ANDOVER – The Andover Alumni Association held its annual banquet at the elementary school gym on May 24. The evening program included awards for seniors and recognition of members of the Class of 1958 from Andover High School and the Class of 1983 from Telstar.

Well over 120 attended the event, according to Sharon Farrington who, as chairwoman of the dinner committee and head chef, said she served 141 individuals during the evening. That included kitchen crew and the wait staff. The menu included roast pork, baked potatoes, mixed vegetables, rolls, applesauce and gingerbread with whipped topping.

Although there was no designated speaker for the evening, Abby Mills, Mountain Valley High School ’07, and Fred Bailey, Telstar ’03, spoke briefly. Mills has just completed her freshman year at the University of Vermont and Bailey, who graduated from Colby College in 2007, is training for the 2010 Winter Olympics. Both advised the Class of 2008 to relax and expect to find life after high school different in many ways from what they anticipate.

Also giving advice to the seniors were those who presented awards: Joan Stinson-Carney, Janet Farrington, Belinda Poor, Daniel Remington, Andrea Savitz, the Rev. Jane Rich and the Rev. Ken Wagstaff.

Remington read a poem he’d written about Esther Pew, Telstar ’08, when presenting her with a award for being the second highest ranking Andover senior. Andover’s highest ranking senior at Telstar this year was Mark Emerson.

Other awards presented were:

Andover Alumni Association Award for Highest Rank in Math: freshman, Tara Arsenault; sophomore, Alyssa Cole; junior, Whitney Mills; senior, Esther Pew.

Andover Alumni Association Award for Highest Rank in Science, Mark Emerson; East Andover Community Club Award, Brianne Bailey; Lila Farrington Memorial Scholarship Award for Seniors in the Top 10, Mark Emerson, fifth honors, Esther Pew, seventh, and Julia Stambolis, eighth.

Also, Walter Fox Book Award: grade six, Kayla Cole; grade seven, Ashley Hall; grade eight, Adam Mahar; freshman, Elek Pew; sophomore, Alyssa Cole; junior, Austin Buck; senior, Mark Emerson.

Also, Michael Marston Book Award for Outstanding Region 9 Student: Matthew Farrington. Remington Award for Second Highest Ranking Andover Student: Esther Pew; Allyson Hodsdon Memorial Award for Excellence in Junior Literature: Whitney Mills; Andover Service Circle Community Service Award, Esther Pew.

Three scholarships were awarded: Anna Thurston Memorial Scholarship, $1,000, Brianne Bailey; John B. and Eunice Fox Memorial Scholarship, $1,000, Esther Pew; Sweatt Family Memorial Scholarship, $1,000, Matthew Farrington.

After the presentations, Rich spoke of two individuals who have served the alumni association with dedication and devotion for 11 of the past 12 years. She then presented medals to alumni President Dotty Roberts and Treasurer Ron White. Medals were also awarded Bette Britt and Ross Swain for their support to the officers.

Members of the Telstar Class of 2008 who attended the alumni banquet were Brianne Bailey, John Farrington, Matthew Farrington, Patrick Milligan, Esther Pew, Julia Stambolis, Justin Woods and Rebecca Wilson.

Nicholas Anastasio, a member of the Class of 2008 at Mountain Valley High School, and Debbie Dolloff who attends a church school were also at the banquet. Other Andover seniors who will graduate this year but were not present on Saturday night are Mark Emerson, Michelle Andexler and Samantha Scadding.