Monday, June 11, 2007
enlarge
Staff photo by Andy Molloy
from the Kennebec Journal
BRACING FOR CUTS
Bull killed in Chelsea field; night hunting suspected
HALLOWELL Shea takes on role as interim manager
Vigil set for crash victim
WEST GARDINER CHARITY IN A SHOE BOX
Hartland man dies battling fire; 'no replacing him'
Brewers to make decision on Rogers
WINTER PRACTICES UNDER WAY
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal
from the Morning Sentinel
Officials to brainstorm on energy
License probe leads to indictment
Fireman collapses at fire, dies later
Waterville, Winslow back school plan revision
SKOWHEGAN Pit stop reopens in spot next door
ADOPTION LAW TO TAKE EFFECT
Brewers must make decision on Rogers
Switching gears for new season
All of today's:
News | Sports
from the Morning Sentinel
And with a breeze blowing through open doors, the Class of 2007 told stories on their teachers, sang songs of love and hope, and spoke of a school that is almost like family.
For one student at least, it is family. Stephany Perkins,a graduation speaker, is the daughter of Deborah Perkins, choral director at the academy since 1982 and retiring this year. Applause broke out when a student thanked her for all those years of music.
Mother and daughter sang a song called "My Wish," which includes the line: "Show the world the warmth of your smile." When the student band played the jazz numbers "Say What" and "Sing, Sing, Sing," Stephany Perkins played drums.
She told classmates she had some "bad news" for them: "Your learning is never going to stop."
She said life is full of little epiphanies, such as her discovery at a young age that "while you can hang them upside down by the tail, cats definitely do not like to go down slides." She also learned that jumping 1,000 times on a pogo stick, nonstop, is quite a feat. One of the lessons she learned at Monmouth, during a tug of war with a rope, is that letting go so the other team won was just as rewarding as winning yourself.
She encouraged students to be open to fresh experiences. "You swear you hate sushi, but have you ever tried it?"
A high honors graduate, Perkins plans to study biology at Wheaton College.Scott Turcotte, honor speaker, said "everyone deserves some credit for all of us being up here. I do think we get some of the credit, too."
Turcotte said he read the book, "Everything I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," and if that's really true, he said, "I want to know who is responsible for this long, sick joke." He said learning continues, and "today is also about tomorrow." He will study history at Brown University.
Samantha Fairchild, honor speaker, said there are lot of books offering subjects such as "Math for Dummies," and she said what's needed is "Monmouth Academy for Dummies," so new students could learn that a certain teacher will like your paper if it's on fishing, or that there is no good period for lunch. The first one is too early. The second one too crowded. The third one, no food left. "You might as well be in chorus and get no lunch."
Fairchild, who will study international studies at Colby College, said one Monmouth teacher will give you an A if you end a paper with a quote. Quoting Walt Whitman, she ended her talk: "The strongest and sweetest songs remain yet to be sung."
Honor speaker Lindsay Scirica poked fun at various teachers, one of whom is known for saying "Don't just sit there like a sphinx," a phrase that Scirica believes has many applications in life. She said one of her most important teachers was her mom, who taught her to stay true to herself and not worry about peer pressure. Scirica will study nursing at the University of Maine, Orono.
Standing at the door, handing out programs, librarian Louna Greenier said she has watched 30 classes graduate at Monmouth, and it hasn't changed her view that "We have a nice school, we really do, and a lot of good kids."
Economics teacher Rick Amero, standing near Greenier, returned to teach at his alma mater 18 years ago. He said the school is small enough that you know everyone there. It's also small enough that Amero and others are concerned about what state consolidation efforts might mean for the school, which has a reputation for strong academics.
Before diplomas were handed out, Superintendent Stephen Cottrell presented outgoing school board chairman David Walker with a proclamation honoring his volunteer service.
from 1995 to the present.
Turcotte, in his speech, said leaving the comfort and support of the academy isn't easy. "It's still a big scary world out there. But we're not going into it un-armed." He said graduation speeches are full of clichés, but that doesn't change the fact that graduating was "flat out awesome."
His classmates cheered.
Steve Cartwright -- 623-3811, Ext. 435
scartwright@centralmaine.com
Reader comments
There are not yet any comments. Post your comment and it will appear here.
You must be a registered user of MaineToday.com to post a comment. Register or log in.