Class told to ‘keep pulling’
Staff photos/Kevin Sjoberg
HARVEY BROWN IV, at left, congratulates his son, Harvey Brown V, who graduated with the Class of 2013 from Easton High School on Friday.
PEP TALK — Senior class adviser Bryan Wright, center, speaks with soon-to-be Easton graduates, from left, Jared Hafford, Carl Mullen, Harvey Brown and Logan Sutherland just before they lined up for the processional Friday evening.
CLASS MARSHALS Lauren West, left, and Mindy Desmond lead their classmates onto the Easton High School gymnasium stage during the processional at Friday’s graduation ceremony.
HELPING HAND — Lauren West helps classmate Acacia Kimball fix her tassle prior to Easton’s graduation ceremony Friday. The two were among the 14 earning diplomas.
CONGRATULATIONS — Graduate Justin Guerrette, at left, receives a hug from his niece, Elizabeth Hunter, and his aunt, Elaine Malenfant, during the reception line following Easton’s graduation ceremony Friday.
By Kevin Sjoberg
Staff Writer
EASTON — Valedictorian Carla Halvorson provided a challenge to her 13 classmates Friday at Easton High School’s graduation ceremony while using a quotation out of the mouth of an unlikely source —former National Hockey League great Bobby Hull.
“You can’t use a rope to push a car uphill,” Halvorson said.
She said she first heard the quote five years ago and that it has impacted her walk through life ever since.
“You can’t. I’ve tried. I mean, take from it what you will, but I think what Mr. Hull was telling us was that when life gets tough, just take a minute and pause,” she said, “and then untie that rope, walk around the car, tie it to the front and pull.
“Pull, Class of 2013. Pull past adversity, pull past four years and pull in everything life has to offer.”
In his salutatory address, Jared Hafford told the audience in the school’s gymnasium that athletics have provided him tools that will last a lifetime, including the value of hard work, learning from failure, tolerance, teamwork, leadership and the importance of having fun.
When speaking of teamwork, Hafford said since Easton is unique as it offers no individual sports, participants have to know how to play with others.
“People don’t want to play with someone who shoots every time they touch the ball,” he said. “People, however, do like to play with someone who is willing to pass the ball around and run the offense.
“Someone who would pass up an open shot to get another teammate a better shot is a valuable member of the group,” Hafford added.
Logan Sutherland, the class’s second honor essayist, spoke of how Easton educators have done a good job getting him and his classmates ready for their next phase of life.
“Next year, many of us will continue our education, but not because that’s what we were told to do, but because that’s what we want to do with our lives,” Sutherland said. “It will be different and challenging, but I believe our education at Easton High School has prepared us well for whatever our futures hold.”
Kennedy Young, the first honor essayist, took a unique approach in her address, opting to sing “In These Halls (The Graduation Song) ” by Madilyn Bailey to her 13 fellow seniors.
“We spent four years growing up together and the time it took felt like forever. We spent four days racing to this day. Now we’re wishing that we hadn’t wished all that time away,” were among the lyrics Young sang as she turned and stood in front of her classmates during the rendition.
“I learned that life begins outside these walls. Thanks for the memories that we had in these halls.”
Another portion of the two-hour ceremony included choral selections by the school’s chorus and jazz choir, under the direction of Pamela Kinsey, of “Listen” from “Dreamgirls” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King.” Young and Acacia Kimball were featured senior soloists.
Scholarships totaling $112,875 were handed out by various presenters and awards were given to the four honor parts by Principal Cameron Adams. A slide presentation, set to music and displaying current photographs of Easton graduates as well as photos from their younger years, was also shown.
The evening ended with the presentation of diplomas by Adams, retired Easton administrator Frank Keenan and board of education chairman Gaylen Flewelling.
The Easton Class of 2013 includes: Harvey L. Brown IV, Mindy L. Desmond, Tyler S. Gadaire, Justin D. Guerrette, Jared Hafford, Carla J. Halvorson, Crystal Keller, Acacia T. Kimball, Melissa M. Lizotte, Carl S. Mullen III, Abagale L. Stewart, Logan Sutherland, Lauren E. West and Kennedy Young.
Desmond and West, who were class president and vice president, respectively, served as class marshals and Bryan Wright, a longtime science teacher at EHS, was the class adviser.
