Schools

195 Seniors Graduate from Suffield High School

Suffield High School's 73rd series of commencement exercises sent 195 graduates into the world with their diplomas.

saw 195 seniors officially complete their high school careers as advice and goodbyes were given, music was performed and diplomas were issued Saturday.

Seniors sat on bleachers on Suffield High School's turf field, boys in blue gowns and girls in white, facing their friends and family and the school building where they spent innumerable hours.

A dais held Suffield school officials, including Superintendent Karen Baldwin, Principal Donna Hayward and Suffield Board of Education members. A few faculty members addressed the seniors as did three of their classmates.

Find out what's happening in Suffieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Senior Class President Peri Stevens was the first to speak to the assembled crowd, reflecting on the time the seniors spent together and what lies ahead. She asked her classmates to trust their inner voices, their inner selves.

"Now we must grow and learn to follow our own paths," Stevens said.

Find out what's happening in Suffieldwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Suffield Board of Education Chairwoman Sue Porcello provided a greeting from her board, congratulating the graduates and noting that they are the product of 13 years of education, with many spending all of those years in Suffield schools. She called the seniors "accomplished young adults ready to go out into the world."

"Go out and live, not just exist," Porcello said.

Salutatorian Lara Maleyeff spoke of the importance of individuality and the freedom of graduating.

"Passion and creativity, not obedience, will change the world," she said.

Following addresses from valedictorian Emma Sikes and Hayward, Baldwin presented the class and senior officers called the roll. Diplomas were presented, caps were thrown and graduates celebrated, then left the field in their final act as Suffield High School students.

Suffield students are continuing on to college (172 students), the work force (14), vocational training (9) and the military (2).

"We'll always be the Suffield High School class of 2012," Stevens said. "It ends with us."


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