Two Berlin HS Seniors Earn Significant Honors

Berlin High School

BERLIN, CT — Berlin school officials Thursday announced Berlin High School's two CABE Student Leadership Award recipients.

The Connecticut Association of Boards of Education Student Leadership Awards Program recognizes students who exhibit exemplary leadership skills.

BHS said seniors Emma Lavoie and Ian Saunders have been selected as this year’s recipients.

Emma Lavoie

According to the school, Lavoie is "a remarkable young woman who has consistently demonstrated her commitment to academic excellence."

She has been inducted into the Berlin High School chapters of the National Honor Society and the Rho Kappa National Social Studies Honor Society where she serves as secretary.

Lavoie is a member of several BHS clubs including Upbeat and the Ryan T. Lee Club.

She was elected by her peers to represent the Class of 2024 as social chair and is treasurer of the student government.

In addition, Lavoie tutors in the Writing Center is a peer leader on the Unified Sports basketball team, and tutors students in Spanish.

She has earned the AAPPL Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and has been awarded the Gettysburg College Book Award for Distinguished Study of American History and Excellence in Honors Pre-Calculus.

Lavoie has achieved high honor status during all four years at Berlin High School.

In addition to academics, Lavoie is involved with soccer, both on the high school team and a community team.

She volunteers at her church, helping to distribute food to those in need and assisting at the Berlin Fair food booth.

Lavoie has also found time for employment, working at a local restaurant and as a swim instructor.

After graduation from Berlin High Emma plans to study engineering at a four-year college or university in the northeast.

Ian Saunders

Samders is an "exceptional individual with a strong academic foundation, outstanding leadership abilities, and a deep commitment to both his studies and extracurricular activities," according to BHS.

Saunders' academic success has been recognized with multiple honors and awards including the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizen Award, AP Scholar with Honors, Clarkson University Leadership and Scholarship Award, and the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Program.

He has consistently been on the honor roll during his time at Berlin High.

Saunders is the lead editor of the Redcoat Review, the BHS school newspaper.

As an Upbeat coordinator, he helps to create leadership workshops and plan multi-day events across grade levels.

His peers elected him to serve as student representative on the Berlin Board of Education, where he provides input on changes made at a district level, works closely with high school administration regarding student life, and reports on student activities.

Saunders works with the BHS/UConn partnership on malaria vaccine research.

His post-graduation plans are to attend Vassar College with a double major in chemistry and English.

Both will be recognized as this year’s Berlin High CABE Student Leadership Awards Program recipients at the June Berlin Board of Education meeting.