Twenty students graduated Friday, June 10, 2016 from Ashland District School during commencement exercises.
Senior Cassandra Bolstridge opened the ceremony with a touching commencement dedication to the late Sheila Lyons, a retired educator of the Ashland school as well as an active school board committee member.
Caitlin Paradis gave the salutatorian address. She began by playing a game of ‘who’ , having her classmates stand to each question that applied to them. Questions included ‘who’ played sports, ‘who’ was in band and FFA and ‘who’ “ate a piece of gum from under the lunch room table,” which elicited amusement as a shy graduate stood. Graduates and the audience alike shared laughs with the game.
Paradis then talked of home being “a feeling; not a house we live in. It’s about the people and relationships we’ve formed,” she said.
Graduating senior Benjamin Philbrook performed Bob Dylan’s song “Forever Young” with vocal and guitar, for which he received a standing ovation from his classmates.
Valedictorian Jarrett Beaulier spoke about the outmigration of young people from The County and how it affects a small community such as Ashland. He also touched on success, saying, “It’s truly up to you to decide what makes you happy.” He declared his plans to return to the area after graduating from college to be a “wildlife biologist at home, in the wilderness I love.”
Laura Sturgeon then announced the dedication to the parents, and graduates departed the stage to greet and thank their parents.
Principal Joel Hall then presented the graduating class with over $126,000 in scholarships.
Superintendent Gehrig Johnson introduced guest speaker Col. Kevin Bushey, who graduated from the Ashland school in 1973 and recently returned home after retiring. Bushey congratulated the graduates and began with, “Live, laugh and love are more than a wall sign.” He advised the students of lifelong learning, and added, “Laughter is infectious … and love is the glue to everything.”
Diplomas were then presented to the graduates by Johnson, Hall and School Board Chair Sherri Calhoun.
This correspondent congratulates the Class of 2016, having known many since their first years in school, and can’t wait to see what the future holds for each of them. She reminds them to continue to move forward towards their dreams, stay on course — and call home.
