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Community Support Celebrated At Rochester H.S.
Graduation
Led by class marshals Patrick Crowley and Desiree Bourassa, the Rochester High School Class of 2007 entered the town park Saturday, June 16 for their graduation ceremony, marching to the skirl of bagpipes, played by Rochester teacher Alexander Flindall, followed by "Pomp and Circumstance" played by the Rochester School Band. In what might be seen as a metaphor for the lives ahead of the graduates, the weather changed from good to bad and back again several times during the next two and a half hours. Following a welcome from Principal Bob Gray, who retires this week, Dr. Valerie Levitan introduced the class salutatorian Cullen Haskins, and valedictorian, Jennifer Moltz. Haskins noted that when he was writing his speech, "all I could think of was, 'Mr. Goupee has heard 40 other salutatorian speeches. How on Earth am I going to make mine memorable?'" Both he and valedictorian Jennifer Moltz presented eloquent pleas for their listeners to appreciate the virtues of the Rochester School and community. A Pittsfield resident, Haskins, who came to Rochester School in seventh grade, spoke about an impressive list of opportunities for educational, artistic, and athletic activities available in the valley. He also noted an equally impressive number of accomplishments in those areas by Rochester students. "Community schools are under attack across Vermont and the nation, as the cost of funding them has grown tremendously," Haskins concluded. "From my point of view, the Rochester School is more than just an educational institution. It is the duct tape that holds this community together. Coming from a community without a school, I urge you all to consider carefully the part that the Rochester School plays in this community." Moltz said that her class was "a group that shows great diversity and success; a class full of motivation and ambition." Enumerating the many ways in which they excelled as they followed their interests, Moltz noted that "this community was essential to the development of our passions." "A student at Rochester School could not ask for a better town or state to live in," she added. "When I started my college search, I looked at schools all over the country, but realized that everything I was looking for was right here in Vermont. When people say there is nothing to do in Rochester, tell them to look at the Class of 2007 and all they have done with the starting point of Rochester." 'The Coach' Speaks Former UVM basketball coach Tom Brennan, who now hosts a radio show and is a sports analyst for ESPN, was the guest speaker. Reacting to the remarks by Haskins and Moltz, he commented, "I can tell this is a special place because both of them talked about what the community had done for them, not what they had done." Brennan urged the graduates to be givers, saying, "every day, try to fill someone's bucket. Every time you interact with someone, you give them a message." Noting that "I've been lucky in my life," he observed that, "you can change anything you want to, and it all begins with the determination of one person to do it." Displaying his trademark wit, Brennan advised the graduates to "never lose your sense of humor and understand that life is just not fair. If you can accept that and get up and go on, you'll succeed in life. Some days we're pigeons and some days we're statues. Don't ever be afraid to dream...I'm rooting for you!" he concluded. The graduation also included a heartfelt rendition of "For Good" by seniors Mian O'Dowd, Kirsten Domas and Jenny Dorman; the administering of the Freeman's Oath, the announcement of a long list of awards, and a tribute to Bob Gray, given by Dr. Valerie Levitan. "Bob has been a candle lighting the spirit within each of us on the school staff," she said. Awards Rochester Alumni Scholarship, Jennifer Moltz, Jenny Dorman, and Cullen Haskins; Rodney L. Johnson Award, Cullen Haskins and Sandra Dunham; White River Credit Union Scholarship, Heather Gorton; Inner Traditions "Go For It" Award, Molly Harvey; Advanced Illuminations Scholarship, Amanda Brown; Court St. Anthony #1231 Scholarship, Sandra Dunham; Oatmeal Studios Award, Elizabeth White; Martin Farms Appreciation Award, Brian Dunbar; Student Council Award, Jenny Dorman; Special Faculty Award, Cody LaPlante; Upper Valley Teachers Assoc. Award, Jennifer Moltz; Rotary Scholarship, Heather Gorton; Tim "Toodles" Billings Award, Jody Martin; Kyle Joseph Lizotte Award, Jody Martin; Rochester Chamber Music Award, Cullen Haskins and Kirsten Domas; and Rte. 100 Lions Club Award, Jenny Dorman and Allison Brown. Also, Marie Crovat Award, Brian Dunbar; John Baker Memorial Scholarship Award, Cullen Haskins; Kirkpatrick Memorial Scholarship, Sandra Dunham; Wing Scholarships, Cullen Haskins, Kirsten Domas, Samantha Cutting, Jenny Dorman, Jennifer Moltz, and Jody Martin; Rte. 100 Snow Travelers Scholarship Awards, Samantha Cutting and Sandra Dunham; Vt. Honor Scholarship, Jennifer Moltz; WRVP Stephen Bloch Memorial Award, Mian O'Dowd; Quarry Hill Creative Center Award, Mian O'Dowd; and Sheila Poole Memorial Scholarship, Heather Gorton. In addition, National Honor Society Award, Molly Harvey; Park House Scholarship, Elizabeth White; Jean Colver Scofield Scholarship, Cullen Haskins; Alberta Fairbrother Memorial Award, Cullen Haskins; Gilman Foundation Grants, Allison Brown, Amanda Brown, Samantha Cutting, Kirsten Domas, Jenny Dorman, Brian Dunbar, Sandra Dunham, Heather Gorton, Molly Harvey, Cullen Haskins, Cody LaPlante, Mian O'Dowd, Lucas Pelletier, Dustin Roberts, Kayla Shepard; and Senior Music Awards, Cullen Haskins, Jody Martin, Kirsten Domas, Mian O'Dowd, and Jennifer Moltz. Graduates The graduates of the RHS Class of 2007 and their future plans are: Allison Brown (New Mexico State University), Amanda Brown (Norwich University), Samantha Cutting (Johnson State College), William Danforth, who received a GED earlier, (Scottsdale Culinary Institute, Le Cordon Bleu Program), Kirsten Domas (Paul Smith's College), Jenny Dorman (UNH, Durham), Brian Dunbar II (UNH, Durham), and Sandra Dunham (Savannah School of Design). Also, Louis Englehardt, Jr. (firefighting school), Kristen Gendron (LNA program, Randolph), Heather Gorton (Saint Michael's College), Molly Harvey (Rochester Institute of Technology), Cullen Haskins (Clarkson University), Jessica Kolesnik (employment), Ethan Lanpher (employment), and Cody LaPlante (New England Culinary Institute). In addition, Jody Martin (Rutgers University), Ashley Mears (human services), Jennifer Moltz (UVM), Mian O'Dowd (UVM), Lucas Pelletier (Lyndon State College), Dustin Roberts (VTC), Kayla Shepard (Paul Smith's College), Elizabeth White (Champlain College), and Sammy Jo Wood (animal behavior school). ____________ | |||||
