PHS Grads Urged To 'Live The Life You Imagined'By Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
08:14PM / Sunday, June 14, 2015 | |
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Pittsfield High School presented diplomas to 205 graduating seniors on Sunday at Tanglewood. Above, honors students are recognized. Left, Mollie Scott urged her class to go confidently into the world. Photos to come. |
LENOX, Mass. — Graduation is a time to reflect on the memories made, celebrate the individual achievements and look to the future.
Pittsfield High School Class President Mollie Scott did just that in delivering her speech Sunday from Tanglewood's Koussevitzky Music Shed stage.
Scott told the class of 205 students to "go confidently in the direction of your dreams, live the life you imagined," which is a Henry David Thoreau quote that hangs on her wall. Now, the members of the class of 2015 leave high school and enter the next phase of their lives.
"You all have a unique combination of traits and skills that nobody else in the world has," Scott said.
She outlined a series of memories her classmates all shared over the last four years, which they will carry with them as they depart PHS. Scott thanked the teachers and parents for providing the helping hand and guidance the students needed to get complete school. Each student helped each other learn and grow, she said.
"We are all students and we are all teachers," Scott said.
The high school's 84th graduating class set the bar high, said Principal Matthew Bishop, and made the school and the community better. He said the students all carried themselves with "class and dignity," and embodied the ideals of Pittsfield High.
"I hope you learned to think and ask questions. And I hope you realize now, at the beginning of a new journey, you have more questions than answers," Bishop said. "I look forward to hearing about all of the wonderful things you accomplish."
The class reeled in $1.7 million worth of scholarships and many graduates have already completed Advanced Placement courses on their way to college, work, or the armed forces.
Mayor Daniel Bianchi told the graduates that whatever they do, volunteer for the tough jobs and work hard at them to distinguish themselves. He said, "there is no substitute for good old-fashioned hard work."
While many may be apprehensive about their futures, Bianchi said he is confident they'll do well because of the education provided by PHS. The graduates have accomplished a lot already to reach this "significant milestone" and they shouldn't be afraid of any further challenges, he said.
"You should have the confidence to go on and don't let anybody convince you that you are not good enough," Bianchi said.
Bianchi later handed diplomas out to each graduating senior along with class advisers Lisa Hoag and Colleen Quinn, and Dean of Students Maggie Harrington-Esko. Those who won awards and scholarships and those who completed AP courses were all recognized.
School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon said their last four years weren't just about learning academics. While those are important, the lessons of compassion, caring and kindness are the ones she hopes stick with the class even as some of the textbook work fades from memory. She said teaching children to count is fun, but teaching children what counts is even better.
The graduates' studies in Pittsfield may have come to an end, but Superintendent Jason McCandless gave them one last homework assignment — to read the Sermon on the Mount. McCandless said that piece of the Bible outlines the way people should act toward one another.
"We are all in this thing, whatever it is, life together," McCandless said. "Being decent, fair, and generous to one another will make our time better."
The superintendent said all of the students are blessed — as he related the lines in the sermon to the work of the graduates — for the work they've done and will do.
"There are many unacceptable, deplorable things that happen in the world you just finished and the adult world you are entering. We must stand up against those," McCandless urged the students.
At the end of the ceremony, the students left the Shed to meet their families and friends, who filled the seating area.
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Graduates |
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Scholarships & Awards |
Photos |
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Justin Ryan Allen
Emily Rose Ancora
Donna Joan-Lynn Anderson
Jose Miguel Arias Batista
Matthew Edward Arseneau
Emma Helen Barile*
Christina Noel Barnes
Celeste Jasmine Barrett
Patrick Robert Barry
Shannon Nicole Bassett
Natashia Jean Bede
Tyler Bemis
Tyler Jacob Bentz
Alyson Renee Berry*
Brooklynn Delaney Biagini
Christine Toffee Bile*+
Basil Henri Billow*
Tori Lyn Bishop
Whidbey Rose Bissell*+
Anna Elaine Black*
Freda Boateng
Steven D. Bohin*
Mia Elizabeth Bongini+
Joshua Houston Bonny+
Taryn Elise Bordeau*
Evan Robert Bossio*
Heather Lee Botto
Christina Marie Brazeau
Michael Kenneth Brophy+
Daria Anna Brown
Tanajah Maliyah Cameron
Thomas Edward Campoli
Lauren Jacqueline Carnevale*
Nickolas Patrick Carnevale
Sebastiana Jane Carnevale
Paul Murat Celebi
Tyler Daniel Chao
Elizabeth Paige Chapman
Samantha Lynn Clark
Jacob Cain Coles*
Connor Matthew Conant
Erin Mackenzi Connors+
Shannon Elizabeth Conroy*
Trinity Jensen Cookis*
Denis James Cooney+
Jamel Tyrik Corkins
Thelma Crankson
Averie Angela Crocker
Zachary Cain Czarnecki
Brittany Elizabeth Danforth
Bridget Carey Daoust*+
Brian Jeffrey Daury*+
Jameson Lee Davis
Shelby Elizabeth Davis*
Samantha Marie DeCarlo*
Michael Anthony Delusky
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Alaina Marie Dermody
Brian Michael Desrosiers*+
Adam Thomas DeVeau
Erin Rachel Dillon
Mollie Marie DiNicola*
Kevin Michael Donati+
Kaylee Patricia Dondi
Jay Alexander Doucette
Harvey Tyrone Dove, Jr.
Savannah May Duke
Troy Ivan Eddy
Devin Estes
Myajay Eugene
Lauren Jane Farry*+
Kody Nakos Flanders
Kristen Marie Fontaine
Gary John Fountaine
Joshua Dylan Fuller
Damian Xavier Funk
Maria Alejandra Garcia Rijos+
Christopher Paul Gaylord
Michaela Christine Gilmore
Michael Joseph Gimlewicz*
Rachel May Godwin*+
Elizabeth Mary Gokey*+
Charlene Shawnte’ Grandson
Jacinda Nicole Griffith
Claudia Lene’ Grillon
Caraghan Marion Hadfield
Rachel Makenzie Hanford
Ross Michael Harpin
Christopher Allan Harrington
Kasey Noel Harrington
Laken May Harrington
Payden Madeline Heath
Melanie Ann Herrick*
Luke Francis Hibbard
Bryce Andrew Hillard
Hunter Ward Hoag+
Michael Joseph Houghtlin
Kaleb Michael Hould
Emanuel Quincy Hurvitz
Paul Anthony Jones
Ryan Michael Keefe
Mary Shay Keenan
Dylan Zachary Kerr
Jorden Denise Kickery
Brandon Thomas King
Desiree Faye King
Bryce Amber Kinnas*
Ethan Scott Kittle
Madison Lael Kittle
Molly Elizabeth Kittler
Thomas Zachary Kosla
Sarah Meagan Kucka
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Bridget Rene Lacy
Emily Elizabeth LaDouceur
Amber Lynn Landry*
Brenden Patrick Leary*
Logan Michael Thomas Lemay
Joshua William Lescarbeau
Xinhui Li*
Jessica Maribel Lojano+
Ronald Alexis Lopez Rivera
Jordan Jarell Lorenzi
Jordyn Mackenzie Lucas*+
Jessica Emma Marsh*
Kaitlyn Marie Martin+
Roy Arthur Martin+
Scott Alan Matteson, Jr.
Madison April Mayer
Daniel George McConnell
Gerald Bernard McDonough
Mikayla Catherine McMahon+
Tyler Francis Meattey
Keith Anthony Menin
Meagan Renee Milligan
Kayla Anne Miner
Kristen Sarah Moon*+
Brian Damian Moreta
Ashley Marie Navarrete
Rachel Andre Ndiembolo
Lexis Zhane-Gail Nichols
Rachel Elizabeth Nicholson*
Sandra Jessica Nivelo Huerta
Merudjina Normil*
Austin Fischer O’Neill*+
Dante Robert Ortega
Cheyenne Rae Pac-Taylor
Mark Joseph Palardy*
Hongquan Pan
Michael Jeffrey Paoli
Destiny Marie Parise
Sullivan Brady Patriquin
Taylor Marie Patti*+
Austin Allen Pedercini
Megan Marie Pedersen*+
Shaina Jean Petell
Angela Rosa Petretta*+
Richard Bruce Pierce
Deianira Kristin Pittz
Alexander Joseph Pizzonia
Emma Marie Pizzuto
Nolan Thomas Plouffe
Casey Marie Poplaski
Jessica Marilyn Powers
Coty Franklin Pratt
Rossana Isabel Quispe Vizcardo+
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Parker James Rahilly*
Harrison Willis Rapant
Christopher James Reardon
Moesha Mary Rivera-Crump
Carly Jordan Robinson*+
Kelsey Marie Robitaille
Sean Allen Rosso
Brooke Eileen Roy
Matthew John Salvie*+
Kerstin Elisabeth Schnopp*+
Michael Patrick Schnopp
Mollie Marie Scott*+
Chad David Shade+
Benjamin J. Sheldon*
Tazia Renee Simmons
Aaron Siegel
Katherine Elizabeth Simonds
Elizabeth Sheila Smith*+
Mia Alice Smith*
Rebecca Lynn Spring
Scott James Steinman
Mitchell John Stockley
Morgan Marie Sumy
Angel Michaela Sweetser
Charles Andre Jerome Taylor
Cheyenne Louise Taylor
Rebecca Leigh Thomasson*
Brandi Leigh Touponce
Jack Edward Trainor
Michael Jermaine-Bryant Traylor
Dylan Tyler Troiano
Devon Derrick Tucker
Brittani Marie Turner
Taylor Anh Turner
Bridget Leigh Tyer
Emily Vanessa Valle
Cheyenne M. VanBramer*
Steffany Vargas Garcia
Alejandro Claudio Velez
Warren Xavier Vickery
Anna Lucia Virgilio
Courtney Janice Wasuk
Elizabeth MacKenzie White+
Eugene Alexander Williams, Jr.
Rebecca Elizabeth Williams*+
Sarena Marie Wilson*+
Anthony Marcus Winters
Marissa Nicole Wood
Anna Brooks Worley*+
Amanda Mary Wright+
Destiny Elizabeth Wright
Gladis Marlene Zuna+
* National Honor Society +2015 Class Council |
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