Fort Fairfield Middle/High School graduates 26
By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — Tears were shed and smiles shared as 26 seniors grasped the tassels adorning their mortarboards and ceremoniously moved them from the right to the left, officially becoming graduates of the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School on June 5.
Superintendent of SAD 20 Marc Gendron presented each student with their diploma during the graduation ceremony and also was the guest speaker.
Staff photo/Natalie Bazinet
NATHAN MCLAUGHLIN, left, was one of many athletes recognized during the graduation ceremony on June 5. Tim Watt, assistant principal of the Fort Fairfield Middle/High School, presented McLaughlin and other student athletes with their plaques.
“As you went along your daily routines … you may have thought that this day would never come, but come it did. Now you must turn your thoughts to what lies ahead of you and what you need to do in order to fulfill your dreams and aspirations,” Gendron said in his speech.
The conundrum faced by many young adults, as described by Gendron, is that many aren’t certain what they want to spend the rest of their lives doing.
Staff photo/Natalie Bazinet
SMILES THAT SAY ‘WE DID IT’ — Brooke Beaulieu, Kaitlyn Kinsey and Natika Jackson were wearing matching smiles moments after graduating from Fort Fairfield Middle/High School on June 5.
“All of us are works in progress; it requires a great deal of soul-searching, effort and luck to pinpoint that job, career or lifestyle that’s best for you,” he said, reminding the graduates (and all others in attendance) that success is not measured by how fat one’s wallet is, rather, success is measured by the kind of individual that one becomes.
“Keep in mind that overnight success usually takes about 15 years,” Gendron said.
Of the 26 graduating seniors, 10 were ceremoniously awarded scholarships during the graduation ceremony; the financial awards had a combined total of over $50,000. Scholarship recipients included Brooke Beaulieu, Alyssa Guimond, Amanda Holton, Kaitlyn Kinsey, Samantha Lewis, Nathan McLaughlin, Tyler Mills, Alysssa Murchison, Dani Shaw and Megan Thompson.
Staff photo/Natalie Bazinet
VALEDICTORIAN Kaitlyn Kinsey ceremoniously receives her diploma from SAD 20 Superintendent Marc Gendron.
The large celebratory crowd that had gathered to witness the graduation followed the red and white robed graduates outside and waited in line for their turn to congratulate each individual on their milestone accomplishment.
“Try to keep in mind your values and your sense of being and success will follow you, whatever choices you make for your life; your road will not be without pressures, but to pressure, I tell you this: a diamond is just a chunk of coal that made good under pressure,” Gendron said.
“We are going in different directions, and that’s OK, because we will find out who we are and what makes us truly happy,” salutatorian Alyssa Guimond said.
