- Details
- Category: Current Issue
caption, page 1:
Diploma Time
PHS Principal Heather Taylor hands salutatorian Autumn Allard her diploma at commencement June 9. More photos on page 4. Photo courtesy of Portraits by Nan.
captions, page 4:
Clockwise from top left:
From left: Celenia Lopez, Trinity Bonet Shepard and Isabella "Izzy" Toni-Campion show off their motarboard artistry.
Halie Reidy
Arabella Canova
Isabella "Izzy" Toni-Campion
Right: Principal Heather Taylor and valedictorian Amayah Chavez. Photo by Portraits by Nan.
Graduates included members of the Putnam Fire Dept. Hunter Belanger, left, and Zachary Belleville. Photo by Portraits by Nan.
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Almost without exception, every speaker at the 145th Commencement for Putnam High School June 9, 2022, carried two common threads — mutual support and resilience.
School Superintendent Daniel Sullivan III likened the last 13 years of schooling to a very large chapter in their book of life. And the last two years were the toughest with the challenges of the pandemic. But they persevered. “Remember, you are the lead character in your book,” he said. “Think on what the goals are. What might stand in the way of those goals? What are your flaws? What morals will guide your character? What values are important to you?”
Jill Zangerl, chair of the Board of Education, called the students the “class of resilience.” Autumn Allard, the salutatorian challenged her classmates saying “We WILL make a difference.”
Valedictorian Amayah Chavez, her voice catching at times, said “Look in the mirror and tell yourself ‘You got this’.” She added, “As we leave, make your voices heard.”
Principal Heather Taylor told the graduates she was impressed with the class even before she met them. The first day of school the seniors had their first day for a “senior activity.” Taylor said the seniors were getting up before 10 and the heat index was over 100 degrees, but they hosted a Senior Sunset that included decorating cars, sweet treats and working with each other. She said, “Not only were you not held back by the pandemic, you made up for lost time” with a long list of community service and activities.
“My hope. No, my expectation is that you never underestimate your potential. Go for it. Take risks. Reach beyond your comfort level.”
The special award winners include:
Educator of the Year: Shea Ogle
Student of the Year: Amayah Chavez
Citizen of the Year:Jennifer Lehto
There were 57 graduates, with 56 in the procession.
Graduates:
Valedictorian – Amayah Chavez
Salutatorian – Autumn Allard
Savannah Rose Marie Acquarulo, Saige Albino, Autumn R. Allard (HH), Jamiel A. Andujar, Makenna G. Barnett (H), Karson Bates (H), Hunter Belanger, Zachary M. Belleville (HH), Reagan Elizabeth Boledovic (HH, NHS), Trinity Grace Bonet Shepard (HH), Johnathen Robert Brouillette (HH), Arabella Lillian Canova, Carissa C. Charron (HH), Amayah Chavez (HH, NHS), Nicholas J. Cunha, David James DePari, Samantha M. Eddy (HH), Tyler Cole Fullerton (HH, NHS), Ethan J. Gardner (H), Olivia Jade Hassett-Mellen (HH, NHS), Ariana Rose Hernandez (H).
Also, Emre Karadeniz, Cody Michael Keene, Avory Kelly, Amelia Labbe-Fahy (HH), Olivia Labbe-Fahy (H), Abby LaBonte, Lexie Star Latendresse (H), James John Lazarou (HH), Celenia Leanne Lopez (HH), Darien L. Mercier, Karon J. Moore Salcedo, Kayla Ann Morrison (HH, NHS), Benjamin Cole Northup (HH, NHS), Stephanie Olivia Olecki (HH), Valentina Onesyvieng, Avery Ryan Pedersen (HH), Brett P. Perkins, Nunzio K. Puzo, Amber Lynn Rape (H), Halie Morgan Reidy (HH), Jack Thomas Rindge (HH, NHS), Michael Thomas Roach Jr., Malik Jeyandre Roberts, Ethan M. Rodriguez (H),Xander Cole Ruggeri, Ewa Krystyna Seku?a (HH, NHS).
Also, Dominic Sheldon (H), Destiney M. Simas (HH), Adam J. Tomkins (HH), Isabella Isolena Toni-Campion, Jaidyn N. Tremblay (H), Hunter J. Vanasse (HH), Connor Michael Vassar (HH, NHS), Deyvon M. White, Janessa Wolfe (H), William Wolfe.
H = Honors – Cumulative average of 85% and above; HH = High Honors – Cumulative average of 90% and above; (NHS) = National Honor Society
..