Easton graduates each awarded scholarships

The Class of 2007 at Easton High School had not only a successful completion of their education to celebrate, but also a large scholarship to smile about when they walked out of the high school doors for the last time.
Each graduate of this year’s class was awarded a $3,300 Hayden Family Scholarship to assist them in their next step to pursue a college education. The scholarship was made possible by an anonymous $1 million donation that was sent to the Easton Town office on January 2, 2007.
    At the beginning of the evening, 17 seniors marched down the aisle of the Easton gymnasium to the seats that were waiting for them on top of the stage.
Jacob King, class president and second honors essayist, was the first of his peers to greet the audience and address his class, family and teachers with his farewell. Like most students, the first people King thanked were his parents.
“You have shaped who I am today, and you will always be with me,” stated King.
Laura Hopkins, the first honor essayist, kept her message short and sweet. After thanking all of her family, friends and the community, she wished all of her classmates the best in their future endeavors.
In the Salutatory address, Kassie Lovely announced that although her classmate decided to write a short speech, her own would be quite lengthy. Lovely stressed that there will always be embarrassing moments in life, and encouraged her peers not to “sweat the small stuff.”
From there, Lovely spoke about an embarrassing moment that she shared or witnessed with each of her classmates. In response to this, members of the class of ‘07 blushed, covered their faces with the programs and laughed at some of the “small stuff” they once were so embarrassed by.
Lovely ended her speech by thanking her family and asked her peers to remember that “those that mind don’t matter and those who do don’t mind.”
Michelle Osgood, the class’ Valedictorian, stated that “playing piano is like life,” in her speech. Throughout her address to her classmates, Osgood urged them to “find [their] middle C … the center of [their] life,” and also to “invest time to discover what is most important to [them].”
For Osgood, her middle C circled around her faith, family and friends. At this point she thanked each member of her family and found herself tearing up when addressing her brothers specifically.
At the end of her speech, Osgood spoke directly to the graduating seniors.
“I hope that you find purpose in life and strength to do the right thing. Know your middle C and create your own melody,” said Osgood.
When all of the student speeches were completed, the Easton chorus sang “I Am a Small Part of the World” and “Until I Sing Again.” In the first piece, Osgood accompanied the group on the piano and the seniors in the chorus opened and closed the song alone.
Principal Ralph Conroy then took the stage to announce the presentation of the awards and scholarships. Before handing the microphone over to the school’s guidance counselor for the actual presentations, Conroy took a moment in the ceremony to remind the students that they will “always have friends and family for support along the way” and to “enjoy the journey.”
Many local and national scholarships were given to the Class of 2007, and in the end, $200,957 went to various members of the graduating class to take on in their journey toward higher education.
Following the scholarship presentations, the lights were dimmed for a special slide presentation put together by seniors Denise Clark and Tyler Plourde. The theme was “Now and Then” and “Future Plans.” In the first-half, Clark and Plourde paired pictures of each of their classmates as children along with their senior pictures. Each graduating senior’s future plans were then detailed beside a photo of them wearing their cap and gown.
Frank Keenan, superintendent, Gaylen Flewelling, chairman for the Board of Education, and Conroy then presented the following students with their diplomas: Leah Alexander, Holly Beaton, Denise Clark, Seth Cleaves, Kendra Conroy, Brandon Davenport, Tammy Dayringer, Abby Jo Gray, Melissa Holmes, Laura Hopkins, Jacob King, Kassie Lovely, Michelle Osgood, Tyler Plourde, Briana White, Kyle White and Lyndsay White.
After receiving their diplomas, each student then lit a candle and performed a candlelight ceremony before marching out of the doors to their school as the graduates of 2007.