Bookmark & share:

E-mail this page E-mail a letter to the editor Reader Comments (below)

By KEITH EDWARDS
Staff Writer Monday, June 11, 2007

enlarge Staff photo by Andy Molloy

Ashley Pratt blows bubbles toward her classmates during the Cony High School graduation Sunday at the Augusta Civic Center.

enlarge Staff photo by Andy Molloy

Anna Ackerman, center, takes a photo of herself and classmates Ariel Pelletier, left, and Ashley Pratt during the Cony High School graduation Sunday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Today's Top Headlines
from the Kennebec Journal

All of today's: News | Sports
from the Kennebec Journal

Well, sort of in unison, Wilkinson, the class salutatorian, joked after observing his excited classmates march into the Augusta Civic Center.

Glenn Cummings, speaker of the Maine House of Representatives, had jokes too, along with advice for Cony's graduates.

When Abraham Lincoln was asked how he overcame adversity early in his life to later take the lead in abolishing slavery, Cummings quoted the nation's 16th president: "I believed I had something to offer."

"Ask yourself, what do I have to offer?" Cummings said, urging graduates to find ways to help others. "It starts with small things. Find small ways to give what you have to offer."

Just minutes before the 170 graduates started marching, two-by-two, into the Civic Center auditorium, Steve Fernald pulled a cell phone out from underneath his red gown for a brief conversation.

He was talking with his mom, who was elsewhere in the building and had a few final words for her son.

"Have fun," Fernald said his mom told him.

Graduate McKenzie Parker offered her words poetically, reading a many-versed poem she wrote for the occasion.

Its ending: "So the class of 2007 as we now part, I encourage you to shoot for the moon and be strong of heart," Parker read. "Dream big and work hard, fight through adversity and strife, and be sure to embrace all the wonders of life."

Garret L. LaForge reminded his fellow graduates they have their teachers to thank for getting them to the milestone they were celebrating Sunday.

"Teachers. If you think about it, we've had a lot of really good ones," LaForge said. "They did everything they could to make class interesting, and keep the workload manageable. And if you ever felt like it was too much for you to handle, they'd always be willing to stay after school as often as you needed, just to help you keep up. More than anything else, they made the last four years what they were, and I hope they know how much we appreciate all that they've done."

The Cony band played "Pomp and Circumstance," as graduates marched in and later played "Irish Tune from Country Derry," during the ceremony.

The Cony Madrigals sang "Defying Gravity."

Both groups included graduates who briefly left their classmates to perform their respective musical pieces.

Valedictorian Joseph Faucher said attitude is the key to success. He described previously struggling with English class assignments, spending hours writing and re-writing assignments. He said some teachers told him they thought his attitude was the problem -- he lacked self-confidence.

He worked to improve his self-confidence and, Faucher said, he was recognized at Cony Class Day recently as the student with the highest rank in English.

"That's the power of attitude," Faucher said.

Numerous family members and graduates sought each other out with warm greetings and congratulations outside the Civic Center following graduation, with many graduates receiving bouquets of flowers in Cony's school colors of red and white.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com

Bookmark and share this story: