Wednesday, June 15, was a great day to be a Ram as 281 students of New Canaan High School moved on to the next chapter of their lives. Some reflected like senior Kate McMahon, who addressed the crowd, “Thank you for the past 720 days, days that included 130 teachers here at NCHS, five different standardized tests, three high school principals, three superintendents, 22 snow days, 313 sleepless nights give or take, some tears of fear but more tears of joy and one piece of paper to remember this all.”
Others enjoyed the moment smiling for photos and dancing off the stage in excitement for what lies ahead.
Blue skies and plenty of sunshine served as a beautiful backdrop for the couple hours spent by friends, family, and the rest of the community showing plenty of support despite the sweltering heat radiating from Dunning’s turf.
Those who prefer air-conditioning, or were unable to attend the graduation ceremony had access to a live-stream on NCAdvertiser.com thanks to an effort from the NCHS student charged NCTV-78 station. NCTV produced a professional quality broadcast of the flawless ceremony.
For more on NCTV-78: NCHS students, face of NCTV-78
NCHS Chamber Orchestra rendition of Bittersweet Symphony #NCHSGrad16 pic.twitter.com/IeVTVJ1iS6
— Rich Durazzo, Jr. (@RichDurazzo_NCA) June 15, 2016
Student performances included the Star Spangled Banner and An Irish Blessing by NCHS Concert Choir members, and Bittersweet symphony by the NCHS Chamber Orchestra.
Ten members of the New Canaan High School community addressed the crowd of over a thousand families and friends of the Class of 2016 at Dunning Field.
Below are some of the highlights:
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Graduate Griffin Hall on his time at NCHS: Nurture over nature
Graduate Griffin Hall delivering a moment of reflection. — Dave Stewart photo
“I believe firmly in the power of nurture over the tendencies of nature; in other words, you are who you grow with. To our teachers and parents: thank you. Thank you for providing an incubator, one we’ve been happy to inhabit. But now we are being evicted, which is a bit awkward. Fortunately, by now the class of 2016 has become somewhat independent and fully self-perpetuating, always pushing to better itself.
“That personal record you set on the track. The record amount of touchdowns you threw. That high note you just belted out for the first time. That first time you got an A-plus on a physics test, or maybe the first time you passed one. That all happens because we work hard to be the best version of ourselves we can be. We have endless options in the future, but only one for how to do it: do it darn well.”
Graduate Josh Klapper’s reflection: No one gives it to you
“It’s been four years since we all wrote terrible vignettes about our pets for Child Times. Three years since we all cried over our first D on a test. Two years since many of us slogged through three hours of our first AP exam. And one year since we were all introduced to the CommonApp.
“Look how everything, all our tests, all our games, all our achievements, have culminated in this moment. And yet, four years is not really that long. Game of Thrones has been on the air longer. If high school seemed to come and go in a flash, just imagine what next year, and the three years following, are going to feel like.
“They say that we, all of us, are nothing less than conquerors. We’ve outmatched the element of surprise, and going forward, we will be unyielding in the face of pressure and disappointment.
No one gives it to you; I think we’ve all learned that. We’ve earned our seats here today, and the title Class of 2016 is one that we will forever wear with pride.”
Congratulations NCHS Class of 2016 #NCHSGrad16 pic.twitter.com/AadRpiXPUu
— Rich Durazzo, Jr. (@RichDurazzo_NCA) June 15, 2016
NCHS graduate Meredith Luchs: Love thyself
“It took me from kindergarten until just recently to realize that I really only knew the copper rule, or maybe the bronze rule, because I was missing an entire half of the Golden rule!
‘Love thy neighbor as thyself.’ Think about it, what’s the second half?
‘Love thyself.’
And it clicked, it made so much sense. You can’t give more than you have. You can’t love someone else any more than you love yourself.
The self is defined, solely, by our own infinite capacity to love. And until we realize what a gift that is, that we all have been given an opportunity as sentient beings to be participators in the highest state of being, in becoming fountains of unconditional love, we not only miss out on realizing our own worth, we miss out on living.”
Mr. Robert Stevenson, teacher, featured speaker: More thoroughly equipped than I was
Mr. Robert Stevenson, teacher, featured speaker addresses the crowd. — Dave Stewart photo
“Society seems mostly unhappy with the current state of education. They’re worried about your generation’s readiness to tackle this world’s problems, but when I look around, I see people who are more thoroughly equipped to take on the future than I ever was.
I stood up to address a class just once in my high school days. When I asked how many times you’ve stood to present ideas and findings, one student said twenty-five and another burst out laughing and said it was closer to one hundred. I followed up, “How many times have you been asked to tackle real-world problems.”
‘Every single day,” the class agreed.
One of my students spends twenty hours each week working on an ambulance. A group of my students spent the last couple months designing, manufacturing and marketing jewelry for a local small business. I’ve worked at creating comics for years and managed to pull together just a few small pamphlets. This year, in an independent study, one of my students created and published a beautifully rendered, full-blown graphic novel.
This past Friday, I had the privilege of accompanying several students who were interning at Harbor Watch out on a research vessel. These interns are doing important science, carefully dredging up muck from the bottom of the harbor, counting and cataloging its aquatic life and reporting findings to the state Department of Environmental Protection to track the health of our water systems.
At every turn, in class and out of it, I have loved getting to know and work with you. I’ve enjoyed greatly your wit, your work, and your unconditionally positive energy.”
Congratulations to NCHS grads #NCHSGrad16 pic.twitter.com/UpVVokxkwL
— Rich Durazzo, Jr. (@RichDurazzo_NCA) June 15, 2016
First Selectman Rob Mallozzi: Teachers and administrators who care.
“You see, the best vantage point is the one you can’t really see from your seats. It’s the view I have when all of us on this stage leave and line up opposite each other while the graduates walk down in between us on the far sidelines of Dunning Field. The high fives, the hugs, kisses, the dialogue between these graduates and their teachers / administrators tells the real success story of their high school experience. It’s about teachers and administrators who care. It’s about teachers and administrators who have encouraged personal growth. It’s about teachers and administrators who weren’t just going through the motions, but who fully went along with the ride.”
New Canaan High School Principal Bill Egan: Adapt and thrive
“Today marks the beginning of a new life filled with change for you. And for so many of us, change can be difficult. Change is exciting, exhilarating, and terrifying. But most of all, change is inevitable. It is ironic, most of us don’t like great change, yet science teaches us that those who don’t adapt may not thrive or survive.”
NCHS Graduation featured on HAN Network’s Coffee Break
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Superintendent of Schools Dr. Bryan Luizzi: Remain true to who you’ve become
“The knowledge and skills you’ve acquired as a student, coupled with the habits of mind and character you’ve developed as a member of our school community, will serve you well in the years ahead. As you take this next step in your lives, if you remain true to what you’ve learned, and to who you’ve become, you will be remarkably well prepared for the complex, and exciting, future that lies ahead.”
Board of Education Chairman Dionna Carlson: Give back
“So as you head off into that great, big, beautiful world that is your future, make sure you take the time to appreciate how you got here. I said earlier, “to whom much is given, much is expected.” I’m not asking you to cure cancer or to solve world hunger, but as I look at the talent in this stadium, some of you just may. What I am asking of each of you is to take stock of all your particular gifts and talents. Find a way to give back to your community. You don’t have to wait until graduation from college, your college communities will have needs of their own. Look for ways to give back. Not only will you improve the lives of others, but your lives will be enriched as well.”
NCHS Class of 2016 President Ali Deambrosio welcoming the crowd. — Dave Stewart photo
Class of 2016 President Ali Deambrosio: Grateful
“New Canaan High School has given us an amazing education, inspiring role models, and an environment where we are able to grow into who we are. I am so unbelievably grateful to be a part of such an incredible group of people, from the teachers that have provided us with a wealth of support and knowledge to the students who so willing absorb it.
“The graduates sitting around me possess the passion, intelligence, talent, and work ethic to not only dream but make their dreams a reality. New Canaan High School has been the training wheels for us to explore making mistakes, like ordering enough mac and cheese to feed a small village, and learning from those mistakes. We are so much wiser than our 14-year-old selves, and that is definitely a good thing. I have full confidence that us graduates will cultivate the skills we learned here in order to become our better selves.”
Congratulations from family and friends #NCHSGrad16 pic.twitter.com/tP6rbWdkWz
— Rich Durazzo, Jr. (@RichDurazzo_NCA) June 15, 2016
Check out the Advertiser’s graduation live-tweet campaign: #NCHSGrad16
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