Seniors Corinne Ramunno and Julius Searles were awarded with the Br. Richard Hebert Award and the Stephen F. White Award, respectively
By RANDY SEAVER | Editor
Excitement was in the air Monday evening inside Biddeford High School’s Steve White Gymnasium — as more than 100 students, their parents, families and friends celebrated the school’s 2026 Athletic Awards Ceremony.
Athletic Director Dennis Walton told the crowd that this year Biddeford High School had 339 students participate in at least one of three athletic seasons, an increase of 24 students from last year.
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When accounting for multi-sports athletes, Walton said a total of 680 students participated across the fall, winter and spring seasons.
Walton pointed special attention to a group of athletes who earned the distinction of being named “Iron Tigers,” a significant elevation of the school’s Tiger mascot.
“Tonight, we are excited to recognize 100 student athletes who participated in all three athletic seasons,” Walton said.
Of those 100 students, nine are graduated seniors who competed in every season during their four years at Biddeford High School.
“This past Friday, those seniors proudly marched at their graduation ceremony wearing their Golden Tiger Medallions – a symbol of their passion and dedication to athletics,” Walton told the audience.
Before recognizing student accomplishments, Walton thanked parents and families for their “unwavering support” of the school’s athletic programs.
Among the awards given were an “All-Academic” award for seniors who maintained at least a 3.2 grade-point level (GPA) throughout their entire high school career.
Other awards included the Tiger Pride Character Award, and Rising Star Award that is meant to recognize and honor the commitment of underclassmen during a ceremony that typically places greater focus on graduating seniors.
The Tiger Pride Award was established in 2009 to recognize individuals who demonstrate the school’s athletic mission with “a lasting attitude of discipline, sportsmanship, leadership and social responsibility.”
Members of the school’s Special Olympics Team were also recognized Monday for their training and commitment in representing the Biddeford Tigers during the annual Special Olympics Tournament.
And then, 100 students were called to gather in a reserved area of the gymnasium for a group photograph.
According to Walton, multi-participation is associated with positive educational outcomes, including higher GPA scores, better classroom attendance, stronger school engagement and fewer disciplinary issues than their peers.
Monday’s ceremony was capped off by a video slideshow that highlighted the school’s various athletics programs, but not before the annual awarding of the Bother Richard Hebert Award and the Stephen F. White Award.
The Hebert and White awards are presented annually to one outstanding male and female student athlete.
The recipients of the two awards are memorialized with plaques placed between the doors of the Tiger Gymnasium.
The two awards are determined by evaluation, input and votes of all 26 BHS coaches, Walton said.
This year’s Brother R. Hebert Award – named in honor of a former teacher at St. Louis High School – was presented to high school senior Corinne Ramunno. The award was first given to Carol Lamontagne in 1976.
The award has long been regarded as the most prestigious athletic award given to a female athlete at Biddeford High School, Walton said.
The recipient of this year’s Stephen F. White Award – first presented in 1959 to Leopold Beaudoin — was Julius Searles, another graduating senior.
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