Springfield grads told to stay fierce, not submissive

Nearly each senior who sat in a chair on the lawn of Springfield High School Saturday morning did what he or she wanted to do. Some slouched in their seats, awaiting their final moment of high school.

 http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=20106200362                      Springfield grads told to stay fierce, not submissive  •  Rutland Herald  •  By Cristina Kumka Staff Writer - Published: June 20, 2010  •  SPRINGFIELD – Nearly each senior who sat in a chair on the lawn of Springfield High School Saturday morning did what he or she wanted to do.  •  Some slouched in their seats, awaiting their final moment of high school.  •  Others sat on the edge of their seats with caps decorated in their own signature style.  •  They all waited for the moment when their diploma would finally be in their hands.  •  "Don't be nice," said valedictorian Elizabeth Pennell of Springfield's class of 2010.  •  "Stay fierce … being nice means being submissive," she told the seemingly unruly class.  •  But "don't be mean, kindness is underrated," Pennell advised. "… You have something to give to the world … you matter."  •  Under a bright sun and cloudless blue sky, the school's 124-member graduating class was honored with numerous monetary awards distributed by co-principal Robert Thibault, then serenaded by the school's Madrigal Singers.  •  Parents snapped photos and speakers were distracted by gusts of wind that caused flags to tip and sent caps flying.  •  The class' other valedictorian, Ashley Richardson, acknowledged the diversity of her peers and offered blunt advice for underclassmen.  •  "Don't judge … you won't earn respect," she said. "Don't procrastinate and don't think senior year is the easiest."  •  In the end, the class of 2010's diverse legacy will live on through their class gift, offered by Veronica Whittemore, senior class president.  •  According to Whittemore, seniors mastered the art of staying awake in class and drawing bubble letters on the NECAP exams but they had something more to offer.  •  A senior center space, with a picnic table and chairs, will be created to offer students a respite.  •  Springfield High Schoo •  Class of 2010  •  Amanda Aberle, Brittany Adnams, Jeffrey Adorno, Britney Andrews, Alicja Antosiewicz, Janel Bargfrede, Kayla Bartley, Brandon Beebe, Eric Bolavong, Lindsay Bolduc, Johanah Boucher, Brandon Boyle, Jenny Bradley, Ryan Brady, Krystle-Anne Bruce, Bennett Chevalier, Dan Christman, Nina Clark, Ryan Colburn, Brian Cole, Nicole Cole, Benjamin Cox, Christopher Crowley Jr., Sarah Currier, Tiffanie Derosia, Kali Dodge, Mathew Domina, Jessica Duling, Casey Dupuis, Erica Endrusick, Jonathan Esden, Heather Farrar, Silas Farrar, Ryan Fernett, John Forbes, Karyn Gassett, Anthony Gay, Eli Gosselin, Derek Graham, Erin Graham, Calvin Hall, Christopher Hall, Zachary Hall, Lindsey Harrington, Robert Hassard, Brittany Haymon, Dillin Heidtmann, Ramone Hosten, Merridith Hunt, Angelo Jardina Jr., Olivia Johnson, Heath Jones.  •  Also, James Karkowski, Shawn Keefe, Scott Kelley, John Kendall, Jordan Kimball, Chelsea King, Simret Ladd, Colin LaPlante, Owen Ledvina, Kristi Lincoln, Elisabeth Maxfield, Kristle McAllister, Paulina Mei, Matthew Mitchell, Amanda Miller, Emily Mobus, Tabitha Molden, Luke Morin, James Morse, Daniel Murray, Kimberly Murray, Lisa Murray, Cooper Nelson, Victoria Nickerson, Alexis Olmsted, Trevor Olney, Kevin Orth, Derek Osborne, Paige Parker, Sarah Patch, Ethan Paton, Sara Paton, Elizabeth Pennell, Kayla Perham, Mikala Prouty, Alyssa Rheaume, Ashley Richardson, Christopher Riendeau, Rebecca Riley, Christopher Rosengrant, Sage Roys, Kodi Sabins, Russell Schleimer, Samantha Scott, Kamryn Sidney, Joshua Simonds, Robert Simmons, Chelsie Skidmore, Kristopher St. Sauveur, Anna Stearns, Justin Stevens, Nicole Stewart, Chandra Suhr, Stephanie Sumner, Jenna Swan, Jordan Swan, Melissa Tarbell, Taylor Thomas, Rebecca Trombly, Lindsay Turgeon, Anna Vogell, Timothy Wallace Jr., Meredith Ward, Tyler Waters, Jessika Watkins, Chelsea Wheeler, Autumn White, Veronica Whittemore, Jennifer Wilson, Mark Xu, Tyler Young, Krystal Zielonko.  http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100620/NEWS/6200362 •