Schools

Suffield High Graduates Class of 2013

205 seniors graduated from Suffield High School Saturday.

Suffield High held its 74th annual commencement ceremony Saturday, presenting diplomas to 205 graduating seniors.

With clear skies giving way to plenty of sunshine overhead, the graduates were given plenty of words of wisdom in hopes they'll go on to lead lives that are equally as bright.

Delivering an intimate farewell address to her seniors, Principal Donna Hayward left the speakers' lectern and stood before the graduates for an "eye-to-eye" message.

It was an unlikely time when she began to think about commencement day and the message she would deliver: last December's winter concert, Hayward said.

As the chorus sang her favorite carol, "Little Drummer Boy," she thought about the song's meaning with respect to what we do with our livs.

"Your ability to give something greater than yourself has nothing to do with the size of your bank account or your station in life. A small, poor boy, with only his drum, played his best to contribute to something greater than himself," she said. 

Listening to the song, "I thought of this day and fervently hope that each of you would find your drum and play your best on whatever path you choose from this day forward," she added.

Students in Suffield High's class of 2013 will take many different paths, Hayward said, but she hopes those paths will be powered by passion and give rise to heroes, "which, quite frankly, we could use more of."

This year has brought us stories of heroes like Sandy Hook's Victoria Soto, "who had followed her passion and was playing her best drum for her little first graders when her passion was tested like I'm certain she never imagined," Hayward said. "I still hear her drum beat."

Hayward also shared the stories of Newtown educators Dawn Hochsprung and Mary Scherlach, and Moore, Oklahoma teacher Ladonna Cobb, who saved her students from harm when a deadly tornado swept through town.

"My greatest hope for you this morning is that you find passion like that... no matter what you choose to do. And my greatest prayer for you is that your passion is never tested like that."


2013's class scholars include Sautatorian Hannah Gardocki and Valedictorian Katherine Silva.

Both graduates told stories that echoed the core of Hayward's address, in that they conveyed tales of personal discovery through taking chances and developing passion.

The collective attitude of Saturday's graduates was probably best captured by Class President Katelyn Madison's welcome address, in which she thanked everyone in attendance for their support over the years before saying, "It's now our time to wow you. Sit back and watch as we achieve amazing feats."





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