ORFORD — Reflecting on the past and picking an original theme to memorialize an entire group of young scholars is no easy task.
Rivendell Academy’s Class of 2022, who graduated on Saturday morning under a tent shading around 200 guests from the sun, were classified by Spanish teacher Paige Radney as “the ones that complained about everything.”
This designation prompted chuckles from the audience and knowing smiles from the graduates, who sat on a raised stage front and center, girls in white gowns and boys in green.
Though it’s been a struggle to keep her students engaged as learners over the years, Radney said, she was grateful for the ways the Class of 2022 challenged her to adapt as their teacher.
“They have pushed me — to the brink of insanity at times — to come up with new ideas, to try different things, to figure them out, or at least attempt to,” she said.
Having watched the 2022 graduates grow in her classroom since middle school, Radney highlighted their unique way of dealing with challenges and obstacles.
“In our time together, I’ve found that it’s totally valid to deal with things without spreading sunshine and rainbows and good vibes all over it,” she said.
Salutatorian Lyle Rinehimer encouraged his fellow graduates to be creative and expressive, and to make use of their “distinct voice.”
“As we go into the world our voices may change, and to me, that seems natural,” he said. “Many of us have lived in the same area for the vast majority of our lives and many of our voices are shaped (by) the people surrounding us.”
Valedictorian Ezra Avery imparted his wisdom on the value of exploration and stepping away from comfort zones in the journey toward self-discovery.
As graduates, the uncomfortable realization that “we” will now become “I” as each student diverges from the group to lead their own lives is bittersweet but also celebratory, he said.
“Starting out, we truly had no idea where we would end up,” but now, “we no longer travel on the same path,” he said.
The graduates did take time to remember classmates whose path had ended, dedicating their yearbook to Dylan O’Hearn and Joshua MacDonald, two Rivendell students in their class who had died a couple of years ago.
Earlier, Principal Keri Gelenian urged the graduates to exercise their social skills as often as they can, especially after a two-year pandemic got in the way of a normal high school experience.
“Whatever it is you love to do, do it with other people,” he said.
The Rivendell curriculum values social engagement, and though COVID-19 has made that difficult, Gelenian wanted the Class of 2022 to consider its importance moving forward.
“Those of you going to college or into the workforce, engaging in face-to-face interactions will be more of a choice,” he said, but advised them to “stay connected with people.”
The graduates received their diplomas and let off confetti-filled party poppers before exiting the tent to a recording of Levitating by disco-pop star Dua Lipa.
Ezra Avery, Fairlee, University of Southern California; Kyle Carter, Orford, University of New Hampshire; Shyanne Cleek, Vershire, gap year/Tennessee Tech University; Abigail Eaton, West Fairlee, Community College of Vermont; Sierra Flint, Orford, Colby-Sawyer College; Iris Fukushima, Vershire, University of Maine at Orono; Marissa Garrow, Fairlee, Commuity College of Vermont; Jameson Gilbert, Orford, Norwich University; Savannah Gray, Orford, gap year/University of South Carolina Aiken; Keanu Hallmartel. Fairlee, University of Vermont; Andrew Kawalee, Fairlee, technology internship/Community College of Vermont; Zachary Kilmer, Orford, gap semester/college to study aerospace engineering & digital media; Jordan Larson, Fairlee, manufacturing/construction employment; Zachary Lepenven, Vershire, retail industry employment; Melissa Lopez Labastida, Fairlee, Community College of Vermont; Cassidy Mason, employment in manufacturing industry and college; Alexandria McFate, Fairlee, University of Rhode Island; Shaun Parker, West Fairlee, marketing/social media employment; Jocelyn Patterson, Orford, Southern New Hampshire University; Benjamin Perreault, West Fairlee, Northern Vermont University at Lyndon; Christopher Pierce, Orford, Endicott College; Atheer Rashid, exchange student, return to Palestine and attend Birzeit University; Lyle Rinehimer, West Fairlee, Clarkson University; Clara Schiffling, exchange student, return to Germany to attend high school and college; Cheyenne Smith, Orford, gap year/college and art school; Garrett Stever, Fairlee, Quinnipiac University; Devlin Tarmey, Vershire, employment in culinary arts/college; Abigail Taylor, Orford, health care employment at Pathways; Kylie Taylor, Orford, Plymouth State University; Wyatt Underhill, Piermont, United States Marine Corps; Brittney Whitcomb, Orford, Montana Technological University; and Willow Wilson, Orford, Penn Foster College.