St. Joe Grads Embark on Journey to Define Who They Are

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
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St. Joe graduates toss their caps into the air outside the church on Sunday afternoon.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The graduates as St. Joseph Central High School will now have to look within to determine who they are — and who they will be.
 
"Who are you?" asked valedictorian Emma Peplowski to the class of 2013 gathered for graduation exercises at St. Joseph's Church on Sunday afternoon.
 
Over the year, Peplowski said it was a question she and her classmates tried to answer numerous times in applications for scholarships and college. 
 
The most obvious answer is being a senior at St. Joe's, a member of the class of 2013, an unsure underclassman transformed into a strong senior. 
 
"Together we have worked to discover ourselves," she said, through shared experiences within the diverse class. "It is now our responsiblity to determine who we are."
 
The seniors will have to build on those past experiences as they graduate into the world as individuals, beginning a journey to answer who they are and finding the strength to become who they will be. 
 
"We must enter the world with courage, confident that we are prepared, ready to make an impact and eager to be great," said Peplowski.
 
That camaradie and collaboration among the 61 graduating seniors had created a brotherhood despite their many differences and interests, said salutatorian Christian Kelly. 
 
"We managed to use these different leadership abilities to our advantage, bringing us all closer together as a group," he said. "We seemed to have each other's backs at all times."
 
Kelly said the "brotherhood of man applies to all mankind" and that no matter how diverse the relationships, the experiences they shared will bring strength and security as they grow.
 
Among those experiences were achievements in academics and athletics, said Principal Francis X. Foley, pointing to the more than $1.5 million in scholarships and grants earned by the graduates. 
 
McDonnell, who also presented the diplomas, noted that it was the school's 111th graduation, and that they, too, are 1-1-1.
 
Continue to be one in wisdom by continuing to grow and learn, he said, continue to be one in age by maturing and be one in grace by staying close to God
 
"Grow in wisdom, age and grace continue you'll be 1,1,1," he said.
 
The Graduates Val & Sal Awards & Scholarships Photos
***+ Kaitlyn Elizabeth Amuso
Collin Joseph Anderson
Matthew Phillip Begrowicz
*Jonathan Albert Bianchi
***+ Kaitlyn Frances Boehm
Joseph Richard Bongini
Kyle James Cahalan
Emylee Ruth Carnevale
Michael James Carpenter
* Alexandra Nicole Chabot
Michael Robert Chabot
* Luke Matthew Clark
*+ Rachael Ann DiGrigoli
* Brandon William Engle
Cameron Earl Evon
*+ Katherine Elston Ferry
* Alexandra Marie Garrity
**+ Daniel Rudy Garrity
***+ Virginia Ellen Goggins
*+ Kyle Nicholas Gregory
Chongchong Gui
***+ Jeffrey Mark Hamilton
Jong-Mun Hong
Edward John Horton
*+ Matthew Joseph Horton
* Chanler Rebecca Hospot
***+ Christian Patrick Kelly
Joshua Martin Kelly
* Elena Patricia Kelsey
Hannah Elizabeth Kibbe
* Myles Connor Lambert
*+ Chiheon Lee
Connor McErlain Lein
***+ Yiming Liu
***+ Christina Marie Longstreeth
Oven Lu
Shengjie Ma
Keegan Laila Rose McCauley
Zacharie Paul Merwin
* Daniel Edward Meunier
Michaela Marie Miller
Jocelyn Maria Moody
Kathryn Marie Murphy
* Zachary Ryder Neary
**+ Alice Elizabeth O'Connor
Alexander Shane Peaslee
***+ Emma Catherine Peplowski
Lucas Albert Perry
*+ Meghan Sean Reilly
*+ Emily Katherine Rice
Taverik Lakeif Roberson
Carlos Omar Rodriquez
*+ Madeline Roe Roulier
*+ Gabrielle Marie Schnopp
Kendall Frances Smith
Colby Michael St. John
Bailey Theresa Vinette
***+ Yicheng Wang
Lavante Lamar Wiggins
Qidong Yang 
Chenyang Ye
*** highest honors (92 and higher)  ** high honors (90-91)  * honors (85-89)  + National Honor Society

 

 


Tags: graduation,   graduation 2013,   

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Hancock Shaker Village 'The Big Chill' Celebrated Berkshire Winter

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff

Children have fun in the snow at Hancock Shaker Village. More photos.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Hancock Shaker Village's "The Big Chill" event turned out to be chillier and snowier than expected. 
 
The event is to celebrate all things New England in the winter, said Caroline Holland, the Village's executive director and CEO. Photos from the event here
 
It featured maple tree tapping, blacksmithing and woodworking demonstrations, live music, a fire pit, sledding and snow activities, live music, and more. 
 
However, the two-day event was cut short as snow and sleet covered the region.
 
Although it became a one-day event, the village is brainstorming ideas to make up for it. 
 
"We're a little sad that we had to cancel. We were thinking of, if we didn't do a Big Chill two-day festival, maybe we should do something like a big thaw festival in March," Holland said.
 
"So stay tuned for maybe a little something that we might add on to the calendar."
 
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