The following students were honored as the top 10 students in the Portsmouth High School class of 2024.
(Note: Students are listed in alphabetical order.)
Keira Boxell
Keira Boxell is an exceptional student, who through her academic achievements, leadership skills, and desire to make a positive impact on the world, has proven that hard work, perseverance, and dedication lead to personal success. Through Keira’s commitment to academic excellence, Keira has completed nineteen Honors and Advanced Placement courses, which clearly indicates the high level of standards Keira sets for herself. Beyond Keira’s academic achievements lies a student who is a natural leader and who is determined to lead by example. Keira has actively participated in various clubs and organizations, where she has displayed her dedication and commitment to civic leadership, which include the National Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, Language Honor Society, Model United Nations, Philosophy Club, Portsmouth Leadership Academy Mentor, and Math Team member. Keira’s notable accolades include the Parents Helping Students Organization Book Award, Civic Leadership Award, Congress of Future Medical Leader Award of Excellence, as well as the Michael Marra Excellence in History Award. Most recently, upon her return from a leadership journey to South Africa last summer, Keira is a co-founder of Shades of Knowledge, which is a non-profit organization that empowers black youth by enhancing literacy through the collection and donation of books to students in need around the world. Keira will be attending Boston College to study biology and economics.
Makayla Boxell
Makayla Boxell is a remarkable student who through her high school years has exemplified her intellectual prowess, commitment to community service, and excellent leadership skills. She has maintained a rigorous course load, successfully completing nineteen Honors and Advanced Placement courses with outstanding achievement. Her dedication to academics is paralleled by her passion for history and English, where her ability to engage in deep analysis and thoughtful discussions shines through. Makayla is also a passionate student, whose aspirations include addressing global issues on a macro scale, as she envisions working in organizations such as the United Nations. Makayla’s exceptional qualities and recognition extend beyond the classroom through her participation in many extra-curricular activities. She has been awarded the honor as the Outstanding Delegate at the New York University Conference and was a recipient of the Rhode Island Statewide Civic Leadership Award, as well as the The Michael Marra Excellence in History Award. Her selection as the only individual in the history of the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Youth Health Ambassador Program to be invited back twice underscores her dedication for and impact in the state’s highest health department. Having a passion for empowering black youth by enhancing literacy skills, Makayla is a co-founder of Shades of Knowledge, an organization which collects book donations to send to students around the world. A member of the Class of 2028 at Boston College, Makayla plans to pursue a degree in International Studies.
Adelynne Crisfield
Adelynne Crisfield is an astonishing and accomplished student who describes herself as being an adaptable person and commends herself on her ability to adjust to any environment. She is persistent and determined and works diligently to attain her personal goals. Academically, Adelynne’s achievements speak to her impressive academic record where she has completed sixteen Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Beyond her academic pursuits, Adelynn is actively involved in various leadership and extracurricular activities. She has been an integral part of the Portsmouth Leadership Academy, where she serves as a mentor to freshman students and the John Hopkins National Youth Leadership Forum for advanced medicine and healthcare, where she assumed a leadership role as a group leader. As the recipient of the Advanced Placement Scholar Award, Adelynne has also been a member of the National Honor Society, Language Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, and has displayed her athletic prowess through her participation on both Portsmouth High School’s Varsity Volleyball Team and Varsity Swim Team. She is also a member of the Equestrian Interscholastic Association. Adelynne is looking forward to furthering her education this fall at Brown University, by pursuing a degree in biology, with plans on becoming a physician, specializing in dermatology.
Colm Dooley
Colm Dooley is an exceptionally intelligent student who does not shy away from his true desire to learn for the sake of learning. Colm prides himself on being goal oriented, diligent, and dedicated to his studies, as his academic performance stands on its own merit. Through his years at Portsmouth High School, Colm has successfully completed twenty Honors and Advanced Placement courses. Colm’s stellar academic performance has awarded him the following honors: the U.S.Marines Scholastic Excellence Award, Portsmouth High School Math Department Recognition Award, and the Portsmouth High School Math Team Recognition Award. Following his interest in gaming, Colm participated in the Rhode Island Digital Games Institute, at the New England Institute of Technology, this past summer, where he collaborated with a team of gaming developers to create a video game meant to inform people of health related issues. This fall, Colm will be following his passion for mathematics and science, as he will be attending John Hopkins University, majoring in electrical engineering.
Erik Hurst
Erik Hurst is a gifted student whose intelligence, maturity, and cultured and worldly points of view make him remarkably unique. He has flourished academically and has positively contributed to the Portsmouth High School community since his arrival sophomore year from Malaysia. Erik has maintained High Honors throughout his tenure while taking the most rigorous courses available. Notably, Erik was a National Merit Scholarship and a Presidential Scholarship finalist and has received several awards and honors to recognize his exceptional aptitude and ability in STEM related course work. Erik takes pride in being a member of the Marching Band, in participating on the Math Team and Science Olympiad, and completing the Engineering CTE Project Lead the Way Program. Notably, he is kind, humble, down-to-earth and greatly respected by his peers and teachers alike. Erik is looking forward to pursuing an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Sophia Karousos
Sophia Karousos is an exceptional young woman who exudes a genuine and dynamic personality and positive energy. She is most recognized for her athletic prowess and sportsmanship on the soccer field and for her contagious school spirit. Sophia is appreciated for her open-mindedness and acceptance of all people regardless of differences, and she uses her voice as Vice President of the Student Council to promote inclusiveness Academically, she has excelled across the disciplines and has taken the most rigorous courses offered each school year while consistently making the Honor Roll. Sophia is creative, a critical thinker, an innate leader, and dedicated and driven to reach all of her goals. Above all, Sophia is passionate about her love of music and associates almost all major and minor events and moments in her life with a song. She will be creating a new compilation of songs for her next soundtrack at Northeastern University where she is fittingly going to pursue a major related to the music industry.
Theresa Katin
Theresa Katin is an incredible student who desires to learn, expresses intellectual curiosity, demonstrates endless potential and propensity for growth, and adds talent, uniqueness, and creativity to her every endeavor. Theresa’s diligent work ethic and staunch determination to meet her academic and personal goals have contributed to her outstanding overall success. Amazingly, classmates and teachers feel compelled to acknowledge her kindness, compassion, sincerity, empathy, integrity and strength of character whenever her name is mentioned. In addition, Theresa’s involvement in the Marching Band and to the Drama Club are unparalleled and a legacy she will leave behind at Portsmouth High School. The theater is where Theresa feels most complete, and she takes pride in emotionally investing in her characters and bringing them to life. She is excited to be taking the stage at Pace University in NYC, where she will continue her acting career.
Megan Malone
Megan Malone is an outstanding student whose intellectual curiosity and genuine love of learning have motivated her to remain persistent and dedicated to excel as a scholar. She is a critical thinker with an inquiring mind and an inquisitiveness across the disciplines, but especially when it comes to investigative studies and research. Impressively, she is not afraid to take risks and face obstacles and adversity in her pursuit of acquiring new knowledge as she will always seek to focus on the lessons learned in the process. Further, Megan has been a standout on the softball team, an asset to the Math Team and Science Olympiad, and an active and invested member of a variety of clubs and honor societies. Notably, Megan is the Founder and President of the PHS Chapter of the Science National Honor Society. Her kindness, thoughtfulness, family values, strength of character, and selflessness are among her most exceptional attributes. Megan will be pursuing degrees in Biochemistry and Biophysics at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the Fall.
Benjamin Norris
Benjamin Norris is humble, curious, and a true scholar. He is an avid learner and earnestly delves into this coursework. He is introspective, reflective, and strives to make associations between the content he is learning and real world situations. Benjamin has an eye for the most meticulous of details and his perspectives come from both analytical and artistic critical lenses. He is the type of student whose presence and contributions in the classroom setting helps and motivates his peers in the room to rise and discover more of their own potential. Benjamin has enjoyed participating in Portsmouth High School’s Marching and Jazz Bands and he is an accomplished Eagle Scout who sincerely believes in service and giving back to others. Benjamin exudes enthusiasm, and he embraces each day from an appreciative and grateful perspective. Benjamin’s passion lies in creating and designing original and distinctive furniture and structures, which makes it no surprise that he is excited about pursuing an Architecture degree from Texas A & M in the Fall.
Savannah Walsh
Savannah Walsh is an exceptional student and a young woman of strong character. Academically in the top ten percent of her class, Savannah excels in her studies and has challenged herself throughout high school, being successful in many Advanced Placement and Honors courses. Her favorite subjects have been in the areas of science, where she thrives on learning new concepts rather than concepts that build off of others, and English, as reading and writing are two of her passions and they allow her creativity to shine. Savannah’s ingenuity also dazzles in her art classes where her attention to detail is top-notch. Her academic curiosity is extraordinary. Savannah has flourished in her studies, but her shy nature also developed into a more out-going persona. Her positive attitude, perseverance, and drive sparkled throughout her high school years. Savannah increased her appreciation for trying new things, no matter the level of difficulty. Her thirst for knowledge and skills is tough to quench. She is a true “lover of life” and revels in unprecedented territory. In her personal time, she has taken on a job in retail and is a member of our school’s Art Club and BioMed Club. She has a passionate interest in reading, writing, drawing, and exploring new innovative outlets. Savannah’s work ethic, independent and responsible nature, generous and kind heart, and dedication to her every endeavor will serve her well in her plans to pursue a degree in Medical Biology at the University of New England. Undoubtedly, she will glisten academically while positively contributing to the campus society in Biddeford, Maine.
