BINGHAM — When you’re one of a graduating class of only 19, you’re automatically “Famous in a Small Town,” Upper Kennebec Valley Memorial High School valedictorian Jennifer Hovey said at Sunday’s commencement exercises.
The country music hit by Miranda Lambert served to remind the seniors that they are “known for exactly what you have accomplished, and your contributions are valued by the whole community. The class of 2012 hopes to be people our peers, teachers, neighbors and family will never forget. I want the people in this community to remember us for being a positive influence in the world. We hope to be mentors and models for the future of the town.”
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Hovey fought back tears at times, noting that she literally grew up with her classmates — 15 girls and four boys.
“In one way or another, you have each made an impact on my life. Though we may all venture off in different directions, I ask you to never forget the place where you came from and this moment right now,” Hovey said. “This is our time to shine. Each and every one of you should be so proud of yourselves for this great accomplishment we have all achieved.”
Salutatorian Hali Marie McQuilkin recapped the journey each Valley High School graduate took to earn their diploma. “In elementary school, you’re innocent, you get good grades or letters, and you get to play a lot. (It) was the time of learning how to interact with other people and getting a basic knowledge about how things work,” McQuilkin said. “If I had Dr. Who’s time machine, the Tardis, my elementary school years would be the first thing in time I would travel back to.”
The fourth- and fifth-grade years were “more rigorous, and you had to focus more on your studies than playing,” McQuilkin said. “Middle school was a wake-up call for all of us before we entered high school.”
While elementary school and junior high students basically “did the same things (and) learned the same way,” the Valley senior said that once she and her classmates entered high school, “We were given the opportunity to explore who we really are. We could find what we enjoyed doing and do it individually.”
Keynote speaker Linda Hunnewell has served the Bingham-area district for more than 40 years as a teacher, elementary school principal and now a member of the SAD 13 Board of Directors.
She joked that she was not at the commencement “to say anything profound, so you don’t have to take notes. For most graduates, this will be the last time you’ll see your teachers’ smiling faces. Maybe that’s why they’re smiling.”
Hunnewell said she remembered “being so excited, but also a little scared” at her own high school graduation. She felt at the time that being female, her career choices boiled down to “secretary, nurse or teacher. I am thankful that I made the right choice.”
While admitting that some days were challenging, Hunnewell said that “even during the most stressful times, there was always a ray of sunshine to follow.”
“You’ve been given a gift — the gift of learning. Many doors can — and will be — open for you. Choose wisely, and remember that the choices you make during the next few years will determine what you’ll do during your lifetime. What you do with what you learn is up to you.”
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