Drury High School Graduates Ready to Change the World
 Anuj Shah is the third in his family to be named valedictorian of a Drury High class. |
"If you have the chance to dance, will you sit it out or will you dance?" asked Principal Amy Meehan to the somewhat confused seniors grouped before her in the stifling gymnasium. But when the sound system fired up Taio Cruz' "Dynamite" (used prominently in the school's very cool lip-dub video this year) the graduates did enough gyrating to prove they weren't going to be wallflowers.
It's unlikely this group will be sitting out anything as they make their way in the world. "As adults we would like to think we have taught you important knowledge and exposed you to new experiences," said Meehan. "In reality, you have taught us the most important lessons to be learned. ... and inspired us to enact change to better the world and better our community.
"It's no secret this class is special through your qualities of enthusiasm, perservance and commitment, you have shaped yourselves into amazing individuals."
For salutatorian Andrew Varuzzo, it was the other way around, and despite all the ups and downs — "Now here I stand, a better man!
"A better man because of the people of this school. The people that have driven us, all of us, to succeed in everything that we do."
As the class stood upon the "precipice of our future" there would be no stopping them, he said. "We are ready to Change. Our. World."
But he admonished his peers to "Never forget the people and the place that made you who you are. ... This school, this city, has instilled in you the values that will last a lifetime."
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Superintendent of Schools James Montepare committed a faux pas when he introduced Mayor Richard Alcombright as "the honorable Mayor Dick Lamb," which had the crowd hooting and ooohing. Alcombright laughed it off with a story about Lamb, who described himself as the "old gray mayor." Alcombright described himself as the "old bald mayor."
Alcombright, as chairman of the School Committee, handed out the diplomas and congratulated the graduates, their parents and the faculty. "I want to thank this class for the special friendships I will never forget."
Special recognition was given to Rachel Grant, who was graduating at the end of her junior year after taking a full slate of college level, Advanced Placement and honors courses.
"This talented and amazing young woman will be winging off shortly after graduation to proudly serve our nation by joining the Air Force," said Meehan as Grant's classmates sent her off with a standing ovation.
High honor graduate awards were presented to Joseph Babeau, Cody Remillard, Jennifer Schmidt, Ashleigh Rennell, Brianna Groves, Benjamin Gamache, Samuel Carlson, Andrew Varuzzo, Taryn DeSanty, Dominic Wood, Anuj Shah, Samantha Bator, Kyle Peters, Cassie Lincoln and Evan Schueckler. Schueckler, as class president, lead the program for the evening.
Valedictorian Anuj Shah urged his classmates to find something that they were passionate about and to set their own internal standards to find fulfillment.
Shah had entered high school feeling a lot of pressure to live up to expectations. After all, both his older sisters had been valedictorians of their classes (Komal in 2006 and Niralee in 2008), accomplished musicians and dancers who had both gone on to Williams.
"I made reaching everyone else's standards my primary goal. I stressed over the slightest mistakes," he said. That is until his parents sat him down and told him to stop worrying about others' expectations and focus on his own.
"At that moment, I realized that no one could ever judge my success except for myself," said Shah. "I need to hold myself to my own standards and follow my true passions in life."
Of course he is valedictorian, an accomplished musician and entering Williams (though not a dancer, he says), but Shah said he got there his way.
"After you struggle and endeavor to reach your own goals, that's when you'll experience true personal success, and most importantly, true happiness," he told his peers. "And if you have true happiness, then nothing else matters."
The list of awards and scholarships is here. The graduates are:
Morgan Marie Adams
Tre Anthony Amos
James Joseph Arnold
Joseph Raymond Babeu
Samantha Anne Bator
David Gary Baumbach
Alycia Marie Beaudry
Richard Edward Belair
Tyler Adam Benoit
Ashley Rose Bingham
Kayla Marie Brown-Wood
Matthew Charles Capek
Dominick James Cariddi
Samuel Allen Carlson
Brittany Lillian Condon
Megan Elizaeth Dargie
Peter Nalor Dassatti
Donyel Devante Daugherty
Natasha Marie Decker
Taryn Stephanie DeSanty
Arich Leigh Erdeski
Shayley Lynell Estes
Scott Michael Ferris
Ashley Lynn Forrest
Athena Maria Furtado
Benjamin Leo Gamache
Jacklynn Roseanne Gardner
Shellby Lynn Gardner
Ellena Jean Gardzina
Zachary Arthur Gilman
Matthew Brian Girard
Jayson Donald Gordon
Rachael Yvonne Grant
Matthew Steven Griffin
Brianna Marie Groves
Paul Angelo Guerino
Cassandra Marie Hebler
Kendra Lucille Hinkell
Connor Mackenzie Johnson
Michelle Marie Johnson
Lindsey Autumn Keating
Chelsea Caitlyn Kelly
Richard Francis Ketchum
Gabrielle Angelica King
Mathew Joseph LaCosse
Wayne Michael LaVigne, Jr.
Brittany Lynn Leavens
Kamrin Joseph Levesque
Cassie Ann Lincoln
Zachary Martin Lyon
John William MacAdoo
Destiny Elizabeth Madison
Sierra Elmarie Martin
Thomas Edward Massey
Bryce Joseph McBee
Meagan Jennifer McCarthy
Yohmarie Kristal Melendez
Kimberly Anne Meranti
Ashley Rose Mirante
Ashley Marie Mongeon
Jonathon Anthony Monyahan
Marissa Elise Morehouse
Kaitlyn Ann Moresi
Tyler Jean Morgan
Cody Daniel Mountz
Travis Patrick Murach
Tabatha Anne Murach
Casey Allen Myers
Kelsey Nicole Ouimet
Shari Ann Perras
Kyle James Peters
Allison Jennie Pevay
Chase James Preite
Shane Cory Raymond
Cody Edward Remillard
Ashleigh Diane Rennell
Bryan Howard Rennell
Casandra Louise Reynolds
Justin Ring
Savannah Marissa Ritcher
Christopher Alan Roberts
Stephanie Lynn Rose
Courtney Taylor Sage
Francesca Ariel Santelli
Jennifer Lynn Schmidt
Evan Richard Schueckler
Anuj Kamlesh Shah
Anthony Christofer Skiffington
Christina Lynn Smith
Elizabeth Nicole Tatro
Michael Allan Tatro
Katelyn Elizabeth Therrien
Joseph Edward Tower
Teia Nichole Trala
Angie Nicole Valle
Andrew Michael Varuzzo
Tasha Marie Waitt
Silva Marie Rose Watson
Kristal Anne Weatherby
Cody Charles Wemette
Marissa Marie Whitney
Craig Allen Williams
Nina Marie Williams
Dominic Richard Wood
