DANFORTH, Maine — Eight East Grand High School graduates taught their new principal the value of growing up in a small community.
The Danforth school sits on the edge of two northern Maine counties — Washington and Aroostook — and since the school is so small everyone knows everyone, said Class of 2025 Valedictorian Ashlyn Napoli on Thursday night during the commencement ceremony at the school.
“What we have is rare,” Napoli shared with her class and a packed gymnasium of supporters, teachers, school staff and loved ones.
Napoli was referring to what Principal Michael Muir coined “Danforth rural.”
“Most of you know I came here this year from downstate and probably you also know that Danforth rural can be a little intimidating,” he said during the commencement ceremony. “It doesn’t compare with Lincoln rural or Houlton rural or Calais rural. “
Initially, Muir detailed the challenges of Danforth rural, such as driving 45 minutes for a grocery run or picking up something from the drug store. Muir pointed to the community’s economic challenges, the loss of major employers, a lack of housing and transportation.
But in Muir’s year at the school, the kids taught him about the advantages of Danforth rural, he said.
“Folks who don’t live here don’t understand Danforth rural. Danforth rural has strong relationships among its people, there’s a real sense of community and we look out for each other,” Muir said. “When a kid needs a pair of cleats, a pair of cleats show up.”
And Muir talked about how they all work together even in the face of disagreements.
“I know a lot of places, if there are disagreements, you just don’t talk to that person anymore,” he said. “We’re too small for that. We need to find a way to work together even after we have disagreements.”
During the ceremony, the eight graduates were the recipients of one or several of 12 scholarships awarded to further their education. And class President Nathan Frye was awarded multiple scholarships, totalling nearly $30,000.
As students shared stories with each other it was obvious they knew each other like family and the school’s outdoor program head, Tammy Matula, talked about some of their outdoor adventures.
“Of all the graduating classes, I have the funniest memories of you guys,” she said. “I heard a lot about kindness tonight. I hope you associate us with home and kindness and home is a place you come back to.”
