Orford
Saturday’s proceedings began with the processional, Pledge of Allegiance and national anthem before guests were informed they were being televised by NBC.
The announcement provided a measure of explanation for what most attendees noticed on stage before the ceremony: A young man — dressed in a suit, headset and baseball cap — operating what looked like an authentic, swiveling television camera from several decades ago.
The device, which turned out to be a replica, was something Gelenian described as a perfect example of the story of experience. The head of school’s premise — it’s the “doing,” that matters in life rather than the accumulation of things — was exhibited by Goodrich’s creative process.
“We can appreciate Brandon’s camera as a thing of beauty,” Gelenian said. “The camera that he created is now an experience that resides in him and it is his alone. … He helped to make the camera and the camera helped make him.”
Goodrich, who collects relics such as old radios, cameras and telephones, has an interest in both old-school television and its preservation.
“This model is a replica RCA TK-11 from around 1946 and there are only 38 known to exist,” Goodrich explained shortly after receiving his diploma. “So I figured my chances of getting a real one were incredibly slim.” The replica, Goodrich’s final quarter project for a design class at River Bend Career and Technical Center in Bradford, Vt., took him about 2½ weeks to build.
The camera contains modern video equipment, which allowed graduation actually to be recorded. It was made out of wood, red-painted deodorant covers nd logos made in Photoshop (among other materials). “My dad helped a lot,” said Goodrich, who plans to learn more about computers at the Community College of Vermont. “He’s a carpenter.”
In the honors address, Amanda Otis encouraged classmates to “be kind people” in a chaotic world. “You never know how much someone else might be suffering,” Otis said. “It costs nothing to be kind.”
Morgan Dexter used her salutatory address to describe her small, tight-knit class as a family. “We support each other and we take care of each other,” she said.
The next speaker was long-time substitute teacher Judith Siemons, who recalled the early days of the Rivendell Interstate School District, when the fledgling district used the former Orford High School building. “We’ve come a long way since then,” Siemons said, referencing the newer digs. “Take a look around and consider yourself lucky. We have a great building that helps everyone.” Siemons encouraged graduates to go with the flow, don’t fear change and “enjoy the ride.”
“Today most people have had more than one career,” she said. “I’m on my third.”
After diplomas where handed out, senior adviser Kirsten Surprenant made the closing remarks. Surprenant said she spent some time searching for five-word graduation messages in the interest of brevity, but ended up settling on one even shorter: “Every day’s a Monday.” The phrase — attributed to former special education teacher Gerry Suich, who passed away in late 2015 — is adorned on rubber bracelets often seen around school.
“Gerry Suich was legendary for his love of Mondays,” Surprenant recalled. “Embrace the challenge, opportunity and blessing of all your Mondays. It is the best day of the week. Congratulations to the graduates and best wishes to you all.”
McKenna Binford, University of Southern Maine; Robert Burgwedel, exchange student, returning to Germany; James Burke, Lakes Region Community College; Trillium Cserr, Brown University; Michael Delaney, University of Vermont; Morgan Dexter, UVM; Shania Eastman, early childhood education; Christopher Gendron, U.S. Army; Brandon Goodrich, Community College of Vermont; Collin Gould, University of Southern Maine; George Grant, U.S. Navy; Abigail Hinsley, Quinnipiac University; Lauren Holt, Castleton University; Gabriella Miles, University of New Hampshire; Brandon Mound, Lincoln Technical Institute; Jessica Noyes, Plymouth State University; Amanda Otis, Roger Williams University; Dametres Perry, UNH; Elizabeth Pozniak, New Hampshire Technical Institute; Britnee Sargent, Lyndon State College; Shane Smith, Vermont Army National Guard; Lucas Souza, Castleton University; Wiatt Suich, UVM; Samuel Tilden, Southern Vermont College; Jack Winagle, Embry Riddle Aeronautical University.