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WESTON HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2012 GRADUATION

Thursday, June 28, 2012

CLASS of 2012
by Christopher Burns Weston Forum Intern Near 100-degree heat didnt keep Weston seniors from graduating in style Thursday, June 21. With the help of free water bottles, fans, misters, and a large, shady tent, the Weston High School 42nd Annual Commencement went off without a hitch although there were a few reports of the heat claiming a victim or two. The steamy-hot ceremony began with a procession of graduating seniors being led out of Weston High School by the staff of Weston High School, other school administrators, and the Board of Education. The students had been taking refuge from the heat inside the air conditioned auditorium in the school. Music director Sal LaRusso and the high school concert band opened the ceremony with the traditional Pomp and Circumstance before future Norwich Academy ROTC Cadet Philip Rainone led the crowd in The Pledge of Allegiance. Co-president of the Weston High School Student Council Sarah Schwartz gave the welcome address. During it she made clear who was to thank for the excellent caliber of Weston High School graduates, saying, This is an exciting time in which we can look into the future and feel as though we have been properly equipped with the right tools to be innovative, independent, critical thinkers in our society. We all [have] Weston High School, our teachers, administrators, and our parents to thank for that. Student speaker Charlotte Berger talked about the positive atmosphere her classmates brought to Weston High School and she acknowledged they rarely did anything the usual way. Leave it to the Class of 2012 to start our senior year Irene style, with massive hurricane winds that literally brought the house down, and ending on the hottest day of the year. How does Mother Nature plan such a fitting beginning and end for our class? We, who would literally and figuratively start our year with a bang, and end it with people passing out from the insanity of this heat wave. Welcome to the Class of 2012, where normalcy is never an option, she said. Damian Long, an English teacher at the high school, gave the faculty address. His speech contained two pieces of advice to the graduating class. The first was simple: Unlike a recent viral video advocating tough love principles, Mr. Long said he prefers a more Mr. Rogers approach. You are special, Mr. Long told the graduates. It would be easier if you werent special, but I cant tell you youre all the same, that I have the key you need to unlock the door to a happy life. The second presented a more contemporary piece of advice. Go somewhere without your phone, Mr. Long said, Then look around and take in what you see, hear, smell, taste, and feel. Be there, and only there. And then tell someone about it. Graduates William Richling, Charlotte Roth, and Tess Maggio presented a musical interlude during the ceremony, performing the Stevie Nicks classic Landslide for their classmates. Salutatorian Lisa Maddox expressed relief at not having to answer The Questions anymore (where are you applying to college? Which is your first choice? Etc.). But now, she said, she and her fellow graduates are facing the bigger question of what to do with the rest of their lives. Valedictorian Samantha Briggs, who gave the final commencement speech, reminded her fellow classmates what responsibilities they have after high school ends. She said, We are ready for the big world that lies ahead of us. Up until this point in our lives we have been a part of the generation that lives according to a set of rules, and we are now becoming a part of the generation that will make the rules. We will decide the path that the future follows. Diplomas were handed out by Superintendent Colleen Palmer and Phil Schaefer, chairman of the school board. Drawing the ceremony to a close, Brian Lamy co-president of the Student Council, said he was very proud to have graduated with the Weston High Class of 2012. We are a class of high achievers and I know that we will be the generation to put a ding in this universe.

Bryan Haeffele photos

See the full text of all speeches and more photos online at theWestonForum.com

Top, Weston graduates are all smiles at the commencement ceremony Thursday, June 21. Above, Nick Klokus and Sebastian Valin give an enthusiastic thumbs up on their way to the graduation ceremony, held under a tent outside Weston High School. They are followed by Jacob Knopping, Eric Weeks, and Kendall Kolenik. Left, Callie Silver receives her diploma from Phil Schaefer, chairman of the school board.

8A Forum, Weston, Conn. June 28, 2012

JESSICA RILEY Class President

than you can even imagine, I believe it is now our job to spread what the town of Weston has taught us to others. We need to spread the importance of teamwork, and sense of community. I wish my classmates the best of luck in whatever path they choose to follow.
CHARLOTTE BERGER Student Speaker

Although I will miss our community more

SAMANTHA BRIGGS Valedictorian

full rights to all people, regardless of sexual orientation, religious beliefs, race, or anything else, is no longer a progressive mindset, but a just mindset. And I have faith that as we move on from Weston we will carry these beliefs and the drive to stand up for them with us and change the national discussion. Just as we took our roles as seniors seriously, I know that we will take our roles as influential members of society seriously.

We acknowledge that the recognition of

perhaps more than anything else, is the lesson we learned that as separate individuals we are, at most, mildly effective. But together we were able to combine our talents into a powerful arsenal of educational excellence, athletic achievement and community spirit.
photos by

Today, we are celebrating together. With this,

LISA MADDOX Salutatorian

Bryan Haeffele

remember what you do for a living or what your major was in college. What they will remember is the kind of person you were. Our actions and our character make the most lasting impressions on others. Make those impressions count. Make sure people remember you for the right reasons. Who you are in this moment and who you are 10,000 moments from now might not be exactly the same, and that is okay.

When you meet people, they will not

Above, graduate Xander Landen is congratulated by Colleen Palmer, superintendent of schools. Right, Lisa Wolak, Weston High School principal, receives a hug from a graduate as Dr. Palmer looks on. Abigale Chepolis and Chris Chao turn their tassels.

June 28, 2012 Forum, Weston, Conn. 9A

BRIAN LAMY Student Council Co-President

Above, from left, Billy Richling, Charlotte Roth, and Tess Maggio perform Landslide. Below, Melina and Chloe Canter applaud a fellow graduate.

Bryan Haeffele photos

WESTON HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES

Erin Ackerman Chloe Albert Ayman Ali
Pennsylvania State University, University Park Did not submit information University of Connecticut Barnard College

become the CEO of Apple by the age of 45. Some would say thats impossible, but four years ago, some people could not have imagined the things I have achieved in high school. It is all about taking the steps to reach your dream. Dream big, every single day. My mom always taught me that you need to have goals, because what is life without something to look forward to?

As many of you know, my dream is to

Charlotte Roth

Alexandra Ruiz Kelsey Sacane

Virginia Commonwealth University Villanova University

Phoebe Allen

Christian Ameden

Sofia Santacaterina James Sanzone Forrest Savage Ryan Savage Louis Savitz

University of Colorado at Boulder Did not submit information Ohio Wesleyan University University of North Carolina at Wilmington University of Mississippi Did not submit information University of Michigan Philip Andover

Katherine Angelidis Jacqueline Aselta James Austin

Bentley University University of Vermont

Keene State College

Christopher Babinec Lucas Barber Bryce Barker Jennie Bear

Boston University Earlham College Indiana University at Bloomington Syracuse University University of New Hampshire

Villanova University

Eric Schanzer

Jack Scheufele

Bridget Schwartz Brooke Schwartz Tess Fagan

Gap Year Tulane University McGill University

Charlotte Berger

Joshua Hyatt

Andrew Bernegger Evan Blitzer

University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Michigan Gettysburg College Cornell University Stonehill College

Sean Farrell

Dickinson College

Connor Johnson Connor Jonsson

University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Vermont Miami University, Oxford McGill University

Tess Maggio

Margaret Maretz Rosemary Ellie Martin Carey Marvin

Trinity College University of St. Andrews (Scotland) McGill University Boston College

Yale University

Samantha Schwarz Sarah Schwartz

UC Berkeley

Savannah College of Art and Design

LISA WOLAK WHS Principal

Sara Fayngolz

Alessandra Bonafide Samantha Briggs Matthew Brooks Kaylie Bucaro

Pace University, NYC Did not submit information St. Marys College of Maryland James Madison University Binghamton University University of Connecticut Bucknell University University of Pittsburgh Ithaca College Ithaca College

Lauren Ferguson Anthony Festa

Muhlenberg College University of Tennessee, Knoxville Rollins College

Monica Shrager Carleigh Sher Jordan Siff

Evelyn Kaczmarek Mia Kamisar

Bucknell University

Multi Skilled Assistance, St. Vincents University of Wisconsin, Madison Washington University in St. Louis Cornell University

Campbell McClintock Margaret McCusker Andrew McGlynn Averill Meadow Jake Melvin
University of Vermont

Carolyn Figliola Morgan Folger Rachel Fraade Connor Fradet

Nidhi Esha Kaushik Matthew Keeney McCall Kelley

Susquehanna University University of Maryland, College Park Duke University Western Washington University High Point University Gettysburg College University of Michigan Elon University Tulane University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Dickinson College Tulane University University of Wisconsin, Madison Cornell University

The University of Alabama at Birmingham

Elizabeth Cannon Chloe Canter

The College of Wooster University of Rhode Island

Did not submit information Washington University in St. Louis Did not submit information Savannah College of Art and Design Wesleyan University Tulane University

Hanna Silver

Matthew Silverman Sage Silverstein

Nicholas Klokus Jacob Knopping Kendall Kolenik

Northwestern University

Did not submit information Lafayette College

Melina Canter

Filipe Messeder Lyle Mitchell

Michael Silvestri Vincent Simboli JD Simons

University of Delaware University of Colorado at Boulder McGill University The University of Arizona Villanova University Skidmore College

Michael Certoma

Ryan Friedrichsen Jensen Frost

Christopher Chao Abigale Chepolis Brian Chestler Lili Clement

Fallon Estelle Koproski Johanna Korsh Zachary Kraft

Saint Josephs University

you, the Class of 2012, is joyful. I was privileged to see that joy every day. You loved to dress up for different spirit days, blare music in the entrance of the school, and play ping pong in the lounge. You loved to celebrate. Whether it was in the classroom, on the field or on the court, on stage or in the pit, you brought joy to whatever you did.

The one word I would use to describe

James Furbee

Western Connecticut State University University of Southern California Bucknell University Tufts University

Max Molinsky

Jennifer Gage Alexis Gandal

Caitlin Morrissey Morgan Murray Kara Nayden

Sacred Heart University University of Virginia Vanderbilt University Pennsylvania State University, University Park Williams College Gap Year

Benjamin Smith Hannah Smith

Mary Corcoran Anne Covino

Maplebrook Transition Program New York University

Andrew Gardell

Catherine Kravchenko Jacqueline Kren

Savannah College of Art and Design Did not submit information

Andrew Sobelson

Daniele Nickel

Amanda Gautier Jessica Gersh Anne Glasser

Madeleine Stanley Chase Steinke Jake Strauss

Tulane University

California College of the Arts

John Jack Curran Emily Curtis Ari Dabush

Natasha Kuranko Jesse Laico Brian Lamy

Catherine Nohre

Nora O'Donoghue Jason Perlik Scott Perlik

Boston University Johns Hopkins University Did not submit information Elon University

Miami University, Oxford

Michigan State University Did not submit information Wellesley College The University of Arizona Connecticut College University of New Hampshire

Quinnipiac University Savannah College of Art and Design Tufts University

Madison Suden Eric Urena

New York University Adelphi University Southern Connecticut State University Eckerd College

Nikki Goldberg

Nicole DeCanio Austin Delaney

Schuyler Goldmanscher Hannah Goodman Aaron Greenfield Jacob Greisman

Boston College Colgate University Hampshire College Wesleyan University University of Connecticut

Alexander Landen

Christopher Piscatelli

Matthew Stephen Lesner Kelly Quinn John Lawless

Did not submit information Utah Valley University

Olivia Vaccaro

Bradley DeMarco

Philip Rainone Sage Ratner

Ithaca College

Sebastian Valin Ava vanDaalen Eric Weeks

Gap Year

Charles DeMarco Isabel Ditkoff

Cathryn Ledwick Chloe Leeds

Norwich University

Southern Connecticut State University Franklin and Marshall College University of Connecticut

Dickinson College

Cameron Hagen

Julia DiMarco

Did not submit information James Madison University Syracuse University Boston College

Forrest Hamilton

Shaun Lesniak Stuart Linver

Wesleyan University Western Connecticut State University Columbia College University of Connecticut Florida Gulf Coast University Tufts University

Madeleine Ratte Stefan Rehr

Emerson College

University of Pittsburgh

Sabrina DiPasquale Nichole Duggan Jordan Dunn Devin Dyson

Brendan Hardeman Jocelyn Harris Alana Hassan Lucy Hazan

Lawrence University

RISE Transition ProgramSacred Heart Did not submit information

William Richling Jessica Riley

Robin Willis

New York University University of Vermont Did not submit information University of Denver University of New Hampshire University of California at Los Angeles Bucknell University Ithaca College

DAMIAN LONG Faculty Speaker

Erika Wollman

Samuel Loeb

University of Massachusetts, Amherst Ithaca College University of Miami

Kate Longstreth Noriko Louison Nina Low

Boston College

Carolina Rivera Peter Robbins

Kaidy Wollman Colin Wyler

Pennsylvania State University, University Park Pennsylvania State University, University Park Humboldt State University Keene State College Washington University in St. Louis University of Michigan Did not submit information

University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Connecticut University of Virginia Utah Valley University Boston University Syracuse University

Lena Romaldini Carlye Rosen

Rachel Eddy

Alissa Hornung Brock Horton

Cara Zembsch Juliet Zirn

Taylor Ellis-Sayegh Daniella Emanuel Rachel Emberling

Rachel Lugossy

The University of Iowa University of Wisconsin, Madison University of Vermont

Lindsey Hover Lianna Hursh

Conor Maccabe Lisa Maddox

Gettysburg College

Did not submit information Columbia University University of Michigan

Gabriel Rosen

Nicholas Zirn

Kristin Magee

Elizabeth Rosenberg

Arielle Zwiebach

family for another three-quarters of a century. Its important to look forward and to create new things, but its also important to marvel at the wonders that human beings have already created, to let those old stories spark something new in you. Do that. It will never be time wasted.

Youre going to be part of this human