Drury Graduates Urged to Dance, Dance, Dance

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
11:35AM / Saturday, June 07, 2008Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS — Makayla Lemaire crossed the stage at Drury High School on Friday night both ecstatic and nervous to receive the diploma that would close this chapter of her life.

"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.

"I know that we're going to go on and do amazing things with our lives," she continued, but admonished them, "don't forget to have fun, don't forget to live life to its fullest and, most of all, don't forget to dance your heart out."

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

— Chorus of "Our Last Year"

For the list of class awards, click here.

Drury High School Class of 2008

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

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McCann Recognizes Superintendent Award Recipient

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:32PM / Tuesday, December 23, 2025

Landon LeClair and Superintendent James Brosnan with Landon's parents Eric and Susan LeClair, who is a teacher at McCann.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Superintendent's Award has been presented to Landon LeClair, a senior in McCann Technical School's advanced manufacturing course.

The presentation was made last Thursday by Superintendent Jame Brosnan after Principal Justin Kratz read from teachers' letters extolling LeClair's school work, leadership and dedication.

"He's become somewhat legendary at the Fall State Leadership Conference for trying to be a leader at his dinner table, getting an entire plate of cookies for him and all his friends," read Kratz to chuckles from the School Committee. "Landon was always a dedicated student and a quiet leader who cared about mastering the content."

LeClair was also recognized for his participation on the school's golf team and for mentoring younger teammates.

"Landon jumped in tutoring the student so thoroughly that the freshman was able to demonstrate proficiency on an assessment despite the missed class time for golf matches," read Kratz.

The principal noted that the school also received feedback from LeClair's co-op employer, who rated him with all fours.

"This week, we sent Landon to our other machine shop to help load and run parts in the CNC mill," his employer wrote to the school. LeClair was so competent the supervisor advised the central shop might not get him back.

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