CARRABASSETT VALLEY – The Richard Bell Memorial Chapel at Sugarloaf/USA was packed last Saturday with family and friends attending the 2003 graduation of 23 seniors from Carrabassett Valley Academy.

The top five seniors who attended the academy for two of more years included Adam Ryan Gibney, Krista Hoisington, Sally Swallow, Renee Thibodeau and Amy Witherspoon.

Headmaster John Ritzo also presented diplomas to Jason Cook, Kyle Cota, Ronald DiGravio, Jennah Durham, Mark Grzankowski, Jin Bae Hin, Bradley Kreuz, Alex Lund, James Pelletier, Theron Pense, Ian Dunwoody McReel Poirier, Melissa Poirier, Andrew Ricker, Samuel Sweetser, Samuel Tarolli, Jared Terrio, James West and Christopher Yindra.

Certificates of Attendance were presented to Brian Dupris, Christopher Gebhardt, Bethany Lyons and Galen Wilk.

The Invocation was given by the Rev. Pam Morse, co-pastor of the Sugarloaf Area Christian Ministry. Graduate Sally Swallow, soprano, sang a solo accompanied by Chiharu Naruse.

The commencement address was given by Seth Wescott, CVA alumnus and a member of the United States Snowboard Team.

The honor speakers were valedictorian Renee Thibodeau and salutatorian Krista Hoisington. The senior class choice was Theron Pense, and the faculty choice was Jennah Durham.

Academic awards presented to graduates included English to Jennah Durham and Adam Gibney, history to Theron Pense, Cody Yindra and Renee Thibodeau, science to Jennah Durham, French to James West, math to Renee Thibodeau and publications to Adam Gibney.