Clapping echoed through the hallways of Wednesday evening as students prepared to walk into the gymnasium for their graduation.
Stonington Public Schools would give diplomas to 171 students before the end of the night, but shortly before the ceremony began as teachers walked by the lined up seniors on their way into the graduation there were high-fives, hugs and tears.
“They’re the best, I’m so sad,” said one teary-eyed staff member.
For commencement speaker it was the end of a journey. McCurdy, the current Principal began her teaching career at Stonington Public Schools as a first grade teacher when the Class of 2012 was starting first grade.
“The tides change quickly, McCurdy told the graduates. “You are in charge of plotting the course for your own future.”
McCurdy who later became a guidance counselor to some of the students and then assistant principal to them at the high school before taking her current position told the grads she believed they have a bright future.
Students, teachers, families and friends wore green, pink and gray ribbons throughout the ceremony in , a member of the class of 2012 who with brain cancer. Class of 2012 Advisor designed the tricolor ribbons, which include Izzy's favorite colors pink and green, and gray—the official color for brain cancer. The Class of 2012 also donated a $1,000 to the Izzy Calmar Memorial Scholarship; an award presented each year to a student who exemplifies Izzy's qualities.
Reflection, well-being and balance were the themes of the night.
Superintendent told the class to live a balanced a life.
“Work hard, play hard and love deeply,” Masterjoseph urged.
The graduates will embark on from Stonington as some of them to college or into the workforce or into the military.
Valedictorian Alexander Schroeder said that while they each have their own path to take they must remember to make time to do the things, which make them happy.
“Happiness sometimes takes a back seat to materialism,” Schoreder said. “It’s not a selfish task to search for self-fulfillment.
Congratulations to the graduates:
Danielle Renée Ahrens
Kathryn Jean Aiello
Jacqueline Grace Albert*
Stephanie Hope Albert*
Ronald Anthony Alfonso III
Austin Robert Almeida
MacKenzie Elizabeth Angus+*
Morgan Chelsea Arnold
Alexis Jane Baker
Jamie Lynn Ballengee
George Bryan Bentz
Thomas Jett'e Bibeau
Christopher Raymond Blanchard
Dominic Joseph Blanchet
Wilfred J. Blanchette IV
Edward Stanley Bockowski Jr.*
Ian Kenneth Booth
Jeffrey David Bourque
Shannon P. A. Bowers
Michael Kevin Brandon
Klay Michael Brayman
Luke Christopher Brogno
James W. Bryant
Connor Sykes Buckley
Monica Rose Burdick
Ivan Rhodes Carija
Scarlet Elizabeth Caruso
Justin William Carver
Dylan Michael Cassell
Catherine K. Cavaliere
Brian Lee Cavanaugh III
James Valentine Cerino
Clark Nathaniel Chapman
Matthew Alexander Chmielinski
Maëlann André Françoise Danièle Claessen
Robinson Mark Comeau
Morgan Beth Conlin
Jennifer Christine Conradi
Samantha Rose Cook
Robert C. Cornell
Nicole Lynn Costa
Victoria Nicole Cross+*
Jared Danforth DeFanti*
William Thomas DeFanti+
Benjamin Jeffrey Denard
Rebecca Alice Deslandes
Patrick W. H. DiCesare
Kaylee Kathryne Donovan
Rilee Brynne Drake
Katherine Anne Edelman
Marcus Jon Everett
Mariah Spring Everett
Ruth Marie Everett
Ryan Patrick Feeney
Sean Michael Finneran
Casey Kathleen Fiola*
Melanie Elizabeth Floyd+*
Luke Rogers Foster
Nisah Julia Rose Fox
Kourtnie Marie Fritscher
Anthony Philip Gallicchio
Jessica Marie Garbarino
Victoria Thérèse Georgetti*
Elias Antoine Gharios+*
Ross Seth Giserman
Damien Talbot Grills
Ryan Michael Joseph Grimshaw
Peter James Guzzo+*
Morgan Kathryn Hackney
Brandon G. Hall
Paul Christopher Hallinan Jr.
Haley Andrade Hamilton
Andrew W. Han+
Olivia Marie Hanson
Jonathan David Hayes
Elizabeth Catherine Hobaica
Emma Marie Holman*
Amy Marie Homand
Tyler M. Homand
Peter Alexander Hoops*
Bryce Joseph Howard
Kathleen Elizabeth Hughes
Aino Liisa Aleksandra Jääskeläinen
Dylan Joseph Jacobs
Arrow Johnson
Bri-Ana Delyenise Ilara Johnson
Elizabeth Reka Keller
Bobby Joe Knowles
Alexandra Nicole Konicki+
Madeline Ann Kornacki
Tyler Joseph Krzyzaniak
William Lau
Jennifer Marie LaValley
Ryan David Lee
Cody Charles Lunny
Allison Kelly Lynch
Robert Stephen Lynch III
Emerson David MacDonald
Christopher Sean Manfredi
Amy Elizabeth Manning+*
Ethan H. Markham
Erika Rae Marquis
Thomas Manuel Mathews
Marie Christine Mattano+
Jordana Rahaman McCallen
Evelina Mineikyte
Erin G. Miner
Uma Indravadan Mistry
Jessica Ann Mitchell
Kyle James Mola
Jonathan Ahearn Moore
Patrick S. Moosey
Edward Hugh Moran*
Jennifer Marie Murphy
Katharine Frances Murphy+*
Jacob Dawson Nolan
Aubrey Susan O'Neill
William Joseph Pabst
Veronica Arruda Pacheco*
Ryanne Nicole Paige*
Mihar G. Patel
Layle A. Pearson
Alexandra Jean Pelt
Isaiah DeSean Perkins
Kevin Joseph Peters
Colin Scott Petrie
Jacob Edward Pont
Allissa Lynn Porter
Joseph L. Powers III
Edward George Rathbun
Hope Alice Rezendes+*
Asiana Breanna Richards
Erin Kelly Riley
Kurt Dillan Riley
Brooke Cote Rixon
Joshua Alan Roberts
Ryan Allen Roderick
Christian Blake Rogerson+*
Kyle Gardner Roseman*
Julia Jane Royer
Emily Kristine Rubin
Casey James Sartor+*
Jacob Ryan Schlais
Alexander John Schroeder+*
Sara Elizabeth Scott
Kurtis B. Shaw
Thomas Joseph Shea Jr.
Dana Nicole Shroyer
Peter Alexander Sieczkiewicz
Maria Valentina Juliet Silvia
Tyler Keith Singletary
Matthew Xavier Smith
Stephanie K. Spence
Thaddeus Markham Spencer+
Samantha Jordan Srednicki
Hannah Marie Staley
Brittany Jo Tassias
Colin J. Taylor
Jerimy Wayne Taylor
Kelsey Lane Thomas
Kyle Z. Toth
Erika Jeannette Towne+*
Madisen Avery Vail
Lauren Paige Valenti
Abigail Lois Volk+*
Macy Elizabeth Wilcox-Tillett
Collin James Williams
Zachary D. Wing
Kaili June Withrow
Gabrielle Zelepos
Bradley J. Zujus
171 Graduates
* National Honor Society Member
+ SHS Scholar
+*SHS Scholar and NHS Member
