Claremont
The good-natured senior prank was replete with a grill, sound system, decorations and lawn games.
“Look back on the times when we laughed together,” she told the class of 118 graduates. “We know how to work hard, but we also know how to make people smile and laugh, and sometimes that’s more important.”
In the gym packed to overflowing, it was all about the joy and laughter elicited by the grads who crossed the stage. Family members and friends stood against the walls and filled the balcony of a gym plastered with the school colors of red and black.
Keynote speaker Lester St. Pierre, a 1966 Stevens alum and a Claremont community member urged the class to pursue happiness as students continue forward into college and careers.
Since graduating, St. Pierre said, he has worked as an airport sergeant, college student, corrections officer, newspaper reporter, editor, salesman, bus driver, courier and in a host of other occupations.
“Despite that lack of a big profession, like a doctor or lawyer, I am h-a-p-p-y,” he said.
“Happiness is like jam,” he added. “You can’t spread it without getting at least a little on yourself.”
He encouraged graduates to follow their dreams, but also to invest in the Claremont community and to restore economic vitality to the downtown.
“The vacant stores on Pleasant St. are begging for your energy,” he said. “Please stay or come back later to aid in the development of the city where you were raised.”
The ceremony highlighted the talents and accomplishments of the class; Amber Kennett’s artwork was featured on stage, and at one point, seven choral seniors sang I Lived by OneRepublic.
Rebecca Menard was recognized with the Edgar L. Lord faculty award, selected by teachers and staff as the student who most embodies the values and principles of the school.
Speakers also warned of the challenges that would inevitably arise, urging grads to take matters into their own hands.
“Who you are today will not determine who you will become,” Superintendent Middleton McGoodwin said. “You are in control of who you are. If the ship you are waiting for has not come in yet, stop waiting, and swim out to it.”
“Just over 24 hours ago, I was running through these halls shoe-less, balling my eyes out, wondering what I would write for this speech,” Salutatorian Rachel Dansereau admitted. She called the speech her “final hurrah,” and advised her classmates, to forgive, take charge, enjoy friendship and value each moment.
“The way we think, the way we do things, all comes back to what we learn,” she said.
As the graduation came to a close, the crowd grew silent as Principal Patricia Barry, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2015, listed off 10 good things that come from disease.
She described the lessons she had learned and the love she had been shown: compassion from complete strangers, a new tendency to wear pink at Stevens, a school-wide ‘get well soon’ video.
“When I say, as Rose did in Titanic, that ‘You saved me in every way that a person can be saved,’ I mean that literally,” she said, to a standing ovation. “You have my undying gratitude.”
The grads walked across the stage to receive their diplomas — with some blowing bubbles, pumping fists, busting out dance moves, and performing backflips — along with a hug and a photo with Barry.
Krystin Aiken, Brianna Aldrich, Keene Beauty Academy; Alec Amsden-Pedrotty; Bridget Baker, University of New Hampshire; Alaina Bandanza, Agnes Scott College; Breven Barton; Adalina Bell, River Valley Community College; Sydney Bellimer, Plymouth State University; Collin Belt, UNH; Nicole Benware, Keene Beauty Academy; Patrick Boggess, New Hampshire Technical Institute; Amia Bolton, RVCC; Tristen Bugbee; Darrian Burgess, RVCC; Elijah Camber, engineer apprentice; Kaytelynn Carnevale, NHTI; Emily Carrier, Keene Beauty Academy; Layne Clancy; Topanga Clough, Keene State College; Jade Cook; Kristina Corkins; Diego Cubillo; Rachel Dansereau, Colgate; Curtis Deline; Marshall Denis, RVCC; Brendan Desilets; Cody DeWitt; Jonah Dickerson; Kataya Dicus; Abigail Dole, Temple University; Kyle Dorr, Job Corps; Nicholas Dunham, Northwest Mississippi Community College; Bret Ellis; Kenneth Ellison, NHTI; Tiffany Erskine, Plymouth State; Scott Foisy, Plymouth State College; Kaleb Ford; Scott Garrison, St. Lawrence University; Tyler Garvin; Matthew Gobin, Keene State; Stefan Grallert, UNH; Caitlyn Gregory, RVCC; Alyxsandrhea Hammond, Coastal Carolina University; Michael Hickey, RVCC; Dustin Howe; Whitney Jacques; Madison Jarvis, Plymouth State; Jordan Kennett, NHTI; Amber Kennett, Plymouth State; Mia Kirsch, Northern Essex Community College; Allen LaClair; Madison LaFont, Keene Beauty Academy; Josienne Lafreniere, Plymouth State; Alyssa LaMott, RVCC; Joshua Lapierre, RVCC; Jacob LaPointe, Manchester Community College; Brianne Lawrence, Community College of Vermont; Tyler Leahy, Lakes Region Community College; Adrianna Lee; Leah Lemieux, RVCC; Nicholas Lentz; Spencer Lewko, RVCC; Alyson Lizotte, College of Saint Rose; Rae-Lyn Lunderville; Danielle Lundy, New England College; Cameron Maccioli, RVCC; Brooke Madeja, Colby-Sawyer College; Ryan March, Daniel Webster College; Clyde Mason; Tyler Matheson; Aidan Mattice, UVM; Ryan McElreavy; Rebecca Menard, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Matthew Mock; Jessica Morin; Brandon Moskalenko; Sarah Mullen, Husson University; Ryan Napsey, Franklin Pierce; Gabriel Oxton; John Page, RVCC; Justin Park, Keene State; Haydan Parker, Plymouth State; Mackenzie Parrish, NHTI; Shawn Phaneuf, RVCC; Caila Pierce; Austin Putnam; Troy Putnam, Plymouth State; Meghan Raftery; Matthew Reed, Southern New Hampshire University; Kizmec Robbins; Jayme Roberts; Kayla Robie, Unity College of Maine; Michael Robie; Austin Roy, UNH; Lindsy Rzeczycki, UNH; Kayla Sandonato; Hans Schneider, Keene State; Hannah Scott, Simmons College; Angelika Seaman, Ithaca College; Ryan Shattuck, Plymouth State; Eliziah Sheppard; Brandy Sherwood; Daniel Simino; Nicole Simoneau, RVCC; Thomas Smith; Autumn Sombric; Bradley Springer, Lakes Region CC; Sydney St. Pierre, RVCC; Patrick Stacy; Anthony Stithen, University of Tampa; Hayley Valdivia, University of Maine; Julia Valgas; Emily Varnkham, San Diego State University; Aaron Waterman, Midlands Technical College; Mirah Watson; Ashley Williams; James Wimberg, Plymouth State; Sean Wyman.