FA Appoints Two New Board Members: Renee C. Thomas ‘84, and Nicola Soares ‘86
The Fryeburg Academy Board of Trustees has appointed two new board members: Renee C. Thomas ‘84, and Nicola Soares ‘86. Both women hail from Bermuda and spent their Academy years as students in its boarding program.
Renee Thomas ‘84 resides in Bermuda, where she works as an assistant to the director of the Bermudian Government’s Department of Culture. Since 1989, Renee has served at the Department of Culture, formerly known as the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, the agency charged with preserving, celebrating, and educating about Bermuda’s rich cultural heritage, and promoting a shared cultural identity. Following study at Westbrook College in Maine (now the University of New England), Renee graduated from the American Business & Fashion Institute in Charlotte, North Carolina.
“I’m thrilled, honored, and humbled to become a Fryeburg Academy trustee,” Renee said, when asked about her appointment. “I look forward to serving, and I feel that my own experience as an international student will be helpful as the board works with school leadership to plan for the future.”
Nicola “Nikki” Soares ‘86 lives in the Detroit area in Michigan, where she is the president of Kelly Education, the nation’s largest education workforce solutions provider. Nikki is charged with setting the vision, mission, and strategic direction for the education division; in day-to-day work, she directs 400 professionals responsible for recruiting, hiring, and developing a wide range of educators across more than a thousand preK-12 public school districts and private schools. A former teacher herself, Nikki has also held positions with NBC Universal, NBC Learn, and McGraw-Hill Education. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. When asked what she hopes to bring to the board of trustees, Nikki said, “The Academy changed the trajectory of my life with its diverse and inclusive educational community, and as a proud alumna of the Academy, I will do all I can in this role to help protect and advance its empowering mission.”
Head of school Erin Mayo welcomed the new appointments: “Renee and Nikki bring further strength and diversity to our school’s governing body-- a very exciting thing! I’ve enjoyed getting to know them both, and especially hearing about their Fryeburg Academy years. Bermuda is a nation from which many students have travelled over the years to enroll at Fryeburg Academy; it’s an important part of school history, and it’s just wonderful to have Bermudian alumnae now on the board.”
Board president Chris Gordon said, “I’m gratified by the Trusteeship Committee’s selection of these talented individuals, and I’m so glad they’ve agreed to serve.”
We are pleased to announce the following students who have earned academic recognition at Fryeburg Academy for the Fall of 2023-24:
HONORS Grade 12: (Honors)
Charlotte Adamus Vittoria Bernardini Natalie Berry Dom Bond Jordin Booker Owen Burford Tori Butters Jilyan Byrne Lorenzo Catana Vallemani Jonah Densmore Vitoria Do Espirito Santo Teixeira Elle Dooley Austin Dorner Deniz Eroglu Manu Fandos Martinez Aidan Flanigan Amber Gagnon Mia Grandchamp Gal Hanan
Emily Hoosier Noah Jacobs Emma Keaten David Kim Joey Kim Kardelen Lacinok Helena Landry Margherita Lassini Leo Lee Celine Lee Ana Maillett Moss Marques Caroline Masterman Asher McKenney Ryan Meade Natalia Millan Arenas Mina Milosevic Tommy Morini Tasia Nason
Rachel Pizzo Grace Porcaro Abby Pratt Ashe Rabideau Winter Raymond Dustin Rhoda Gideon Richard Leah Rokes Margherita Rossi Gunnar Saunders Louie Shin Lamar Smith Hunter Tripp Tanner Tripp Gabby Udoto Logan Walton Kara Willette Connor Williams Mary Wing Kevin Zhou
From October 31 through November 3, five members of the Academy's FFA Chapter (Future Farmers of America) and faculty member Jennifer Solter Jones attended the National FFA Convention held in Indianapolis, Indiana.
On Thursday, November 16th, Fryeburg Academy celebrated the fall sports season with its annual fall sports awards assembly held in the Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center. The following student-athletes were recognized for their outstanding performance during the fall 2023-24 season:
Fryeburg Academy and the Board of Trustees announce the installation of Joseph R. Manning as the Academy’s 55th head of school. The Installation Ceremony was held on Friday, November 3, 2023, with members of the Fryeburg Academy community, the Board of Trustees, and former head of school Erin P. Mayo in attendance as a guest speaker. Manning steps into this new leadership role during the school’s 232nd year, following a long-tenured and successful career at the Academy spanning twenty years of service.
Fryeburg Academy seniors Tyler Bartick and Jiwon Choi have earned Letters of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program (NMSC) for their performance on the 2022 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®).
Fryeburg Academy is an independent boarding and day school, serving grades 9-12 and postgraduate. We invite you to explore our site and learn how students from around the globe find their place in the world through our exceptional academic, art, and athletic programs.