YORK COUNTY — Forty students at the Biddeford Regional Center of Technology were inducted into the National Technical Honor Society on March 15.

The NTHS honors the achievements of top career and technical education students from Biddeford, Old Orchard Beach, Dayton, and Saco; provides scholarships to encourage the pursuit of higher education; and cultivates excellence in today’s highly competitive, skilled workforce.

The standards to which the students are measured include: a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in school and current enrollment in a career and technical education program; a teacher recommendation; an essay on character; good attendance and discipline records; and involvement in extracurricular activities.

Congratulations to the following students throughout York County:

Seniors: Scott Berry (BHS), Nicholas Desjardins (BHS), Aaron Dutremble (BHS), Sarrah Marcotte (BHS), Gino Mucci (BHS), Kevin Nahimana (BHS), Ernest Nijimbere (BHS), Julia Pearl (BHS), Curtis Petit (BHS), Nick Plante (BHS), Samantha Byram (OOB), Kaitlyn Cote (OOB), Maegan Halle (OOB), Elizabeth Bell (TA), Louisa Colucci (TA), Haley Hodgdon (TA), Annie Karim (TA), Sally Lehigh (TA), Hannah McAlary (TA), Bailey Miller (TA), Abigail Morrill (TA), Carl Pellerin (TA), Ethan Richards (TA), Brooklynn Soucier (TA), Hailey Woodman (TA).

Juniors: Basam Abdulhay (BHS), Grace Boisvert (BHS), Carter Edgerton (BHS), Madelyn Farley (BHS), Brittany Harlow (BHS), Alexis Matteau (BHS), Karla Mendoza (BHS), Samantha Mucci (BHS), Leslie Joy Nyambo (BHS), Jared Pierce (BHS), Meghan Pelletier (OOB), Victoria Dukes (TA), Kylie Lavallee (TA), Morgan Neely (TA), Caroline Riley (TA).

BRCOT Director Paulette Bonneau opened the ceremony congratulating the students, “Your achievements in the realms of Scholarship, Leadership, Community Service, and Character are being honored here tonight by your induction into this prestigious society. An honor such as this is a wonderful way for the school and community to recognize and celebrate the choices, and sometimes the sacrifices, you have made.” he said. 

As true leaders, the students orchestrated the Candle Lighting Ceremony for teachers, parents and guests in which they lit each candle representing the attributes critical to being a NTHS inductee: knowledge, skills, honesty, service, responsibility, scholarship, citizenship and leadership.

BRCOT Director Paulette Bonneau and NTHS Advisers, Matt Laney & Tim Stebbins, presented the certificates and medals which can be worn at graduation.

Bonneau added, “The most important thing to remember is that each of these characteristics are the sum of many individual decisions. They embody a positive attitude backed by purpose. The only way to achieve your purpose is to take small actions every day. In the end, they all add up. My hope for you is that you will cultivate this attitude backed by purpose in your own life.”