Meet Portsmouth High School's top 12 students in Class of 2024
PORTSMOUTH — Portsmouth High School announced the top 12 students in its Class of 2024.
Information on each student, listed in order of class rank, is provided by the school:
Zoe Gouin
Zoe Gouin, the Class of 2024 valedictorian, is the daughter of Gilda Pronych and Richard Gouin and sister of Coral and Perry Gouin. She is a resident of Portsmouth and will attend Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in the fall. Zoe plans to study in a STEM-related major with an emphasis on mathematics and will be minoring in music and Spanish. In the future, she hopes to continue her education through graduate school to earn a doctorate and become a leader and role model in her community. Zoe’s hard work and commitment throughout high school earned her a variety of accolades including the Haven Medal for General Excellence in both junior and senior year, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal in junior year, the Dartmouth Book Award in junior year, the Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish junior year, and she will be named a New Hampshire STEM Scholar in senior year. Zoe was also awarded the New Hampshire Music Educators Association Outstanding Audition Honors for the highest score on bass clarinet in the state in 2023 and 2024.
At PHS, Zoe is an Executive Board Member of the National Honor Society, a Student 2 Student Mentor Leader, and a founding member of the Books and Bad Art Club. She has participated in Portsmouth High School music groups since eighth grade, including concert band, holiday ensemble, jazz band, pep band and marching band, with a leadership position as the Drum Major senior year. Outside of school, Zoe has been working as a Red Cross certified lifeguard and water safety instructor at the Portsmouth Indoor Pool and Peirce Island Outdoor Pool since June 2022. She has performed with the Strafford Wind Symphony as a bass clarinetist and vocal soloist, as well as the UNH Youth Band, NH Chamber Music Festival, and Seacoast Wind Ensemble. Additionally, Zoe volunteered for Special Olympics New Hampshire, Strawbery Banke Museum, various Ukrainian Festivals, Newmarket Millspace, and Blue Ocean beach cleanups throughout high school.
Emma Jeffrey
Emma Jeffrey, the Class of 2024 salutatorian, is the daughter of Kristin and Aron Jeffrey and lives in Portsmouth. She will attend Cornell University in the fall and is undecided in a major, but is considering fields of study in either physics or environment and sustainability. Emma is a very active student at Portsmouth High and involved in a variety of clubs, organizations, and sports. Environmental issues and sustainability has been an interest throughout with Emma taking part in the PHS ECO club all four years serving as the leader in junior and senior year as well as working in the greenhouse and garden the last two years. Emma played soccer all four years, joined the Sailing Club in senior year, took part in Wellness Club in junior and senior year, was part of the Physics Club in senior year, and was involved in the pen pal program from the SEGA Tanzania Club. Emma was recognized for her achievements in a number of ways throughout her time at PHS. She received the Clarkson University Achievement Award, was inducted into the National Honor Society, and was honored with the Seal of Biliteracy in her senior year.
Outside of school, Emma found joy in her time at the White Pine summer camp as a CIT volunteer in grades nine and ten and working as a Camp Counselor in grades 11 and 12. She loves skiing, hiking, and gardening in her free time and attends Portsmouth climate solution city meetings regularly. Despite all of her other activities, Emma also worked part time currently at the Red Rover Creamery downtown and at Hannaford Supermarket freshman through junior years.
Avery Timerman
Avery Timerman is the daughter of Janis and Bob Timerman and sister of Andrew Timerman. She and her family live in Portsmouth. During her time at Portsmouth High School, Avery has been a three-season athlete. She has been a member of the varsity winter and spring track and field teams and a two-year captain. Avery has achieved three PHS school records in relay teams competing in the 4 x 100-meter run, 4 x 200 and 4 x 400. She also has placed third in the 400 and fourth in the 600 in the Division 1 state meet. Avery played on the PHS varsity soccer team and was awarded Midfielder of the Year in her senior year when the team made it to the Division 1 championship game for the first time in the school's history. She was also awarded as a NHIAA Scholar Athlete.
Avery has a strong interest in the field of medicine and is a member of the National Technical Honor Society for her achievement in health sciences. She completed an internship in the Emergency Department at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. During the summers, Avery attended mini-medicine and veterinary medicine programs at Tufts and Cornell. She was awarded for a capstone research project on zoonotic diseases. She is recognized as a NH Scholar with STEM emphasis.
Outside of school, Avery has worked at Petey's Summertime Seafood in Rye for several years. She has also been a constant advocate for the well-being of animals with volunteer work and support of animal shelters in the community.
Next fall, Avery will attend Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. She plans to study biology with a focus on the pre-med track.
Adam Hoskin
Adam Hoskin is the son of Nathan and Allison Hoskin and lives in Rye. In the fall, he will attend Cornell University to study mathematical physics and computer science, with an interest in philosophy. He aims to attend graduate school after completing his bachelor’s, and hopes to perform scientific research in his fields of study.
At PHS, Adam founded the physics team to bring the F=ma exam to PHS, subsequently qualifying for the USA Physics Olympiad at which he earned an Honorable Mention. Since his sophomore year, Adam has been a member of the PHS math team, recognized as the highest scorer in the Tri-State Math League all three years. He additionally has been the state trig-star winner. As math team captain, he started the AMC 10 & 12 at PHS, personally qualifying for the American Invitational Mathematics Examination. He has been a member of the PHS robotics team since freshman year, on which he served as programming captain and was selected as a semifinalist for the FRC New England District Dean’s List. Adam has been a member of PHS Model United Nations since freshman year, was elected club co-president, and won awards for best delegate and best large delegation. He also was on the PHS Debate Team freshman through junior year. He has been an elected member of student council all four years, being further elected vice president junior year, and has served on a number of senate committees. Adam has also helped to run freshman orientation as an S2S Mentor, volunteered at the school as a math tutor, and has particularly enjoyed his time aiding in classes at PHS as a teacher assistant for precalculus and DE precalculus.
Outside of PHS, Adam likes to play board games and has enjoyed taking additional classes, of which his favorite is Discrete Mathematics. Adam was captain of the New Hampshire American Regions Math League team, on which he has competed three times. He has been selected as a US Presidential Scholars Candidate, a National Merit Scholar semifinalist, and an AP Scholar with Distinction. He has additionally been awarded the University of Rochester George Eastman Young Leaders Award and the MIT Kim Lim Foundation Award for Mathematics.
Emily Stokel
Emily Stokel is the daughter of Joshua and Christina Stokel and is a resident of Portsmouth. She will be attending Keene State College in the fall to study elementary education and psychology. In the future, she hopes to become an elementary school teacher who creates a fun, welcoming, and memorable classroom for all students. Emily was very involved in the PHS community throughout high school. She was a member of the Environmental Change Organization Club in junior and senior year, co-president of We Speak, New Hampshire Listens Social Justice Club sophomore through senior year, a member and co-captain of the varsity swim team all four years also serving as co-captain in junior and senior year, she was a Student to Student Mentor Leader all four years, part of the CTE Careers in Education Program in junior and senior year, a member of the Epitome Literary Magazine in senior year, and a took part in the PHS sailing team in senior year.
In addition to her involvement in PHS activities, Emily was deeply involved in a variety of outside activities throughout her four years. She was involved in the teacher training experience through working in the Little Clippers Lab Preschool and interned with Ms. Comi's first-grade classroom at Dondero Elementary School in junior and senior year, she was a volunteer and organizer of Homework Hut, an organization that has high school students volunteer to help middle school-aged students with their homework in junior and senior year, she served as a city of Portsmouth lifeguard and water safety instructor sophomore through senior year, she has taken part in competitive club swimming for Atlantis Aquatics and Solo Aquatics since fifth grade, and was involved in the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls since sixth grade - an all-girls Masonic youth organization dedicated to providing service to the community as well as developing strong leadership skills in its members. Emily was very involved in the a NH Educators Rising program as a member in junior and senior year serving as a Educators Rising State Officer planning educational conferences for aspiring educators state-wide, creating workshops for students and staff state-wide, and creating service projects to aid the local community. This also led her to become a member of the National Educators Rising program in junior and senior year.
Emily’s activities, hard work, dedication, and involvement have led to a number of awards and accolades throughout high school. She won the Smith College Junior Book Award, will be named a New Hampshire Scholar in senior year, is a member of National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, won first place in the Educators Rising New Hampshire State Competitions in the Ethical Dilemma event in junior year and second place in the Creative Lecture Event in senior year, she was a Educators Rising National Competition qualifier/participant junior and senior year, and a nominee for the Grand Cross of Color with the International Order of the Rainbow for Girls for outstanding community work senior year. Emily has been an accomplished swimmer throughout high school winning the PHS Varsity Swim Team Coach’s Award sophomore year, the Full Circuit Award in junior and senior year, the Team High Point Award senior year, she was a NHIAA swimming state qualifier sophomore through senior year, placed seventh at NHIAA Division II state swim meet in the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke individual events in junior and senior year, and was made it to the New England Silver Swimming Championships freshman, junior, and senior year.
Samantha Ruel
Samantha Ruel, a Greenland resident and daughter of Becky and Jeff Ruel, will attend Northeastern University in the fall to study cell and molecular biology. In the future, she plans to work as a geneticist and to research various genetic disorders. While at PHS, Samantha was involved in a variety of clubs, sports and activities. She was a member of National Honor Society junior and senior year serving as a board member in senior year, she took part in SEGA-Tanzania Club sophomore through senior year serving as the club leader in senior year, was a Student to Student mentor sophomore through senior serving as Leader in senior year, she was a Peer Leadership member junior through senior year, played varsity field hockey all four years being named captain in senior year, and was a member of the varsity girls tennis team junior and senior year. Samantha is an accomplished student and athlete winning a number of awards both at PHS and at the state level over the last four years. She was the recipient of a Haven Medal for General Excellence in sophomore year, was recognized for Highest Honors for the Society of Women Engineers Boston Chapter in junior year, will be recognized as a New Hampshire Scholar with the STEM & Art Emphasis in senior year, won a New Hampshire Scholastic Art Gold Key Award senior year, won a NHIAA-NHADA Scholar Athlete Award in senior year, and was part of the 2021 Division II field hockey state champion team.
Outside of school, Samantha was involved in a number of organizations. She was a member of the Seacoast Club Field Hockey program starting in sixth grade, has worked as a waitress at Lexie's Landing since freshman year, took time volunteering at South Fort Myers Food Pantry for a few years, and babysat for local families over the last couple of years. Additionally, Samantha loves reading, spending time with family and friends and cooking when she has free time in her busy schedule.
Evelyn Wilkinson
Evy Wilkinson, the daughter of Tina and Keith, is a resident of Portsmouth and will be attending Lehigh University in the fall to study public health and biostatistics. Her future goal is to become an epidemiologist. In her time at PHS, Evy has been an active member of the school community. She took part in the Peer Leadership program in sophomore through senior year serving as the vice president in junior year and president in senior year, was a member of the PHS robotics wire Clippers team sophomore through senior year, serving as build captain as a senior and electrical lead as both a junior and senior, was involved with the PHS sailing team all four years serving as co-captain in junior and senior year, and was also active on the PHS swim team throughout all four years. While at PHS, Evy’s hard work was recognized through a number of awards. She was a member of National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society, she received the junior award from Rochester Institute of Technology for Women in STEM, she is a New Hampshire Scholar with a STEM emphasis, and was published in the 2024 New Hampshire Teen Poetry Anthology.
Outside of school, Evy was an active volunteer at Strawbery Banke Museum all four years, took part in club swimming on Oyster River Otters all four years, worked at Kittery Point Yacht Club as a certified sailing instructor junior and senior year, and worked as a lifeguard in grades 10-12.
Anna Parker
Annie Parker, daughter of Jon and Meg Parker, is a resident of Portsmouth and will be attending the Newhouse School of Communications at Syracuse University in the fall. She plans to study communications, specifically broadcast journalism, and is looking to pursue a career in media when she graduates. Annie also wants to be a contributing member of the women's varsity lacrosse team and compete for a national championship. She was a recipient of the Rochester Institute of Technology Science and Math Award in junior year and will be honored in senior year as a New Hampshire Scholar with an emphasis in both science and art.
In her time at PHS, Annie was a four-year varsity soccer player where she served as team captain for two seasons, she was a member of the National Honor Society, took part in the unified club, and played varsity lacrosse for four years where she served as team captain for two seasons. Annie’s hard work and dedication earned her numerous athletic awards throughout high school including being named an All-American for lacrosse in 2023 and receiving the NHIAA-NHADA 2024 Scholar-Athlete Award, soccer MVP 2023, lacrosse MVP 2023, first team all-state lacrosse, the Heart and Hustle Lacrosse Award 2022, she was named Rookie of the Year for lacrosse in 2021, and Offensive Player of the Year for Soccer in 2022. Outside of school, Annie volunteered as a coach for Seacoast Lacrosse and conducted individual youth lacrosse training.
Sawyer Schmitt
Sawyer Schmitt, born and raised in Portsmouth is looking forward to attending the University of New Hampshire Hamel Honors College in the fall. He will be studying cybersecurity and hopes to pursue it as a career. During high school, he was a member of National Honor Society as well as National Technical Honor Society. He completed a two year Career Technical Education program while at PHS, focusing on computer science. In his senior year, he took independent courses through Google to get a certificate in cyber security. He is now working towards getting an industry standard certification.
In his time at PHS, Sawyer volunteered at his local elementary school to help with an after school program, volunteered at Gather food pantry, and edited videos for PPMTV. He was awarded the Rochester Xerox Innovation and Technology Award in junior year, was named a New Hampshire Scholar in senior year, was an active member in the robotics team throughout high school, took part in the debate team, and ran cross country for four years. He hopes to continue to learn and explore the world around him.
Timmy Tran
Timmy Tran is a resident of Portsmouth and the son of Ha Le and Andy Tran. He will be attending the University of New Hampshire in the fall to study computer science and be a part of the Hamel Scholars Program. In his time at PHS, Timmy was involved in First Robotics all four years serving as captain in his senior year and a programming subgroup member, he was a member of the varsity math team both junior and seniors years, a Student Council member all four years where he served as the holiday raffle and giving tree committee chair in senior year, and was active on the Ultimate Frisbee Team in junior and senior year serving as team captain in senior year. Academically, Timmy was honored with the Rochester Institute of Technology Computing Award in junior year, he is a National Technical Honor Society Inductee, and was named a New Hampshire Scholar with a STEM emphasis in his senior year.
Outside of PHS, Timmy worked at Mr. Wish all four years, took part in bouldering in junior and senior years, and will be attending the Jane Street Academy of Math and Programming the summer after graduation. He has enjoyed playing casual pick-up volleyball in senior year as well as attending multiple Seacoast Ultimate Tournaments including Flicksgiving, Live Freeze or Die 2024, and the Spring Fling Hat Tournament this spring.
Isabelle Alderson
Izzy Alderson is a resident of Greenland along with her parents Kim and Scott Alderson. She will be attending the University of New Hampshire in the fall and plans to study in the fields of science, math or art. Her goal is to further explore what her future could hold and how to incorporate what she likes to do into it. Izzy wants to determine what could be the best outcome for her future which will hopefully include math, science, and art. She was the recipient of the Society of Women Engineers for Excellence in Science and Mathematics High Honors Award in junior year and is being recognized as a New Hampshire Scholar in senior year with an emphasis in both Science and Art.
While at PHS, Izzy spent her free time taking part in the Art Club culminating in her art being shown in the Senior Showcase at the 3SArtspace art show that is held by the PHS art department each year. Outside of school, she is an avid ballet dancer having taken part in ballet classes since she was three years old. She enjoys traveling and hiking and has visited more than seven major National Parks throughout high school including Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce Canyon, Acadia, Yosemite, Kings Canyon and Sequoia.
Jane Edwards
Jane Edwards, a resident of Portsmouth, is the daughter of Tyler and Tricia Edwards. She will be attending the University of Utah in the fall to study biomedical engineering. Eventually, she would like to find a way to use her education and travel the world. She is an outdoor enthusiast who loves to explore the beauty of New Hampshire and the surrounding areas and spends her free time in the winter months skiing.
In school, Jane was a four-year member of the girls soccer team, participated in swimming for three years, and split her spring seasons playing lacrosse for two years and tennis for two years. She was a member of the Tanzania Club throughout high school, was inducted into the National Honor Society, and took part in Peer Leadership for three years. Jane was the honored recipient of the Bowdoin Book Award in junior year and was named a New Hampshire Scholar Athlete in senior year.
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth High School names top 12 students in Class of 2024
