Vets class 'really cares about others,' says principal
Posted 6/21/07
By SAMANTHA TURNER Although a time of joy and excitement, VeteransMemorialHigh School graduation Tuesday afternoon was also filled with remembrance, embracing the memory of class essayist Corrina Cole who died in a March single car accident. "Even …
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Vets class 'really cares about others,' says principal
Posted
By SAMANTHA TURNER Although a time of joy and excitement, Veterans Memorial High School graduation Tuesday afternoon was also filled with remembrance, embracing the memory of class essayist Corrina Cole who died in a March single car accident. "Even though we can't hear her laughter, or see her beautiful smile," Valedictorian Michael Danna said he knew she was there in spirit. At the front of the stage, was a chair for Corrina, empty other than white roses on the seat. Senior chorus members sang "For Good" dedicated to her memory, and when diplomas were awarded, Cole's parents Thomas and Lori walked the stage receiving her diploma, flowers and gifts from the school. The crowd did not hesitate to leave their seats for a supportive standing ovation. "I have no doubt that the way Corrina led her life - with kindness, unsinkable spirit and enthusiasm - will continue to influence many of you in the years to come," said Mayor Scott Avedisian. "I will always cherish thoughts of her," said retiring Superintendent, Robert Shapiro. Principal Gerald Habershaw said that if anything positive came from the hardships the class has faced, it is the way the students stuck together and helped each other through tough times. Timothy Packhem, a junior, died the same month as Cole in a skateboarding accident. "There is one word that comes to mind to describe the class of 2007: caring," Habershaw said. "This class really cares about others." Habershaw commended the class for uniting as a group and pulling together through difficult times. "Take full advantage of what lies ahead of you," he encouraged. Elizabeth Noren, one of two class advisors, told the graduates that the two most important things they have learned in high school they have all acquired on their own: friendship and faith in themselves. She pointed out that throughout their hardship, they have learned that they can do whatever they aspire to do and that faith in themselves and others can guide them through even the toughest of times. Graduation was not all serious however, as there was an air of pride and joy. Parents clustered to the front of aisles to cheer on their graduates as they marched in, snapping pictures, taping videos, and waving with excitement. Supporters in the packed field house blew air horns and yelled in encouragement and stood on chairs to get a good view. Salutatorian Tim Hopper, planning to attend Northeastern in the fall, chose to take a different route with his speech, reciting a skit from the movie Spartacus. He said he wanted to do something completely different, and have fun with it. Among words of encouragement, remembrance of his close friend Corrina Cole, and feelings of pride in the graduating class, Valedictorian Michael Danna threw in an original rap to the theme song of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and jokes of his fellow classmates. Danna encouraged the class, no matter how small or big the ripples you make in the water, "know in your heart you are a hurricane." Danna will attend Brown University in the fall on a full academic scholarship. "I have this weird, excited feeling in my heart right now," said class president Julia Brough. "I think we are all ready, and I'm excited to graduate!" "I'm really looking forward to college," said Ashley Knapton who will attend Johnson and Whales University next year. "I am so happy. We are all just so excited," she said. "I know that Vets' class of 2007 is one that will, without fail, hold tight to its dreams," said the mayor. "I look forward to hearing of your successes in the future." Speakers throughout the ceremony honored Shapiro's dedication as an educator and commended him for his commitment and love for the students. The graduates are: Korinne Anita Amelian Nicholas Perry Anderson Gary Manuel Armstrong Anthony Michael Arsenault Thomas E. Asprinio Lindsey Barnard Robert William Beaver James Beck Kristyn Elizabeth Bellucci Jeffrey Andrew Bennett Caitlin Maraya Blair Daniel Herbert Bouchard Nicole Boulay Arian Bourque Kerry Ann Bowen Melissa Marie Boyajian Julia Elizabeth Brough Amanda Elizabeth Brown Kristen Bruzzi Brittany Karen Burgess Joseph Burgess Amanda Lisa Burns Caitlin Maegan Cambra Joseph Kenneth Capuano Andreana Louise Carbonneau Tyler Joseph Card James John Carroll Samantha Leigh Carroll Mario James Catalfamo, Jr. Stephany Lee Champlin Heather Lee Chiarillo Jaime Nichole Chille Katelyn Elizabeth Chouinard Corrina Anne Cole Brad Collins Brittany Collins Thomas Joseph Conde Carolyn Rose Conroy Matthew Conway Jonathan Cooper Terrence Cornish Andrew Joseph Costa Brittany Lee Crabtree Erin Marie Curran Genevieve Patricia Currier Krystle Lee Curtin Adam Justin Dale Michael Christopher Danna Tony A. Darakji Jessica Lynn Davis Shannon Elizabeth Degnan Ashlee Renick Degregorio Melissa DeLuca Lauren Nicole DeNoncour Albert Desrosiers Danielle Marie Desrosiers Katie Mary Desrosiers Robert John DiFalco Katelynn Elizabeth DiGiovanni Jason Paul Doughty, Jr. Krystle Ann Ducharme Christina Marie Duffy Samantha Charlene Ead William David Eddy Brandon Scott Eidam Alexandra Lee Eisemann Chris Michael Eldridge Allison Renee Erben Fay Margaret Etchingham Ryan Thomas Fedo Tyler James Ferrara Christopher David Ferreira Tiffany Ann Ferreira Melissa F. Flaxington Kayla Flynn Nicholas Robert Fontaine David Douglas Fortin Michelle Ellen Fortin Nicholas Robert Furney Samantha Lynn Gardner Amanda Marie Geca Courtney Germain Amanda Rose Giarrusso Amanda Gill Lyndsey Ann Goff Alyson Nicole Gorden Brian Tyler Grant Caitlyn Ann Grant Jessica Lynne Grant Matthew Lawrence Greene Thomas William Greene Sarah Ann Groh Shannon Marie Guerra John Michael Gunter Carl Gustafson Shane Halpin Kristen Rose Harris Austin Hebert Nathan Richard Hedstrom Jennifer Henchy Joshua John Hendrickson Sarah Lucia Henriques Jayme Hill Daniel Hinsley Anna Elizabeth Hodge Timothy Griffin Hopper Melissa Hoyle Rebecca Lee Hudson Kara Ann Hunter Corrin Iacchini Zachary James Iadevaia Jake Iemma Jacqueline Marie Insana Douglas Joseph Izzi Elisha Marie Jefferson David Johnson Emily Drouin Johnson Lauren E. Jones Angela Kasun-Gallucci James C King Justin William Kingston Ashley Rose Knapton Austin James Kotch Peter William LaBanca Katelyn Mary Lafontaine Kris J. Lambert Thomas Laprad William Robert Laurie Stephanie Marie Lawlor Michelle Marie LeBlanc Milton Rafael Leite Heather Lemire Erika Lynn Leonard Anthony T. Lisi Allary Rose Lupien Daniel Mackie Kayla M. Maher Kristen C. Maher Adam Matthew Manchester Anthony Manfredo Michael Marshall Krysta-Lyn Martinelli Samantha Martin William Martins William Dean Masse Caitlin Anne Massey Andrew Michael Mathers Ashleigh LeeAnn McGuire Michael Patrick McMahon David Lorenzo McMullin Kevin McNeil Nathan McSorley Megan Ann Medeiros Samantha Ree Medeiros Ryan Matthew Moniz Christopher Anthony Montella Amanda Monteiro Nichol Monteiro Joseph Michael Moretti Michael Arthur Moretti Stefanie Ellen Morin Joshua Anthony Morris Jennifer Mulligan Melissa Anne Munroe Fred Nash Joseph Raymond Nelson Jaime Lynn Nixon Kevin Robert Oakley David Allen Olney III Krystal Pallas Steven Peterson Adam David Perri Javier Perez Erica Louise Marie Pestana Kevin Thomas Pigeon Megan Renee Podgorski Russell David Poisson Kendra Lynn Prattico Brittany Lee Proctor Cory Joel Rezendes Joseph Brendan Ricci Brian Dennis Ritz Samuel David Robbins Brian Robichaud David Edwin Robinson Antonio Moniz Rodrigues Pablo Enrique Rodriguez Kaila Marie Rogers Andrew James Roland James Rosa Chelsea Lynn Rosen Kelli Jean Ross William Roy Katlyne Ryan Charles Safford Melissa Ann Sanville Ashley Lynn Sarno John Joseph Schmitt, Jr. Tyler Seamans Allison Lynn Sebastio Cory Allan Siconio Katie Lynn Silvers Michael Silvestri Miranda Lynn Skinner Robyn Amanda Slezak Benjamin John Stopyra Connor Patrick Sullivan Daniel Sullivan Elizabeth Eleni Sullivan Tyler Joseph Sutcliffe Carrie Anne Taft Robert Savino Tice Meghan Laura Travassos Julie Ann Van Amersfoort Holly Marie Wagner Cory Dare Walton John Weber Stephanie Marie Weber Michael White Brittany Michelle Whiteside Andrew Wilson Lynn Nicole Wirth Steven Patrick Wood David Michael Yarborough Dameon Justin Yeremian Kimberly Yuettner
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