PreviousNext

Drury High Graduates 92 Superheroes in the Class of 2016

Olivia Carlson takes the scissors to her valedictorian sash. See  more photos here. A list of awards and scholarships is here.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It was an evening of surprises and superheroes at Drury High School on Thursday night as 92 graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas.

It included a heartfelt thank you to everyone from family to faculty from valedictorian Olivia Carlson, a rousing speech from Spider Principal and ended with a burst of cheers and high fives as the class belted out the alma mater and exited stage right.

"Thank you to the extended community of North Adams, although I know a few of us are running for the hills as soon as we get a hold of our diplomas, we must always remember that we are a sum of our experiences and Drury High School, our hometown, and all the loving and kind people who live here are forever a permanent part of us, let's be proud of where we came from," Carlson said.

She didn't have any "cliche metaphor" as advice for her peers, no roller coasters of life or chapters of books. Rather, she mulled on the decimal points that landed her as valedictorian, and what "smart" really means: regurgitating information? Or also kindness, creativity, empathy, athleticism, self-awareness, sacrifice, confidence?

"No one is every kind of smart, no one ever will be, but there are often times I wish I could be more of one kind or less of another," she said. "I believe it is only fair to recognize the diverse and beautiful array of intelligence sitting beside me. Know that you, the class of 2016 are a class of geeks, a class of artists, of friends, of athletes, of musicians. A class of future doctors, mothers, fathers, entrepreneurs, teachers, singers, hard-workers and do-gooders."

So Carlson decided to share her valedictory sash, pulling out a pair of scissors and snipping off pieces that she handed out to several classmates. To make sure everyone got a piece, she pulled a cord to rain down hundreds of golden squares of satin and balloons upon the class.

"I have no doubt that one day, one of you will be the best nurse I have ever had, that one day I will have one of your CDs, if those will even still be a thing, playing in my car, that one day my children will sit in your classroom and that one day you will all do amazing things."

Muscian and salutatorian Michael Mazzu said his friends had urged him to write a song for graduation address, but he, too, decided to dispense with cliches. Instead he told an anecdote about different perceptions of his black guitar, which he pulled out and played to accompany his speech.

"I am a firm believer that the success one can attribute to their lives is directly a result of their own happiness, and everybody's happiness is derived from achieving their own personal aspirations," he said. "While I want to play guitar and see music that I created bring enjoyment, relief, and oneness within others, your dream in life may be to travel the world and see every country in Europe."

But don't ask the person next you what their perception of your own happiness is, he cautioned.

"I tell you class, to sit back and think, what in life drives you, what in life makes you want to get up in the morning, what in life puts a smile on your face," Mazzu said. "So try new things until you find your passion, and pursue it like no other, take it and run like the devil, run like you stole it, and live a life you're proud to look back on!"

Although there were 92 graduates, there were 93 diplomas, with James Montepare being the first name called. This was the superintendent's final graduation after more than in 40 years working in the public school system.

"Every year, I come to graduation and I leave and wonder how can it get better than that and every year I come back to the next one and it's just better and better and better," he said. "I am filled with pride to be part of the Drury High School community. Thank you all for what you've done here tonight."

A second surprise was for Kateleynn Lacosse, whose brother, who is in the service, appeared as she received her diploma.

Class President Kody Crosier made the introductions and led the Pledge of Allegiance; the band played "Variations on a Korean Folk Song" and the chorus sang "Never Alone." Mayor Richard Alcombright presented the diplomas, with Montepare and Principal Amy Meehan, congratulating the class on their accomplishments and wishing them the best success.

The packed gymnasium was treated to a short video, "Situation Graduation: Code Red," starring Meehan and students that poked some fun at the event preparations.

Meehan said she'd struggled with what to stay, even as she mocked her situation in the video. Then she decided to be her "own superhero."

"A superhero is an average person with some not-so-average abilities or powers," she said. "Some might argue the value in believing in super heroes, because they aren't real. But let's face it, we all probably were believers at some point in time, or even now. ...

"Regardless of their powers and abilities, superheroes personify the very best qualities of humanity."

Those include courage, justice, hope, perseverance and truth, attributes she'd seen in each and every senior.

Meehan said there were three defining traits: Defining your own identity; using your powers for good; and choosing wisely when it comes to sidekicks.

Then the principal donned her Spider-Man glasses and called on her two "Batman" sidekicks, Kodey and Stew, to induct the class in to superherodom by pledging: "To be the hero in my own life/So I may/Turn fears into fierceness/ Turn I Cant's into I Cans/ And turn my adversities into achievements."

"May you go forth, with courage and confidence, poise and passion," said Meehan. "Good luck and thank you to the class of 2016 for being our super human, super heroes."

The graduates are:

Emily Rose Andreatta*
Christopher Samuel Healing Andrews
Mariah Renee Arnold
Nicholas Ryan Bator**
Elizabeth Ann Billetz*
Nicholas David Boulger**
Kimberly Elizabeth Brames
Haley Victoria Brown*
Nicholas Alan Burchard*
Olivia Kathleen Carlson**
Tehya Mirae Zoe Christopher
Travis David Crawford
Dominique Melissa Crews
Brandon Christopher Cropper
Brianna Tress Crosby
Kody Michael Crosier*
Sarah Abigail Czarnecki*
Lakeria Charnee Darkins*
Jake Anthony Daugherty
Alex David Decker
Jocelyn Marie Dupee
Devin Anthony Durant
Elliott Joseph Eastman*
Briston Dean Estes-Williams
Morgan Elizabeth Fortin

High Honors**   Honors*

North Adams Hopes to Transform Y Into Community Recreation Center

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff
05:19AM / Thursday, May 02, 2024

Mayor Jennifer Macksey updates members of the former YMCA on the status of the roof project and plans for reopening. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The city has plans to keep the former YMCA as a community center.

 

"The city of North Adams is very committed to having a recreation center not only for our youth but our young at heart," Mayor Jennifer Macksey said to the applause of some 50 or more YMCA members on Wednesday. "So we are really working hard and making sure we can have all those touch points."

 

The fate of the facility attached to Brayton School has been in limbo since the closure of the pool last year because of structural issues and the departure of the Berkshire Family YMCA in March.

 

The mayor said the city will run some programming over the summer until an operator can be found to take over the facility. It will also need a new name. 

 

"The YMCA, as you know, has departed from our facilities and will not return to our facility in the form that we had," she said to the crowd in Council Chambers. "And that's been mostly a decision on their part. The city of North Adams wanted to really keep our relationship with the Y, certainly, but they wanted to be a Y without borders, and we're going a different direction."

 

The pool was closed in March 2023 after the roof failed a structural inspection. Kyle Lamb, owner of Geary Builders, the contractor on the roof project, said the condition of the laminated beams was far worse than expected. 

 

"When we first went into the Y to do an inspection, we certainly found a lot more than we anticipated. The beams were actually rotted themselves on the bottom where they have to sit on the walls structurally," he said. "The beams actually, from the weight of snow and other things, actually crushed themselves eight to 11 inches. They were actually falling apart. ...