Brennan Sends Off CHS Grads

Brennan Sends Off CHS Grads

Chelsea High School's 40 graduates were treated to a classic inspirational speech Friday by outgoing University of Vermont Coach Tom Brennan—and to a frankly honest one by student speaker Rebecca Dumont.

The 6:30 ceremony took place in a packed tent on Chelsea's south green, while other friends, family members and children stood and sat in lawn chairs around the edges. Principal Karl Stein provided the welcome and presented diplomas and awards.

Coach Brennan—already a legend as he retires from UVM as its winningest coach—gave students and parents a taste of what makes him such a good motivator. He told them to expect disappointments, even within a successful life.

"I've had a great life," he said—"and sometimes it stinks."

Life, he emphasized, is "a series of ups and downs." He noted that he started his coaching career with 17 straight losses, but never let go of his dream. And, though he's UVM's winningest coach (by two games), he also has lost more games than any other coach.

He warned against paying attention to an inner voice that will always be whispering, "This doesn't matter" or "Do it tomorrow."

He warned also against taking oneself too seriously (with a couple of great stories to back it up), but at the same time assured the class that "the single most important cause of change is the individual … effects ripple out and out and out, from the center."

Candid Portrait

The student speech by Salutatorian Rebecca Dumont was more of the same, in a way—she refused to paint a consistently rosy portrait of life in Chelsea, one of Vermont's most close-knit towns

"We have all loved Chelsea," Dumont said. "And at times we have all hated Chelsea." She admitted that before entering high school she pestered her mother for months to send her to a private school.

"I dreamed of going to a place where I wasn't known as 'one of those Allen girls,'" she explained.

As it happened, of course, Dumont and her various cousins became the core of some of the most remarkable sports teams Chelsea High has ever seen, including the lacrosse team that won the state championship the next day.

While all the students some days "dreamed of leaving Chelsea," she also recognized the value of growing up in a way that is available to fewer and fewer young people these days.

The third speaker under the tent was a former English teacher, Jon Place, who was welcomed back with roars of approval. He warned the graduates against centering their lives on the "consumer icons" that compete for their attenton.

Even though they're graduating, he said, they should keep books around. Reading is "an essential activity to provide blood flow to the brain," Place advised.

Awards

Scott Hoyt received the Arthur Scott Memorial Trust, the George Washington Masonic Lodge #51 Award, a Orange County Sheriff’s Department Scholarship, the Jim Ballou Scholarship, a Sons of Veterans Scholarship, and the Principal’s Award.

Ally Allen received a Friends of Chelsea School Scholarship, the Associated General Contractors of Vermont Scholarship, and the Principal’s Award.

The L.B and Bertha Bowen Charitable Trust Scholarship was presented to Luther Ainsworth, Scott Hoyt, Michelle Smith, and Becky Dumont. The Chelsea Alumni Association presented Hoyt, Allen, Paige Kelley, Dumont, and Jon Vermette with scholarships.

Paige Kelley was awarded the Vermont Honors Scholarship, the Elizabeth Richter Memorial Scholarship, a Sons of Veterans Scholarship, and the F. Ray Keyser Trophy.

The Balfour Award and the Somers Math Award were presented to Tony Schmitt. Adam Cushman received the Frances B. Ladd Business Award.

Chris Wadkins received the Harry Goodwin Memorial Award. James Blondin received the Arthur Scott Memorial Trust, an Orange County Sheriff’s Department Scholarship, and the Elizabeth Richter Memorial Scholarship.

Shannon Welch received the David Shipp English Award as well as an academic scholarship from Southern Virginia University. Michelle Smith was awarded with the Bernier Award and Merle Fitzgerald Ideal Senior Award. The Hilary Spires Memorial Poetry Award was presented to Skye Larie Lilley.

Ezra Hagerty was a presented with an anonymous scholarship. The Chapin Award was presented to David Durkee and Mendon Kill. Norman Phinney and Isaac Foote received Orange County Sheriff’s Department Scholarships.

Valedictorian, Rebecca Szeg, was recognized as the University of Vermont’s Green and Gold Scholar. Jon Vermette was named Vermont Scholar. Luther Ainsworth received a Friends of Chelsea School Scholarship.

The following students received the Frank and Olive Gilman Scholarship Foundation Awards: Ally Allen, Luther Ainsworth, Isaac Foote, Danica Deberville, Christle Gadapee, Scott Hoyt, Dylan Kelley, Paige Kelley, Tony Schmitt, Skye Larie Lilley, Justin Priar, Rebecca Szeg, Jon Vermette, Shannon Welch, Michelle Smith, and James Blondin.

Ally Allen and Luther Ainworth were recognized for completing the VAST program at Vermont Technical College during their senior year. Maureen Driscoll and Nick Schmitt will represent Chelsea in the program in the 2005-2006 school year.

Graduates

Graduates of the Class of 2005 are: Allyson Allen, Luther Ainsworth, Travis Batten, James Blondin, Casey Braman, Michael Busby, Lysette Caouette, Amber Chaffee, Ronald Collins Jr., Joel Cray, Amber Cushing, Adam Cushman, Danica Deberville, Brittany Driscoll, Rebecca Dumont, David Durkee Jr., Isaac Foote;

Also, Christle Gadapee, Jennie Galway, Ezra Hagerty, Justin Heslop, Scott Hoyt, Nathan Jenkins, Dylan Kelley, Paige Kelley, Michael Kennedy, Mendon Kill, Kimberly Larkin, Skye-Larie Lilley, Patrick Loeffler, Vernon Maxham Jr., Cindi McElhaney, Norman Phinney, Justin Priar, Anthony Schmitt, Michelle Smith, Rebecca Szeg, Dennis Tatro, Jonathan Vermette, Christopher Wadkins, and Shannon Welch.

By M. D. Drysdale