PHS Grads Urged To 'Live The Life You Imagined'
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.
Graduates | Scholarships & Awards | Photos | |
Justin Ryan Allen Samantha Marie DeCarlo* Michael Anthony Delusky |
Alaina Marie Dermody 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 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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