BRUNSWICK — Brunswick High School announced the 10 top-ranked members of the class of 2012.

Madeline Schneider, the daughter of Conrad Schneider and Maria Padian of Brunswick, is the valedictorian of the class of 2012.

Her stellar academic record combined with an excellent record of leadership and service activities contributed to her early acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, where she will major in biochemistry. As early as ninth grade, she identified a career path toward medicine and she has worked diligently and passionately toward that goal.

She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society and National Art Honor Society. Schneider has earned science and English department awards at the high school and she is a recipient of the Middlebury College Book Award.

She is a member of the varsity cross country team, the student government and the Brunswick Garden Club. She serves on the board of the Brunswick-Trinidad Sister City organization. Both the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program and the Cathance River Education Alliance have benefited from her commitment to service and her community.

Schneider enjoys hiking, skiing, traveling, drawing and reading.

Erin Eldridge ranks second in this year’s class. The daughter of John and Brenda Eldridge, she has not decided where she’ll attend college next year but does plan to study math and science.

Eldridge has been inducted into the National Honor Society and the French Honor Society. Her outstanding academic achievement has earned her the Phi Beta Kappa Book Award, the Bausch and Lomb Science Award, the Rochester Institute of Technology Computing Award and also the Pi- Cone South Mathematics Award.

She has been a member of the Math Team and was vice president of the Brunswick High School Garden Club. Eldridge has spent many hours volunteering at Curtis Memorial Library, where she now works part time. Her hobbies and interests include photography, math, science and reading, especially Shakespeare.

Natalie Naculich is the oldest child of Mary O’Brien and Stephen Naculich of Brunswick. A commended student for the National Merit Scholarship, Naculich ranks third in her class. Teachers state she is talented, enthusiastic, and has high aspirations for success.

She plans to major in sociology or biology at the University of Chicago.

Naculich is a member of the Latin Honors Society as well as the National Honors Society. She has been the recipient of the Science Department Award, the Latin Department Award, and the Smith Book Award.

A member of the cross country and swim teams, Naculich also enjoys theater. She volunteers not only at the Maine State Music Theatre but also has co-founded a children’s theater program that has directed nine full-length musicals for children ages 5 to 12.

She is working on her Gold Award in Girl Scouts, helping younger girls learn about the local animal shelter and the Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program.

Annie Kelly, the daughter of Tom Kelly and Kathleen O’Connor, ranks fourth in the class of 2012. In the fall, she plans to attend Haverford College in Haverford, Pa. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society, as well as the Latin, Spanish and Math Honor societies.

She has been involved in a variety of activities both in and outside of school. Kelly has been an important member of the girl’s varsity field hockey and lacrosse teams and has been a leading scorer for the girl’s varsity ice hockey team. During her senior year, Kelly served as captain for all three teams. In addition, she has been a member of the Pen Pal Club, Key Club and Math Team.

Outside school, she served as an Environmental Youth Leader at the Cathance River Education Alliance, took part in church activities and has done volunteer service at local nursing homes. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, scrapbooking, hiking, camping and boating.

Ranked fifth in his class, Mitchell “Mitch” Black is the son of Martha and Mitchell Black of Brunswick.

He earned induction into the National Honor Society and both the Spanish and Latin Honor societies. He also was the recipient of the Colgate Book Award and was recognized as an AP Scholar.

The school’s faculty chose Black as this year’s recipient of the Maine Principals Award. He also is known for his outstanding athleticism in soccer, basketball and indoor and outdoor track. Black captained his teams with strength and integrity, achieving accolades along the way. Among them are Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference All-Academic honors, first team and all-defensive player, KVAC South Class A Player of the Year and was named to the McDonald’s Academic All-State Team. In soccer, Black was recognized as a First Team KVAC All- Star, All-State Eastern Class A and All Eastern All-Class.

Black has also acted as an excellent role model to younger children, whether it be volunteering as a mentor or acting as a youth coach or referee. Never losing sight of the importance of family, Black responds when asked what he is most grateful for, “my family, they always have my back” and are supportive of whatever decisions and path he might choose. He especially loves playing sports and board games during his down time with his family.

As yet undecided, Black intends to purse engineering in his post-secondary studies.

Erin Rutherford, who ranks sixth in the class of 2012, is the daughter of Steven and Kim Rutherford of Brunswick. Although she has strengths in many academic areas, Rutherford is most interested in the life sciences, and she plans to major in biology (pre med) next fall at Boston College.

She is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. She was recognized by the language department for her achievements.

Much of her extracurricular time has been spent dancing. She danced with the Maine State Ballet for threeand a-half years and performed in the “Nutcracker” twice. More recently, she has been studying jazz with Casco Bay Movers.

She teaches Sunday school and sings in the choir at her church. In addition to dance, she enjoys reading and writing.

Ranked seventh in her class, Caroline Wild is the daughter of Sue and Mark Wild of Brunswick. She plans to study life sciences at Smith College, where she will major in biology with a concentration in agriculture and animal sciences next fall.

Wild was recognized by the science department at the high school last year for her excellent achievement in the field of science and she was a recipient of the Brown Book Award. She is a member of the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society.

She also is a member of the Wolfe’s Neck Farm 4-H club, and many of her volunteer hours revolve around her commitment to Wolfe’s Neck Farm animals.

Wild is a founding member of the high school’s woman’s varsity ice hockey team and she was selected for the KVAC All-Academic Girls Ice Hockey Team this year.

She received honorable mention for the Eastern Maine Ice Hockey All-Conference Team last year and this year and she was part of the 2011 U.S. Lacrosse All-Academic Team.

Her interests include ice hockey, farming and reading.

Katherine McMahon, who ranks eighth in her class, is the oldest child of Joanne and Martin McMahon of Brunswick. Teachers describe her as leader by example and as a person who holds steadfast to her convictions.

She received the Bronze Award for the National Latin Exam and the George Eastman Young Leaders Award.

McMahon was the first female to be awarded “All New England” cross country runner at Brunswick High School/ She also was the KVAC state and regional champion.

Her other activities include 120 hours of community service, volunteering for various nonprofit organizations as well as the junior high and cross country track teams. Every winter she volunteers approximately five hours a week teaching people with disabilities to ski or snow board through the Maine Handicapped Skiing program.

Joseph Walter is the son of Leslie and George Walter of Brunswick. Ranked ninth in the class of 2012, he plans to major in biology (pre med) at University of Southern Maine through their Pioneers Program.

Walter is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Math Honors Society. He served as captain of the math team.

He played recreational soccer for a number of years and now volunteers as an assistant coach. His service record also includes teaching a Bible school class and helping with the Cub Scouts.

When he has free time, Walter enjoys recreational soccer and Future World Shepherds.

Ranked 10th in her class, Hannah Wright is the daughter of Margaret Cushman of Brunswick and Michael Wright of Los Angeles, Calif. She plans to major in communications and English at either Boston College or Northwestern College next fall.

She has been in student government all four years and is president this year. She also serves as secretary of her class and chaired the prom committee.

Wright is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Latin Honor Society. She was a National Merit finalist and she has been recognized by the English Department for her high achievement in her English classes.

She competed on the tennis team for four years and was a member of the chorus. Her community service includes volunteer time at the Preble Street Shelter, St. Charles Youth Ministry and Big Brothers/Sisters.

Her interests include reading, drawing and television.

Graduation ceremonies for the Brunswick High School class of 2012 are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. June 8 in the Sidney J. Watson Arena at Bowdoin College.

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