PHS graduation: ‘Little but fierce’
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Sixty six students graduated this evening and are headed out to make a difference in the world.
School Superintendent Steven Rioux urged graduates to turn left when they leave the gym and see the Wall of Honor down the hall. The faces on that wall were, years ago, “just like you.” And maybe they wondered what their life would be like. Rioux recounted what some of those former students have accomplished, around the world. The wall is a reminder that success is not just about how far you go. Success can also be whether you help someone else. Whether you use your talents to help others. Whether you stay true to yourself. Whether you make life for your community better.”
“Success is also measured in helping others,” he added.
Salutatorian Paige Perry remembered when they started four years ago, they decided “Oh the Places You’ll Go” was a good theme for them. And for three years, that worked. But now, in their senior year, that doesn’t sound relevant anymore. “It turns out ideas are not permanent and it’s OK to change our minds.”
In his valedictorian speech Nicholas Devlin spoke about two worlds. “What is if there was never a specific time to wake up in the morning and get outside for the bus? What if there was never an assignment that needed to be done by 11:59 p.m. There’d be a lot less stress. In my eyes there’d be a lot less meaning.” He added: “The people we interact with on a daily basis make this school like no other.” He challenged his classmates saying “wherever you go, remember it’s nice to be important but it’s more important to be nice.”
Following a long-standing tradition, three people were given special awards
This year’s winners are:
Citizen of the Year, Andrea Devlin
Educator of the Year, Shea Ogle
Student of the Year, Madalyn Parquette
Valedictorian: Nicholas Edward Devlin
Salutatorian: Paige Alexis Perry
Graduates 2026:
Caleb Bailey, Anthony Beaudette, Leah Ellen Benzie, Christina Blanchard, Kaylee Ann Borders, Ayden Boucher, Sami H. Bouzrak, Audrina Kadence Buzanoski, Ceydian M. Campos, Ella Grace Carota, Gabriell Cerasiello, Alissa R. Challinor, Alexa Leigh DeLeon, Nicholas Edward Devlin, Brynn Dignam, Alyssa R. Farris, Devin Fleck, Caeden Ethan Frenier, Landon Fry, Maeve Gabbard, Joselin Estrella Garcia Osorio, Evan Mayo Garvey, Alexis Delilah Anne Goff, Kenneth David Lambrix Goloski, Aaron E. Gray, Kianna Griffin, Benjamin Rosario David Gustafson, Chloe Mae Hebert, Jordan Marie Heydecker, Jayce Jodoin, Eliza Joslin.
Also, Madeleine E. Kimball, Julius Anthony Lang, Casey Levesque, Aidan Steven Edward Martin, Gavin Matte, Abdoulaye Malick Mbye, Cali Jean McCaughey, Aiden Membreno, Vanessa Mendard, Collin Mondino, Genesis Morales, Kaydence Alissabeth Morris, Carter J. Murawski, Damien Nicholas, Elijah Jasai Nieves, Ana Carolina Vieira Oliveira, Aviana Olson Suarez, Madalyn Rahaim Parquette, Jacob Pedersen, Esteban Suarez Perez, Paige Alexis Perry, MiKaylah E. Renaud, Kasyn Oliver Robillard, Kaylin Rodrigues, Devin Sharay Sanchez, Marcelo Sousa Dos Santos, Nicholas Sterling, Nathaniel Sudol, Joel Therrien, Madison May Thomas, Ger’Vonnie James Tilson, Jordan Michael Travisano, Joseph Richard Vergoni, Mikayla Aleithea Walford, Ariana Young.
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captions:
page 1: Student of the Year: Madalyn Parquette. More photos on page 6. Expanded photo array Wed. night on our FB page. Linda Lemmon photo.
page 6:
Kianna Rose Griffin fan club, complete with custom T-shirts.
The band heads into the gym.
The Putnam school singers
The Devlin Family