Blue Devils graduate Class of '09
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Poultney High class marshal Cassandra Decker (center) leads seniors in graduation exercises in a flurry of camera flashes and rolling video cameras. At right is graduating senior Brylea Betit. Albert J. Marro / Rutland herald |
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By Cristina Kumka Staff Writer - Published: June 20, 2009
The Poultney Blue Devils graduation ceremony Friday night may have looked blue with all the royal gowns and banners flooding the high school gymnasium, but it was anything but.
It was a night of symbols at the Poultney High School Class of 2009 graduation — the class gave the school its first official Blue Devils flag to fly in parades, each graduate was adorned with a vibrant yellow rose signifying school pride, and disabled graduate Matthew John Wade saw just how much the school cared for him — through a special sign and certificate for his resiliency from Principal Jean Marie Oakman.
The crowd cheered as Wade received his award for being resilient in the face of adversity and Oakman, with her hand, brushed her face to signify a flower, in sign language.
"Jean Marie was his principal at Wells," Wade's teacher Linda Smith told hundreds of parents, teachers and friends who packed the gym.
And after many years of not seeing Oakman, Wade hadn't done that sign, Smith said. Until he came to Poultney High School and was greeted with it, she said.
Smith then gave Poultney Athletic Director David Capman a jump rope, to replace the one he had given to Wade when Wade showed he liked it.
But the evening and what it represented was more than about certificates, accolades and symbolism, according to Valedictorian Annie Laurie Mauhs-Pugh.
In an off-the-cuff speech Mauhs-Pugh spoke instead of read, the National Honor Society member said that the worth and many accomplishments of her 47-member class couldn't be measured with tests, on paper or in print.
"How could a piece of paper (a diploma) represent six years," she asked the crowd.
"Humanity has been reduced to paper … our achievements are more than just bullet points."
Mauhs-Pugh advised her fellow students to "live life for yourself or it's not worth it," and she said, sports is a lot like life — the goal is to win but playing the game to get there is important too.
"Let's not celebrate a diploma, let's celebrate us," she said.
The graduates were awarded thousands of dollars in scholarships from the University of Vermont, local community service organizations, former teachers, school leaders, and from one of their own.
Classmate Chris Stelzer died in December of last year and the class awarded Benjamin Turner the $200 memorial scholarship in his name for an essay Turner wrote on loyalty among friends, enthusiasm, respect for elders and honesty — all traits the class said Chris had possessed.
Stelzer's family judged Turner's essay as the best.
The 2009 class was so special, retired Spanish teacher Suzanne Montalván said, she jumped at the chance to see her students walk their last day as seniors.
"They asked me to come," she said.
"You make a promise to a kid you better keep it."
cristina.kumka@rutlandherald.com
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