TIVERTON — It was about as lovely and natural a setting as could be imagined for the outdoor graduation ceremonies for the 124 members of the Class of 2018 on the Tiverton high school football field Friday evening. The air was warm, the sky mostly sunny, with a slight breeze occasionally blowing through.
Clustered in rows front and center, were the graduates, in maroon gowns, many sporting colorfully decorated mortarboards, some with messages.
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TIVERTON — It was about as lovely and natural a setting as could be imagined for the outdoor graduation ceremonies for the 124 members of the Class of 2018 on the Tiverton high school football field Friday evening. The air was warm, the sky mostly sunny, with a slight breeze occasionally blowing through.
Clustered in rows front and center, were the graduates, in maroon gowns, many sporting colorfully decorated mortarboards, some with messages.
"You are here tonight because you chose to push forward and keep moving," said Tiverton High School Principal Christopher Ashley, in welcoming comments. Reciting a litany of athletic accomplishments by various teams during the year — in basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, unified sports and tennis — he closed his remarks with the wish "that you have a bright and prosperous future."
And then he announced, to loud cheers and applause from the crowd, "a special guest" — graduating senior, and both national and Rhode Island honor society member, Steven R. Laguerre, who had just been released from the hospital after a long illness, and a liver transplant.
"Change lives, and have fun," said Mr. Laguerre. "You all will have your own journeys," he said.
The speeches that followed were laced through with optimism, a sense of challenge, and humility.
It was class president, Nolan Beattie, who set the tone.
"Many of you here today," he said, "have the ambition to go out and change the world. But I would like to remind you all that we all have the power to change the world, not by trying to find the cure for cancer, or by solving world hunger, but by improving the lives of the people we encounter each day. Very seldom do we think about the impact that a smile or a simple hello can have on on a person who crosses our path. I think that we can all remember a time within the last four years where someone's simple gesture completely changed our day. Ladies and gentlemen, that is what it takes to change the world."
Valedictorian, salutatorian
Class valedictorian Tova Ibbotson carried the theme forward. "In the past four years we have all grown immensely as individuals," she said. "Collectively, this personal development has endowed our class with a distinct character. We are resilient, benevolent, and passionate. Our resilience was forged through several changes in the administration, and ultimately tested by the ever-present roof construction."
Speaking of her class's failure "to achieve an early dismissal on a snowy day," (a "seemingly impossible goal," nixed, she said, by school Superintendent William Rearick), she lauded its accomplishment of another, different goal: "After a year-long effort our class became the first in the history of Tiverton High School to achieve an outdoor graduation."
"Class of 2018," Ms. Ibbotson said in closing, "use your knowledge — wear sunscreen [evidently an in-joke, judging from slight audience laughter, referring to something that had happened a week or two previously]— gain wisdom, and learn to laugh at the experience we've had here."
Salutatorian Collin Signoriello took a different tack. "I'm not here to talk about how much I enjoyed high school, or how great it was," he said. "I'm here to say I'm proud of each and every one of you for finishing."
Then, in a line that drew laughter and applause, he said, "In all honesty, I didn't enjoy high school, and I'm incredibly grateful to be transitioning to the next phase of my life. However, I learned some valuable lessons during my high school years, such as the importance of altruism, resilience, and perseverance."
"Bad things are going to happen to you. It's inevitable," Mr. Signoriello said, "But it's important to not become disillusioned, to not become cynical towards other people, and to keep moving forward. Don't let any negativity hinder your achievements.... Be proud of everything you've overcome, everything you've accomplished, and everything you are. Please, please don't ever let anyone take that from you."
Then he said, "Life is 10 percent what happens to you and 90 percent how you deal with it. When bad things happen, don't be resentful, be motivated. This is your life; go out there and make something of it."
Commencement address
A Tiverton High School graduate of 40 years ago, Richard W. Smith, M.D., a local orthopedist, gave the commencement address. After his father died during his senior year in high school, Dr. Smith said, he worked as a lobsterman, plumber apprentice, cut lawns, and in various work-study programs to put himself through school.
Then, doing the math, he said, considering college, medical school, internships, specialized orthopedic training, and four years in the Navy, it was all in all, "17 years before I began my career."
Along the way, he learned some lessons. "I always say, embrace your ignorance. Ask questions, be curious, then do it again. It's a very humanizing experience, talking to strangers face to face. Yet how lucky was I. A priceless education that opened my eyes and mind and shattered previous prejudices and stereotypes. It's what I refer to as the non-institutional education. This is the most valuable and influential education you can ever receive; it happens throughout your life. It's those experiences that remake you as a person. So I say, if you have the chance, leave Tiverton ... at least for a while."
Class of 2018 - by the numbers
Total students in graduating class of 2018 (124); in Class of 2017 (112), in Class of 2016 (136).
From school guidance department:
Males (70 - 54%); females (60 - 46%)
What's next: 4 year college (65, 52%); 2 year college (29, 24%); tech school (3, 2%); work (11, 9%); military (4, 3%); undecided (13. 10%).
Class of 2018 —Tiverton High School graduates
Paul Daniel Amaral
Sydney Lynn Andrade
Anisya Ann Arruda Corga
Alec John Arruda
Tiara Balfour
Nicole Barry-Jackson
Nolan Rober Beattie
Cole Michael Bergeron
Kathryn M. Botelho
Daniel C. Brooks
Parker Michael Bucko
Alexander Daniel Byron
Aidan Thaddeus Cabral
Owen Beck Cargile
Devin Alexander Carvalho
Isabel Louise Carvalho
Aidan Cassidy
Ethan Douglas Champlain
Hala Ihab Chamseddine
Isaiah Judah Chase
Dylan Thomas Clark
Quintin Noah Contreras
Ashleigh K. Cordeira
Andrew Ryan Costa
Arianna Faye Costa
Evan Patrick Costa
Hailey Michelle Couto
Kevin Michael DaSilva
Holden Robert DeFreitas
Damien Joseph DeGala
Lucas DeMacedo
Tyler James Donahue
Brianne R. Dopart
Ashley Faith Dulac
Diana Noelle Dumond
Bryan William Dupere
Remy Marina Escher
Mason G. Farias
Daniel David Farnworth
Nathan Joseph Feld
Dylan Ferreira
Rose Marie Figueira
Bennett William Flanagan
Alexander J. Flynn
Jace P. Ford
Chloe Natasha Galka
Lydea Jasmine Lee Gauthier
Emma M. Geoghegan
Nora M. Geoghegan
Mitchell Stephen Gorman
Devin Michael Guerrera
Simon Royale Hallman
Emma Virginia Hart
Jacob K. Hines
Michael Raymond Hrycin
Tova Lilia Pieternella Ibbotson
William Maxwell Kauffmann
Kristen Nicole Kendera
Mya Carol Labrecque
Olivia Marie La Croix
Candace Alison Lam
Steven R. Laquerre
Maisie Lynn Levakis
Aaron Joseph Levesque
Skylar Alexia Lewis
Corey James Macomber
Mackenzie Jayne Maitland
Marissa Taylor Marks
Emily Elizabeth McGrady
Brandon Medeiros
Kelly Caetano Medeiros
Arthur John Mello
Sarah Marie Mello
Victoria Leigh Mello
Aubrie Miranda Messenger
John Samuel Mooshagian
Marissa Alexandrina Morgan
Elisha Grace Murray
Noah Peter Nicoletti
Garrett Charles Nolan
Jonah James O'Neill
Zackery Donald Pacheco
Rachel Lynn Pare'
Amber Lynn Pavao
Sydney Waring Pelletier
Alex Robert Perry
Gregory Thomas Petrarca
Jamie Lane Pineo
Jane Maeve Redden
Taylor Lee Rego
John Alan Rodrigues
Cole David Roeske
Trent M. Rogers
Sophia Beth Roy
Dylan Joseph Ruckdeschel
Daniel Joseph Rys
Michelle Elizabeth Sanford
Cameron Mason Santerre
Brandon Scott Santos
Joshua C. Schneider
Alexis Schobert
Jaden Alexander Servant
Hope Elizabeth Sherman
Collin M. Signoriello
Colby J. Silvia
Justin C. Silvia
Samantha Kendall Silvia
Cole Jacob Simmons
Alexis Chyenne Souza
Brittanee N. Stockham
Justin Joseph Sylvia
Brennen Scott Tappen
Griffin Wayne Tetley
Haley S. Thibault
Jacqueline Anne Tosi
Samantha Lynn Travis
Samantha Marie Turner
Alexis Von Maluski
Jasmin G. Wagner
Anna Deolinda Wall
Sarah Simmons Wenzel
David-Michael Eliot Williams
Dylan M. Willis
Sara Jane Young
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