HEBRON – In a convocation ceremony that included musical interludes by senior Mary Randall of New Gloucester on cello and new faculty member John Lawson on string bass, Hebron Academy recently marked the 204th such gathering in the school’s history with a series of inspirational speeches.

Coming in the wake of a weekend of outdoor trips and activities at locations as far afield as Kezar and Damariscotta lakes, the event was characterized in welcoming remarks by veteran teacher Dave Stonebraker as an academic version of “All-ee, all-ee in free,” the call to reunite after a game of hide-and-seek. Stonebraker went on to speak of vocations and avocations, encouraging students to embark upon their futures with confidence.

Noting the school’s commitment to environmental responsibility, Head of School John King asked students to “make a difference in the lives of your friends, your community and the world.”

Crowning the program as guest speaker, former Hebron faculty member and trustee William Hiss recited a Spanish poem with an allusion to gardening and recalled a job he held as a teenager working for a Norwegian couple who specialized in raising ferns. Finding a special satisfaction in the work, he took from it a life lesson that he passed along: “Whatever you do in life, plant for eternity.”

For more information, visit www.hebronacademy.org or call 966-2100.