From your community, with love
West Rutland praises its 2009 graduates
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West Rutland marshal Kate Lincoln pauses as seniors file by her on their way to West Rutland School’s graduation exercises Friday evening. ALBERT J. MARRO / RUTLAND HERALD |
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By Cristina Kumka STAFF WRITER - Published: June 6, 2009
Tradition reigned at the West Rutland School Class of 2009 graduation ceremony Friday night as the community came out in droves to honor the town’s latest generation and those who came before them.
One of the school’s largest classes, 35 students, was given advice to stay and was granted thousands of dollars in monetary awards from community organizations and full college scholarships for schools of their choice, wherever they may be.
In traditional form, the school also honored the Class of 1959.
“Over the years, I would buy all the junk properties,” said the commencement speaker, Joseph A. Giancola, owner of Giancola Construction Corp. “When you buy something, people will tell you you are wrong … kids, anything you want to do, you could do it.”
He also advised the graduates that they don’t have to leave the area to succeed.
“I could live in Rutland and fly a jet,” he said. “They say the (grass) is always greener on the other side, don’t believe it … we have greener grass here.”
Community support dominated the atmosphere in the West Rutland School gymnasium as 35 students sat cloaked in yellow and green caps and gowns among hundreds of parents, friends and community members.
“This is what the school is, it’s the center of the community,” said senior class adviser Ed Bove, pointing to the crowd.
Time and time again the names of students were read, many with numerous generations of family members who also attended the school – LaFond, Notte, Moser, Ricci and Ackerman.
Nearly every student on stage went to the podium more than once to receive awards the community collected for each of them — from the West Rutland American Legion Post #87, West Rutland High School Alumni Association and the West Rutland Rotary Club.
Bove said it’s an annual ritual – the community gives and the students give back, as they are required to do community service in their senior year.
But many do it throughout their lifetimes, Bove confirmed.
Sixteen golden diplomas were handed out to the Class of 1959 at the ceremony.
As the massive crowd filtered out of the school gymnasium, Juliana Glodzik Dolan, who received one of those diplomas, advised the new class to “live well, love much and laugh often.”
This year’s class salutatorian Marguerite Ricci had a similar sentiment.
“May you always remember that there is success to be found and that no fall is too far to not stand up again and shine,” she said.
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
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