“The End of Something Great, but the Beginning of Something Better”

Molly Regan stood in the hallway by the Somers High School cafeteria prior to her graduation on Tuesday surrounded by red and white caps and gowns.

Now, she and her 140 classmates will tell people they are alumni.

“This is the end of something great, but the beginning of something better,” said Regan, who heads to school at the University of New Hampshire to study health management and policy. Regan and her sister Meghan are one of four sets of twins graduating from Somers High this year.

Nearby, health and physical education teacher Tammy Bley-Gowash poses for pictures with a student she mentored, Aubrey Brink. Graduations are never easy, but this one is tougher than most.

“[This year] this day in particular is hard,” Bley-Gowash said, as she looked over at her student mentee. “Overall, graduation is tough.”

But thoughts turned to what lies ahead for these new graduates, as they excitedly share their plans for the future.

Senior Madeline Folsom will be heading for the Crimson Tide – the University of Alabama.

“I've been accepted since the first week of senior year,” Folsom said, noting she's talked about it non-stop since getting her acceptance letter.

Folsom's friend Maddi Dawson will leave the small town of Somers for the city lights of Beantown. She plans to study fashion merchandising at Bay State College in Boston.

“I love the city – I can't wait,” she said.

Justin Locke will be reporting for Army boot camp on July 13. He will be a member of the Airborne Infantry. What will he do with the time he has left before reporting to boot camp?

“Try to enjoy as much as I can,” he said, noting the decision to join the military was something he's always wanted to do.

At the ceremony, speakers reminisced and offered words of advice as the graduates make their way into the world – whether continuing their education, joining the service or entering the workforce.

“[Apple co-founder and CEO] Steve Jobs said the only way to do great work is to do what you love to do,” said Gary Cotzin, SHS principal.

Cotzin added, “As a group, you performed well on stage, on tests and on the fields. However, after today, you are a group no more. Strike out on your own. Make new friendships. Teach and learn from them. Share the good and avoid the pitfalls. If you stumble, get up and show them what a Somers Spartan looks like."

“Establish goals,” added Superintendent of Schools Maynard Suffredini. “Life is not a dress rehearsal, but success comes from sound planning and hard work.”

Suffredini told students that they will possibly be taking jobs that don't exist today, working with technology that doesn't exist today and solving new problems never faced before.

“You will play a major part – your education will be the key,” he said.

Class president Elizabeth Poitras told her classmates that while change can be scary and it's easier to remain in one's comfort zone, “take risks and make mistakes – but learn from them,” she said. “Live your life with no regrets.”

For the second time in five years, Somers had co-valedictorians. This year's distinction went to Thomas Gay and Kathryn Squillace.

“The prevailing question on our minds – our future,” said Squillace. “We could have a CEO or surgeon sitting here today. But we don't know yet. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. Today, we become accountable for more than our grades in school. This diploma is more than a piece of paper – it marks an end and a beginning.”

Gay spoke of life lessons he learned through hiking – particularly a trip two years ago on the Adirondack Trail. Five days and 75 miles into the hike with six strangers, Gay told his classmates, “I can honestly say I never wanted to drop something so badly.” But he stuck it out and even took the opportunity again last year.

“Accept small setbacks on the way to a larger goal,” he said. “Instead of running in circles, stay calm, look around you and figure out a plan. I'm still amazed at what I could have missed if I had left that first trip. Pick a goal and stick to it,” Gay said.

Thirty-eight year SHS nurse Edna Smith sat in the front row watching her first grandchild graduate from high school. For this longtime member of the faculty, Smith has seen many of the parents of the Class of 2011 come through her office doors as students.

“It really is a nice feeling,” said Smith of watching her granddaughter Amanda cross the stage. On Friday, her grandson Travis will graduate from Enrico Fermi High School in Enfield.

“I've watched them grow up – gone through the sad times when they've had to put down a dog or [relationship] breakups and the good times getting their licenses,” Smith said. “ It's good to see them graduate.”

As the final air horns sounded and graduates headed home for a quick celebration with friends and family before boarding buses to Boston for a harbor cruise, Bay State College-bound Megan Davis said the enormity of the experience hasn't sunk in yet.

“I really don't feel a difference yet,” she said. “I know it will hit me when I move into college. I wish everyone the best of luck.”

Graduates

A-G: Victor J. Albaugh, Gabrielle Amanda Albert, Kaylee Amber Alberti, Ashley Lynn Anderson, Quinn C. Aslin, Lauren Terese Astone, Christopher Balaska, Ryan Michael Bartolf, Daniel Jacob Bell, Matthew James Benoit, Michael Paul Benoit, Michael J. Berger, Courtney Lynn Blewett, Arianna McKnight Bliss, Andrea Rose Braica, Christel Bransford, Aubrey-Anna Rachael Brink, Michael Robert Bujnowski, Georgia Christine Burke, Alexander M. Bych, Neil Cardwell, Luke S. Cassarino, Kristen Marie Conley, Amanda Dorothy Connor, Brian Coope, Nicole Aurelia D’Angelo, Amber Kathleen, Elizabeth Davis, Megan Janet Davis, Madeline Adela Marie Dawson, Jon Dion, Ryan Michael Donovan, Stephanie Nicole Doyon, Patrick Drohr, Ashley R. Duncan, James M. Dussault, Aaron Brett Elman, Kelsey Lynn Falcone, Morgan Rose Falcone, Olivia Marie Fenton, Garrett S. Ficara, James Folger, Madeline Claire Folsom, Joshua Abel Fredette, Linzi K. Furnari, Tricia Marie Galinski, Colin Gallerani, Matthew Garcia, Kyle David Gaskell, Thomas Joseph Gay, Taylor Geas, Derek Geoffroy, Christopher James Giza, Mark Gladu, Julia Glybin, Sarah V. Goodman, Adam B. Guerrette

H-P: Annette T. Hailer, Michael Lawrence Hanna, Terri Laine Haslem, Alec W. Heagie, Brianna Rose Herbert, Jessica Higgins, Kevin Huang, Jordan Irish, Kaily Jones, Danielle Yeh Kalk, John Thomas Kelley, Shaelyn Adele Killoh, Haley M. Kinel-Frey, Ryan Carlson King, Ashley Nicole Kinney, Andrew Koehler, Bianca Gabrielle Krzynowek, Shelby Marie LaDue, Jennifer Christina Lam, Sara Lynn Laplante, Ian Leiching, Justin E. Liquori, Justin Locke, Marissa Jean Lucey, Matthew B. Lynch, Catherine Elaine Machnicki, Nicholas Paul Marocchini, Christopher Michael Mashiak, Daniel Shamus McDonald, Laura Anne McLaughlin, Jon M. Merrick, Jo-Ann K. Meunier, Patrick Mark Milikowski, Megan Teresa Mitchell, Keisha Morales, Justin John Murdza, Michael L. Nason, Chelsea Rose Nitch, Daniel P. O’Grady, J. Michael Oakley, Dillon J. Peel, Jon Anthony Pellegrino, Lee-Ann Margaret Percoski, Trevor Richard Percoski, Melissa Kay Perry, Audry Catherine Persano, Joseph Piscottano, Elizabeth Rose Poitras, Austin J. Portal

R-Z: Mehrdad Razavi, Meghan Jessica Regan, Molly J. Regan, Andrea Louise Reutter, Kelsey Faye Richards, Rosemary A. Richi, Alan T. Roberts, Brandon M. Roberts, Molly Rockett, Cody Jacob Rush, Siobhan Anne Ryan, Millicent Patricia Diane Sawtelle, Jacob J. Scheuer, Jonathan Robert Schiessl, Amanda Louise Smith, April Lynn Smith, Samantha Leigh Smith, Christopher R. Socha, Kristine Jean Sooter, Kathryn Anne Squillace, Kayla Marie Stetson, Brandon Stinson, Katherine Elyse Suschana, Andrew J. Thomas, Zachary Thomas Thresher, Matthew Timothy Traceski, Peter Nicholas Vamvilis, Connor Varnet, Damien A. Vine, Andrew Joseph White, Jeffrey Wiese, Evan James Woicik, Ashley Theresa Wright, Nicholas Wylot, Madison Renee Zachary, Samantha Emily Zawistowski