Lebanon student named Maine Connections Academy 2023 Salutatorian

Taylor Church of Lebanon (Courtesy photo)

SCARBOROUGH, Maine - Maine Connections Academy, a tuition-free online public school for grades 7-12, announced on Wednesday that Taylor Church, of Lebanon, ME, is the school's salutatorian of the Class of 2023.

Church joined Maine Connections Academy in seventh grade and has since become a major contributor in her classes and extracurricular activities. "It's really the community you build," she said of her experience.

She credits her positive experience to the support she received from her teachers, classmates and the dynamic nature of the online learning environment.

"These teachers believe in you and want you to do well. They take the time," she said. She attributes her academic success in large part to her teachers' involvement and the personalized attention she received along the way.

Her love of learning doesn't stop at her high school classes. Church has been taking college courses at the same time - tallying up 54 credits as of graduation, which she celebrated while prepping for college finals at the same time.

Church also stays busy outside of the classroom. She plans to work for the Lebanon Fire Department as a junior EMT/firefighter this summer, having participated in a training program through the Sanford Regional Technical Center to gain the medical expertise necessary for the role. When she's not there, she works as cashier, baker and cook at Riverside Farm Stand and Greenhouse in North Berwick.

Church was a member of the school's National Honors Society for three years and served as its president during her senior year. During her time, the chapter raised money for a variety of causes, including the Maine Community Foundation COVID-19 fund and support for Ukrainian refugees.

She says staying organized is key to being able to fulfill all of her commitments. In a speech to her classmates during Maine Connections Academy's commencement ceremony on June 2, she highlighted the importance of effective leadership and ensuring the success of the entire team, rather than just your own goals.

"Being a leader is so easy and so difficult at the same time," she acknowledged, while highlighting the benefits of a collaborative approach.

Church was recognized as the recipient of the Principal's Award during commencement, which is awarded to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding academic and social engagement during their time at Maine Connections Academy.

She plans to attend the University of Maine in the fall as a biology major with a pre-medical concentration. Beyond that, she has her sights set on the Early Assurance Program - Maine Track for Tufts University, which provides high-achieving undergraduates committed to pursuing a career in rural medicine the opportunity to apply to Tufts during their sophomore year.