusetts Amherst. In the fall of 2022, Ben will be heading to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan to begin his undergraduate studies.
Isabella Nocetti
Isabella Nocetti, of Durham, is the daughter of Diego Nocetti and Luciana Echazú. She is graduating as the Class of 2022 salutatorian and received the 2021 Bryn Mawr President’s Book Award. Outside of the classroom, Isabella demonstrates her artistic talents through dance. She has studied ballet for an average of eight hours per week, 46 weeks per year, for the past six years, as well as serving as a member of the Oyster River High School dance team. She also has a knack for sewing and crocheting, often donning her own handmade outfits in school to the delight of the adults around her. She will graduate from Oyster River High School as a New Hampshire Scholar with a STEAM emphasis in celebration of her grade point average and a primary elected focus on Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Fine Art courses.
Possessing a love for reading and aspiring to one day become a professional journalist or author, Isabella has decided to pursue post-secondary education in English. Gaining acceptance into the University of New Hampshire and Boston University, Isabella has opted to attend Boston University in the fall of 2022.
Grayson Philbrick
Grayson Philbrick is the son of Amy and George Philbrick of Barrington. He is highly skilled at graphic design and is completing the Graphic Design Career Technical Education (CTE) program through the Richard W. Creteau Regional Technology Center in Rochester. He was inducted into the National Tech Honor Society and received the Yale Book Award in spring 2021. He is also a member of the French Honor Society. Grayson will graduate as a New Hampshire Career Scholar with an emphasis on STEAM that acknowledges his college preparatory coursework and completion of a CTE program.
Grayson plays guitar in his band Scrumptious and is a four-year member of the Oyster River High School Ski Team. He enjoys art and design as well as three-dimensional printing projects. His graphic design work was on display in storefronts during building construction at The Ridge Marketplace in Rochester and he is actively employed at a local screen printing and embroidery business.
Having to choose between colleges next year including Endicott, University of Connecticut, University of New Haven, Merrimack, Quinnipiac, and the Rochester Institute of Technology, Grayson will enroll in Roger Williams University to pursue his B.A. in Graphic Design Communication.
Tess Pueschel
Tess Pueschel is the daughter of Charlotte Finigan and Scott Pueschel of Durham. She is the recipient of the Saint Michael’s Book Award and Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the National Technical Honor Society. Additionally, she was recognized as an NHIAA Scholar Athlete and will receive the distinction of New Hampshire Scholar with both a STEM and Career Pathway emphasis.
Tess has pursued athletics with the same energy and enthusiasm as her academics. She was the captain of the varsity swim team and earned both the Spirit and Captain’s Award during her time on the team. She is also the captain of the varsity lacrosse team and has earned the title of Defensive Player of the Year twice.
Having gained admission to Northeastern University, Clemson University, Penn State, Providence College, Suffolk University, and the University of Maryland, Tess will be attending the University of New Hampshire’s Honors program where she will major in Health Sciences.
J Ruml
J Ruml is the child of Kate and Wheeler Ruml of Durham. They are a National Merit Scholarship finalist and a member of the French National Honor Society. They will receive the distinction of New Hampshire Scholar with both a STEM and Art emphasis.
J is an avid writer and was the winner of NaNoWriMo. They love to care for plants and have worked extensively at two local farms as well as in their own home. J has also found a passion for studying yoga.
Having gained admission to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Plymouth State University’s Honors program, J will be attending Mount Holyoke College in the fall.