Meet Portsmouth High School's top 14 students in Class of 2023

PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth High School has announced the top 14 graduates in its Class of 2023.

The students are listed below in order of rank, 1-14, with a look at their accomplishments and future plans:

Frank Coviello

Frank is the son of Anthony and Cheryl Coviello, brother to Rose, and lives in Portsmouth. He is the 2023 class valedictorian and will attend Tufts University to study engineering with a minor in Spanish. He hopes to study the interconnection between engineering, the environment and language.

Frank was a four-year starter on the boys varsity soccer team. He co-captained the team his junior and senior years. He was awarded the Team Grit award his Junior year and the Coaches award and All-State honorable mention his senior year. During his time on the team, Frank played more varsity minutes than any player in the program's history. He also played for Seacoast United Soccer Club in the offseason.

While at PHS, he was on the Student Council, co-founded and served as president of the history club, competed for the varsity math team, volunteered for Peer Leadership, worked on the school yearbook, and was a member of the National Honor Society his junior and senior years. He volunteered outside of school with a local soccer club, Fusion Academy, teaching the sport to area youth and tutored middle school and high school students in math.

Frank was awarded the Haven Medal for General Excellence his sophomore, junior, and senior years, as well as the Haven Medal for Spanish in senior year. He also received the MIT Kim Lim Award for Achievement in Math, the University of Rochester Xerox Innovation & Information Technology Award, The Hoby Youth Leadership Award, was an AP Scholar, and achieved the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.

Alice Weir

Alice Weir resides in Portsmouth with her parents Ashley and Joe Weir. She will attend Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to double major in health and exercise science and Spanish with a minor in neuroscience. Upon her college graduation, Alice plans to attend medical school.  Her goal is to become a physician for a nonprofit like Doctors without Borders to provide medical care to underserved populations.

Alice was involved in a variety of extracurricular activities at PHS, including being an executive board member of the National Honor Society, a student-to-student mentor, a member of Peer Leadership, the president of the PHS ECO Club, and the founder and president of the Wellness Club.  Alice has been honored with many awards throughout high school for her academic achievements.  She was a U.S. Presidential Scholar nominee, the Clarkson Achievement Award winner in junior year, and earned her Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish.

Outside of school, Alice is a ballet dancer. She has been training in ballet since childhood and was a trainee at Safe Haven Ballet in junior and senior years. She was a volunteer at the St. John’s Church as a teacher and the musical director all four years, was a dance instructor through high school creating a COVID-safe movement program for local children which she later continued with Safe Haven Ballet, was a panelist for the Seacoast Women’s Giving Circle mental health forum, and was a youth representative for the Greater Seacoast Youth Wellness Coalition.

Joshua White

Josh White is the son of Jill and Robert White and resides in Portsmouth. He will attend Fordham University to study biological science with a pre-medical track. In the future, he hopes to find a medical area which he is passionate about, attend medical school, and become a doctor to help others.

Josh was a member of the band and the holiday ensemble throughout high school playing the alto saxophone (also taking part in jazz band senior year), was on the soccer team freshman through junior year, played tennis sophomore through senior year, was a student-to-student mentor, was on the varsity math team junior and senior year, serving as president senior year, and was inducted into the National Honor Society in senior year. Outside of school, Josh worked at first Market Basket and more recently Shalimar India and spent his free time snowboarding in the winters.

While at Portsmouth High, Josh was named an All-State band member in junior year, received the RPI Medal in junior year, was a National Merit finalist, won the DNA Day Essay Contest, and was the highest scoring junior and second highest scoring senior at the tri-state math league.

Kaelin Lensink

Kaelin Lensink, the daughter of Carrie and Kurt Lensink, resides in Greenland. She will attend the University of Vermont to pursue a degree in psychology and English. Her ultimate goal is to become an author of novels, short stories, and poems as well as a research psychologist. Kaelin received a number of academic honors while at Portsmouth High including the Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement in Architecture 101, she was named a New Hampshire Scholar with a STEM emphasis, and was the recipient of the Highest Honors award for the Society of Women Engineers in junior year.

Kaelin was a member of the JV soccer team freshman through junior years, played freshman basketball, was a member of the Futures program, took part in unified soccer senior year, and was inducted into the National Honor Society her junior year.  Outside of school Kaelin was a math tutor, part of the Equity Council, a member of the Dungeons and Dragons Club in junior and senior year, and a math and ASL tutor at Great Bay Community College in senior year.

Kendall Jaggers

Kendall Jaggars, the daughter of Stephanie and Jeffrey Jaggars, resides in Greenland and will attend Endicott College. She plans to major in elementary education with a dual certification in special education and hopes to study abroad while in school to teach students in other countries. Her ultimate goal is to participate in Endicott’s fifth-year master’s fellowship program for teaching and become a second grade teacher upon completion of the program.

Kendall has been extremely involved in the PHS community through various organizations including ECO Club and the ECO Club Fundraising Committee, Japanese Club, SEGA Tanzania club where she served as a club leader in her senior year, ski club, and cross country for the Section A Team.  Kendall was an integral part of the CTE Education program while at PHS working in the Little Clipper Preschool as well as interning in a second grade classroom at Little Harbour Elementary School. She also served as a NH State Officer and National Senate Member for the Educators Rising program.

Outside of the classroom, Kendall was a teacher’s assistant at Discovery Child Enrichment Center, babysat for local families, engaged in volunteer activities for the organization she was involved in, and enjoyed skiing, hiking with her dogs and family, and going to the beach in her free time.  She was a two year CTE State Sanctioned Careers in Education Program Completer, a NH Scholar, the recipient of the St. Michael’s College Book Award for Academic Achievement with a Social Conscience, and a member of both National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society.  In her junior year, Kendall also competed in Educators Rising NH competition placing fifth for writing a children’s book which allowed her to attend the National Conference in Washington, D.C., where she placed ninth overall in the Children’s Literature Pre-K category.

Henry Anderson

Henry Anderson, son of Dave and Catherine Anderson, is a resident of Portsmouth, and will attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, this fall. He will study biology on a pre-medical track with the goal of one day pursuing a career in the medical field. He hopes to complete extensive studies on various under-researched illnesses in hopes of making small steps towards new medical solutions.

Henry was very involved in activities at PHS, including concert band and holiday ensemble, playing French horn, as well as the PHS marching band, playing mellophone.  He played singles and doubles on the varsity tennis team sophomore through senior year, was a member of both the history club and math club in senior year, was the student editor of Epitome freshman and sophomore year, and was inducted into the National Honor Society junior year. Outside of school, Henry was a Portsmouth Little League Challenger Division Buddy all through high school, a Portsmouth Middle School Homework Hut Tutor, an avid skier and ski instructor at Wildcat Mountain for the Seasonal Program working with kids running from ages 4 to 14, and worked as a cashier and bagger at Hannaford freshman through junior year.

Henry received a number of accolades while at PHS. He was accepted to and attended the 2022 Advanced Studies Summer Program at St. Paul’s School where he studied Biomedical Ethics, he was a National Merit Commended Scholar, a New Hampshire STEM and Arts Scholar, and a 2023 Jackson Lab TtGG DNA Day Essay Contest winner.

Benjamin Welsh

Ben Welsh is the son of Lauren Greenwald and Joe Welsh and lives in Portsmouth. He will attend Northeastern University this fall.

While at PHS, Ben was a member of Peer Leadership and National Honor Society. He was also a founding member of the history club. Ben played on the PHS soccer team, took part in unified soccer, and was on the tennis team. In his senior year, the tennis team went all the way to the state semifinals. Ben was also an avid rec basketball player at the Connie Bean with his team once making the finals.

Throughout high school, Ben worked at various local businesses, and for a while, had his own small business taking care of lawns. These days he can be found dishwashing at the Beach Pea in Kittery. Ben received a 2023 NHIAA scholar athlete award. He looks forward to studying computer science at the Khoury College of computer science at Northeastern University.

Sophie Rand

Sophie is the daughter of John and Tami Rand and lives in Greenland. She will attend Boston College to study nursing. Sophie dreams of working as a registered nurse so that she can specialize in the NICU. She also hopes to eventually complete her masters and become a nurse practitioner.

During her four years at PHS, Sophie was a member of SEGA Tanzania club and served as the leader senior year, as well as being involved in ski club, Cross-Country Section A, unified soccer, and National Honor Society. She participated in many community service activities such as volunteering at Greenleaf summer camp, homework hut, and road races.

Sophie was the recipient of the Yale Book Award junior year and is a NH STEM Scholar.

In her free time, she works at Izzy’s Frozen Yogurt and Ice Cream. Sophie also enjoys skiing, reading, and taking walks with her two dogs.

Reese Jaggers

Reese Jaggars, the daughter of Steph and Jeff Jaggars, is a resident of Greenland. She will attend Endicott College, where she plans to major in interior architecture with a minor in studio art.  She hopes to study abroad in college and spend time exploring arts and architecture in foreign countries around the world.

While at PHS, Reese was involved in SEGA Tanzania club as a leader, ran Cross Country in Section A, attended the immersive language trip to Costa Rica in her junior year, was a member of the ECO club, took part in the Japanese Club sophomore and junior year, did ski club, and was inducted into the National Honor Society junior year.  Outside of school Reese worked at Firefly Pottery, and volunteered at both the ECO Seacoast Spring Market junior and senior year as well as the First United Methodist Church Pumpkin Patch.  In her free time, Reese enjoys throwing pottery, skiing, and spending time with her family and friends.

Throughout high school, Reese was recognized for a number of accomplishments.  She was named the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leader recipient in junior year, earned her Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, was a Scholastic Art Award Silver Key recipient, a New Hampshire Scholar with both the STEM and Arts emphasis, and a took part in the 3S Artspace Senior Showcase and Fine Arts night.

Shannon Raymond

Shannon Raymond is the daughter of Aimee and Josh Raymond from Portsmouth. She will attend College of William and Mary to study political science. She hopes to one day work in government or political campaigns to promote causes which she is passionate about.

While at Portsmouth High, Shannon was a varsity cross country athlete all four years, the vice president of Peer Leadership, a member of the National Honor Society, a distance runner in spring track, a mentor for Student to Student Mentors, and a member of the ski club.  Outside of school Shannon worked at Jimmy’s Jazz and Blues Club senior year, is an avid guitar player, and enjoyed spending time hiking and rock climbing.  She was honored as a New Hampshire STEM and Arts Scholar in senior year and achieved her Seal of Biliteracy in French.

Avery Ruhnke

Avery Ruhnke is the daughter of Christine and Ron Ruhnke and resides in Portsmouth. She will attend Loyola University Maryland to play Division lacrosse and study biology with plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Avery was a four-year varsity starter for the soccer team and a two-year captain, a three-year varsity lacrosse player (freshman year was canceled due to COVID-19) and senior captain, and a two-year winter track athlete, where she helped break the school record for the 4x200 relay. Additionally, Avery was involved in the SS Clippers, Interact Club, she was a Student to Student Mentor, and was involved in Clipper Captains. Outside of school, she worked as a private lacrosse trainer junior and senior year and volunteered to coach with Seacoast Youth Lacrosse throughout high school.

Avery’s involvement in school activities and her commitment to academic achievement led her to be recognized with a number of accolades throughout high school.  Avery won the Society of Women Engineers Award in her junior year, was named a New Hampshire Scholar in senior year, received the Career Technical Education Architecture Award, was included in the Lacrosse Magazine 2023 National Watchlist and the 2023 All-America Lacrosse Girls Watchlist, named to the Under Armour New England Team, was a NHIAA New Hampshire Scholar Athlete, a Heisman High School Scholarship school winner, a two-time Division II lacrosse state champion, a two-time Seacoast High School Sports Awards Lacrosse Player of the Year nominee, a two-time All-State lacrosse selection, was the 2022 PHS Lacrosse Midfielder of the Year, the 2021 PHS Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Year, a 2022 NH All-State Soccer Selection, and the 2022 PHS Soccer MVP.  Recently, Avery was also honored to be selected to take part in the All-American Senior game for lacrosse.

Jake Haley

Jake Haley is the son of Allison Haley and is a resident of Rye. He will attend Brown University to major in engineering and to run track. Jake is looking forward to exploring the different fields of engineering and finding one that excites him to pursue at Brown.

In his time at Portsmouth High, Jake was involved in cross country and track all four years, played basketball freshman and sophomore year, and was involved in both Peer Leadership and Student to Student Mentors junior and senior year.  Jake worked at Abenaqui Golf Club throughout high school and was a Summer Camp Leader at the YMCA Camp Belknap the last two summers.

Jake was a member of the National Honor Society, the recipient of the Dartmouth Book Award in his junior year, a New Hampshire STEM Scholar, and was selected as a track and field All-State and All American runner.

Sofia Zingariello

Sofia Zingariello is the daughter of Monica and Vincent Zingariello and resides in Portsmouth. She will attend Bentley University to study accounting and finance as well as be a member of the volleyball team. Her dream is to use her college education and experience to become a female leader in the finance field.

While at PHS, Sofia was very involved in extracurriculars including ECO Club, Future Business Leaders of America, Interact Club, and she was a member of the National Honor Society.  She spent different time participating in the swim team and track and she was a four year varsity volleyball player and captain sophomore through senior year.

Sofia spent extensive time volunteering in the high school’s greenhouse, she volunteered time coaching volleyball, and spent time in senior year working with preschoolers who were learning English as a second language.  Sofia was honored in junior year as the recipient of the Smith Book Award and was also inducted into the National Technical Honor Society.

Lucia Hillman

Lucia Hillman, daughter of Rob and Katrie Hillman, is a resident of Portsmouth, and will be taking a gap year before attending St. Lawrence University in fall 2024. Lucia plans to travel to Indonesia for four weeks over the summer, focusing on cultural immersion and marine conservation before beginning an internship on an organic agriculture regenerative farm in the fall. She plans to use the year to explore career interests and gain insight before college and declaring a major. Currently, her interests range from learning about the mind-body connection to the gut microbiome, environmental toxicology, psychology, and topics of chemistry and neuroscience. Her goal for the near future is to feel rejuvenated from experiencing new areas, cultures, and environments, attend a four-year college after building her resume, and feel refreshed and introduced to other areas of interest for more exploration. While in high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, won the Society of Women Engineers with High Honors Award in junior year, and received the Captain's Award for rowing.

At PHS, Lucia was an Environmental Club leader for three years, serving as the climate change director, initiating composting challenges, and participating in discussions, projects, films, and fundraising efforts. She also served as a student-to-student mentor throughout high school. Outside of school, Lucia practiced systemic analysis, experienced hands-on science, and recorded new planting growth with Conservation Law Foundation (CLF), UNH Jackson Lab, and Great Bay waterkeeper Melissa Paly in grades 11 and 12. She guided kids through structured science lessons, fostered creative and collaborative play, aided wounds, and provided some nature knowledge as a leader of Sarah Brown's ForestKids program, grades 10-12. Through 9th and 11th grade, Lucia worked up to being a varsity crew member at Great Bay Rowing. She worked as a hostess at Rio Tequila Cantina and later at Ohana Kitchen, in addition to babysitting for several families. During 11th grade and the beginning of 12th grade, she was an active member of the student-led SS4S (Seacoast Students for Sustainability non-profit). Lucia loves moving her body and reconnecting with nature, whether trying to surf, going on hikes with family, strolling, listening to podcasts, practicing yoga, or going to the gym.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth High School top 14 students in Class of 2023