HODGDON, Maine — A group of 30 seniors marched into Hodgdon Middle-High School one last time Friday evening for the school’s annual commencement ceremony.
Unlike last year’s ceremony, which required students and guests to wear face coverings, the smiles of students were abundantly clear to those in attendance.
Superintendent/Principal Stephen Fitzpatrick, who is retiring from the district at the end of the school year, welcomed students and their family and friends, and announced the recipient of the “All-Around Student” award — Timothy Fitzpatrick.
“Welcome back to normalcy,” he said in greeting the audience. “For many, these moments and this night are the most gratifying of the entire school year. We celebrate their hard work, dedication and personal growth.”
One seat among the graduates was left empty during Friday’s ceremony. That seat featured a photo of Jesse Sawyer, a member of the Class of 2022 who died Oct. 2, 2021, in a motor vehicle accident, as well as a memorial cap and gown.
Salutatorian Kaelyn Lawlor took the audience on a humorous trip down memory lane as she described characteristics of the Class of 2022.
“I could tell you all about life skills and the things we’ve learned over the years, but one thing we have all mastered is the art of procrastination,” she said. “Not only myself as I put off writing this speech, but we’ve become very good at it as a class.”
Lawlor thanked the community for its support over the years, whether it was sending off basketball teams to Bangor; setting up team dinners; or congratulating students for making the honor roll.
She also thanked her classmates and encouraged them to look back fondly on their memories.
“Regardless of what your plans are from now on, tonight we celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in our lives, turning the page on our time as Hodgdon Hawks,” she said. “In these halls, we shared laughs, attended many sporting events, rushed to make it to first block because we might’ve been running a little late, and, most importantly, we made memories that will last a lifetime.”
“Always expect the unexpected,” Valedictorian Montana Hoops said. “I know (that is) a little cliché, but it is an important tip I have learned thus far. You never know what is going to happen in your life, especially in today’s world. The world is constantly changing around us so go into everything expecting the unexpected, so you are prepared to overcome that next challenge in your life.”
She added that her class had already overcome a number of challenges and changes. The group was the first seventh-grade class to attend school at Hodgdon Middle-High School, rather than Millpond Elementary.
“We also had to cope with all the difficulties from COVID,” she said. “But we overcame them and here we are graduating. And today we will leave high school and take what we have learned about coping with the unexpected with us into the rest of our lives.”
HODGDON, Maine — June 3, 2022 — Regina McCombs (right) fixes the sash of Lucas Matheson during (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HODGDON, Maine — June 3, 2022 — A seat was left empty for Jesse Sawyer, a member of the Class of 2022 at Hodgdon Middle-High School, who was killed in a car accident in October. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HODGDON, Maine — June 3, 2022 — Pastor Rob Smith (left), who is the varsity girls soccer coach at Hodgdon, has Delaney Little sign a soccer ball prior to the start of Friday’s graduation ceremony. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
HODGDON, Maine — June 3, 2022 — Dalton Henderson decorated the top of his mortar board for Hodgdon’s graduation ceremony Friday evening. (Joseph Cyr | Houlton Pioneer Times)
