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