Palmer High School seniors recognized for sports, academic achievements

May 23, 2022 | Lauren LeBel
llebel@thereminder.com

PALMER - Several students from Palmer High School (PHS) were recognized and awarded for various achievements during the School Committee meeting on May 18.

PHS Principal Susan North was joined by Matthew Marciniec, health/athletic director, to announce the sports awards.

Madalyn Theriault, a senior at PHS, was awarded for scoring 143 soccer goals and 39 assists throughout her high school career. Theriault is the first soccer athlete in Palmer history to score the 100-point club, said Marciniec.

Additionally, Theriault was awarded for becoming the 9th PHS female athlete to score 1,000 points in basketball. She finished her career with a total of 1,060 points.

Jack Letendre, senior, was awarded for becoming the 8th male PHS athlete to score 1,000 points in basketball. He finished his high school career with a total of 1,118 points.

Bobby Burke, a senior wrestler at PHS, wrestled in the 170-pound weight class and became the Central Mass Champion. Burke finished his career with 101 wins.

Next, North announced the top 20/24 of the senior class, in alphabetical order. Students include Burke, Roman Cardenales, Calista Carter-Nason, Ava Denault, Sara Dresser, Kevin Huynh, Emily King, Chance Lee, Letendre, Noel Melnick, Gabriel Messier, Amelia Murray, Bryron Peabody, Derrick Smola, Theriault, Mariah Thomas, Anthony Ukrainets, Bianca Wood, Alannah Wood and Michael Ziemba.

The two Salutatorians are Jackson Delay and Andrew Martin. The two Valedictorian’s are Brady Stahelski and William White.

“Congratulations to all the students who have worked really, really hard for their achievement to be in the top 20/24,” said North.

All of the students were given pins to wear on graduation day.
North followed by announcing the students nominated for the Superintendent Award of Academic Excellence. All the students were nominated by faculty at PHS. The nominees include Ukrainets, Smola, Cardenales, Ethan Tremblay, Alannah Wood, Martin and
Stahelski. The winner was announced on May 25, after press time.
EMT Course

An EMT course will be offered at PHS next year, after receiving unanimous approval from School Committee members.

Bonny Rathbone, chairperson, said, “The Palmer High School team has considered many options in order to offset an EMT certification course at Palmer High School. Consideration could be made to limit the course to 10 students for one semester only. Over the course of [fiscal year 2023] FY23, the district will attempt to leverage funds and explore alternative funding and present options for long term programming in the future. Students may be responsible for testing fees and individual materials and will be notified of that prior to enrollment.”

Rathbone said for instance, hosting fees and books are $2,500 and 10 participants will cost $17,000.

When it comes time to budgeting the FY24 school year, Rathbone said they will reevaluate the course and see how they will continue it moving forward.

FY23 budget

The preliminary FY23 budget shows an increase of 6.7 percent for a total of $19,940,448, with a 1.8 percent increase in allocation from the town, for a total of $17,112,183. The preliminary budget currently shows a $40,311 budget deficit, said Rathbone.

The School Committee unanimously approved the FY23 budget of $19,940,448.

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