ANDOVER – Maxine (Dresser) Thurston, Class of 1949, Andover High School, had some advice for members of the Class of 2007 when she spoke at the annual alumni banquet on May 26.

“Remember where you came from,” she told the four senior girls present, reminding them to look to the future with enthusiasm, knowing they had grown up in a caring community which wasn’t about to forget them as they left their hometown behind. Thurston, a University of Maine graduate and longtime Vermont resident, added, “This town will always be in back of you, supporting what you do.”

Thurston passed out favors to Mountain Valley High School seniors Lauren Gammon and Abby Mills and Telstar High School seniors Jennifer Learned and Kayla Morin. Members of the Class of 2007 who did not attend the banquet were Joseline Belanger, Nicholas Hammond and Jessica Putnam, Telstar, and Owen Barter, Gould Academy, Bethel.

Glen and Kathy Conrad serve as co-presidents of the Andover Alumni Association, sponsors of the event attended by nearly 120 alumni, parents and friends. Conrad’s mother, Nonie Stecher of Bethel, obtained a caterer for the dinner, acted as liaison with the schools, collected raffles and decorated. Others seated at the head table were the Rev. Jane Rich., the Rev. and Mrs. Kenneth Wagstaff, Maxine and Harmon Thurston and Blake Conrad, who spoke about life one year after graduating from Telstar.

Abby Mills received both the Anna Thurston Memorial Scholarship of $1,000 and the John B. and Eunice Fox Memorial Scholarship, also $1,000.

Nicholas Hammond will receive the Sweatt Family Memorial Scholarship for $1,000, as well as the Michael Marston Memorial Book Award for Outstanding Region 9 Student. All graduating seniors from Andover who are seeking further education will receive scholarship aid in varying amounts through the Andover Education Fund.

One of the top 10 at Telstar, Jennifer Learned, received the Andover Service Circle Community Service Award, as well as the Andover Alumni Association math and science awards for the highest ranks for a senior. She also received the East Andover Community Club Award for “leadership, school activities, cooperation, character and scholarship” and the Lila Farrington Memorial Scholarship award for Andover seniors in the top 10. Although absent, it was announced that Joseline Belanger was also named recipient of an East Andover Community Club award.

The Allyson Hodsdon Memorial Award for “excellence in junior literature” went to Ether Pew, a member of the Class of 2008 at Telstar. She also received an Andover Alumni Association award for highest rank in math. Others receiving a math award were freshman Amy Jane Mahar and sophomore Whitney Mills

As Kathy Conrad read their names, students from kindergarten through high school seniors assembled at the front of the room to receive their Walter Fox Book Awards for “scholarship, faithfulness and conduct.” Age-appropriate books went to: Megan Chaisson, kindergarten; Abbigail Wheeler, grade one; George Wheeler, grade two; Alan Theriault, grade three; Courtney Currier, grade four; Hunter Gray, grade five; Gabrielle Conrad, grade six; Adam Mahar, grade seven; Elek Pew, grade eight; Amy Jane Mahar, grade nine; Whitney Mills, grade 10, Brianne Bailey, grade 11; and Kayla Morin, grade 12.

Seniors introduced themselves and said a few words about their post-graduation plans followed by roll call and a tribute to the late Violet Swain who, although not an Andover Alumni, served the association as vice president for five years.