Carrabassett Valley Academy’s graduating class of 2007 is pictured above. From the left in front are Ashley Kate Durham, Heather Doolittle, Samantha Boylan, Kristen Sweeney, Bryana Mitchell, Katharine von Herrmann and Dana Smith; second row, Robert Moss, Chase Nelson, Emilio Botero, Banks Gilberti and Adam Weil; third row, John Poulin, Jeremy Cota and Ross Horrelt; back, Kyle Mathieu, Ryder Hochman, Barrett Cox, Marc Gelabert Guillot, Evan Olmsted and Matt Garand.

CV Academy graduates class

CARRABASSETT VALLEY – Carrabassett Valley Academy’s graduating class of 2007 gathered with faculty, staff, family and friends for their commencement in the Richard Bell Chapel on May 26.

Sitting with Sugarloaf Mountain in the background, the 23 graduates were greeted by Headmaster John Ritzo, who said, “Seniors this is your day. This commencement ceremony brings to a close the CVA careers of a very successful group of students. Your positive leadership combined with your focus on achievement and your cooperative and appreciative approach towards your teachers and coaches has made this a most memorable year for all of us.”

CVA alumnus Eric Chamberlain delivered the commencement address. “Given the distinguished list of previous graduation speakers, complete with Olympians, world champions and athletes that have traveled the globe and accomplished great things, I am but a humble 38-year-old educator from Maine who is proud to say that he has been happily married for more than 14 years.

“I have two amazing daughters who are talented musicians and strong students, I live and work on the beautiful coast of Maine, am debt free and get to kayak and ski a fair amount. Why anyone wants to hear about life from a guy like me, I will never know. Maybe I should take a rain check and try to come back in 20 years when I have accomplished something great…”

Chamberlain’s remarks went on to illustrate, from his own CVA experience and after, the difference between regrets and mistakes.

He used the last line from his favorite poem, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “A Psalm of Life,” “Learn to labor and wait.” Chamberlain closed, blending his words with those of Longfellow, “Learn from your mistakes, leave behind no regrets, learn to labor and wait.”

Valedictorian Katherine von Herrmann, salutatorians Dana Smith and Kristen Sweeney, the class speaker, Jeremy Cota, and faculty choice speaker, Matt Garand, addressed the graduates.

Several graduates received awards. Bryana Mitchell received the Headmaster Award; Cota, the David Holmes Most Improved Student Award; and Garand, the Benjamin Weisbein Award.

Junior Stefan Lyons earned the CVA Alumni Award and Katie Houser the J. Keith jPenninger Award.