OLD ORCHARD BEACH — In the moments before the Old Orchard Beach High School graduation began, graduating seniors were darting across the lawn of the Salvation Army Pavilion. Dressed in robes of blue and white, the soon-to-be-graduates made sure to get in some last-minute hugs and photos, both with fellow students and high school staff. It was clear that this particular group of students is a close-knit community.
“I don’t look at them as a class,” said David Berlin, one member of the Class of 2011, “I see them as family.”
Old Orchard Beach High School’s 128th Commencement Exercise began at 2 p.m. on Sunday, with a packed audience of family, friends and teachers.
As the students lined up to march, they adjusted their cords and sashes, along with two other meaningful accessories: The first a handmade, candy-filled lei, created for each of the 55 graduates by the mother of senior Romney-Andrew Latu, and the second item held a more solemn meaning: Each student wore a black bracelet that said “In memory of Joshua Bolduc,” honoring their former classmate.
In February of 2008, in the second half of his freshman year, Joshua was killed by Matthew Cushing, his half-brother. Cushing, who also killed Joshua’s father, Chris Bolduc, and mother, Carol Bolduc, received a life sentence for his actions.
“It hit us hard, it hit our class hard,” said senior Kelsey Koenigs of Joshua’s death, saying that it was “very tragic.”
The seniors considered leaving a seat open on stage for him, representing the place he would have had graduating with his classmates. However, Koenigs and other students thought that it would be best to each carry something with them, showing that they were all thinking of Joshua on that special day.
After marching in to “Pomp and Circumstance,” as performed by the concert band, the graduates took their seats on the pavilion stage. Senior Kathryn Hatch led the crowd in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and was followed by the jazz choir, who performed the national anthem.
After everyone was seated, senior Brandon Pratt and some of his fellow classmates approached the podium. Pratt and the other young men were all close friends with Josh Bolduc, and together they asked that everyone have a moment of silence in his memory.
Prior to the granting of diplomas, the top three members of the Class of 2011 made their speeches. Maryanne LaFollette, who will be attending the University of Maine, told an anecdote about her young cousin defiantly tasting the wrong end of her first strawberry. LaFollette pointed out the importance of trying, and yes, sometimes failing, in order to learn.
“We are unique. We have experience under our belts. We’ve tasted the bad end of the strawberry a time or two, and we’ve learned,” she said.
Gillian Foss, who will be attending Marist College, compared the class’ collaboration and relationship to a good recipe.
“Every person and every ingredient needs to work together harmoniously in order to achieve the greatest possible result,” said Foss. It was that banding together that Foss said helped her family get through her mother’s diagnosis of breast cancer.
“It was this community, particularly my peers and teachers, who helped my family recover the vitality that was so precious to us,” said Foss.
Class President and Valedictorian Taylor Mezoian was the last to speak. Mezoian, who will be attending Providence College, spoke about the different times in life that people are asked that same, sometimes scary, question: “Where do you think you’re going?”
While admitting that after graduating they may not know the answer, Mezoian pointed out that it’s the journey that matters.
“Our lives are going to progress, tomorrows are going to become yesterdays, and we are all going to change,” said Mezoian. “But that’s the exciting part!”
Following the speeches, Principal Rick DiFusco and Superintendent Michael Lafortune began the granting of diplomas. As each student received their degree, cheers erupted from excited crowd. Before they finally moved their tassels, DiFusco offered the class some final kind words.
“You are a special class that has shown so much care and compassion for one another,” he said to the graduates. “You will be missed.”
— Erin Sullivan is an intern with the Journal Tribune, a graduate of Old Orchard Beach High School and a student at Assumption College.
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