CAPE ELIZABETH — Beneath a
brilliant blue sky Sunday at Fort Williams Park, Cape Elizabeth High School
sent 136 graduates out into the world.
It was
within that palette that social studies teacher Gretchen McNulty spoke in her
faculty address of the "brilliant potential" of each graduate. While
listing the many vibrant hues of the day, McNulty said it would be safer for
graduates to work within the lines of a coloring book – within "someone else's template for life" – than to henceforth choose a subject and a medium of one's
own.
"My
sincere true hope for all of you is that you have the courage to throw that
template out and draw a picture of your own," she said.
As he
called out the abilities and accomplishments of his fellow students in his
senior address, Alexander Enna seemed to harbor little doubt that McNulty's
wish would be fulfilled.
"If
there is a group of people whose determination is strong enough to withstand
the hard times, to relish in the good ones, and to always move forward, it is
this group of students," he said. "I know that, come what may, we can
do it."
Meanwhile,
valedictorian Ethan DiNinno said success is measured in the large, bold
brushstrokes.
"We
haven't grown up until we realize that life isn't about Christmas, or Easter,
or birthdays," he said. "It's not about the first day of school, or
the last. It's not about prom, or graduation. It's not about weddings, or
children being born. It's not about getting a promotion, or retiring.
"Sure,"
said DiNinno, "those things happen. But if you weigh them against all the
days in which you just got to school, or work, and come home, they are a very
small part of life. Our value is measured is what we do with the ordinary
days."
DiNinno
encouraged his fellow graduates to think about the small moments in between the
big ones in the days and years to come. Even today, he noted, repercussions can
be felt from a first-grade decision to invite a classmate into a game, or to
send that person away with a discouraging word.
"It
may not seem like much, but thousands of little decisions like that add up to
far more than the few big ones we agonize over," said DiNinno. "Some
of us were good friends, others not so much. But all, and I mean all, have
helped shape you, and you have helped shape us because, even if we were not the
ones beside you on the special days, we spent the ordinary ones together."
But as he
led the turning of the tassels, Luke Sisselman, for one, refused to reflect on
ordinary things on what was likely the biggest day to date in the lives of many
of the graduating seniors. Class president for all four years of high school,
"by your support and a lack of anyone else running," Sisselman
encouraged his peers to fill the moment.
"People
say Cape Elizabeth is too competitive. It's not that we're competitive, we're
just better," he said, to a chorus of wild cheers. "Now, I can't wait
to see us all enter the world and be better."
Among the
best of Sisselman's "better" class are nine students singled out
during graduation ceremonies with “excellence
awards." An annual tradition, the awards are given not only to recognize
achievement within the outgoing class, but also to inspire those who will
follow in their footsteps.
“These individuals are the standard by
which others will be measured for years to come, in the classroom, on the
playing field or stage, and in the community,” said Principal Jeffrey Shedd.
Katie
Lisa Award for Determination and Achievement
Named for a long-time high school
social worker, this award is given to a student who has overcome obstacles to
achieve great things.
For Donald Clark, described by Shedd
as “140
pounds of pure heart,” those
obstacles were the defensive linemen he went over, around and through on the
way to becoming a finalist for the Fitzpatrick Award, the highest individual
honor in Maine high school football.
Recognized by Shedd for “tenacity,
resilience, and an unwillingness to accept limitations that would hold back
others,” in ice hockey as well as
football, Clark also served as an example in the classroom.
“As a student, he comes for
extra help, asks questions and digs constantly deeper. His academic work ethic
and resilience will take him far,”
said Shedd. “The fact that he works hard
for everything explains in part why other students look up to him.”
Although “significant
health issues” kept Clark's co-recipient,
Clarice Dibold, from anything approaching perfect attendance, that did not stop
her from “achieving at the highest
level,” said Shedd.
“She has at times been
frustrated, discouraged and exhausted. But she never gives up,”
he explained. “She has always been resolute
in her desire to learn, to grow, to create and to enjoy. We admire her for her
determination to fully use her gifts, despite adversity that would have
discouraged those with less heart.”
Described as “profoundly
kind,”
Dibold is a student who, in the words of art teacher Mary Hart, “brings
determination, a cheerful attitude and intelligence to everything she takes on.”
SCHOOL
SPIRIT CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Co-recipients Noah Backer and Sam
Donnelly exemplify this award, said Shedd, by being students “widely
seen as making our school a better place through their enthusiasm, attitude,
ideas, and actions.”
Both young men, said Shedd, were a
leading reason visiting football teams and referees often marvel to Cape
coaches and administrators “on how
positively spirited our fans are.”
In addition to their sideline spirit,
Backer brought “energy and supportiveness”
to his role as a Natural Helper, to the pool as a member of the swim team and
to the Ultimate Frisbee team he helped found and lead to second place in the
state competition.
For his part, Donnelly, who vows to
be the high school’s vice principal one day, was
described by Shedd as “rapidly
moving tornado” in movement on the basketball
court and lacrosse field, and of ideas in the classroom.
“Always seeking out
administration to sell his well-thought-out ideas, he is enthusiastic,
intelligent, and dedicated to his class, school, and community,”
said Shedd.
Citizenship
Award for Character and Leadership
Presented
to students who lead through force of character, this award singles out
individuals who “have the courage to act on
their convictions regardless of what others may think.”
This year, that best described Brian Brett and Sasha Lennon.
Although Shedd admitted that Brett is
“probably
not the most gifted athlete on any team he has been a part of,”
he added, “nobody has worked harder to
improve himself as an athlete.
"On the playing field, his
combination of drive, competitiveness and compassion are on display every
day," said Shedd. "He plays with a physical abandon that must
sometimes make his parents cringe, yet he is the first to extend a helping hand
to an opponent who has landed on the turf."
That same "positive energy,
strong work ethic, and compassion" spilled over into the classroom, said
Shedd, making Brett someone school officials "can and have turned to when
another student is isolated and needs a positive role model and friend."
Lennon also put herself out there as
a friend, befriended a student who "needed a visible friend," and
eating lunch with that student regularly for three years. A founding members of
SEED, a group determined to find positive outlets for social energies, Lennon
is well-known, said Shedd, for the "endlessly positive attitude" that
she put to use overcoming initial academic challenges to excel at the highest
level.
"In class, she asks questions
others have on their minds, yet are reluctant to ask," said Shedd.
"That’s leadership, just another
dimension of the leadership that led to her selection as captain of the soccer
and lacrosse teams."
Good Samaritan citizenship award
The recipients of this award, Emily
Mitchell and Max Gore, have proven their dedication to the service of others,
either in the school or the greater Portland area, said Shedd, "not
because of the plaudits that good deeds may bring, but because of the intrinsic
value of offering a helping hand."
Said to be "passionate about
people," Mitchell has raised money for Hope Village, supported teammates
on the volleyball, ski and tennis teams, and served as a member of the youth
ministry at her church, "always looking out for others."
Since freshman year, Mitchell also
has volunteered at Piper Shores Retirement Community. "The residents love
her and the staff members rave about her," said Shedd. This year, Mitchell
led a senior-to-senior initiative, bringing 11 of her classmates to Piper
Shores for a total of 84 volunteer hours in the service to Cape's senior
citizens.
Gore
also was lauded for "a heart of gold." He is "one of the few
people everyone considers a sincere,
friendly and a truly selfless individual," wrote one of his fellow
graduates, in nominating him for recognition.
Gore's
contributions, said Shedd, include mentoring other students at lunch, teaching
and coaching young athletes, volunteering at the soup kitchen, helping to raise
money for Hope for Haiti and working as a counselor-in-training at the
Community Services Summer Day Camp.
"For
just being the best friend, teammate, son and big brother he can be, this young
man is so deserving of the award," said Shedd.
COMMITMENT
TO EXCELLENCE CITIZENSHIP AWARD
Those singled out for this award have
“demonstrated
a passion for a subject, sport, or activity that has resulted in their
achieving a level of excellence widely recognized by others.”
That certainly describes Noelle Webster, who has shown her artwork
professionally since age 10, going on to win numerous medals and awards
throughout her high school career, including a Scholastic Art Award Gold Key in
her sophomore year and the National American Vision Medal Recipient for Maine,
delivered at New York City’s Carnegie
Hall at the end of her junior year.
“This young artist combines a
core of pure kindness and compassion for all, with a sense of optimism, and a dash
of pure fun,” said Shedd. “She
brings out the best in others, both in her life, and in her work.”
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