Hoosac Valley Graduates 99 in Class of 2009
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CHESHIRE, Mass. — Hoosac Valley Regional High School awarded diplomas to 99 graduating seniors during commencement ceremonies on Friday night in the school gym.
Despite all the changes and hardships in the school, and in the world, valedictorian Holly Bednarz reminded her classmates to keep in mind "that these past four year were really the easy years of your life."
Parents and loved ones have been there to support them, but "in the years to come, they will no longer be readily available to assist us with this decision-making," she said. "Our lives will not only reflect our successes, but also how we handle failure or rejection when we are on our own."
Be proactive, she urged, take another practice, another test , fill out another form, grab the next opportunity.
Having been rejected for a dance program, Bednarz said she realized it was not so much about herself, but what the program was looking for right now. So she practiced more and was accepted in the next audition.
"Hard work will pay off," she declared to her classmates seated beneath a copy of Van Gogh's "Starry Night" boldly proclaiming "Here's to the night, 2009."
Girls in white, boys in red, the seniors had marched into the gym and under an arch of red-and-white balloons to the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance."
Friends and family seated in chairs on the gym floor and filling the bleachers tried to hold off their applause but couldn't contain themselves as the red and white ribbon streamed through the center of the seats, led by 2010 class marshal Megan Bantle.
The hoots and cheers began near the end of the procession and erupted again during the awarding of diplomas, despite the stern warning in the program to "please refrain from applause" until the entire class was presented.
Salutatorian Laura Russett welcomed the staff, faculty and School Committee, along with parents and friends.
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Unsure what to say, she had sought inspiration online, coming across a quote from the Denzel Washington movie "Coach Carter," in which his character tells his football team that they're aren't really afraid of being inadequate, but of being "powerful beyond measure." Afraid of letting out a light that will allow others to shine, as well."Never let anyone convince you that you are inadequate," said Russett. "We all have the ability to shine before others. ... Take this responsibility, embrace it, and run with it.
"There is nothing more honorable than to bring joy to other people in this world, and everyone in this room has the power to do just that."
It was a good-natured and joyous night, with class speaker Michael "Soup" Superneau — topped with unexplained Cheesehead hat — regaled the group with memories of the past four years.
Freshman year was scary, but by sophomore year, "hey, high school is actually pretty dope."
He left his classmates with some advice, also gleaned from movies: Your major doesn't determine your future, for example, Einstein majored in hotel management; don't grow a goatee, it's "just a beard with low self-esteem" (however girls with lower-back tattoos — "totally awesome"); and everyone has a weird roommate — if you don't ... you are the weird roommate."
School Committee Chairman Paul K. Butler handed out the diplomas, and received at least a dozen leis in response.
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"I'll keep them on since you had such a good time putting them on me," he said, thanking them for being such good young men and women. Principal Henry K. Duval, too, expressed his appreciation of the class of 2009.Butler's presentation of the class exploded in a sea of confetti and streamers, a balloon drop and the jangling of cowbells. A rousing rendition of the school song, accompanied by stomping feat at points, ended the evening ... and the graduates' time at Hoosac Valley.
"We chose to become the extraordinary individuals standing here in front of you all," said Bednarz. "We will not settle for mediocrity. ... We leave here as Hurricanes; we are proud, and we will make you proud."
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