JAY— “Small class with big goals,” Lindsay Couture said about her fellow Jay High School Class of 2011 classmates.

 The Jay High School Tigerdome was packed with family and friends as Couture and 47 other JHS seniors received their high school diplomas Sunday afternoon.

Sunday’s graduation was also a milestone for the community — the last graduation from Jay High School before the merger with RSU 36, which includes the Livermore and Livermore Falls schools.

The ceremony began with Class of 2011 Marshals Marlee Dubord and Rose LeBlanc leading the processional march to the musical refrain of Pomp and Circumstance, played by the Jay High School Band.

“Seems like only yesterday when we first arrived here,” Brittany DiPompo, the class vice president, said in her welcome address. “Congratulations to the Class of 2011 and good luck in your plans for college, the military or the workplace.”

“Through the four years we have shared together,” Valedictorian Britni Hutchinson said, “there’s been an ever-present sense of teamwork in this class. We have stayed strong through the tough times and regardless of any differences we may have had, we have believed in each other.”

Bethany Moore, class president and salutatorian, encouraged her fellow students in their future endeavors. “As we enter the future,” she said, “we will be stepping out of our comfort zones after four years at Jay High School. We have to believe in ourselves and keep moving forward. Remember the quote by Walt Disney, ‘Whatever you do, believe in all of your abilities.'”

“We are the last class to graduate from Jay High School,” Moore added, “yet Jay Pride and Tiger Spirit will flow through our veins for the rest of our lives.”

Graduating senior Kayla Maurais sang, with a guitar accompanist, “Never Grow Up” by Taylor Swift and was rewarded with a standing ovation from the audience.

Maurais’ performance was followed by Courtney Webster, the Jay School Board student representative, who  delivered the sentiments and introduction of the principal address.

“Remember classmates,” Webster said, “you are capable of anything … trust in yourself and know that this school and this community always has your back.”

“Thank you, Mr. Eaton, for your good-morning smiles, always having an open door to us, for what you have taught us … we couldn’t ask for a better principal,” Webster said.

“It is with a great deal of pleasure that we have come together for the graduation of these seniors,” JHS Principal Gilbert Eaton said. “This has been a fine year and congratulations to the seniors for their accomplishments.”

Gilbert then presented 117 awards and scholarships, totaling $238,845.

The diplomas were presented by Eaton, guidance counselor Ryan Soucy, Jay Schools Superintendent Robert Wall and Daniel DiPompo, Jay School Board Committee member.

“This was a great bunch of kids, a truly nice group of seniors,” Eaton said after the ceremony. “This was a very well-done, traditional ceremony. Tradition is strong here in Jay.”

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