By Elna Seabrooks
Staff Writer
DANFORTH — The 10 graduates of East Grand High School stepped it up a bit last Thursday evening, walking down not a Hollywood-style red carpet, but a white path strewn with mortar board replicas for each graduate in the school colors — white and purple. Matching streamers overhead and balloons all around shaped the evening as some 250 or more family members and friends clapped, cheered and teared up. Cameras flashed even before the traditional playing of Pomp and Circumstance.
Photo courtesy/Michael LaReaux
THEY DID IT — Graduating from East Grand High School are, from left, Matthew Steeves, Kallie Shay, Tisheena Roy, Nicholas Malone, Courtney Lloyd, Benjamin Latvis, Bryan Fleming, Jerson Dinis, Kaleb Dicker and Kelsey Daoust.
But, before anyone walked into the festively decorated gym, bigger than life-size poster boards stood in the hallway greeting visitors with photo displays of each graduate. It set the stage for a momentous occasion. Later, a slide presentation set to music, showing the graduating students from infancy through the present day would follow heightening the emotional tenor of the evening.
Eager, nervous, proud and excited aptly described the sentiments of the four female and six male seniors who had emblazoned the tops of their mortar boards with bold words. Some anticipated the future with: “Need job.” For a couple of others, they covered their caps with “It’s over.” And, then there was one that spoke volumes without a single word. It stretched from one edge to the other on top of his cap. It was simply a bold, black, dollar sign. 
FAMILY REUNION — Joe and Lourdes Silveria, left, traveled from Massachusetts with their youngest son Joel, age four, to see their older son Jerson Dinis graduate. Next to Dinis is his brother-in law Michael Silvia and his sister Vivian.
Some walked in and out of the gym, exchanging reminiscences with classmates, friends and family before the ceremony began, well aware that life was about to change unalterably forever. Principal David Apgar said before the ceremony: “I wanted to make sure that we prepared them. We as adults have a better idea of what life is like out of school.”
Guest speakers, Rev. Roger Cyr and Superintendent William Dobbins thanked the students for inviting them and congratulated them on their achievements. Both encouraged the graduates to live life to the fullest and reach for their dreams. 
Kelsey Daoust’s mortar board said it all at East Grand School’s graduation
The close-knit dynamic of a small school in a small town was evident throughout the evening. Class President Kallie Shay, like the other speakers that evening, acknowledged the support of parents, teachers, classmates, neighbors and friends that “encouraged us to try new things and not be afraid to fail.”
Most of the seniors had plans for post-secondary education. Despite the “It’s Over” sign on his cap, Kaleb Dicker knows it’s not. He says he is going to study at Northern Maine Community College for a future in wind technology. Second-honor essayist, Matthew Steeves said: “This is pretty much all I know. Now I have to get out and get a job.” Steeves says he’s still deciding on a college and is contemplating a major in diesel mechanics. 
Graduated senior, Kaleb Dicker
Nineteen scholarships totaling just under $10,000 were handed out to the students. Ben Latvis scooped up quite a few awards. And when the comment was made that he had enough money to take off for a European vacation, he quickly put that notion to rest with a firm and gentle reply: “But, I can’t go to Europe. I have to go to college.” Latvis says he will go to Maine Maritime Academy to study marine biology.
After the awarding of diplomas, the graduates tossed their caps in the air and cheered to the delight of the audience. Later that evening, a project graduation celebration would get under way in the very gym where they would put the finishing touch on a rite of passage into adulthood.
Kalli Shay with her parents Lorrie and Larry Shay
Courtney Lloyd
Matthew Steeves
