Woodstock Class of 2022 class urged to savor small moments
| Published: 06-13-2022 1:47 PM |
WOODSTOCK — Woodstock Union High School’s Class of 2022 received their diplomas in green and gold gowns on Friday night in “the bowl” behind the school — a grassy natural amphitheater — where about 400 guests sat on blankets and in chairs overlooking the ceremony, their applause echoing in the small valley throughout the evening.
This year’s 96 graduates represent Woodstock’s 159th senior class, but “there will only ever be one Class of 2022,” Principal Garon Smail said during his welcome speech.
Later in the ceremony, a performance delivered by five graduates in a “speak chorus” underscored the class’s uniqueness.
The poem, Looking Back to Move Forward, was like a chant in its steady rhythm and quick transition between speakers that varied in volume and tone and included a creative enunciation of every graduate’s name and a brief, but personal, summary of their character.
In one of the vignettes, the speak chorus members chanted: “Nick Linehan: is hardworking, electronics wizard and always checking Facebook Marketplace for a deal.”
“We consciously commit ourselves to” was a common phrase throughout the poem, ending a different way each time, such as to “continuously strive to navigate our world,” “to listen,” “to embrace,” “to create” and “to take a breath.”
“In spite of any separation we are connected,” they added.
Connection and community were repeating themes throughout the graduation.
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Colby Eaton, the class salutatorian, took a quick selfie with the crowd as his background before speaking about the things that matter the most in life.
“It’s the little things that count, the things we say to each other every day,” he said. “We’ll share stories about these good old days.”
He urged his graduating peers to live life through “exploded moments” as often as they can, a concept he learned attending elementary school in Pomfret. An exploded moment is an experience put in slow motion and broken down so that smaller details can be appreciated. This mindful approach to life might allow people to take fewer things for granted, Eaton said.
The valedictorian’s speech expanded on this notion, describing the waking hours of a typical day and how the way people treat others can determine whether those days are bad or good.
Stress, anxiety and exhaustion are all moods experienced by most students at some point during their education, and “it is impossible for others to understand you, especially if you don’t understand yourself,” Valedictorian Wyatt Napier said.
Senior class President Otto Nisimblat added later that at the very least, taking care of ourselves should be a top priority.
“Sleep and (drinking) water will get you far,” he said. “Be kind to yourself and others, the world needs more love.”
After the speeches, Smail brought Eaton to the podium to receive the first diploma; Eaton then stepped in and announced each of his 95 classmates’ names, beckoning them to the stage to shake the hands of several school employees.
The graduates then moved their tassels to the left of their mortarboard caps and marched off the field in a recessional, leaving behind their time as high school students.
Dustin Bean; Memphis Dean Begin, Vermont Technical College, forestry; Wyatt Mark Begin, Vermont Technical College, undecided; Eric Gregory Blanchard, SUNY Cobleskill, diesel technology; Nina Sonia Borzekowski, Brandeis University, theater and computer science; Liam P Brennan, Rochester Institute of Technology, cybersecurity; Lily E Butler, Husson University, forensic science; Hailey Grace Cannon, University of Vermont, business; Jackson Paul Cayer; Chase Thomas Conway; Hayley M. DeCoff; June Elizabeth Dodson, University of Vermont, undecided; Cooper Charles Dorsogna, Lafayette College, humanities; Nora Francis Duane, Saint Joseph’s University, human resource management/theology; Will Duane; Colby G Eaton, Boston University, business; Katrina Genivieve Feddersen, Northern Vermont University, atmospheric science; Nicole Lynn Fullerton, Vermont Technical College, business technology & management; Kip Elias Gaddis, Rochester Institute of Technology, undecided; Quinn Patrick Giordano, George Washington University, international relations; Nathaniel Edward Gnodde, University of Twente, The Netherlands, communication science; Alex Edward Spencer Gray, Vermont Technical College, diesel technician certification; Adrienne Rebecca Guss, Skidmore College, political science and theater; Broc Haggett, excavation work; Skylar Rose Haley, Boston College, biology; Max R. Hambsch, University of Rhode Island, global business management; Colby Brian Hancock, workforce, Dollar General; Liam Joseph Harper, Endicott College, biology; Gabrielle Lucille Hazen-Simuro, The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, psychology; Jake Hecker, James Madison University, undecided; Mackenzie Rose Hewitt, Washington County Community College, criminal justice/conservation law; Taylor Ann Isenor; Mohammed Abass Issaka; Margaret Jackson, Providence College, psychology; Evan Daniel Joaquin, University of Vermont, environmental engineering; Kellan Morgan Johannensen; Cooper Allen Jones, University of Vermont, business administration; Meridian Zia Joy-Piper, The University of Tampa, entrepreneurship; Lilly Anne Kowalczyk; Evan Vincent Kurash, St. Lawrence University, undecided; Carolyn Leibly, Wellesley College, linguistics; Nicholas Robert Edward Lenahan, workforce, construction and mechanic trades; Ryan James Leonard; Hannah Madisen Lockhart, Gordon College, physical therapy; Robby Jonathan Macri; Emmet Thomas Mahoney, University of Puget Sound, undecided; Nixon Marcel Malik, University of Miami, computer science; Tess Adina Malloy, Skidmore College, undecided; Brighton Tsien Lin Martsolf-Tan, San Diego State University, art with emphasis in multimedia & communication; Jackson Martsolf-Tan; Abigail Georgie Masillo, Lehigh University, business; Eli Benjamin Mitchell, University of Vermont, undecided; Genevieve Elsie Morel, defer then Occidental College, studio art; Bronwyn Singer Morris, Boston University, biology with focus on genetics/pre-med; Morgan Elizabeth Myers, Rensselear Polytechnic Institute, computer science; Wyatt James Napier, Boston University, computer science; Otto Henry Nisimblat, Boston College, business; Sophie Luna B Noel, University of Washington, pre-health sciences/biology; Aiden Anne O’Neill, Hampshire College, undecided; Anya Merianna Olmstead, dental assistant and traveling; Montana V Osinski; Reese M. Palmer, workforce, carpenter and welding; Adriana Ester Perez, Think College Vermont at the University of Vermont; Endine Cecelia Peters, gap year to travel; Alixx Raymond Phillips-Heidelmeier, Johnson & Wales University, culinary/hospitality management; Keaton Armour Piconi, St. John Fisher College, sport management; Owen Henry Quicker, Marquette University, communications; Hannah Reed, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, environmental and informational science; Alexander Hart Rice, Saint Mary’s University, commerce; Meredith Kaitlin Rieger, College of Charleston, business administration; Ryan David Rogers; Ryan Runstein; Nathan Lee Satterfield, Brandeis University, undecided; Grace Lenor Rose Scibetta, University of Vermont, undecided; Mars Kathleen Sell, Smith College, gender and women’s studies; Seamus Shortle, Community College of Vermont, undecided; Taylor Rose Summarsell, Army National Guard; Danielle Lynn Swett, The State University of New York College at Plattsburgh, biomedical sciences; Emma Marie Tarleton, Lasell University, criminal justice; Lara Penelope Tarleton; Megan L Tarleton, Bridgewater State University, early childhood education; Kendall Taylor, Syracuse University, real estate; Anae Celeste Tracy, George Washington University, international affairs; Gordon Twigg-Smith; Amanda Elizabeth Van Alstyne, workforce; Kaitlyn Desiree Wade, University of Southern Mississippi, special education; Grace Emma Ward, Vermont Technical College, veterinary technology; Corey William White, post graduate year at Bridgton Academy for lacrosse; Adeleine Eleanor Wilson, Connecticut College, international affairs & government; Zoe K. Wood, Florida Atlantic University, criminal justice; Sophia Powell Michaels Yates, Fitchburg State University, environmental and earth science; Aria Lynn Yuengling, University of New England, marine science; Keira Ann Zayas, University of Vermont, undeclared/health sciences; and Devin William Ziegler.
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