Danbury High School 2009 Commencement held June 7
By Michelle OlmsteadPeninsula News InternOn a warm and sunny Sunday afternoon, 36 seniors received their diplomas in the Danbury High School gymnasium.Although the class of 2009 was small in numbers, the two honorary speakers had mighty aspirations for their peers.Salutatorian Jacqueline Lammers spoke first with words of inspiration. While acknowledging the hardships of the economic recession, she had high hopes for her graduating class. “All of us have the ability to make a difference,” she said. “We can be scared or disappointed by the way our economy is looking today, but we don’t have to be. Let us be the new leaders in society. Let us change what has been broken. Let us create jobs and opportunities that will change things around us. Let us be the shining light in the sea of darkness.”Valedictorian Tikhon Ruggles addressed his peers next. He challenged the class of 2009 to create the best future possible, while still remembering the importance of their past. “The future is one of the few things that we as humans can truly control,” he said. “It is our responsibility to never be complacent, to never just be satisfied with accepting the way things are, to never stop trying to build a future that truly reflects our desires. As we look to the future we must also be careful not to forget the past. We are not here because of the path that lies before us. We are here because of the path that lies behind us. Our class experiences have shaped us into what we are.”Departmental awards were announced after the honorary addresses, as well as special awards for attendance, citizenship, and involvement in school activities.Although it had not been awarded at all for the past three graduating classes, the Perfect Attendance Award was received by three seniors from the class of 2009. Troy Hammersmith, Will Klaehn and Ben Pusateri had never been tardy and did not miss more than one-half day each year during all four years of high school.Principal Karen Abbott was the final speaker to take the podium. “The high school diploma is no longer the end of the road; it is just the beginning,” she advised. “You will need complex skills in this technical world and education, formal or informal. As you leave today, take your heritage with you because that is who you are. Don’t forget to help others along the way, look for opportunities, and be optimistic. Life is what you make of it. Take your passion and prepare, and go after those possibilities. Lead an ethical life and always seek more education.” Heritage, optimism, preparation, and education — the first letter of each concept purposely spelled out the word “hope.”In her final words, Abbott reiterated the 2009 class motto (by Theodore Roosevelt.) “Every great journey starts with a single footstep,” she said. “Good luck class of 2009 on that journey.”
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