Page 8 - Newsletter_Summer_2018

SPOTLIGHT

ON ALUMNI

Mallory Clayton

Class of 2013

By Rachel Fitzpatrick, Class of ‘93

Do you recall what you were doing five years out of Houlton High School? Maybe you were married and/or started a family.
Were you finishing your first degree? Working in the family business? Hopefully, working a job, maybe not your dream job, to
start paying back those student loans or save for the future. Mallory Clayton, class of 2013, has made her mark earning two
degrees and landing a full-time job in her degree area in her home town.

Mallory is the youngest child of Jason and Nicole (Palmer) Clayton. Jason works as a mechanic at York’s of Houlton while
Nicole is an RN currently working in the Mars Hill area. Of Mallory’s older siblings, her two brothers are currently living
in North Carolina & her sister, Misty, works as a nurse at Houlton Regional Hospital. Greg & Cheyanne Palmer, Mallory’s
grandparents, set an example of community service from playing guitar in a church music group, substitute teaching &
assisting in the town. Mallory was born in Bangor, but by age 2 had moved to the Houlton area. She attended school in
Hodgdon until fifth grade before switching to Houlton Southside. Mallory feels this change was the best thing for her as she
became involved in the Houlton music program. Mallory started in the Southside music program playing in the percussion
section and continuing through her time at Houlton High School (HHS).

During her years at HHS, Mallory participated in band, jazz band, All Aroostook Band, Off Beat Percussion, chorus, musical
productions, student council, Girl’s State government, Youth In Government, & class president during freshman & sophomore
years. According to the 2013 yearbook, Mallory was voted “Most Musical” by her classmates. Mallory stated she enjoyed her
years at Houlton & shared a couple of memories. First was playing the role of Penny Pingleton in the musical Hairspray during
her senior year. Second, Mallory spoke about being on student council all her years at HHS but recalled being president her
senior year when the “Change For Change Program” was started. “Change For Change” was a program where the students
collected funds which were donated to a couple of events dealing with a flood & a fire that year. According to HHSAA records,
Mallory was awarded a scholarship from the Henry G. White, Elizabeth R. White, & Janet A. White Scholarship Fund in the
amount of $5,000 to attend the University of New Haven. Mallory reflected on her college years just as fondly as her time
at HHS but stated that she came to appreciate Houlton & the small-town atmosphere. Mallory’s four years at University of
New Haven were just as involved in activities as were her high school years. She continued her musical interest participating
in marching band for two years & minoring in theater. Also, involvement in the college community as a Resident Assistant
(RA) for two years in the freshman dorm & a Senior Resident Assistant (SRA) for one year in an upper-class dorm. A small
local sorority was also part of Mallory’s experience, and they worked closely with Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD).
Another activity Mallory reflected on was the paranormal group she participated in and the overnight trip they took to stay at
the home of Lizzie Borden in Fall River, Massachusetts, which is said to be haunted. In her junior year of college, Mallory was
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