Sustainability will carry you far, Portsmouth High grads told

School awards diplomas to 238 members of Class of 2017

By Jim McGaw
Posted 6/3/17

PORTSMOUTH — It was only fitting that Jean-Paul Arsenault, a popular Portsmouth High School science teacher and advisor to the student Green Club, spoke to members of the Class of 2017 while …

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Sustainability will carry you far, Portsmouth High grads told

School awards diplomas to 238 members of Class of 2017

Posted

PORTSMOUTH — It was only fitting that Jean-Paul Arsenault, a popular Portsmouth High School science teacher and advisor to the student Green Club, spoke to members of the Class of 2017 while sporting a pair of Adidas made from recycled plastic marine debris.

“This pair of sneakers is made from the equivalent of 11 water bottles’ worth of plastic that has been strained from the ocean,” said Mr. Arsenault, who was guest speaker at commencement exercises inside a crowded PHS field house Friday night.

He assured students, however, that he wouldn’t be pontificating “about saving the whales, recycling and planting trees.” Still, his entire speech focused on the concept of sustainability and how it could carry graduates through college, the military, a career and life in general.

Take the senior project, which is a graduation requirement at PHS, he said.

“You’ve bettered your health, learned and taught new skills, organized activities, raised money and awareness for charities, gotten a head start in the world of business and built everything from chairs, to cars, tables and greenhouses,” he said. “Stick with these newfound talents, hobbies and lifestyles as they’ve clearly made you a more well-rounded individual, as that is sustainable.”

He urged graduates to cherish the relationships they’ve forged at PHS. “One of my best friends from high school became my college roommate and years later got his justice of the peace certificate in order to marry my wife and me,” he said. “Contemplate traditions, those that you’ve started and those you’ve attempted to carry on over your time at PHS. Make new ones going forward with the people you’ve come to know and love here. Because, that tradition is sustainable.”

Students going on to college should network and take advantage of all the opportunities available to them, he said. “So open the doors, befriend a professor, run for student government and discover all that your college has to offer, because that is sustainable,” he said.

He urged those graduates enlisting in the military “to be all that you can be, move up the ranks, save your buddies and save the world. Because that is sustainable.”

And for those going straight into the workforce, Mr. Arsenault told them to “think outside the box, set your goals high and climb that ladder. Because that is sustainable.”

He even gave students a quick health tip, advising them to take a break from looking down and texting on their smartphones while walking around. “Research shows that when you walk around like this, it adds excess stress to your neck and you could develop a hump in your upper back. Keep that in mind, as it is not sustainable,”  he said to laughs.

In closing, Mr. Arsenault acknowledged the challenges of being ecological sustainable. 

“In life, it also may not be the easiest path, but by definition it will take you the farthest, make you the most successful and, in turn, hopefully bring you the most happiness,” he said. “So I charge you all to get out there, start traditions, open doors, think outside the box, pay attention and change the world. Because that, ladies and gentlemen, is sustainable.”

Student speeches

There were two student speakers — one selected by the faculty, the other by the class officers. The faculty’s choice, Mary Stack, shared advice she received from her soccer coach of the past eight years. (Mary was a member of the PHS girls’ varsity soccer team that won the Division I state championships last fall.)

Her coach, she said, made the girls repeat three rules before every game:

• Never give up. “No matter how tired you are, keep running and make every effort to win the ball back.”

• No shots, no goals. “If you prevent the other team from shooting, they will never score. Equally, if you never shoot, it’s impossible to win.”

• Know your ABCs. “Before you receive the ball, always have three options.”

Despite the excellent job her coach did, Mary said she soon realized she’d never be a soccer star. “As anyone who has ever seen me play soccer can verify, my talents do not lie on the soccer field,” she said.

Nevertheless, she still finds herself living by her coach’s three “commandments” as the principles he instilled in her never faltered. 

“He unknowingly taught me to never give up on any dream of mine,” Mary said. “He encouraged me to take advantage of every opportunity available. He taught me not to allow others to get ahead of me simply out of my unwillingness to try. And most importantly, he illustrated the importance of always having a backup plan because many of life’s events are entirely out of my control and preparation is vital.”

The knowledge she gained from her coach is evidence that life lessons can be found in the most unsuspecting places — “you just have to know how to look for them and be open to listening,” she said.

Scott Perdue was chosen to speak by his class officers, who felt he best represented the spirit of the class. He said he was shaken up when he heard the news, as he’s shy in front of people. But his fears soon went away as he was greeted with overwhelmingly support from both teachers and students.

“I can’t tell you how many people came to me and said, ‘No worries, Scott, we will clap and laugh at anything you say,’” he said to laughter and applause. “The support I was given was so genuine and comforting, I felt like Sally Fields at the Oscars. ‘You like me. You really like me.’”

That kind of support can’t be taught, he said. “The traits I’ve seen in all of you — accepting, welcoming, supportive and kind — are all things that cannot be forced upon you. You have to adopt them for yourself. And I’m here to tall all of you: Not only have you adopted them, but you have mastered them.”

Welcoming addresses

In her welcoming address, Gabriella DeComo, senior class president, challenged classmates to remember the good times and the teachers who inspired them throughout their four years of high school.

“Dwell not on the drama you’ve experienced with your peers, rather recall the laughs and memories you’ve shared and celebrate this exciting time in your life with the people you love, as you will likely never seen them as often as you have during the past four years,” she said.

Both School Committee Chairwoman Terri Cortvriend and PHS Principal Joseph Amaral — presiding over his first commencement as high school leader — shared a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Mr. Amaral also recognized two graduates who are entering the military: Anthony Nunes into the U.S. Marine Corps., and Kolby Gomes into the U.S. Army Reserve.

Superintendent of Schools Ana C. Riley shared 10 tips for graduates going on to college. No. 1 was, “Leave every place you go better than the way you found it.”

One last number

PHS Band Director Ted Rausch led graduating seniors in one last rendition of “Stars and Stripes Forever” along with their bandmates, while Chorus Director Shawna Gleason did the same with her seniors on the song “No Day But Today.”

Senior Sophia Piffard led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance, while classmate Kristen Takacs sang The National Anthem. Another member of the Class of 2017, Student Council Treasurer Adam Parsons, introduced Mr. Arsenault as guest speaker.

238 total graduates  

Here’s the complete list of the 238 members of the Class of 2017:

Shaun Thomas Abbate

Jean Abdallah

Daniel Acosta

Michael Robert Adkins

Ava Lillian Aguiar

Ryan Christopher Alexander

Claire Elizabeth Allder

Cyrus Trudeau Allen

Jeremy Phillips Amand

Aidan Jonathan Asher

Savannah J. Baker

Adam Joseph Barbosa

Kalesta Alexandra Barone

Nicholas David Barron

Alex Battey

Christopher R. Beauregard Jr.

Victoria Helen Bergstrom

Nicholas John Bicho

Ashley Lynn Bickham

Lian Mei Bishop

Liam Raymond Bixby

Julia E. Blackburn

Abigail Bloom

Grace Erin Blythe

Katherine Shea Livingston Bollinger

Jennah F. Bolton

Caroline Sarah Boscia

Aidan Patrick Bowen

Lyndsey Lucille Bowman

Meagan Elizabeth Boyle

Madison P. Brinkman

Sabrina A. Broomfield

Alyssa James Brousseau

Mackenzie Raine Brow

Jeffrey A. Bruneau

Ian D. Bulpett

Allison C. Cabrera

Adrianna Josephine Cafarella

Ailish Rose Cafferty

Erin Colleen Callan

Jonah S. Callandret

Matthew Alexander Campion

Mason Todd Carbone

Zachary Paul Nevitt Carroll

Jenna Lee Carruba

Shannan Jean Carvara

Alexander Noel Castonguay

Erica Joliece Cates

Matthew G. Clark

Samantha Rosella Clauer-Janelle

Adrian T. Clements

Taylor N. Cofield

Nicholas Steven Colicci

Kelly Louise Conley

Devonte Paris Cooper

Joshua O’Shea Corr

Alex Douglas Cory

Danielle Marie Costa

Anthony John Cottrell

John Francis Coyne

William Francis Crayford V

Alexander W. Curran

Jacob A. Davis

Kayla Davis

Gabriella Marie DeComo

Ailish J. Delehanty

Peter David Dellasanta

Savannah Elizabeth Densley

Sophia M. Domingoes

Nicolas Antonio Donahue

Grace Katherine Dooley

Vincent Gray Downs-Honey

Dominique Marlena Dufour

Ian Takeshi Dunlap

Sophia K. Evangelatos

Keelyn Elizabeth Ferris

Ian Matthew Fitzgerald

Olivia Grace Fitzgerald

Abigail Danielle Fleming

Cora Amber Flowers

Erin Kathleen Flynn

Jacob Sullivan Force

Kierra M. Ford

Winifred Katherine Francis

Adam Edward Gamache

Corey Richard Gamache

Meghan Cary Gamache

Joshua Daniel Goldman

Kolby B. Gomes

Maura Kathleen Goss

Lillian Anne Rose Goulart

Jonathan M. Gower

Shaun Michael Greene 

Aspen Cia’rra Gushee

Emma E. Hanlon

Brendan J. Hayes

Haley Case Hayes

Emily Anne Hewett

James Henry Hook

Luke DeWolf Ingalls

Jessica Katherine Jefferds

Benjamin G. Johnson

Noah Franklin Johnson

Matthew Richard Kearns

Delaney May Kellogg

Gregory Michael Kemper

Daniel Joseph Kent

Lillianna Rose Kenyon

Alexander Edward Khalfayan

Olivia Grace Kneeland

Amanda L. Kneipp

Xhevdet Raeder Krajacich

Tristan James Harrington Krensavage

Noah R. Lafleur

Grady Brian Landers

Kristie Mariah Lee

Kerry Kathleen Lehane

Samantha K. Lesieur

Abigail Elizabeth Levy

Sophie May Lima

Shania Domonique Lindsey

Eve Renée Lowrimore

Bridget Jean Madden

Julia Ellen Madden

Sophia Mairs

Jordan L. Marrow

Isabella Michele Martin

Jacob R. Mazur

Thomas John McCabe Jr. 

Nicholas J. McCarthy

Tyler A. McDonald

Cameron James McEvoy

Kyle Thurston McGowan

Noah Timothy McHugh

Ailish A. McKenna

Eamon Rowland McKenney

William S. McKeon

Christopher Michael McManis

Joseph M. McNamara

Rachel Lynn McVicker

María Cecilia Melara

Timothy Joseph Moitoza

Abigail Meryl Moore

Katherine Murphy

Nicholas Rescia Murphy

Timothy J. Murphy

Jordyn Patricia Napier

Selena Rosalie Nasser

Domenic D. Natale

Colt William Nichols

Allison Marie Nickerson

Jocelyn Elise Nogueira

Madeleine Marie Noreau

Hailey J. Nott

Anthony John Nunes IV

Michael Anthony Occhi

Jacqueline Dianne Oliver

Kyle Oman

Jack M. Page

Adam Robert Parsons

Leah Isabelle Paulon

Patrick Jerome Payseur

Maxwell James Peckham

Nicholas J. Pellechio

Robert Scott Perdue

Melissa Liya Perry

David Nathan Peterson

Jacob Peterson

Luke Peterson

Sophia Helen Piffard

Lauren Alexandra Poirier

Zachary T. Powrie

Gina N. Price

Gina Quick

Zachary Rahilly

Emma M. N. Rainer

Sha’liek T. Randall

Celia Isabella Rapp

Sydney Livingston Reaper

Christopher Clark Renault

Catherine Anne Riccio

Allison Shayla Richard

Connor L. Richardson

Ana Rose Riordan

Logan Paul Ritchey

John Michael Roche

Alec Raymond Roderiques

Ryan J. Rogers

Julia Marie Rotar

Benjamin Jeffery Roy

Jenna L. Roy

Ayonna Infinity Sandoval

Danielle Nicole Santillo

Julia Lynne Santos

Nicholas I. Scott

Clifford D. Shablom Jr.

Bethany Anne Sharp

Kyla Sarah Shea

Christina Leoma Sherwood

Megan Elizabeth Silveira

Alexandra Leigh Silvia

Amy Elizabeth Simoes

Meghan Mary Smith

Marissa Lynn Snyder

Miguel Alejandro Soler

Matthew Miletich Sousa

Sunnie Autumn Souza

Arianna D. Spano

Jack Burke Spigel

Mary Keenan Stack

Peter Thomas Stamoulis

Sarah M. Stebbins

Emily Alves Steinbach

Rebecca A. Steinbach

Kristen Maria Takacs

Brittany Nicole Tavares

Gabrielle Yvonne Telford

Lauren Elizabeth Tinkham

Luke G. Tomlinson

Jose M. Torres Jr.

Cole Benjamin Towers

Madison Jean Trauth

Bella Troppoli

Lily Ann Van Petten

Lillian Hilary Villacorta

Liam Michael Walker

Morgan H. K. Ward

Brooke Noelle Weidner

Hannah D. West

Madelyn Shaye White

Sofia May White

Jillian Thérèse Whiteside

Benjamin Donald Wilkie

Isabelle L. Wilson

Brian Andrew Wojichowski

Samuel Borden Wordell

April Grace Younkin

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