Class of 2011 celebrates promotional ceremony outside

KENT — For the first time in recent memory, Kent Center School’s eighth-grade class was able to hold its promotional ceremony outside of the school building, in the grassy courtyard. The weather was exceptional: cool, dry and bug free. It seemed a fitting night for this important rite of passage for what was described again and again throughout the early evening ceremony as a class with 28 exceptional students.There were few speeches in the ceremony, which lasted a little over an hour. Principal Rima McGeehan introduced the graduates in just a few short congratulatory sentences (and noted that this was the first year in her career at Kent Center when there was an outdoor promotional ceremony). Her brief remarks were followed by an essay by one of the class’s two essayists, Shayla Lamb. “We have morphed from sticky-fingered children holding our parents’ hands, into teenagers ready to go to high school,” she said.A presentation of awards followed. The awards themselves and the brief speeches by the presenters gave a picture of students who were exceptionally motivated and were equally adept in music, art, athletics and academics.The Rev. Thomas Berberich was honored with the Friend of Kent Center School Community Award. The ceremony concluded with an essay by Rebecca Dubray, who quoted the Robert Frost poem, “The Road Not Taken.”“Life is like a road, with twists and turns and bumps. It’s your decision whether you will take the road less traveled.” Whatever road her classmates choose, she said, she wished them all success in eventually reaching a place where it is “comfortable to stay.”Class of 2011Skylar Alexa AgardJoann Marie AmaroneBen David BradyDonald James Cherico IIIAja DavisRebecca Lynn DubrayTravis Connor FitchJohn D. GalushaMadeleine Meredith GreenTucker Henry GrusauskiTyler Pearse HoadleyMadeline KabasakalianPatrick E. KellyShayla Marie LambCaitlin Alexandra MacomberGrayson William Tobin MakrisAlexandra Davis McDonaldChristopher Sizer MooreLiam NadireRyan NadireGina Marie PequignotSamuel R. ScofieldRhys Allen SnyderEvan TaylorDanny J. TorrezApril Sharon WathleyCharles YouMorgan Zenk2011 AwardsGail Osolin Leo Award:Shayla LambDAR Citizenship Award:Madeleine GreenDAR History Award:­ Christopher MooreLions Club Award: Skylar Agard and Morgan ZenkRamesh Mali Award: Shayla Lamb and Tyler HoadleyAmerican Legion Award: Alexandra McDonald and Grayson MakrisEnglish Award: Shayla LambFrench Award: Shayla Lamb and Ryan Nadire Math Awards: algebra, Ryan Nadire and Charles You; pre-algebra, Travis FitchScience Award: Joann Amarone Social Studies: Madeleine GreenClassroom Music Award: Joann Amarone Chorus Award: John Galusha Drama Award: Alexandra McDonaldFrench Award: Shayla Lamb and Ryan Nadire Instrumental Music Award: John GalushaPhysical Education Award: Madeline Kabasakalian and Tyler HoadleyComputer Award: Joann Amarone and Charles You Library Award: Aja DavisNorman Stoddard Sports Award: Travis Fitch and Gina PequignotKent Education Association Award: Samuel ScofieldFriend of Kent Center School Award: Rev. Thomas BerberichKCS PTO Citizenship Award:Benjamin BradyPrincipal’s Award: Gina Pequignot and Liam NadireRon Viafore Arts Alive Award: Joann Amarone

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