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Drury Graduates Urged to Dance, Dance, DanceBy Tammy Daniels - June 07, 2008
iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS — Makayla Lemaire crossed the stage at Drury High School on Friday night both ecstatic and nervous to receive the diploma that would close this chapter of her life.
"I was more anxious than anything," said the secretary of the class of 2008. "Because I was the first one. I had to lead the pack."
She made it across the stage just fine to be handed that mark of achievement from Mayor John Barrett III, quite possibly with the advice of valedictorian Niralee Shah in the back of her mind:
"I've learned from experience that when you're moving really fast, you should watch where you're going or you may fall off the stage," Shah told her 133 classmates in the muggy heat of Bucky Bullett Memorial Gymnasium. "Keep your goals in clear view."
She was passing on some lessons she'd learned from dance to help the class of 2008 navigate a passage through their future. Keep your balance, she told them, and don't let your inhibitions hold you back from trying something new.
Keep smiling, and wave at someone you don't know; dance like you're having the time of your life.
"Sometimes we're so focused on trying to do something right and reach our goal we forget what's important in life," Shah said, so take a moment and break away and live. "The world won't come crashing down on you. I promise.
"I know that we're going to go on and do amazing things with our lives," she continued, but admonished them, "don't forget to have fun, don't forget to live life to its fullest and, most of all, don't forget to dance your heart out."
Hundreds of friends and relatives filled the bleachers on each side of the gym as the seniors made their way in through an arch of blue and white balloons to a seating area in front of the stage. There Barrett, Superintendent James Montepare, Principal Amy Meehan, Dean of Students William Bryce and Director of Curriculum Patricia Prengruber waited to hand out diplomas and awards.
Many graduates walked off the temporary stage into a blizzard of flashes as parents and others recorded the moment for posterity.
The hugs, flowers and flashes disoriented more than a few as they mistakenly tried push through the crowd to get back to their seats, missing the area cordoned off with blue and white streamers.
Choral and band members slipped back for one last performance as Drury students and a rendition of the alma mater, "Drury, Mother on the Hill" penned back in 1900, was later followed with the a rousing rock number, "Our Last Year," by graduates Nate Brule, Mike LaRocca, John Langlois and Ethan Tatro.
Lemaire, who'll be attending Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in the fall, reflected on her years at Drury, and how it felt to have that diploma in hand — her ticket to the next stop in her life. One word summed up both, she said. "Awesome."
"It was exciting," said Andrew Boudreau of Readsboro, Vt., who's headed for Castleton (Vt.) State College. While Drury holds fond memories, "it's time to leave ... we're finally over the wall," he laughed.
Salutatorian Michelle Grant spoke of change — "no other word in the English language has the power to ignite both a sense of anticipation and trepidation" — and how the class had met its challenges over the past four years.
She and her classmates were about to be thrown again into the current and would have to keep their heads above water: "After many near-drowning experiences we eventually realize that at each time we discover just what we must do to make it through."
Now the class was at both a beginning and end, said Grant, the class president, but the graduates were ready to face the breakers, those "uncertain crashing waves ... we are ready to take the plunge."
I know it's hard
I know you're scared
Just think we made it through
It's finally here, our last year
I know it's tough
But I know you'll be strong
Just believe in yourself
As you move along
— Chorus of "Our Last Year"
For the list of class awards, click here.
Drury High School Class of 2008
Amanda Blake Adams James M. Albee Jr. Hadley Mary Ameen Jackie Arnold Madalin Asencio-Sanchez Zachary Wormell Babeu Justine Marie Barbeau Amanda Jean Marie Barton Matthew B. Baumbach Kyrsten Marie Belini Amanda Lynn Boesse Jasmine Bree Bohl Olivia Dorothy Bolner Samantha Kaye Lani Bostwick Andrew Peter Boudreau Angela Marie Brooks Nathan R. Brulé Jillian Marie Cahoon Kyle S. Cahoon Kyle R. Cantoni Monique Elizabeth Cariddi Benjamin Wayne Carlson Susanna Marie Carrier David G. Carrigan Phillip C. Castella Tiffany Nicole Chappell Ashley Marie-Mildred Charbonneau Nichole A. Christman Samantha Clifford Katie Leigh Dean Amanda Lynn Deeley Wyatt E. Demo Peter V. DiGennaro Tabetha Nichole Dix Gregory Thomas Donato Brian Michael Dowling Aaron P. Durant Kevin L. Engwer Emily Katherine Etman Shawn Michael Field Melissa Angela Fierro Jessica G. Fuller Lydia S. Furtado-Cardoso Daniel Nelson Gamache Kristen Lynn Gancarz Jenna Joan Gazaille Jenna Shaely Giorgi Michelle Brigitte Grant Christopher Rolando Gutierrez Jenna L. Haley Jamie Lynn Haring Kailyn Elizabeth Haskins Julian Herman Jacob William Hopkins Kyle R. Hubbard Brandon L. Hurst Brianna Michelle Johnson Cody Christopher Johnson Brian Jowett, Jr. Brett A. Keating Nicholas G. King John D. Kirby Ethan T. Krysiak Raymond A. LaBombard Jared A. Lampiasi Johnathan William Langlois Michael Henry LaRocca Matthew Joseph Lefebvre Vanessa Michelle Leikvoll Makayla Marie Lemaire Sarah Kelly Lemaire Alysha Marie LeMay Eric Paul Lewis Shauna Marie Lyden-Fortier Michael Andrew MacAdoo Ronin A. Magnussen Marc Anthony Malinowski Felicia M. Martell Shalee Nicole Martin Emily Hope Martinez Justin Joseph McCarthy Christine A. Meiklejohn Jason D. Menard Nicole Marie Medeiros Christopher Peter Milanesi Jeff M. Moulton Tabatha A. Murach Timothy John Nolan Ashley Nicole N?ñez Christine Nutt Jonathan Odragwa Dustin Louis Oldham Adam William O?Neil Joshua A. O?Neil Shelby L. O?Neill Kayla Lynn Paulin Lacie Marie Phillips Peter E. Prieto III Bethany Mae Prince Danielle Marie Pytko Zachary D. Remillard Ellyn Isabelle Robare Charlie Rodriguez Griffin T. Rougeau Brittany Jean Sage Angela T. Saltamartini Alex Justin Schueckler Ramsey Soldo Scott Alissa Rose Senecal Niralee K. Shah Heidi Danielle Shartrand Michael P. Shea Shawna M. Shoestock Nathan Michael Shute Shanika S. Sims Heather Rose Simpson Justine L. Slade Lawrence Joseph Smith, Jr. Kayleigh Lynn Spofford Michael Joseph Sullivan, Jr. Lee R. Tanguay Amanda L. Tassone Ethan R. Tatro Travis E. Tatro Stephanie Rosemary Therrien Meghan Marie Thomas Ryan Thompson José Yomar Vázquez Amanda Lee Waschak Dylan Dominic Waterhouse Kristen Alysia Weldon Laura M. Whitney Adrian Michelle Williams Collin M. Woods
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