Springfield graduates lauded for community service

Springfield High School's Class of 2015 was lauded for its creativity, star athletes and dedication to the community during graduation ceremonies Friday.
http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20150613/NEWS02/706139925

Springfield graduates lauded for community service By Susan Smallheer Staff Writer | June 13,2015 SPRINGFIELD — Superintendent of Schools Zachary McLaughlin paid tribute to the Class of 2015 of Springfield High School Friday night, saying it was a class full of artists, star athletes, thespians and world travelers, Eagle Scouts and potential state champion softball players. And not only that, McLaughlin said, they had performed 7,000 hours of community service in their hometown, a fact that was loudly applauded. McLaughlin addressed an overflow crowd at a sweltering Dressel Gymnasium at Riverside Middle School; graduation had been moved inside because of a strong threat of thunderstorms. The 97 graduates, dressed in white gowns for the girls and green gowns for the boys, also had a riot of individual art — and messages — on their mortarboards: Dozens of the caps were decorated with sequins, sparkles, paint and even charms and trinkets. McLaughlin said of the 97 graduates, there was one state snowboarding champion, the all-time leader in scoring in basketball, 12 theater stars and academic stars as well, who had studied world languages for four years while in high school and seven students who traveled abroad. McLaughlin said the senior class, which had recently returned from its senior class trip to New Jersey and New York, had brought the town and school a wonderful compliment. The students had fun and were well behaved and respectful of each other, which was noticed by other travelers, he said, who complimented the students to Assistant Principal Bindy Hathorn, their chaperone. His chest, McLaughlin said, is still puffed up with pride. Jeff Vandivere, an English teacher at Riverside Middle School, had been asked by the Class of 2015 to give them one last talk. Vandivere noted that the same class had asked him to talk at their eighth-grade graduation. “Didn’t they learn the last time?” he joked. He urged his former students to take risks and try and live their lives without regret. Set lofty goals, he said. “Please, please, please, try and live a life without regret,” said Vandivere. “Take risks, fail occasionally.” McLaughlin also paid tribute to Springfield High School’s Principal Robert Thibault, who was named Vermont’s High School Principal of the Year earlier this spring, who won a long round of applause from the large, but sweltering crowd. Alyssa McCutcheon, valedictorian of the class, proved that she is a talented musician, singing “The Star Spangled Banner” a cappella to begin the commencement ceremony. McCutcheon will attend the University of Vermont on a Green and Gold scholarship. Kaitlyn Stokarski, the class salutatorian, said the memories of their years together would keep her fellow students close for years to come. No more “awful Tom Sawyer quizzes,” said Stokarski, who will attend Quinnipiac University in the fall, said that the students would also celebrate “No more AP testing ... no more student parking lots.”