HOULTON, Maine — A full audience gathered in the Millar Civic Center June 5 for Houlton High School’s commencement exercises.
The graduation ceremony opened with a processional led by Class Marshal Hunter Caron; music was played by the faculty ensemble.
Amanda Graham, senior class president, welcomed family and friends.
“There is no way we could have made it along the way without all of you,” she said.
Various memories, spanning from the first day of school through elementary and high school, punctuated her speech.
“Though every class says they’re close, you don’t know the meaning of close until you’ve met my class,” she added.
Members of the Senior Chorus sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” before Salutatorian Casey Faulkingham addressed the audience.
Faulkingham expressed appreciation to all those who helped the Class of 2008 reach this point and encouraged her classmates to reach their full potential.
“In the words of Confucius: ‘Where ever you go, go with all your heart.’,” she concluded.
Parker Brown, first honor essayist, introduced the night’s guest speaker, High School English Teacher Dwayne Morse. Morse, a 1982 graduate of Houlton High School, graduated from the University of Maine at Farmington and went on to enlist in the U.S. Air Force before returning to Houlton and pursuing a career in education. He has earned his master’s degree in educational leadership and spent the last 11 years teaching at Houlton High School.
Morse, whose speech also included a slide show of the graduates, expressed his pride in the graduating class.
“The amount of potential I am staring at is absolutely staggering,” he said.
Their goals should include living up to that potential, he added.
“Set a goal and do not take ‘no’ for an answer,” he said. “Whatever you do, do not give up on your dreams. … The person who has the most control over your future is you.”
The Senior Chorus sang “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” before Valedictorian Jenny Beasley spoke. Beasley stressed the importance of having a good attitude no matter what direction life might go.
“It’s entirely up to us what kind of attitude we carry through life,” she said.
Following the valedictory address, Second Honor Essayist Zachary Chase led a presentation of the class ode. A presentation of diplomas by Superintendent Steve Fitzpatrick, Principal Marty Bouchard and Assistant Principal Michael Kenney and recessional closed the ceremony.