Meriden
As he stepped to the lectern following the last of three speeches, Schafer gave the charge to the class he said he has been wanting to give for 13 years.
“So here is my charge to the class: Charge! All right,” Schafer said to an amused and probably grateful audience. “How about that? You’ve heard enough from me. Here we go.”
With that succinct statement, the school’s 96 graduates accepted their diplomas with cheers, applause and the traditional air horn blasts from the back of the quad. The unusually warm day did nothing to lessen the enthusiasm and celebratory mood at the school’s 200th commencement.
After graduates marched from atop the hill and then down the aisle between appreciative family and friends while Pomp and Circumstance played from speakers, Schafer welcomed the class. As he does every year, Schafer singled out for praise those who helped make the day possible.
“I also want to extend our thanks to those seated before us — parents, grandparents, family and friends — for your faith and confidence in us, for entrusting the education of your loved ones to our care and to all Kimball Union families and friends and alumni for your sustained efforts, for your encouragement and for your support in our partnership to prepare and inspire these talented young people as we ready them to meet challenges of today and tomorrow.”
To the graduates, Schafer honored their achievement.
“We welcome and congratulate you; each in your own unique way is an important part of this very special school community and this senior class is full of curiosity and imagination, promise and purpose and full of spirit and devotion to one another and to this school. May the many fond relationships and lessons endure and may they enrich you in many ways and may your tomorrows be abundant in opportunities, happiness and love.”
In introducing Valedictorian Ethan Kable, of Norwich, Schafer said he was curious with an appetite for challenges and embraces all that he does with anticipation, insight and open mindedness.
“As I stand here as a member of the Class of 2016, I couldn’t be more proud,” began Kable. “I’m proud to be part of such a diverse, interesting, and talented class, and part of everything we’ve achieved.”
Kable, who came to KUA as a junior, a year after attending a public school in Italy, hit on the theme of familiarity, and while he praised his class for moving beyond family and friends four years ago when they came to the school, he challenged them to continue stepping out of their comfort zone.
He related how his experience in Italy taught him to let go of fears while he struggled to learn language and through mistakes began to laugh at himself and that in turn opened his world up to lasting friendships.
“As we begin to think about what the future holds, we will all once again leave behind the familiar and venture out into an increasing complex and diverse world,” Kable said. “What will you do when faced with the unfamiliar? Will you open up and discover new people, new ideas and new ways of thinking, even if it means feeling uncomfortable?
“I encourage you to continue to embrace diversity and tackle future challenges with the same courage and confidence that brought you to KUA in the first place because in the process, you may discover something far more important: You may also discover yourself.”
Class speaker Vasilios G. Katsarakes was described as having boundless energy and an exuberant sense of humor and will be remembered for his big heart, Schafer said.
Katsarakes poked some fun at classmates and faculty before dispensing some advice and praise for the school’s faculty and administration.
“I want each and every one of you sitting up here in your cap and gown to realize how lucky and blessed we are to have attended this amazing place,” Katsarakes said. “KUA offered us so much and at times we took for granted what we had in front of us. Though our experience here we have been so lucky to have been surrounded by faculty and an administration who are truly dedicated in their care and compassion so we as a student body can grow, thrive and learn.”
Commencement speaker Joseph Williams, the assistant head of school for external affairs at KUA, also asked for applause for parents who made the day possible, encouraged seniors to pursue what interests them and said not to forget the things that never go out of style.
“As you move forward seniors, don’t underestimate the power and importance of letting someone know what he or she has meant to you,” Williams said. “Be kind to others. I’ll repeat this because too many people in this world can’t seem to grasp this simple concept. Be kind to others. Be sure to maintain a healthy sense of humor. The journey is far more enjoyable if you laugh often, at yourself and with others, to lighten the mood, to let off steam and maybe just because the spirit moves you.”
“Stay young at heart, have fun and don’t let anyone or anything hold you back from being the person you want to be.”
Here is a list of Upper Valley area graduates, as provided by the school:
Conor McCormack Beaupre, Meriden; Kayleigh Siobhan Coombs, Claremont; Hannah Cox, Hartland; Cayla May Crumb, Perkinsville; Dylan Michael DeTurk, Hartford; Jack William Doherty, Meriden; Samuel Cole Durst, Cornish; Samuel Edmund Hall, Perkinsville; Henry George Hamilton, Newport; Kelly Shayne Hammond, Hartland; Miranda Elizabeth Judd, Lebanon; Ethan Porter Kable, Norwich; Samuel Westcott Milender, Warner; Rex Anthony Miller, Meriden; Alex Richard Plummer, Plainfield; Kelsey Wolffe Pollard, Meriden; Nicholas Christopher Powers, Newport; Eleanor Louisa Pschirrer-West, Hanover; Ashley Louise Smith, Sunapee; Cameron Jeffrey Stowell, Sunapee; Gregory Stephen Surgenor, Meriden; Zoitza Alexis Tsongalis, Quechee; Alexandra Anne Uryase, Randolph; Alexander Wright Ussler, Fairlee; Jacob Daniel Weiss, Enfield; Cooper Kennedy Williams, Meriden
