FARMINGTON – Mt. Blue’s 165 graduating seniors at Saturday’s commencement were noted for having gracefully endured every phase of the expansion and renovation project during their years at the high school.
Principal Monique Poulin, who bid her final goodbye to the seniors since she accepted the post as principal at Skowhegan High School in the fall after 15 years with the district, said she, “could not have been prouder of the men and women” of this year’s graduating class. Giving her “heartfelt thanks” to all, she added, “you’ve made my experience here amazing.”
Graduating senior Noah LePage remembered the building project, too, in his speech to the class.
“I mean the summer before our freshman year they were lifting trees out of the front lawn. How disheartening is that?” he quipped. Despite the years of construction, the class not only endured but excelled at everything, he said. “We are members of the Class of 2014 and we are awesome.” LePage will be attending New York University in the fall.
Class speakers Anya Nordstrom and Hanna Deon, who were announced earlier in the ceremony as the class salutatorian and valedictorian respectively, confirmed together in their speech, “we survived construction,” and Nordstrom added, “only to find a future that has yet to be made, waiting just ahead….” The pair credited their classmates’ acceptance and support of who they are as giving them reason to be confident as they go out into the world from here. Nordstrom will be attending Smith College and Deon, the University of Maine at Orono.
Serving as an intern for the Center for Community GIS during the last semester, class speaker Ivy Enoch said the work gave her the idea of trying to map an emotional journey, using a linear timeline that included peaks and valleys. It would be much the same way as the “stories we’ve been drafting for the past 13 years” towards graduation, she said. Teachers, classmates and family have all contributed to her “map of memories.”
“I can confidently say that the Farmington community and the Mt. Blue community have prepared me to be a thoughtful thinker, active learner and hard worker,” she said. “In 10 years, wherever I may be, I will point to the tiny town in western Maine and think of you all.” Enoch plans on attending The College of the Atlantic in Bar Harbor.
Senior Hailey Mealey reminded her classmates to be brave and find beauty in everything. “I hope that within your lives you are able to find happiness, create happiness and share happiness,” she said. Mealey plans on attending the University of Maine in the fall.
The Franklin County Fiddlers played from prelude to graduation and Mt. Blue Voices, soloist Astra Pierson and the Mt. Blue High School Jazz Combo performed musical selections to a packed gymnasium on the Mt. Blue Campus.
Congratulations to all the graduating class of 2014. May your future be filled with the best adventures possible.
Such a large step in one’s life. I still remember 46 years ago. Congratulations to all. Life has just begun, welcome to the real world.
Way to go seniors! You did an ‘amazing’ job yesterday in your transition from student to alumni. So very proud, I am. MW
Congratulations Class of 2014!!!!!
What a wonderful week and four years you have given us! Thank you so much. The MBC Community is so proud of each and every one of you. Go into the world and spread that awesomeness!!!
CONGRATULATIONS 2014 Mt Blue Graduates!!!
I have been to numerous graduation ceremonies, and this was by far my favorite. There was a clear sense of community through the speakers, who were outstanding, the musical selections, and the audience. Every speech was relevant, thought-provoking, appropriate and well-versed. Most importantly, they came from the heart. I’ve never seen such evidence of students caring so much and so genuinely about the well-being of each and every other person in the graduating class, regardless of what “group” they followed through high school. The Mt. Blue grads of 2014 will be remembered for their “class”.