RANGELEY – Rangeley Lakes Regional School Principal Donald Salm welcomed friends and families of the 21 graduates of the class of 2005 with a succinct message Saturday.
“This will be a unique ceremony,” he said.
During the next couple of hours, Salm’s words certainly rang true, as the school honored the graduating seniors one-by-one in an intimate ceremony, void of any keynote speakers, that brought several students to tears and many family members to their feet.
The ceremony began with a quick procession, as each student filed onto a small stage set up in the gym, complete with only enough seats for those in the class.
After some special thanks and dedications, Valedictorian Kelly Brooks and Salutatorian Sarah Schrader took the microphone, co-reading a speech about the value of community and friendship.
“This community has shared so much with us, offering us comfort and security,” the two said, as they choked up with emotion.
They then connected their message of friendship with a painting that the two of them had drawn together.
“Art is a friendship,” they said. “It never leaves, and it always listens.”
Next up was Rhea Golub, who sang “I Will Remember You,” which received a standing ovation from the packed crowd, and brought tears from a few of her classmates.
Later on in the ceremony the students received awards and scholarships from various groups, and then each had the opportunity to hand roses to family members and exchange embraces.
Following the rose presentations, students moved to a different corner of the gym, where a large screen was set up to show their class video.
The video consisted of pictures of each student, progressing from baby shots, right up through their senior portraits.
Then the graduates’ parents took over with a similar video, only instead of music accompanying the graduates’ pictures, the parents each said a few words of reflection and advice about their children.
Next came the moment they’d all been waiting for, as each graduate had his or her name called and came down to receive a diploma.
After the ceremony, all the students went outside and waited in a line by the exit to greet friends and family and receive congratulations from the community.
Comments are no longer available on this story