HAMPDEN — Hampden Academy is proud to announce the top academic honors for the Class of 2026. These students have distinguished themselves through outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service to the school and community.
We are pleased to recognize their hard work, commitment and dedication, as well as setting a positive example for their classmates.
Valedictorian Lucy Withee of Hampden has been an outstanding student and leader throughout her years at HA. She has been actively involved in a wide range of activities, including varsity soccer, varsity tennis, National Honor Society, Key Club, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Jazz Ensemble, Spanish Club and Math Team. Lucy has held numerous leadership roles, acting as senior captain of both varsity soccer and varsity tennis teams and vice president of both National Honor Society and Spanish Club.
Lucy’s academic excellence has been recognized with numerous honors, including high honors during all semesters, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Medal for excellence in math and science, Math Student of the Month and English Student of the Month
In addition to her academic and extracurricular achievements, Lucy coaches at Penobscot Valley School of Gymnastics and has tutored students. Lucy’s long-standing passion is gymnastics and she enjoys spending time with her friends, family and dogs
Lucy plans to attend the University of Maine and major in animal science on a pre-vet tract.
Salutatorian Wyatt Wilson of Orrington has been an outstanding student and leader throughout his years at HA. His interests and talents are showcased in his leadership in HA groups, as president of Drama Club and Acafellas Men’s Choir and secretary of Tri-M Musical Honors Society, as well as participating in Chamber Singers, Voices Unlimited Show Choir and announcer for morning announcements and pep rallies. Wyatt also is the president of Bible Club and a member of the Envirothon team and served as Dirigo State Boy’s Nation candidate.
His academic achievements range from selection by musical organizations to participate in ACDA Eastern USA Contemporary Acapella Choir, Jazz All-State Choir and All State Choir to winning the 2026 MMEA State Festival Outstanding Musicianship Award. Wyatt has maintained high honors while at HA.
Outside of school, Wyatt has held a number of jobs including working at Bangor Sandwich Shop and This Lil’ Piggy BBQ. He organized the Acafellas Carol-Gram Fundraiser and devotes time to TPUSA Faith Penobscot, playing in a worship band and co-writing “To The Ends of The Earth” for Calvary Chapel Homeschool Co-Op. Beyond holding numerous roles in school productions, Wyatt has also acted in a production with the Lace Theater Company. He enjoys studying his Bible, building Legos and going to Dunkin and Aroma Joes with friends!
Wyatt plans to major in business analytics and computer science at Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts.
Honors Essayist Brooke Porter of Hampden has been an outstanding student and leader throughout her years at HA. She has held leadership roles as senior captain for varsity cross country, co-president of the Spanish Club and vice president of National Honor Society. Brooke has also been active in other sports playing both varsity indoor track and field and varsity outdoor track and field, as well as being a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society, Math Team and Key Club.
Her accomplishments include earning high honors throughout high school, the St. Michael’s College Book Award and Student of the Month in Mathematics.
Brooke is also active in the community, participating in gymnastics at Penobscot Valley School of Gymnastics, working at the Children’s Dentistry and being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Some of her hobbies are running with friends, skiing with family, hiking and going to the beach. She enjoys the sunshine and the snow, but mostly just loves being outside with her friends and family.
Upon graduation, Brooke plans to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints for 18 months in Ecuador, speaking Spanish. Following this, she plans to attend college at BYU Idaho to major in biology for pre-med and to work toward a career in the medical field.