STACYVILLE, Maine — The 26 graduates of Katahdin High School received their diplomas in the school’s 55th graduation ceremony on June 3 in the school gymnasium.
Among the graduates, 77 percent are headed off to college or trade school and 23 are entering the workforce, according to RSU 89 Superintendent Marie Robinson.
Keynote speaker, John Pond, a 1983 graduate of Katahdin High School, is an executive vice president with Haley Ward and oversees a technical staff of environmental scientists, geologists, engineers and environmental technicians.
“The education and mentoring I received while a student at KHS have been invaluable and taught me many practical skills I often use,” Pond said. “Teachers, coaches provided many positive real world learning opportunities and the importance of interaction with others through collaboration, respect, patience, persistence and effective communication.”
Riley Ryan, the class salutatorian said she struggled to think about what holds the class she has known since childhood together and realized it was procrastination and passion. Ryan detailed the way they can pull a several-month project together in a day.
“We come together at crunch time and we know when to put our noses to the grindstone, even if we procrastinated too long,” she said. “Each student has something that sets them apart from each other, something that drives them forward and onward.”
Our passions come in many forms, science, math, music, art, sports, writing and technology, she said.
Charlotte Hartt, the class valedictorian, talked about setting off to find their own way, leaving the comforts of parents behind.
“At this point a change seems exciting. This is what we have been working toward for 14 years. We know we need to learn to live on our own and hold all these responsibilities,” she said. “This is scary, but many have done this before and know one quality of the class of 2023 is maturity when we need to be. We will become better for it and be able to flourish into who we are.”
