by Deb Alter
It was absolutely fabulous weather for the Hoosick Falls Central High School graduation on Friday, June 24. Once everyone was seated, High School Principal Stacy Vadney began the ceremonies with a warm welcome for all and praise for the Class of 2016. She spoke of their achievements in academics, sports, and the arts. [private]
She thanked the community for their support and told the graduates “to always be civil to those with whom you disagree.” She also encouraged them to “focus on the good things in life.”
Megan Flynn, the Senior Class President, spoke about how the friendships they had made at Hoosick Falls Central will last a lifetime, asked everyone to “remain hopeful and spread positivity.”
Salutatorian Anna Wysocki provided some light-hearted humor and fun in her speech, encouraging class participation. She noted that the Class of 2016 was a particularly close one. She also spoke from the heart, thanking parents and teachers for their undying support and told her classmates, “Connect, care, and be an agent of change.” Jeffrey Brewer, graduating first in the class, said “It is our duty to make the world, our country, and our community a safe and healthy place to raise children of our own, so that they too can be nurtured and brought up in a place similar to Hoosick Falls.”
There were three particularly poignant moments.
Jake Kinney delivered a memorial to Cade May, a classmate who had passed away in the third grade, and presented his mother with a yearbook. Zoe Poore talked about her father. He had passed away earlier in the school year and so she was unable to give him a rose. Instead, she tied one to some balloons and let them fly into the sky. Raven Brenestuhl asked for a moment of silence for the victims of the recent mass shooting in Orlando, FL, and for family members and classmates who were unable to attend.
The Senior Class chose as the guest speaker, William Clairmont,
a math teacher at Hoosick Falls High School until he left to become Assistant Principal in Mechanicville. He thanked the students for the memories. He had made many choices in his life, he said, and leaving Hoosick Falls was the hardest. He said he had made all his choices “in hope” and asked the graduates to think about “how the choices you each make will affect your life.” He reminded them that “C’mont loves you.”
Closing remarks were by Kellan Skott, who insisted that Hoosick is a special and unique place in the world. He said that growing up here, with these people, made him really understand the meaning of “There’s no place like home.”
Musical selections throughout the ceremony, included performances by the Symphonic Band and senior class members and soloists, and a grand rendition of “God Bless America” played by the band and sung by David Sutton. They were among the evening’s highlights.
Diplomas were presented by Vadney, Board President Greg Laurin, and Class Advisors Jessica Dougherty and Laura Pushee.
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