Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) class of 2024 Salutatorian Margret “Meg” Sledge is the epitome of a student-athlete. Born and raised in Boothbay Harbor, Sledge has captained countless sports teams, but at Friday’s graduation, her GPA (grade point average) and academic achievement have earned her the title of salutatorian.

Sledge recalled her favorite BRHS moments as “anything that we could all do together as a class. Homecoming week stands out, but not just that – all the school events, football games, basketball games, even our senior pranks – it was the entire class participating in those. Our class was always close. We had a lot of new students come in in seventh grade, from Edgecomb mostly, and it was important that we welcomed them,” she said. “We’ve been very close ever since.”

Sledge was voted “Most Athletic” by her peers. She has shown determination for excellence in field hockey, lacrosse and basketball all four years of high school. As a top performer, she led the teams as captain in field hockey and basketball, receiving coach’s awards in both sports. Pushing herself to work harder, she was honored with a Boosters Club Award and received the coveted David Landry Memorial Scholarship.

Sledge was a dedicated member of the Seahawk sailing team, which will come in handy as she pursues a degree in marine transportation operations at Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) in Castine, where she will also play lacrosse. Her love of the sea has been noticed by the working waterfront community. Sledge received a Charlie Begin Memorial Lobsterboat Races Scholarship and a Blake’s Boatyard Scholarship.

In the classroom, Sledge also shines. “I was in shop class, actually, when I got called into Principal (Tricia) Campbell’s office. She and Mr. (Allan) Crocker told me that I was salutatorian. I was so shocked. I was not expecting it at all,” she said.

Sledge has won four book awards, served on the Student Health Advisory Board, Student Council, Interact Club, National Honor Society as president, and attended Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute her sophomore through senior years. This year, Sledge received the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute Award.

Sledge’s commitment to our community earned her a Bayview Masonic Lodge Scholarship and the Boothbay Region Rotary Service Above Self Scholarship. Sledge has logged over 500 hours of volunteer service for local organizations. She is also a West Scholarship recipient.

“Seeing the community show up for us since the beginning of elementary school and having them watch us grow up as you’d expect in a small town, I just want to say, ‘thank you.’ It’s made a difference. And I’m encouraged by the recent decision to invest in the schools. Walking the halls, dodging trash cans catching rainwater, that’s not us, that’s not OK.”

Before she begins MMA, Sledge will spend the summer working in special events at Linekin Bay Resort. And Sledge will be found on the Seahawk sidelines during her college breaks, cheering on student-athletes. She was voted “Loudest” by her classmates in senior superlatives. She smiled when asked about her favorite cafeteria food. “I always took my own lunch but I love the pazzo bread when they had it, and the breakfast pizza.” Her favorite subjects are English and math.