JAY/LIVERMORE FALLS — One has dual citizenship, another worked her way up, one young man has deep roots in the area and the fourth chose to finish her high school career at Spruce Mountain High School.

Although each of the four valedictorians and salutatorians at the north and south campuses has very different backgrounds, all share one thing in common: They each value education and know that taking learning seriously is the best way for success in life.

This will be the last year that the senior class will graduate in two celebrations. Next year, all secondary students from both the Livermore Falls and Jay campuses will be together at the north campus.

“We’re like the last tigers,” SMHS north campus salutatorian Brianna Beaupre said. 

In Livermore Falls, south campus salutatorian Caleb Berry said he plans to present a history of his school — the same one that his parents graduated from — at the June 8 evening graduation.

Melanie Robitaille, the north campus valedictorian, is pleased that she gets to graduate with her class on Sunday, June 9.

And Amethyst Miller, the south campus valedictorian, could have returned to her home turf in Waterville to graduate with her class there, but decided to finish out her high school career in Livermore Falls because she really likes the south campus and her teachers.

The photographer, foreign language expert, violinist and tutor said she would focus her graduation speech on the broader world.

Amethyst, 18, is the daughter of George and Lisa Miller. Besides her love of languages, she is a member of the school’s National Honor Society, Civil Rights Team, and Gay Straight Alliance. She plans to attend either Wheaton or Mount Holyoke colleges in the fall and study foreign languages.

“Education has always been a priority. Your education sets you up for the rest of your life,” she said.

Brianna, 18, moved to Jay in the seventh grade from Lewiston and plans to attend the University of Maine with a major in social work.

She has taken advantage of the opportunities provided by Upward Bound at the University of Maine at Farmington and hopes that entering social work will be as beneficial for those she counsels as social workers have been for her in the past.

“I didn’t give up, and I just kept on going. I pay attention in class and take lots of notes and do my homework,” she said.

Brianna loves to paint and play a variety of instruments, is a member of the Gay Straight Alliance and the Bystander Program, which is an anti-bullying group.

Melanie, 17, is the daughter of Michael and Regina Robitaille, and a citizen of the U.S. as well as of Germany, where her mother is from. She hopes to spend part of the upcoming summer in Germany visiting with her mother’s relatives.

She is not sure what her major will be at the University of Maine in the fall, but she likes foreign languages.

She is a student representative on the RSU 73 School Board, a member of the National Honor Society and Student Council and several other organizations.

“Ever since middle school, getting all A’s has been important. I always want to challenge myself,” she said.

Caleb, 17, is the son of Andrew and Tammy Berry. He plans to attend the University of Maine in chemical engineering, then go to law school. He wants to specialize in patent law.

He has been active in soccer, track and field, the National Honor Society, acting and in several other organizations.

Caleb advises students to do well during their first and second years of high school.

“It sets a standard,” he said.

He wants to speak on the legacy and history of his high school.

“It’s a great place. Students and teachers are wonderful,” he said.