The Southwestern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) held their annual Citizenship Banquet at the Italian Heritage Club early in April. Two Portland High School seniors, Anneliese Collin and Louis Thurston, were among students who received Citizenship Awards at the banquet. Learn more about these outstanding students in the following write-up provided by PHS Athletics and Co-Curricular Director Spencer Allen:

Louis J. Thurston

Louis J. Thurston is a student-athlete with an outstanding work ethic. He is the first one to show up and the last one to leave. Louis has a great sense of humor and lights up any room with his contagious smile. He’s a natural born leader who makes sure everyone participates in activities on the field and in the classroom. Louis is an exceptional young man and plans on studying pre-med or a related field in college.

As a student, Louis has always excelled in honors programs, earning recognition for the football All-Academic team his senior year. One of the best things about Louis as a student is his ability to help others around him. He spends much of his free time helping his teammates and friends with schoolwork. Passion takes center stage when Louis walks on the field. He has spent countless hours perfecting his craft to work alongside his leadership skills to help him earn a role as a captain of two sports, football and lacrosse – a role that he takes very seriously. Louis’ ability to lead shone on the football field as he helped lead the Portland Bulldogs to their first state title in 22 years, but it shines even brighter when he coaches young athletes in the summer. He makes sure to always be a tremendous role model to younger generations.

Anneliese Collin

Anneliese Collin exemplifies leadership and excellence in the classroom and on the field.

At Portland High School, Anneliese takes all honors classes. She has been a member of the executive board for four years and participates in the school's Best Buddies program. Anneliese is also seeking admission into the National Honor Society.

Athletics play a significant role in Anneliese’s life. She was a three-season varsity athlete each of her four years at Portland, playing soccer and competing in indoor and outdoor track. Throughout athletics, she is always wanting to better herself while lending a hand to her teammates and others. Anneliese was the Bulldogs’ girls soccer leading scorer three of her four years, and was a captain her junior and senior years. She was a four-time regional all-star and her junior year won the Charles Bennett Memorial Award given by the Western Maine Board of Approved Soccer Officials for outstanding leadership, ability, and sporting behavior on the soccer field.

On the track, Anneliese competes in multiple field and running events and was a state champion in the high jump her sophomore year. She currently holds multiple school records including the pole vault, pentathlon, 55-meter hurdles, 300-meter hurdles, and the highest point total by an athlete in a single season. She is also a member of the school record 4x400-, 4x800-, 4x200-, 800- and 1600-meter sprint medley relays.

This year, Anneliese was named the John Casavola senior division MVP at the 2025 SMAA Indoor Championships. Last summer she won a silver medal at the World Junior Ultimate Championships as a member of the USA U-20 Ultimate Frisbee Team. Since her freshman year, Anneliese has shared her track knowledge volunteering as a coach for the Portland Parks and Rec Youth Summer Track program. And for the past 10 years she has volunteered with Special Surfers, a non-profit program that provides surfing opportunities for kids and young adults with disabilities. Next year Anneliese will attend University of Massachusetts, Lowell to study biomedical science and play soccer.

The Southwestern Maine Activities Association (SMAA) is composed of seventeen high schools located in Cumberland and York Counties.  Current member of the conference are:  Biddeford, Bonny Eagle, Cheverus, Deering, Falmouth, Gorham, Kennebunk, Marshwood, Massabesic, Noble, Portland, Sanford, Scarborough, South Portland, Thornton Academy, Westbrook, and Windham.  SMAA schools compete in Southern Maine Class A, and conference champions are crowned annually in twenty-eight sports.