Date: Fri 20-Jun-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: DOTTIE

Quick Words:

NHS-'97-Graduation

Full Text:

Despite Weather, Construction And Friday The 13th, Class Of 1997 Graduates!

(with photos)

BY DOROTHY EVANS

At 5pm, Friday, June 13, when the long-awaited graduation time finally

arrived, threatening skies and an afternoon thunderstorm prevented the Class

of 1997 from conducting their commencement ceremonies outside.

But the seniors had rehearsed in the auditorium that morning, and nobody

seemed to mind the last-minute change in plans.

The graduates and their families were totally focused upon enjoying this

important moment in their lives: Celebrating all of the love and hard work

that went into making it possible.

"We couldn't have come this far without your support and understanding," Class

Salutatorian Delphine Tuot told the many parents sitting in the auditorium.

Other family members who were unable to obtain passes into the crowded

auditorium listened from the adjoining cafeteria and watched the ceremony over

three closed-circuit television sets.

In her salutatory remarks, Delphine called friendship the most important part

of their high school experience and quoted from the 17th Century poet Bishop

Jeremy Taylor. Several classmates rose from their seats to deliver the poet's

lines.

"My favorite is the following, `Friendship is clairvoyant. It helps us view

our lives in a more optimistic light,'" Delphine said.

Dignified Joy

Filling nearly one third of the auditorium seats, the Class of 1997 presented

an impressive sight, all of them looking quite dignified in their blue

commencement gowns and caps, with gold tassels swaying and shimmering.

A few mortar boards were decorated with sequins, bottle caps, flags and

ribbons, and the occasional contraband balloon or beach ball floated overhead

or was bounced from side to side before being confiscated by Assistant

Principal Jules Triber.

All in all, the Class of 1997 was clearly proud to have come this far at this

place in time, and they took care to make sure their commencement was a

memorable one, both serious and joyous.

"The Blue Green Hills of Earth," sung by the High School Concert Choir

directed by Ann Doyle, might have tugged at a few heart strings, as the rich

chords filled the auditorium and the lyrics reminded them of the beauty of

their own green town where they had grown up together.

`King Of Teachers' Speaks

When perennial commencement speaker Robert McHugh stepped up to the podium,

the students gave a loud cheer followed by enthusiastic clapping.

They knew they could count on their popular math/history teacher to deliver an

address that would be short, meaningful and, most importantly, funny.

They were not disappointed. After three previous graduation appearances, Mr

McHugh knows how to entertain an audience, and he was in top form Friday night

for this class.

Calling himself the "self-proclaimed King of Teachers" (while earning muted

calls of "boo" from his faculty peers), Mr McHugh began by listing a few of

the "abuses" that the Class of 1997 had endured throughout their senior year.

He included construction disruption for an "addition you'll never get to

enjoy" and "an indoor graduation" that was taking place on Friday the 13th.

"What more can they do to you?" he asked in mock outrage, then praised their

collective fortitude.

Under all that adversity, "Did you buckle? Did you cave?" Mr McHugh asked.

"NO!" they yelled back, loving every minute.

He invited the seniors and audience members to play the "Graduation Advice

Game," where the goal was to decide what famous person out of three possible

choices, had given the following advice.

The three author/choices were, "60 Minutes" commentator Andy Rooney, President

Thomas Jefferson and retiring NHS history teacher Dan Dorman.

Although Jefferson had said "Be the best you can be," it turned out that

practically every other bit of sage advice (such as, "Stay away from phonies

and slathering sycophants" and "Try hard to live without the microwave oven.

It is a fiendish invention.") came from Mr Dorman.

Mr McHugh said Newtown's senior citizens had also contributed their list of

suggestions for a happy and successful life. These included the following

cautionary words.

"Happiness and health: If you have these, you have everything. Learn to love

prunes. Do something you love, it will make you happy."

A Thanksgiving Return,

Scholarship Awards

And Foreign Students

After Class Secretary Jennifer Chion had finished her summary of the class'

many accomplishments, Principal William Manfredonia stepped up to offer a few

remarks.

He, too, credited the class for bearing up so well during the renovation

project during their senior year.

"When I first walked into the school last August and saw how everything had

been torn up, my heart sank. I realized, this was what our seniors would have

to face," Mr Manfredonia said.

He extended an invitation to the entire class to return next fall on the day

before Thanksgiving, and see how the school would look when everything was

completed.

The Newtown Scholarship Awards were presented by Deborah Osborne.

"The named awards have been established by family and friends to keep alive

the memory of a loved one," Mrs Osborne said.

Karen Vogel spoke in memory of her brother, 1984 grad Robert Vogel, who was

killed in Bosnia during a helicopter rescue mission October 3, 1995.

"He was a normal, friendly guy, obnoxious to his sister, but incredibly

directed to achieve his lifelong goal of flying," Ms Vogel said.

She told the graduates she hoped they would also achieve their goals and

"realize their dreams" as he did.

A full scholarship in Robert Vogel's name was awarded to Adam Winner.

During the Flag Exchange, Haley Gaertner introduced the three foreign exchange

students, Lina Krogholm from Sweden, Lydia Rauh from Germany and Mete

Yurtyapan from Turkey. They took their turns at the podium, speaking first in

their own language, then in English to the Newtown students and their

families.

"When I go home, I am going to leave part of my heart here behind me," said

Mete.

Kalb Echoes The

Friendship Theme

As the last scheduled speaker before the conferring of diplomas, Lauren Kalb,

class valedictorian, stepped forward to share a few things she had "learned

during my 17 years on the planet."

Friends have meant the most, Lauren said, "not just to hang out with but to

talk with about anything, to laugh with you and stick with you through thick

and thin."

Friendship is two-way, Lauren added. "Be there for your friends when they need

you."

In closing, she asked her classmates to trust themselves.

"To do that, you have to know yourself. College will be an opportunity to

re-invent yourself... and explore options. Listen to your heart. You are the

ones who will have to deal with your decisions," she said.

Finally, Lauren told them to "enjoy life." With commencement ceremonies nearly

over, the Class of 1997 seemed quite ready to do just that.