By Chloe Nash, Managing Editor
October 13, 2023
ROCKLAND- On October 6, during the Homecoming football game against Norwell, senior Maggie Elie was crowned as this year’s Ms. Rockland.
Ms. Rockland is giving to a senior who is kind and courteous to students and staff, shows the most school spirit, does well in school, and participates in extracurricular activities.
Nominations for this honor are made by the rest of the senior class, and then voted on by the seniors once finalists are announced. The first round of voting was previously done by teachers, but for the past several years it has been student vote only.
The title is given at halftime during the homecoming game and this year's nominees were Avery Burke, Mary McPartlin, Karen Araujo, Chelsea Amaral, Nayla Chaves, and the winner, Maggie Elie.
Elie is a two-sport athlete as she plays Varsity Basketball and Volleyball for all her four years of high school. She serves as a two-year captain for both sports and was named South Shore League Player of the Year in both and an All-Scholastic Player for Basketball.
She is also an active member of the National Honor Society, a freshman mentor, and a travel club member.
Leading up to calling the winner, Elie was not nervous at all and was glad to just be a part of a school tradition.
“It was special because I was up there with my fellow classmates who are also great students and many of them my friends and it was nice to be recognized,” she said.
Elie was not expecting to even be nominated, but after hearing her name be called, she was in shock as she said, “There were so many other girls I would have thought of before myself.”
“One message I would share is to take things one step at a time… enjoy the moment because these four years fly by and you want to remember all of the great times you had, even when you think you are so stressed and want to be done with school,” Elie added.
Avery Burke is the president of the Southeastern Massachusetts Association of Student Councils, an executive board member of RHS Student Government, and serves as the vice president of the Key Club.
She is an active member of Bulldog Buddies, the GSA, and the yearbook club and also plays soccer for the FC Stars NPL.
Burke was not expecting to be nominated but was excited and when she was an underclassman she had always hoped to be a part of the event.
She said, “I think it was one of the first moments I realized I made it to senior year and it was a very fulfilling and proud moment because it took a lot for me to be able to get to this point.”
To incoming freshmen Burke added, “Be the person you want to be, not what others want you to be…spend it doing things you love and that make you happy and proud, not what society or others expect or want from you.”
Mary McPartlin is the Editor-in-chief of The Veritas, RHS’s school newspaper, co-president of the GSA Club, Student Council Member as well as Senate Leadership Representative.
She is also a Yearbook Committee member, a freshman mentor and takes part in the Bulldog Buddies program.
As McPartlin wasn’t able to make it to the football game, she heard awesome things about it and was proud of everyone who got nominated.
“It feels nice to be recognized and I love all the clubs I am in and all the organizations I help out in so it’s nice to be recognized for that,” she said.
Karen Araujo is an active member of WRPS, Rockland High School’s radio and TV station where she has been responsible for both audio and tech for school drama productions and school committee meetings.
Araujo was very grateful to be nominated and enjoyed having her mom and brother by her side.
She said, “[The most special part was] being included in a school event and getting to represent both the American community and the Brazilian community.”
Amaral is a member of the student leadership council, RHS Student Government, the student athlete advisory committee, and the National Honor Society.
She also holds the position of senior class president and is a Varsity softball player in which she serves as captain.
Nayla Chaves is a four-year Varsity Volleyball player and serves as one of this year's team captains as well as being named a South Shore League All-Star.
While working a part-time job, she volunteers her time working with youth volleyball players as she wants to continue playing volleyball at the collegiate level and major in business.
Chaves loved walking with her family and friends on the field during half-time as she was nervous and excited but very happy to be nominated.