Drury Graduates Urged to Dance, Dance, Dance
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"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.
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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
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"
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
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
