Presque Isle High grads saluted
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
MIRROR MIRROR IN THE HALL — Presque Isle High School graduate Courtney Colligan makes a few last-minute adjustments before lining up to march into her June 8 commencement exercises. Mychaela Lunney is in the background.
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
Staff photos/Scott Mitchell Johnson
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| DR. JAMES PAGE, chancellor of the University of Maine System, provided the keynote address at Presque Isle High School’s graduation ceremony. He told the seniors they wouldn’t go wrong if they are true to themselves, think, and love the life they build for themselves. |
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| LEADING THEIR FELLOW graduates into the June 8 commencement exercises at Presque Isle High School are class marshals, from left: Bethany Beckwith and Alecia da Cruz. |
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| LOGAN GOOD, a Presque Isle High School graduate, receives his diploma from SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson at the June 8 commencement exercises. |
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| DESTINY ROBINSON, a member of Presque Isle High School’s Class of 2012, receives her diploma from SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson. |
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| REMINISCING about their time at Presque Isle Middle School with their former teacher Julie Gardner are, from left: Presque Isle High School graduates Casey Bonville, Leslie Campbell and Haley Smith. |
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| PERFORMING the Fleetwood Mac song, “Landslide,” during Presque Isle High School’s graduation ceremony is Kate Campbell as Ryley Norton accompanies her on guitar. |
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| CLAIRE CHENEY sang “Roots Before Branches” to her Presque Isle High School classmates before 130 diplomas were handed out June 8. | CLASS SPEAKER Aidan Sawyer encouraged his fellow Presque Isle High School graduates to “be what you’re worth and do what you’re capable of” during the June 8 commencement exercises. |
PRESQUE ISLE — Dr. James H. Page, the newly selected chancellor of the University of Maine System and Caribou native, was honored and somewhat astonished to be delivering the June 8 keynote address at Presque Isle High School’s commencement ceremony.
“It’s astonishing that Presque Isle would invite somebody from Caribou to come and speak [at commencement]. Times really do change,” he said, referring to the longstanding PI-Caribou rivalry.
Page then offered the 130 graduates a few pieces of advice before they marched out of the gymnasium clutching their high school diplomas.
“You have a world of opportunity in front of you, but it all comes down to how you meet those opportunities and what decisions you make,” he said. “Be true to yourself. In being true to yourself, however, while it is you of course who is making those choices, you come imbedded in a whole family and community of values and ethics. Even if you challenge or question those, they are rooted in you.
“Also, ‘Think.’ Look three or four moves ahead of where you are. You’re all so incredibly well prepared to do that,” said Page. “The education you’ve received here is as good as you’re going to get anywhere. Your teachers and mentors have prepared you to take those two, three and four steps ahead of where you are, and doing that, making the chances of you going wrong minimal.”
Recalling a bumper sticker from when he was a youth that read, “There’s no intelligent life south of Houlton,” Page told the graduates that it’s important to love where you are.
“Although the bumper sticker’s sentiment is not true, sometimes it seems that way. Many of you will stay here, many of you will travel somewhere within the state, or leave the state. Some of you who leave will come back, others will stay in other places,” he said, “but wherever that is, love the life that you have there, and live in that time and that place.
“I would say that if you are true to yourself, and you think, and you love the life that you have built for yourself, you can’t possibly go wrong,” said Page. “In the meanwhile while you’re doing that, have a great time.”
In addition to Page’s remarks, graduates also heard from class speaker Aidan Sawyer, who told his classmates to “look inside of you.”
“If there was a time to be proud of yourselves for what you’ve accomplished, it’s now. Twelve-plus years of education, done. Take pride in that,” he said. “Think back on where you’ve been, who you’ve been, how you’ve grown, how you got here. We’ve grown up, we’ve been through it, and now we get to choose who we are and where we’re going. We are cool people. You are cool people. Find that, respect that, be proud of that; because I am — in myself and in you all.
“I wish you all the lives you deserve. Be what you’re worth and do what you’re capable of. Live well and much. Be happy, find happiness and don’t stop looking for it. Don’t settle,” said Sawyer. “Thank you for these years of my life. It’s been really cool and it’s been an honor.”
Musical selections at this year’s commencement included “Landslide” performed by Kate Campbell, “Roots Before Branches” by Claire Cheney, both 2012 PIHS graduates, and “I Will Remember You,” sung by the PIHS Chorus.
Diplomas were conferred by SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson and Lucy Richard, chair of the SAD 1 board of directors.
“It’s astonishing that Presque Isle would invite somebody from Caribou to come and speak [at commencement]. Times really do change,” he said, referring to the longstanding PI-Caribou rivalry.
Page then offered the 130 graduates a few pieces of advice before they marched out of the gymnasium clutching their high school diplomas.
“You have a world of opportunity in front of you, but it all comes down to how you meet those opportunities and what decisions you make,” he said. “Be true to yourself. In being true to yourself, however, while it is you of course who is making those choices, you come imbedded in a whole family and community of values and ethics. Even if you challenge or question those, they are rooted in you.
“Also, ‘Think.’ Look three or four moves ahead of where you are. You’re all so incredibly well prepared to do that,” said Page. “The education you’ve received here is as good as you’re going to get anywhere. Your teachers and mentors have prepared you to take those two, three and four steps ahead of where you are, and doing that, making the chances of you going wrong minimal.”
Recalling a bumper sticker from when he was a youth that read, “There’s no intelligent life south of Houlton,” Page told the graduates that it’s important to love where you are.
“Although the bumper sticker’s sentiment is not true, sometimes it seems that way. Many of you will stay here, many of you will travel somewhere within the state, or leave the state. Some of you who leave will come back, others will stay in other places,” he said, “but wherever that is, love the life that you have there, and live in that time and that place.
“I would say that if you are true to yourself, and you think, and you love the life that you have built for yourself, you can’t possibly go wrong,” said Page. “In the meanwhile while you’re doing that, have a great time.”
In addition to Page’s remarks, graduates also heard from class speaker Aidan Sawyer, who told his classmates to “look inside of you.”
“If there was a time to be proud of yourselves for what you’ve accomplished, it’s now. Twelve-plus years of education, done. Take pride in that,” he said. “Think back on where you’ve been, who you’ve been, how you’ve grown, how you got here. We’ve grown up, we’ve been through it, and now we get to choose who we are and where we’re going. We are cool people. You are cool people. Find that, respect that, be proud of that; because I am — in myself and in you all.
“I wish you all the lives you deserve. Be what you’re worth and do what you’re capable of. Live well and much. Be happy, find happiness and don’t stop looking for it. Don’t settle,” said Sawyer. “Thank you for these years of my life. It’s been really cool and it’s been an honor.”
Musical selections at this year’s commencement included “Landslide” performed by Kate Campbell, “Roots Before Branches” by Claire Cheney, both 2012 PIHS graduates, and “I Will Remember You,” sung by the PIHS Chorus.
Diplomas were conferred by SAD 1 Superintendent Gehrig Johnson and Lucy Richard, chair of the SAD 1 board of directors.
