Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School’s Ella Pelletier is the winner of this year’s MPA Principal’s Award. Also pictured: Principal Paul Bickford. Supplied image

PARIS — Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School Principal Paul Bickford has announced that senior Ella Pelletier is this year’s recipient of the 2025 MPA Principal’s Award.

The award is given given in recognition of a high school senior’s academic achievement and citizenship.

“Ella Pelletier is a rare student who lights up the room with her presence,” Bickford said in an email statement. “With her warm grin and carefree demeanor, I see Ella dancing to a song in the hallway or dressing up in a goofy costume for spirit days. Ella is also warm, kind, and civic minded.

“She is a top scholar, an excellent athlete, and has documented over two hundred hours of community service. She is a worthy recipient of this honor.”

As a four-year player and leader on Oxford Hill’s top ranked girls basketball team, Pelletier is no stranger to high school sports fans. The team is a perennial play-off powerhouse, winning the gold ball during her sophomore year. She finished her high school career with 1,396 points, the most in Oxford Hills history – boys or girls. She also set a record for the girls’ team with 852 career rebounds. She also plays on school’s soccer team and competes in outdoor track.

Pelletier was a semi-finalist for the 2025 Miss Maine Basketball Award, was named the SMAA Class AA North Player of the Year, Defensive Player of the Year, and was chosen as Gatorade Maine Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She is also valedictorian for the class of 2025.

With her Gatorade player’s award came a $1,000 prize to be donated in Pelletier’s name. She chose OHCHS’ Unified Basketball Team.

“It’s so amazing to see those kids that wouldn’t normally be able to play,” she said. “When the Unified Team plays the teachers, to see their smiles when they make their shots – it’s such a good program. It gets them out of the shells and allows them to do things that they love.”

Pelletier has worked to bring basketball to as many kids in Oxford Hills as possible. Her senior project was leading basketball lessons to kids between third and seventh grade.

“One of my favorite things to do is work with the younger kids,” she says. “Growing up, there were so many people who wanted to teach me and wanted to help me. I had such a good community, and I want to make it the same for those kids. They’re all different in their own way, but they all have the passion for basketball. It’s so fund to see how they improve, even if it gets a little crazy sometimes.”

It’s not surprising to learn that someday she wants to coach basketball. It’s a family tradition – her dad Nate coached OHCHS Lady Vikings from 2005-2024 until leaving Oxford Hills to become the athletic director in Windham. Her father was not on the bench during her senior year, but he was still a fixture at all her games. “It was a little sad because he was my coach for so long, but he got be a dad instead of coach. I thought that was a really fun change for this year. And he was still helping me through it.”

Pelletier will attend Stonehill College in Easton, MA next fall, where she will continue her basketball career.