McCann Technical Graduates Urged to Dream BigBy Tammy Daniels, iBerkshires Staff 01:14AM / Thursday, June 04, 2015 | |
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McCann Technical School graduated 114 students on Wednesday night at the Amsler Campus Center. Left, valedictorian Laura Lynn Netti bids farewell to the class of 2015. See more photos here. |
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The graduating class of McCann Technical School was encouraged to remember its roots and dream big on Wednesday night.
"We all have the potential to do great things but don't forget your roots," said valedictorian Laura Lynn Netti. "They are our beginnings, they our accomplishments, they are our struggles and they are our memories. The more we know the deeper and deeper they get."
The class had come together as a family over the past four years - sometimes squabbling, sometimes helping each other — but together overcoming obstacles to get to this day.
She urged her classmates not to let "the voices of others drown out your inner voice and most important, have the courage to follow your heart. ...
"We shouldn't be scared of the future, the future should be scared of us."
Netti's speech capped the graduation exercises at the Amsler Campus Center at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts.
The cheers rang out — accompanied by the sound of cow bells — as the 114 students of the class of 2015 marched across the stage to be presented diplomas by School Committee Chairman Thomas R. Mahar and Superintendent James Brosnan. The noise became more raucous as the diplomas dwindled, signifying the end to the graduates' high school careers.
Class advisers Cynthia Roper-Patenaude and Perry Burdick were given gifts on behalf of the class by its officers President Drew F. Burdick, Vice President Laura E. Heritage, Secretary Elizabeth V. Culpepper and Treasurer Alycia N. Rando. Kylie M. Burns sang the national anthem accompanied by Robert A. Davis on the keyboard.
Mahar took a moment to acknowledge the staff, faculty and School Committee for their efforts.
"This night is just as precous to all of us as it is for you as we watch you receive your diplomas," he told the green and white clad graduates. "We're all proud of what you have accomplished both in the classroom and on the playing field ... We wish you all the best of luck in all your future endeavors."
Brosnan also said he was proud of them, and called on the graduates to "be loyal to yourselves, your family, your country" as well to their classmates and other alumni
The class got a suprise "visit" from automotive instructor Michael McCarron, currently serving as a sergeant first class with the Army Reserve in Afghanistan.
"Dream big, anything is possible," said McCarron, adding in a few "hooahs" in a video recording played on a screen in the gymnasium.
Principal Justin Kratz brought something of a prop with him to this year's graduation. He'd been thinking about his toddler daughter's request a couple years ago that he wear a pink shirt and a pink bowtie to work. Kratz felt he had to draw the line somewhere - and the bowtie made him uncomfortable.
So he wore the shirt but took off the bowtie when out of sight and forgot to put it back on before going home - and disappointing his 3-year-old daughter.
"Why, when it would have made her day, why I would not just wear a pink bowtie," he said. "I really started thinking about how a simple act can make someone's day awesome ... my suggestion to you graduates is to actively seek out a way that you can make someone else's day — even it makes you a little uncomfortable — make their day."
Whereupon he pulled out the bowtie and put it on to the cheers of the graduates.
The ceremony concluded with the singing of the alma mater and tossing of hats and glitter into the air before the new graduates exited the gym into the arms of family and friends.
"Hard work can get you anywhere ... your drive and determination are what bring you to your goals," salutatorian Zoe Loughman told them. "How hard you work is the best standard of success no matter where you come from, no matter what you're good, at you can be successful if you are passionate and want to accomplish your task. ...
"You can't put a large box in a small box, well you can't but a full life in a small dream box ... Dream up everything you want to do with your life."
Graduates |
Val & Sal |
Scholarships
& Awards |
Photos |
Kyle John Affhauser
Allexia Hope Andrews
Gabrielle Michelle Bartlett
Roslyn Ann Basinger
Nicholas James Belanger
Felicia Rose Belisle
Joseph Michael Benoni
Nathan Josef Biron
Quincy Ann Blondin
Morgan Jean Bohl
Steffani Shyanne Brothers
John Robert Burchard
Daniel Philip Burdick III *
Drew Francis Burdick *
Tyson Shemar Campbell
Haley Adaline Carson
Daniel Scott Charron
Mathew Joseph Christiana *
Cody Austin Clark
Andrew Martin Corsi * ↑
Makayla Marie Cote
Nathan Harold Cote
Damon John Couture
Thalia Crespo-Diaz
Elizabeth Viola Culpepper *
Mikaela Elizabeth Danylin
Jordan Francis Darling *
Sean Philip Davis *
Timothy Robert Deblois * |
Christopher Joel Delorey
Brodie Nelson DiGennaro
Michael Lawrence DiSanti
Kevin Richard Dowling *
Max Ason Filion * ↑
Patricia Lynn Fletcher
Zachary Francis Fletcher *
Walker Emery Fortin
Amber Lynn Foster
Shane Everett Fuller *
Katelyn Marie Furlon *
Noelle Patricia Gageant *
Christopher Robin Gajda
Amber Marie Gerry
Brett James Gibeau *
Dylan Anthony Gigliotti
Stephen Michael Goddard
Drew Michael Grady
Joseph Peter Gwozdz
Nary Hang
Samuel Willard Haring
Max Jembert Hartman
Laura Elisabeth Heritage *
Sterling Robert Hewitt
Marcus J. Hillard *
Natalie Mae Howe *
Dana David Jardine
Ryan William Kalisz
Kyle James Knox * |
Cody Allen Laframboise
Edward Thomas Laird
Levi Thomas Lawson *
Jonathan Silva Leal *
Adam Joseph LeClair
Skiler Wayne Lillie
Zoe Angela Loughman+ +* ↑
Tiana Leigh Mack * ↑
Shawn Robert Marko
Kayla Elizabeth Martin
Matthew Joni Massari
Heather Ann Maynard
Joshua Stephen McAdoo *
Luke Anthony McKay
Margaret Rose Megaro
Matthew Robert Meranti
Gustavo Javier Montoya
Austin Tyler Nash
Laura Lynn Netti +*↑
Cody Michael O’Neill
Juan Carlos Ochoa Montoya
Sophia Rose Oliveri
Robert Ellis Pearson
Brett Robert Pecor *
James William Pierce
Jonathan Michael Pierce
Amanda Marie Pini
Erica Lee Prevey
Morgan Taylor Prevey |
Jacob M. Grey Quimby
Alycia Nicole-Marie Rando
Nathan Willi am Reiter
Elizabeth Bryson Revett *
Matthew Michael Richardson
Beth Malynn Risch
William Charles Rivard
Brandon Jacob Roberts
Jesilyn Rolnick
Morgan Jane Roy
Charlea Jennifer Schleich
Jacquelyn Rose Schneider
Austin James Shepard
Trejan Clark Skiffington
Luke Patrick St. Pierre
Jeslyn Hailey Stachura
Derek Walter Sumner
Carl Justus Swanson
Rahmer Lucas Vincent
Terren Jay Vogel
Jessica Amber Waitt
Tucker Nichols Weisenflue
Jacob Tyler Wendling
Anthony Robert West
Travis Joseph Whelan
Felicia Marie Whitney *
Austin Michael Worth
+Valedictorian ,++ Salutatorian ,
* Honor Society, ↑Project Lead the Way |
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