BETHEL – Chris Leonards was inducted by vote of the Gould Academy faculty council into the National Honor Society on May 25. Leonards had no advance knowledge that he was to be a recipient of this distinction, selection of which is based on scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship.

In his three years at Gould Academy, Leonards, a senior, has repeatedly achieved honor roll based largely on honors and advanced placement courses. He was voted proctor in his senior year, has been a regular tour representative for the school, and became well-known for his spirited fiddle recitals at special school events.

He has lettered each year in all three sports in which he participated. He recently achieved special honors in lacrosse, and in cross country running was named All-Conference in both his junior and senior years by the Maine Association of Independent School Athletic Directors.

A nationally-ranked nordic skier, Leonards has registered several first place finishes in regional competitions with fields numbering well over 100 competitors. Leonards also has repeatedly earned a berth on the Maine Nordic Team, and twice represented New England at the Junior Olympics, skiing in Ishpeming, Mich., in 2001 and Fairbanks, Alaska in 2003. While at Gould, Leonards was coached by Richard Taylor (US Olympian, 1964) and local great, David Chamberlain (World Championship Cross Country Ski Team, 2003).

In April, 1999, Leonards won the “Outstanding Project Award” at the Maine Middle School Science Fair and also took the first place award in biological sciences. At a ceremony in New York City in May 1998, he was awarded the rank of Black Belt (first degree) by Duk Sung Son, grandmaster of the World Tae Kwon Do Association.

Leonards is matriculating at Bates College in September, where he intends to major in neurosciences as well as continue his ski career. He grew up in Wilton, the son of Jeff and Kathy Leonards.