DT Grad FINAL 6.24.14.indd

Transcription

POMP&CIRCUMSTANCE
DARIEN HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 2014 GRADUATION
Thursday, June 26, 2014
1C
Darien Times/Carlyn Vellante photos
The Darien High School Class of 2014 celebrated their commencement on Wednesday, June 18.
‘Break a few things’
Darien High’s Class of 2014 urged to be brave as they move on to the next stage
by Melvin Mason
On their final day as students of
Darien High School, the Class of 2014
was wished to enjoy some failure.
Because it’s from that failure, DHS valedictorian Catherine Lacy said, that great
things can arise.
“What I wish for all of you is the
most spectacular of failures. Because
spectacular successes cannot appear
without them,” Lacy said.
Before going fearlessly into the
world to greet success and failure, this
year’s Darien High graduates took time
to bask in the sun and the moment
of reaching graduation day, a day that
seemed far away for many of them only
four years earlier.
Wednesday’s ceremony was a huge
blue and white party, filled with shouts
of support, applause for academic,
athletic and artistic achievements and
plenty of hugs from parents, friends and
other well-wishers of the more than 300
graduates.
Lacy encouraged her classmates to
look back to where the new graduates
came from now that they’ve “grown up.”
Lacy urged her fellow graduates to keep
things in perspective in case something
bad happens, stretch beyond their comfort zones and “break a few things”
Salutatorian Cameron Van de Graaf
said the class should show gratitude
to the coaches who have helped them
become who they are. For Van de Graaf,
that includes his varsity golf coach Tom
O’Donnell and Dr. Linda Bockenstedt
of the Yale School of Medicine, the latter
assisting him while Van de Graaf was
involved with the DHS authentic science research program.
But while those coaches might be
important, Van de Graaf shined the
brightest lights on the parents of the
class of 2014, for instilling values and
showing the young men and women
the right ways to do things.
“Our parents are those special
people in all of our lives who have
shaped our values, determining in large
part both the content of our character
and the manner in which we conduct
ourselves,” he said. “And at the end of the
day, they’re also our biggest fans.”
Coaching, he said, is a bittersweet
business because the coach has to say
goodbye to his players.
“Over the next few months, while
you’re preparing for the next chapter of
your story, take some time to thank the
coaches who helped you write the one
that ends today. I think they’ll appreciate it,” he said.
DHS Principal Ellen Dunn drew
from her experience as a biology teacher and talked to the graduates about the
differences between a seed and a pebble,
one containing life, the other lifeless.
“I suggest to you now that every
function, every process that defines biological life also illuminates that which is
essential to a purposeful and meaningful human life,” she said.
Dunn said learning is much like a
living system, taking in raw materials to
be synthesized to build new and more
complex molecules.
“As you move on from DHS, continue to take in content, ideas, thoughts,
and experiences — the raw materials
— and make them your own,” she said.
“Enduring and authentic understand-
ing arises from your ability to construct
your own meaning. Have confidence in
your own capacity to innovate, explore
and question, knowing that your perspective is unique and valuable to the
world.”
Dunn also echoed Lacy’s statement
about making errors and told the new
graduates to learn from their missteps.
See CLASS OF 2014 on page 2C
Graduates Haley Close, left, Harry Gillespie, Jack Massie, Dillon Schoen, Kelly Karczewski, Julia Black, Chris Rehm, Sam Meyjes, Kyra Brook, and
in front, Michael Colon.
Page 2C
POMP&CIRCUMSTANCE
THE DARIEN TIMES, THURSDAY, JUNE 26, 2014
Courtney Mahoney, Allison Malecka and Matthew Lesko head into the ceremony.
Carlyn Vellante photos
Class
of 2014
tion of our senior class. It is also
an acknowledgement of the
community who have encouraged and supported these young
adults during their journey.
We are incredibly grateful to
the community of Darien who
supports our schools through
their continued commitment
Continued from 1C
not only to the education of our
children, but also to all aspects
“You must be able to make
of their growth as evidenced by
mistakes and learn from them.
the senior class and their accomYour failures and their conseplishments.”
quences are what strengthen you
Interim Darien Schools
and change you,” Dunn said. “Do Superintendent Lynne Pierson
not fear mistakes because you
wished for the students “a life
will never reach your potential if rooted in family and faith, days
you don’t dare to take risks.”
filled with the challenge and
The new graduates are
fulfillment of giving yourselves
bound to run into obstacles and to just causes with the immeaoccasionally be wrong. So Reed surable richness severed through
Barthold, president of the DHS
service to others.”
Community Council, told his
Pierson quoted from former
classmates to push on and move British Prime Minister Winston
forward.
Churchill in saying “We make
“This concept seems the
a living by what we get, but we
most difficult for teenagers to
make a life by what we give.””
grasp; we are going to be wrong.
The departing seniors started
If I had a dollar for every time
giving by donating a new Blue
I was right in an argument, I’d
Wave mascot uniform to the
be broke,” he said. “But the most school as well as making a conimportant thing is to persevere. tribution to the Andy Smiles
No one is going to stand there
Forever Foundation, named for
counting the amount of times
former DHS student Andy Pena
you fall down, as long as it’s one who died in March 2011. Pena’s
less than the amount of times
family was on hand to accept
you get back up.”
the gift.
Board of Education
The graduates may well be
Chairman Betsy Hagerty-Ross
ready to bravely go forth, but
noted that she remembers many their more immediate concerns
of the graduates from their first were enjoying their last gatherdays in kindergarten, including
ing as a class as Wednesday afterher son Matthew.
noon faded into evening.
“Today, we watch as our
Chris Chiamulera, 17, said
young men and women walk
being a new graduate had not
across this stage and embark on quite sunk in, even after the
the next chapter of our lives,” she traditional moving of the tassels
said. “This is not only a celebra- and celebratory cap toss.
Above, Schuyler Platt leaves the stage with her diploma. At top, Courtney Mahoney, Allison Malecka and Matthew Lesko
head into the ceremony. Below, Margot Sweeney, Morgan Fenton and Megan Kristoff are ready to graduate.
“It went by a lot quicker [than
I thought] and the speeches were
beautiful,” he said.
The memories and friendships created over the last four
years won’t be forgotten anytime
soon, said Chiamulera, who
will attend Loyola University in
Maryland in the fall.
Megan Kristof, bound
for Haverford College in
Pennsylvania, could hardly
believe high school was over.
“It’s a little surreal because we
were looking forward to it for
a long time,” she said. The day
wasn’t for tears, said Kristof. “I’ll
be smiling the whole day.”
Jake Heyde, 17, said he’s
excited for a summer of day trips
featuring sky diving and bungee
jumping before heading off to
start classes at the University of
Hartford.
“Fall’s coming up pretty soon
and I’m not too ready for that.
We’ll see,” he said. “I’m focusing
on summer, not more school.”
For Jake, graduation brings
up a lot of nostalgia and meeting a lot of great people. The
class will be remembered for
“being daring” and “standing up,”
he said.
Gillian McKay, 17, bound for
Monmouth University in New
Jersey, admitted to being nervous
about the end of her Darien
High days.
“I don’t know. It’s weird and a
bit confusing. High school’s over,”
she said.
[email protected]
POMP&CIRCUMSTANCE
Page 3C
VALEDICTORIAN AND SALUTATORIAN SPEECHES
Off and away
up classmates, teammates, and
DHS Class of 2014 Valedictorian friends. We have forged awkwardly close friendships that will
last far beyond our Blue Wave
Good afternoon and welyears. We have discovered the
come, family, friends, teachers,
joys of a Chipotle burrito.
staff, and, of course, the class of
We have experienced won2014.
derful,
heart-stopping victories
Let me be uncomfortably
and
accomplishments,
having
honest: I am woefully unpresome
of
the
most
gifted
athletes,
pared to impart any sort of
musicians,
debaters,
scholars,
life-changing wisdom on you,
my fellow classmates, in the fol- and artists in the state. We have
found our
lowing few
strengths,
minutes,
weaknesses,
given that
and
limits. We
The
fact
remains
that
no
the state of
have
worked
Connecticut
matter the failure, there will
harder
than
barely considalways be an opportunity
we
knew
we
ers me old
for success in the future if
could.
We
enough to
we are able to move past
have grown
drive past
it
and
rise
above
it.
What
up.
11 o’clock at
But now,
I
wish
for
all
of
you
is
the
night.
I
ask
you
But I was
most spectacular of failures,
to
consider
greatly reasbecause spectacular successes
briefly a time
sured by the
cannot occur without them. when you
sentiments of
-Catherine Lacy
didn’t experiseveral friends,
ence that
classmates,
surge of hapteachers, and,
piness from
yes, family
a
well-earned
members, who
triumph,
a
time
when
maybe
informed me that nobody was
you
dropped
the
ball,
failed
the
going to remember my speech
test,
lost,
stumbled,
fell,
cried.
anyway. Thank you, mom and
At that instant, the world may
dad!
Regardless, I am honored and have felt like it was ending-as if
the supports you built from the
humbled to have the opportunity to represent such a talented, ground up of hard work and
creative, and kind group of indi- practice and time suddenly colviduals on this most momentous lapsed beneath your feet. The
world hasn’t ended, though,
of occasions. Class of 2014,
last I checked, and here we are
among us are future doctors,
lawyers, Broadway stars, writers, today at one of the most tritech start-up insta-millionaires, umphant moments of our lives
thus far-despite everything from
and Starbucks executives.
Of course, it is impossible to accidentally setting something
stand at a crossroad such as this (or someone) on fire in first year
one without looking to the past- chemistry to getting rejected
where we came from. The mem- from colleges that made us
ories appear as bright snapshots believe in love at first sight.
So if I leave you with one
on roles of film in our minds:
thing,
I hope that it is this: keep
We have cheered on and cheered
things in perspective, and keep
by Catherine Lacy
Catherine Lacy
learning from your mistakes. I
stand before you today simply
because I was lucky in one arena
of my life — we will all challenge
ourselves in many others in the
future.
Consider Charles Schulz,
who had every single one of
his comics rejected by his high
school paper before becoming
the author of the famous comic
strip “Peanuts.” The phones in
your pockets right now wouldn’t
be around if a young person
much like ourselves hadn’t
dropped out of college.
The fact remains that no matter the failure, there will always
be an opportunity for success in
the future if we are able to move
past it and rise above it. What I
wish for all of you is the most
spectacular of failures, because
spectacular successes cannot
occur without them.
Stretch beyond your comfort
zones and break a few things,
live through the mix-ups and letdowns and Netflix and ice cream
pity parties, because once we
stand back up, laugh at ourselves,
and learn from it all, our potential is even greater.
I’d like to close with a brief
quote from “Oh the places you’ll
go,” a classic childhood book by
Salute to the coaches
fortunate enough to play varsity golf under a
longtime coach characterized by his enduring
DHS Class of 2014 Salutatorian
love of the game - a love symbolized by his
Good afternoon. It is my honor to welcome willingness to put the rest of his life on hold for
3 months every spring to spend four plus hours
all of you — friends and family, teachers, students, and now Graduates of the Class of 2014 a day with his team. A fine player himself, he
devoted a tremendous amount of time and
- to this year’s graduation ceremony.
energy into “making our dreams come true.”
Today marks the culmination of our time
Coaches fuel the fire in us to win.
at Darien High School, as well as the closing
As a participant in Darien High School’s
of one chapter of our lives. Whether headAuthentic Science Research program, I owe
ing off to college in the fall or pursuing some
a tremendous debt of gratitude to Dr. Linda
other worthwhile
Bockenstedt of
endeavor, we are all
the Yale School of
soon to be scattered
Medicine. A physito the four winds. In
But in my humble estimation,
cian-scientist who
these final moments
it is not any of our peers to whom we entered Harvard at
we have together, it is
should accord our deepest respect,
only 15 years of age,
right and fitting that
Dr. Bockenstedt agreed
gratitude, and admiration — such
we acknowledge the
recognition should be reserved for the to take me on to work
achievements of this
class. Over just the past
people, the coaches who have helped in her lab despite my
age and lack of experiyear, you have brought
us to do what we have done and to
ence. Over the several
home conference and
become who we are.
months I worked with
state championships,
her, she served as an
- Cameron Van de Graaf
garnered numerous
exemplary ambassaacademic accolades,
dor for her profession
taken part in artistic
and an even better
performances of the
finest caliber, and spent countless hours in ser- personal mentor. Moreover, she exhibited that
vice to our community. Without a doubt, DHS altruistic desire to “pay it forward” one small
deed at a time that is characteristic of great
is an exceptional school, and this is a particucoaches.
larly exceptional group of students. But in my
There are two special people in all of our
humble estimation, it is not any of our peers to
lives who have sacrificed the most to get us
whom we should accord our deepest respect,
gratitude, and admiration — such recognition from the instant of our birth to this very stage.
should be reserved for the people, the coaches As legendary college basketball coach Jimmy
Valvano once said, “My father gave me the
who have helped us to do what we have done
greatest gift anyone could give another person,
and to become who we are.
he believed in me.” When we have struggled,
Now when I say coach, I am not referring
exclusively to the athletic variety. In my experi- when we have failed, when we have lost, our
parents are the ones who have been there to
ence, a coach is any person who possesses a
help us get back up.
genuine passion for an activity, the drive to
Alas, coaching is a bittersweet business. For
share his or her expertise, and the resolve to
after the lights go out on the championship
help, even push, others to succeed. To quote
field or the curtains fall on the grand finale,
Ara Parseghian, the renowned Notre Dame
the coach must say goodbye to the stars of the
football coach, “A good coach will make his
show. Theirs is an immense pride, a pride complayers see what they can be rather than what
mingled however with the realization that their
they are.” If you’ll let me, I’d like to tell you
about a few of the important coaches in my life, time together is swiftly drawing to a close.
So I would ask you: over the next few
in the hope that my recounting of their actions
months while you are preparing for the next
calls to mind the coaches who have impacted
chapter in your story, take some time to thank
all of you.
the coaches who helped you write the one that
Over these past four years, I have been
by Cameron Van de Graaf
Cameron Van de Graaf
Dr. Seuss: “And will you succeed?” he says, “Yes! You will,
indeed! (98 and 3 / 4 percent
guaranteed.) Kid, you’ll move
mountains…Today is your day.
You’re off to great places, you’re
off and away!”
Congratulations, Class of
2014, finally we are ready to be
off and away.
Thank you.
Page 4C
POMP&CIRCUMSTANCE
Meaningful human life
ing sentimentality, but a condition so
strong that it may be that which holds
the stars in their heavenly positions
and that which causes the blood to flow
Good evening Members of the
orderly in our veins.”
Darien Board of Education, Dr. Lynne
Living things must be able to
Pierson, Mr. Tim Canty, Mr. Mike
reproduce and evolve. Reproduction
Feeney, colleagues, parents, grandparrequires the replication of an elegant
ents, guests and most distinguished
molecule, DNA, the structure of which
members of the Darien High School
reveals a mechanism for replication
Class of 2014.
that is both beautiful and precise. The
As I thought about offering you
contradiction, however, is that evolusome wisdom today I must admit I
tion relies on the capacity for error.
was a bit worried about my prospects
Variations in a population emerge
as a speech writer. After all, I am a
because mutations introduce new
biology teacher. And then I had a
genes. The diversity of life depends
revelation. I’m not going to write a
on its accuracy and its potential for
speech…I am going to present a lesinaccuracy. The same is true for you.
son. I have my classroom back and
You must be able to make mistakes
you are in it!
and learn from them. Your failures and
As I did many times back in C105,
their consequences are what strengthen
imagine that I’ve presented you with
you and change you. Do not fear misa small pebble and a seed. “How can
takes because you will never reach your
we separate that which has life from
potential if you don’t dare to take risks.
that which does not?” Is the seed alive?
Living systems also need to repair
How do you know? My students
and heal. For you, the ability to heal
would observe the seed before them
others is found in the power of forgiveand look for signs. The molecules of
ness. Forgiveness releases pain and
the pebble and seed; so similar. What
anger and may be more important to
activities make one alive and the other
give than to receive. Forgiveness, when
may be our most fundamental need
capacity to innovate, explore and ques- Adapt to the demands placed upon
lifeless?
you and find balance in your life for
freely given, heals wounds and repairs
and it is love that forms this bridge.
tion, knowing that your perspective is
I suggest to you now that every
family, work that is rewarding, and play. Today you are surrounded by love
us.
function, every process that defines bio- unique and valuable to the world.
Remember that we are changed not
And so, just like the seed, take the
- the love of your friends with whom
A living system must be able to
logical life also illuminates that which is
only by the milestones in our lives but
raw materials and make them your
who you have shared your childhood.
essential to a purposeful and meaning- excrete toxins in order to preserve
own. Innovate, create, contribute, and
You will always have this connection
healthy functioning. Surround yourself by each small moment. Joy does not
ful human life. And so my advice to
only come from the events captured
commit yourself to learning. Get rid of
because you have walked this path
with people who build you up, chalyou is framed by the seed.
on film but in those moments when
toxins! Respond by embracing change
together. You alone shared this time
A living system must be able to take lenge you and inspire you - and be
and place and your love for one another and find joy in everyday moments.
that person for others. Anyone who is we can make a difference to another
in raw materials that will be synthetoxic, who burdens you or drains your human being. A smile, a touch, a kind- is founded in play dates and youth soc- Connect the parts to the whole through
sized to build new and more complex
ness all become a part of who we are.
cer and the sounds of ice cream trucks. love. Welcome failure as an opportumolecules. Isn’t this learning requires? strength and courage, reduces you. It
As you leave every interaction ask
will be difficult to remove these influYou also feel the love of your family as nity to learn. Heal through forgiveness.
As you move on from DHS, continue
yourself if you have been changed for
The next time you look at a seed,
they look upon you today. This is the
to take in content, ideas, thoughts, and ences from your life but never allow
the better. Be the person who changes kind of love that nourishes, that allows see its potential, see its life force, see the
yourself to be limited by those who
experiences - the raw materials - and
others for the better.
promise it holds for the future. I wish
would diminish you.
you to be vulnerable, that frees you to
make them your own. Enduring and
Living things use a system of trans- be who you are. As Maya Angleou put for you all that life has to offer and the
A living system must be able to
authentic understanding arises from
respond to change in order to maintain port to connect one part to the others. it, “Love heals. Heals and liberates.” She courage to live it with purpose.
your ability to construct your own
added, “I use the word love, not meanmeaning. Have confidence in your own balance. You will need to do the same. So too must you be connected. The
ability to connect and be connected
by Ellen Dunn
Darien High School Principal
Reflect on
accomplishments, people
by Lynne Pierson
Darien Schools Interim Superintendent
Good evening to our distinguished
audience of parents, grandparents and
extended family, members of the Board
of Education, elected officials, faculty,
friends, guests and, most importantly,
members of the Class of 2014.
I offer my warmest congratulations
to each of you who have achieved a
level of success preparing you for a
future that i know will be filled with
promise and opportunity.
In what seems like the blink of an
eye, you, our children of yesterday, have
become the young men and women
of today, ready and eager to influence
thousands of tomorrows.
Jill Ker Conway, a former president of Smith College writes in one
of her books that, “if we are lucky, the
places and people that can give our
lives an aura of magical potential enter
our lives and experiences at the right
moment……to support and sustain our
dreams.”
I encourage each of you to reflect
today, not only on your many accomplishments, but also on the places and
people who have entered your lives at
the right moment to support and sustain your dreams. Your loving families
who have nurtured and guided you
since the time their lives were changed
the moment you were born. The
extraordinary educators who, throughout the past 13 years have woven complex webs of support connecting themselves to you through their subjects and
their hearts and, who through patient
effort and firm resolve have helped
you develop an inner compass and a
sense of direction. Your friends, some of
whom you have known since preschool,
and with whom you have shared
moments of joy, unexpected challenges
and sometimes painful change.
As you move beyond the warm circle of support provided by family and
friends, by teachers and a community
that believes in the power of education
and takes great pride in celebrating
who you have become, i wish for you
every blessing.
I wish for you a life rooted in family
and faith, days filled with the challenge
and fulfillment of giving yourselves to
just causes with the immeasurable richness earned through service to others.
Winston Churchill once remarked,
“we make a living by what we get, but
we make a life by what we give.”
Darien High School Principal Ellen Dunn congratulates Brian Abberley.
It is my hope that each of you
will continue the hard work that will
define who you are and how others
remember you. That you will have the
strength to be compassionate, the ability to seek forgiveness and the wisdom
to be humble, that you will become
the best global citizens that you can be,
practicing civility along with citizenship
and that you will understand the secret
of the fox in the beloved French classic,
“The Little Prince.” That “one sees clearly
only with the heart what is essential is
invisible to the eyes.”
Remember how important you are
to those who are present here. For you
have enriched our lives. You are the best
hope for a world in need. You are the
outstanding young men and women of
the class of 2014.
May your days ahead be filled with
blue skies, gentle winds and unexpected
rainbows.
Kiwanis Club
donates $36,000
Kiwanis scholarship winners include Rachel Andriunas, Laura Anglade, Kelly Brustman, Katherine
Marshall deHaas, Julie Rae Hodenfield, Caitlin Keady, Patrick Magee, Morgan Sawitsky, Jake Price,
Kasey Minogue, Caroline Weterauw, Brianna Kearney, represented by her father Ruben, Michaela
Consolini, Nicholas Pennington Cohen and Reed Barthold. Not pictured Brittany Henry.
The Kiwanis Club’s fundraising
efforts help support young people in the
community. Kiwanis regularly supports
Kids in Crisis, The Depot Teen Center,
the Darien Youth Commission, Darien
Little League baseball and softball teams
and the Andrew Shaw Memorial Scout
Cabin.
The primary beneficiaries of the
Kiwanis Club’s efforts are Darien High
School graduates, who receive scholarships that can continue for the duration
of their undergraduate studies.
This year, the Darien Kiwanis Club
scholarship program awarded $19,000
to 16 students from the Class of 2014.
Special recognition goes to Brittany
Henry, who received the Henry Keil
Scholarship in the amount of $2,000
which is given to a student who has chosen to continue their education in the
field of medicine.
Receiving the Captain Thomas
O’Connor scholarship of $2,000
for community service during their
high school years was Reed Barthold.
Nicholas Pennington Cohen received
the Judge Philip Morehouse scholarship
in the amount of $2,000, for a student
who will continue his education in the
field of government or law.
The Kiwanis Club has also award
$17,000 in continuing scholarships to
past graduates of Darien High School.
The club’s main fundraisers are a citrus
sale from October through November
with delivery of fresh Citrus from
Florida in December.
On Thursday, July 24, the Darien
Kiwanis Club will hold the 22nd annual
charity golf tournament at Sterling
Farms Golf course in Stamford, with a
tee time of 1: 45pm. For information,
call Jack Keane, at 203-655-1436.
Page 5C
POMP&CIRCUMSTANCE
Welcome, graduates
by Reed Barthold
DHS Community Council President
Hi, I am Reed Barthold, President of
the Community Council. I would like
to welcome Dr. Pierson, Mr. Canty, Mrs.
Haggerty-Ross, Mrs. Dunn, Mr. Feeney,
the High School administrators, the
faculty, family, friends, and my fellow
peers of the class of 2014.
Andy Bernard once said,
“I wish there was a way to know you
were in the good old days before you've
actually left them”, and that's exactly
how I feel right now. Four years of high
school is coming to an end with the
turn of a tassel. A lot has happened
since 2010 when we entered the halls
of the school. For starters, people actually went to the homecoming dance.
Lindsay Lohan began her downward
spiral into insanity, the football team
still couldn't figure out how to beat
New Canaan (however, we quickly
found a way), and we freshmen actually
thought the seniors had it all figured
out. If you have a two-minute conversation with the average senior at DHS,
you'll quickly realize that we're all making it up as we go.
The potential before me is astounding. In this graduating class, we have
future doctors, teachers, authors, business men who think they can just walk
onto Wall Street and be handed a million dollars (welcome to Darien). We
are a diverse group of people, with vastly differing interests. However, life is
an improvisation. That “I have no idea
what to do with my life” feeling won't
change, but how you react to it can.
What messes us up most in life is the
picture of how it was supposed to be.
Over the past few years, I have heard
“I was supposed to do 'this'" and "I was
planning on 'that'" more times than I
can count. For example, I was planning
on passing my physics final. Life gets
in the way a lot. If you just sit around
complaining that it's not going your
way, you're going to get left behind.
This year's graduating class is well
over 300 students, and if you ever
thought 300 people can't make a difference, King Leonidas might like to
have a word with you. The education
we have been provided with is outstanding, and our futures are bright…
However, we're going to run into
obstacles. We're going to be told that
we can't do things. And as hard as it is
to admit, sometimes they're going to
be right. This concept seems the most
difficult for teenagers to grasp; we are
going to be wrong. If I had a dollar for
every time I was right in an argument,
I'd be broke. But the most important
thing is to persevere. No one is going
to stand there counting the amount of
times you fall down, as long as it's one
less than the amount of times you get
back up. I've always thought clichés are
great ways to end a speech.
Thank you so much for listening,
remember that there is an entire world
outside of Darien, a world without
lacrosse and boat days, and I wish you
all way more than luck.
Reed Barthold
Darien High School 2014 awards
Oberlin College award: Sarah LeHan
Barnard College book award: Merlyn
Tejada
Brandeis book award: Megan Berry
Brown book award: Noah Hathaway
University of Chicago book award: James
Degnan
Columbia book award: Alison Lui
Dartmouth College book award: Julianna
Lee
Denison book award: Luke Sheridan
Fairfield University book award: Stephen
Barston
Gettysburg College book award: Ian
Burgoyne
Harvard Club book award: Nicolai Ostberg
University of Michigan book award:
Morgan Peters
Middlebury College book award: Kelsey
Hartfelder
Mount Holyoke Book award: Elizabeth
Fucigna
Princeton Alumni Association of Fairfield
County award: Amanda Sload
St. Lawrence book award: Kate Richter
St. Michael’s College book award: Anne
Johnston, Michael Farren
Smith book award: Johanna Vossler
Trinity College alumni award: Kate Halabi
Vassar Book Prize award: Nicolai Ostberg
University of Virginia Jefferson book
award: Nicholas Tuzinkiewicz
Southern Connecticut Wellesley book club:
Allegra Molkenthin
Yale Award: Melanie Turner
Delta Kappa Gamma book award: Avery
Maley
The Board of Education award: Mary
Brown, Julia Russo
Superintendent’s Citizenship award:
Jordan Cassetta, Alexander Rayhill
Darien Board of Education chairman’s
award: Sebastian Rivero
Computer technology achievement award:
Matthew Coley
Kiwanis award: Michaela Schneidermeyer,
Craig Maguire
Technology award: Robert Juterbock
Technology Club award: Benjamin Giorgio
Art department drawing and painting
award: Kyra Brook, Isabel Patten and
Schuyler Platt
Art department ceramics award: Michaela
Consolini, Jackson Lovegrove and
Samantha Schrenker
Art department photography award:
Caroline Cone
Global art award: Bettina Arkhurst
Video service award: John West Bielstein
Blue Wave News service award: Alana
McKay, Ryan Yuen
Video award: Matthew Coe
Current award: Julia Rae Hodenfield,
Samuel Pagano
Neirad editorial award: Barbara Bell,
Edward Meyjes, Isabelle Perticone,
Amanda Sload, Colin Sullivan and
Neirad production award: Edward Meyjes,
Colin Sullivan
Silas Wyper and Bettina Arkhurst prepare to graduate.
English department award: Brittany Henry,
Isabel Patten and Cameron Van de Graaf
Theatre 308 award for technical theater:
Andrew Boe, John Forbes, Henry King and
William Steinthal
Theatre 308 performance award: Dylan
Gabriel, Claire Hilton
Theatre 308 service award: Lindsay
Bates, William Bidell, Caroline Koenitzer,
Craig Maguire, Christopher Perkowski and
Caroline Wetterauw
Theatre 308 director’s award: Peter Traver,
Kristen Misthopoulos
Northeast Conference awards: French
— Alexander Rayhill; Spanish — Matthew
Lesko; Latin — Brittany Henry; Mandarin
— Caroline Granath
American field service award: Matthew
Coe, Marco Criscuolo
John Fallo Award for Excellence in two
world languages: Laura Anglade
Kiwanis musicians award: Catherine Lacy,
Anna Leunis and Christopher Perkowski
Music For Youth scholarship award: Julia
Evans, Sonia Gandhi, Amanda Sload and
Melanie Turner
Connecticut Association of Schools arts
award: Jordan Cassetta, Peter Traver
Music service award: Barrett Heyde
Outstanding musicianship award:
Catherine Lacy
Math team award: Katie Tsui, Dorry Zhao
Harold A. Peterson math award: Matthew
Coley
Senior mathematics award: Catherine Lacy
Junior mathematics award: Noah
Hathaway
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute award:
Alison Lui
Society of Women Engineers award: Kate
Halabi, Nicholas Tuzinkiewicz
Elaine Fattibene book award: Megan
Kristof
The Darien Nature Center environmental
award: Kate Richter
American Chemical Society award: Chloe
Zhou
William McNichol award: Alexander
Sedlack
Authentic science research award: Leah
Hotchkiss
Bausch and Lomb honorary science
award: Melanie Turner
Fairfield University School of Engineering
and Sikorsky Aircraft award: Nicolai
Ostberg
Daughters of the American Revolution
awards: Kate Halabi, Alexander Rayhill
Western Civilization book award: William
Russell
World Studies book award: Sarah LeHan
Sam Hougas memorial award: Corey Frate
Dr. Helen Merritt award: Cameron Van de
Graaf
Economics book award: Kate Richter
Law and government award: Leah
Hotchkiss
European history award: Sloane Bessey
Social history and social science award:
Austin McLaughlin, Michael Noonan,
Cristina Noujaim and Carter Scott
Debate team leadership and excellence
award: Edward Pankowski and Cameron
Van de Graaf
Debate team best novice award: Chloe
Zhou
The Western Connecticut Military Officers
young American award: Alexander Rayhill
Veterans of Foreign Wars award: Rebecca
Durango, John Foley
CAS/CIAC scholar athlete award:
Catherine Lacy, Cameron Van de Graaf
Senior excellence in athletics award:
Brian Davey, Robert Fitzpatrick, Taylor
McDonald, Haley Okun, Hollis Perticone,
George Phillips, Dillon Schoen and
Matthew Staubi
Town of Darien certificate of appreciation:
Presented to Post 53 seniors: Colten
Appleby, Zachary Basu, Emma Byrne,
Caroline Cator, Nick Cohen, Brendan
Donohue, Caroline Granath, Peter Kreuch,
Bradley McCarthy, Mary Katherine
McCarthy, Zachary McEwan, Alec Mosher,
Patrick Nelson, Emma Nolte, James
Patrick, Jane Roach and Mira Venkat.
Presented to seniors who volunteer in
the Darien Fire Department: James
Farrington, Tyler Hill, Alexander Rayhill and
John Sparkman
Presented to seniors who volunteer in the
Noroton Fire Department: Peter Del Col,
Alec Mosher and Robert Oxer
Presented to seniors who volunteer in
the Noroton Heights Fire Department:
Patrick Magee, Zachary McEwan, Andrew
Pidgeon, Nicholas Saggese and Ryan Yuen
Mary McKee Award: Brian Alter, Bradley
Magnusson and Isabelle Perticone accepting on behalf of the group.
The Depot Service award: Sean Doran
The Alicia Sillars Depot director’s award:
Madeleine Cush
The Depot Spirit award: Eliza Wisinski
The Paul Engemann Heart and Soul service award: John West Bielstein
Governor’s scholar semifinalist: Nicolai
Ostberg
CAS Student leadership award: Matthew
Staubi, Cassidy Stauffer
CIAC Award of Excellence: Margaret Riegel,
Silas Wyper
The Tom Ryan Student Government Award:
Reed Barthold
Darien High School Parents’ Association
award: Freshman — Avery Brook; sophomore — Chloe Zhou; junior — Merlyn
Tejada;
senior — Matthew Ross
Fairfield County Association of Secondary
School Principals scholar leader award:
Sloane Bessey, Marco Criscuolo
Ralph M. Gibbs Award: Rohit Datta
Principal’s award: Haley Close, Brian Alter,
Owen Brannigan, Matthew Coley, Peter Del
Col, Nicole Gagne, Harry Gillespie, Tyler
Hatfield, James Ice, Peter Kreuch, Timothy
Martin, Jocelyn Mendez, Isabelle Perticone,
Olivia Piazza., Courtney Plutte, Ivy Poon,
Jane Roach, Emily Roney, Morgan Sawitsky,
Patrick Wright
Faculty award: Brian Abberley, Chima
Azuonwu, Christopher Bolger, Dylan Bravo,
Alexandra Burke, Emma Byrne, Julia
Domiziano, Ryan Ehlers, Natasha Espitia,
Bozhidar Grozdev, Barrett Heyde, Julia Rae
Hodenfield, Danika Hornick, Jessica Jones,
Bradley Magnusson, Zachary McEwan,
Gillian McKay, Kyle Misthopoulos, Robert
Oxer, Samuel Pagano, William Petti,
Colin Raymond, Jacob Rucquoi, Megan
Slaughter, Hannah Solus, Samantha Stine,
Emily Van Ingen, Michelle Wall and Dorry
Zhao
Salutatorian award: Cameron Van de Graaf
Dr. Stewart Atkinson valedictorian award:
Catherine Lacy
Time flies
children into their first day of kindergarten. Today, we watch as our young
men and women walk across this stage
and embark on the next chapter of their
Good afternoon, administrators,
faculty, parents, family, friends, and the lives.
This is not only a celebration of our
senior class, on behalf of my fellow
senior class, it is also an acknowledgeDarien Board of Education members,
welcome to the Graduation Ceremony ment of the community who have
encouraged and supported these young
for the Darien High School Senior
adults during their journey. We are
Class of 2014.
It is my privilege to stand before you incredibly grateful to the community
today to begin this celebration, not only of Darien who supports our schools,
through their continued commitas the Board of Education Chairman
but also as the proud parent of a gradu- ment not only to the education of our
children but also to all aspects of their
ating senior.
growth as evidenced by the senior
I cannot believe how the time has
class and their accomplishments. The
flown since we began this journey
district has seen many changes this
together. I vividly remember, as many
of you may, the day we walked with our year and we extend our most sinby Betsy Hagerty-Ross
Board of Education Chairman
cere thanks and appreciation to our
Interim Superintendent, Dr. Lynne
Pierson, our central office administrators and the administration, teachers
and staff at each one of the Darien
Public Schools who have nurtured
these students and contributed to the
young adults graduating today. We
would like to proffer a special thanks
to Principal Ellen Dunn, who during
her rookie year, faced and addressed
many challenges. She and our senior
class are supported by a dedicated
team of administrators, teachers, and
staff at Darien High School, our assistant principals, Dr. Jake Greenwood,
Mrs. Ellen Sparks, and Mr. Michael
Sullivan, our Athletic Director Mr.
Chris Manfredonia and our Music
Director Mr. Rick Sadlon. The parents and guardians of this senior class
deserve a special thank you. You have
been incredibly active, not only have
you volunteered through the years in
our schools, but also through your volunteer activities in our community. The
example you have set as parents and
guardians have helped mold our children into the young men and women
we are celebrating.
To the Class of 2014, you might feel
it has been a long journey, but yours is
just beginning. It seems like last month
we were with you on your first grade
Bronx Zoo field trip and maybe last
week that we were dropping you at
the Middle School at 6 a.m. for your
eighth grade Boston trip. Today, we are
here watching as you receive your high
school diploma and celebrating each of
your achievements.
Your real journey starts now as
you, who have grown into such amazing young adults embark on the next
chapter of your lives. There will be
many chapters to your story and we,
your family, will be there to encourage, support, and celebrate as you turn
the page to begin the story of your life.
Remember the best is yet to be written.
The Darien Board of Education,
the Community of Darien and your
parents wish you, the Class of 2014,
our heartfelt congratulations and best
wishes on your graduation from Darien
High School.
POMP&CIRCUMSTANCE
Page 6C
2014 Darien High School Graduates
Brian Abberley
Christian Cochran
Thomas Gasparino
Nicholas Kunze
Kerry O’Brien
Timothy Scolaro
Nicholas Allam
Matthew Coe
Nicole Germain
Catherine Lacey
Haley Okun
Alexander Sedlack
Brian Alter
Nicholas Cohen
Kyle Gifford
Blake Lange
Benjamin Olsen
Lila Seeman
Rachel Andriunas
Matthew Coley
Harry Gillespie
Katie Lashendock
Courtney Ormon
Jessica Selensky
Laura Anglade
Michael Colon
Benjamin Giorgio
Stephan Lauer
Paul Osorio
Isaac Sellhausen
Colten Appleby
Christopher Cometti
Caroline Granath
Charles Laughon
Robert Oxer
Isabel Sellhausen
Jake Arevalo
Caroline Cone
Bob Grozdev
Matthew Lesko
Samuel Pagano
Katie Shanahan
Bettina Arkhurst
Michael Conroy
Natalie Grune
Anna Leunis
Modesta Paloka
Alexa Sheldon
Michaela Consolini
Jeffery Gu
Courtney Lincoln
Edward Pankowski
Kendra Shutts
Kyle Cornell
Alexander Gunn
Peter Lindley
Allison Parsley
Megan Slaughter
Lea Corrigan
Alex Gunya
Andrew Lomanto
Jacob Parsons
Cameron Smith
Meredith Crafford
Shannon Hall
Nicholas Lombardo
Colin Pasquarella
Grayson Smith
Marco Criscuolo
Jackie Haranzo
Kevin Love
Jay Patrick
Natalie Smith
Claire Culliton
Martha Harris
Jackson Lovegrove
Isabel Patten
Hannah Solus
Maeve Cutts
Jay Harrison
Patrick Magee
Channing Pear
Jack Sparkman
Bradley D’Alelio
Tyler Hatfield
Brad Magnusson
Ashley Penfield
Matthew Staubi
Rohit Datta
Colleen Heaney
Craig Maguire
Christopher Perkowski
Cassidy Stauffer
Brian Davey
Daly Hebert
Ryan Mahoney
Hollis Perticone
Taylor Stauffer
Connor Davis
Graham Helgans
Courtney Mahony
Isabelle Perticone
Emily Stein
Emily Davis
Brittany Henry
Alison Malecka
Bill Petti
William Steinthal
Katherine de Haas
Merrill Hersam
Luke Mangan
George Phillips
McKenna Stevenson
Adrienne Dean
Maxwell Hession
Kiki Martin
Olivia Piazza
Elizabeth Stile
Peter Del Col
Jake Heyde
Timothy Martin
Andrew Pidgeon
Samantha Stine
Garrett Deluca
Grace Hildreth
Jack Massie
Matthew Plank
Julia Stobbie
Julia Domiziano
Tyler Hill
Brad McCarthy
Schuyler Platt
Colin Sullivan
Brendan Donohue
Claire Hilton
Mary Kate McCarthy
Michael Pllumbi
Reilly Sullivan
Kerry Donovan
Julia Hodenfield
Taylor McDonald
Courtney Plutte
Margo Sweeney
Andrew DuMond
Danika Hornick
Mac McDonough
Ivy Poon
Sarah Swirbul
Haley Duncan
Leah Hotchkiss
Zachary McEwan
Jake Price
James Teschner
Shannon Dunn
Laura Howe
Trevor McGovern
University of New Hampshire
Marist College
Sacred Heart University
Concordia College
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Colorado Mesa University
Massachusetts Institute of
Technology
Sandhya Avula
New York University
Chima Azuonwu
Undecided
Leigh Barron
Keene State College
Lia Barsanti
Georgetown University
Reed Barthold
Boston University
Zachary Basu
Northwestern University
Lindsay Bates
Point Loma Nazarene University
Clare Beatty
New York University
Barbara Bell
Bucknell University
Ellie Bennett
Dartmouth College
Matthew Benz
Cornell University
Leonora Berisha
Norwalk Community College
Kellyn Berrigan
Boston College
Sloane Bessey
Amherst College
William Bidell
Saint Joseph’s University
Amanda Bieler
Boston College
West Bielstein
Belmont University
Julia Black
Wesleyan University
Rudy Blosio
Bryant University
Andrew Boe
University of Vermont
Christopher Bolger
Clarkson University
Maddie Bolotin
University of Denver
Goose Bolton
McGill University
Grace Brandon
College of William & Mary
Aidan Brannigan
Boston College
Owen Brannigan
Washington & Lee University
Dylan Bravo
University of Connecticut
Kayla Breden
University of Maine
Nicole Briganti
Miami University Ohio
Jackie Brokaw
Colby College
Kyra Brook
University of Miami
Kelly Brustman
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
Kelsey Bumgardner
Bowdoin College
Alexandra Burke
Elon University
Emma Byrne
Colgate University
Felicity Cain
University of Michigan
Francesca Cara
Indiana University
Dylan Carruthers
College of Charleston
Bonnie Casey
University of Wisconsin
Jordan Cassetta
James Madison University
Michael Cassidy
Providence College
Caroline Cator
University of Richmond
Sarah Cattano
Bucknell University
Victoria Chao
Amherst College
Jessica Chen
Bentley University
Chris Chiamulera
Loyola University Maryland
Haley Close
University of Richmond
Pennsylvania State University
Washington University
Cambridge University
Dartmouth College
Fashion Institute of Technology
Emerson College
Fordham University
Bryant University
Brigham Young University
College of William & Mary
Georgetown University
Bucknell University
University of Texas
University of Notre Dame
Fordham University
University of California Berkeley
Fordham University
Rochester Institute of Technology
The University of Tampa
Clemson University
Middlebury College
University of St. Andrews
Post Graduate Program
Southern Methodist University
Santa Clara University
Adriana Dziedzic
Ryan Ehlers
Auburn University
Katherine Eppley
University of Arizona
University of South Carolina
Washington and Lee University
University of Virginia
Purdue University
University of Pennsylvania
Lafayette College
Lehigh University
University of Alabama
University of Delaware
Gap year
Gettysburg College
University of Massachusetts
Bucknell University
Colgate University
St. Lawrence University
Case Western Reserve University
Fashion Institute of Technology
Undecided
University of Hartford
University of Pittsburgh
Wentworth Institute of Technology
Fordham University
Ursinus College
Union College
Carly Hubbard
Phil Huffard
Yale University
Marshall Huffman
University of California Los Angeles
Yale University
Princeton University
Work Carpenters Union
Undecided
Eastman School of Music
Bucknell University
University of Mississippi
Marquette University
Xavier University
Syracuse University
Bentley University
Vista Vocational School
Boston College
Colby College
University of Southern California
Alana McKay
Gillian McKay
Monmouth University
Spencer McKeough
Northeastern University
Tristan Ersek
James Ice
Austin McLaughlin
Natasha Espitia
Diana Jackson
Colin Meier
Marshall University
Southern Adventist University
Grace Evanich
Pennsylvania State University
Lesley University
Wellesley College
Robert James
University of Colorado Boulder
Cornell University
Indiana University
Jocelyn Mendez
American University
Matthew Evans
Maria Johnson
Kayla Mendez
Adam Farrington
Jessica Jones
Sam Meyjes
Elon University
James Farrington
Caroline Feehan
Bard College
Libby Feingold
Hobart and William Smith Colleges
Colgate University
New England College
John Jonker
Union College
Robert Juterbock
Colorado Mesa University
Mark Kaminski
Undecided
Colorado College
Kristen Misthopoulos
Syracuse University
Kyle Misthopoulos
Ryan Misthopoulos
Roanoke College
Morgan Fenton
Kelly Karczewski
Katie Moran
Ryan Filippone
Caitlin Keady
Andrew Morgan
Michigan State University
Dillon Fitzpatrick
Amherst College
Bates College
Tony Kearney
Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University
Emma Morgan
Hamilton College
Bobby Fitzpatrick
Brianna Kearney
Matthew Morgan
Jack Fitzsimmons
Elizabeth Kearney
Alec Mosher
Villanova University
Grove City College
Jack Foley
Wake Forest University
Mac Forbes
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Alexandra Ford
Ohio State University
University of Maryland
Washington College
Colleen Keating
Emma Killian
Undecided
Henry King
Georgia Institute of Technology
Northeastern University
Indiana University
Daniel Murphy
University of Pennsylvania
Katherine Murphy
University of Utah Valley
Margaret Murphy
James Foster
Molly Klein
James Murray
Dylan Gabriel
Caroline Koenitzer
Andrew Nault
Roanoke College
University of Maryland
Nicole Gagne
Duke University
Colgate University
Furman University
Mac Koorbusch
University of Mississippi
Elon University
Endicott College
Patrick Nelson
Bates College
Kristin Gallo
Owen Koorbusch
Matthew Nicoletti
Kyle Gambardella
Peter Kreuch
Emma Nolte
Fairfield University
Central Connecticut State
University
Kyra Gardner
Amherst College
Rhodes College
University of Chicago
Megan Kristof
Haverford College
Tulane University
Mary O’Boyle
Texas Christian University
University of Colorado
Undecided
Undecided
Bard College
Undecided
Boston College
Work
Florida Gulf Coast University
Rice University
University of Texas
Trinity College
Middlebury College
Tulane University
Tufts University
Auburn University
Bucknell University
Skidmore College
Wesleyan University
University of North Carolina
Greensboro
AJ Procaccini
Alexander Rayhill
Colin Raymond
Post Graduate Program
Jacqueline Reardon
John Reed
Bucknell University
Christopher Rehm
College of the Holy Cross
Jackson Reis
Kate Renaud
Gettysburg College
Nicholas Reynoso
Fordham University
Myles Ridder
Mollie Riegel
Bucknell University
Mateo Riveros
Bryant University
Janie Roach
Emily Roney
Matthew Ross
Jacob Rucquoi
Liberty University
Juliet Ruhe
Matthew Rust
Undecided
Nicholas Saggese
Morgan Sawitsky
Roger Williams University
Nicole Schmidt
Elon University
Eric Schnakenberg
Michaela Schneidermeyer
Kutztown University of
Pennsylvania
Dillon Schoen
Stanford University
Samantha Schrenker
Bucknell University
Harvard University
University of Georgia
Villanova University
Gettysburg College
University of California Los Angeles
University of Virginia
Carnegie Mellon University
Providence College
Dickinson College
American University
Georgia Institute of Technology
Tulane University
George Washington University
Gap Year
Bryant UNiversity
University of Conecticut
University of West Virginia
St. Edwards College
Sage Thacher
University of South Carolina
Jessica Thornbury
University of Dayton
Whitney Tobey
Work
Connor Tracey
U.S. Navy Enlisted
Lisa Travaglini
Bentley University
Peter Traver
Brown University
Stanford University
Emily Van Ingen
Mira Venkat
Duke University
Tiara Vera
Keene State College
Matthew Vossler
Michelle Wall
Franklin and Marshall College
Jennifer Warm
Auburn University
Carter Watt
Thomas Watters
Julia Westerman
Elon University
Caroline Wetterauw
Ithaca College
Eliza Wisinski
Texas Christian University
Patrick Wright
Rensselaeer Polytechnic Institute
Kenley Wynne
Silas Wyper
Middlebury College
Sophia Yergey
Annaliese Yostpile
Penn State University
Ryan Yuen
Joshua Zavala
University of Maryland Baltimore
Dorry Xun Zhao
David Ziga

DT Grad FINAL 6.24.14.indd

Transcription

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