Caps, gowns, hopes, dreams

‘Judge each day ... by the seeds you plant’

By Owen Boss

ASHBURNHAM — Oakmont High School’s Class of 2008 had the opportunity to reflect on four years of hard work during the graduation ceremony behind the high school Sunday. The weather could not have been nicer as the graduating seniors proceeded from the high school to the football field, and sat before the hundreds of faculty, family and friends in attendance. The commencement began with an address from class president, Desiree Elizabeth Demski-Hamelin. Throughout her speech, Ms. Demski-Hamelin told her fellow seniors of how important it is for them to take the time to appreciate how much they accomplished during their careers at Oakmont. “Today is a day to reflect on our many achievements and look forward to the future,” said Ms. Demski-Hamelin. “Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant. Thank you Class of 2008 for showing me it was worth the hard work to plant all of those seeds.” Also addressing the class was Christopher Mark Louney, who told graduates to remember that their high school graduation is just one of many steps along the path of life. “In life, the journey you take is more important than the destination,” said Mr. Louney. “You only get to live life once, it is important to live one without regrets.” Among the 172 graduating seniors, 32 students graduated as members of the National Honor Society, and three are enlisting in the military. Oakmont Class of 2008 Brittany Ann Aker, Jonathan George Akl, Benjamin Michael Allen, Jacob Mark Allen, Christopher Joseph Angelini, Stephen Michael Applegarth, Colin Thomas Banahan, Jocelyn Christie Baril, Faith-Ann Marie Barlow, Julie Patricia Barrows, Gregory Baker Beaudoin, Zachary Ethan Beauvais, Amanda Jean Becker, Richard Ryan Bedard, Ian Michael Bentley, Kelsea Jae Bilodeau, Cassandra Louise Bingham, Lauren Elizabeth Borelli, Daniel Stephen Boucher, Ross Mitchell Bourgeois, Nicholas Raymond, Bramhall, Christopher Alan Brouillet, Cody Nathan Brown, Matthew Stephen Brown, Curtis Lee Burrowes, Chad Scott Butterfield, Daniel Thomas Callahan-Bergeron, Rocco Francesco Canneto, Monique Joann Cardillo, Gretchen Ann Carlson, Elysia Stephanie Cerasuolo, Marcus McKenzie Chamberlain, Tyler Joseph Chatigny, Nathan James Chicoine, Melissa Mackenzie Chisholm, Alyssa Marie Christianson, Brendon John Comerford, Christopher Michael Cormier, Ross Haley Cormier, Ian George Cornwall, Jillian Ann Cotter, Brian Rober Cotton, Kelsey Elizabeth Curran, Jessica Lauren Daigle, Donal Reed Daneault, Jillian Taylor Davis, Derek Matthew DeMarco, Desiree Elizabeth Demski-Hamelin, Ethan John Deslauriers, Melanie Ann Despres, Michael Paul Donovan, William Patrick Donovan, Melissa Mae Dupill, Catiana Celia Dupuis, Yunxi Fan, Steven Michael Fidler, Scott Damon Fitzgerald, Erin Margaret Foley, Mark Adam Fortier, David Michael Fournier, Amy Marie Fuller, Christopher Dean Fuller, Joshua Thomas Gage, Stephanie Lyn Gagnon, Russell Theodore Jude Gale Jr., Brendan James Gallagher, Michael Arthur Girard, Matthew James Raymond Goguen, Amanda Luisa Goodale, Michael John Gosselin, Joanna Lee Gustafson. Also Nathan Daniel Hawkins, Barbara Marie Heins, Anika Nan Hertel Therrien, Jess Robert Iacabone, Kelsey Corinne Imig, Brianna Lynn Jamieson, Caitlin Jane Kalagher, Samantha Suzanne Roberge Kane, Jillian Leigh Kastal, Megan Mae Kelly, Dillon Jay Kendall, Brandi Lee Kennelly, Jonathan Albert King, Seth Francis Knihtila, Rachael Ann Kulik, Paul Michael Labowicz, Mark Anthony Lafferty Jr., Sarah Catherine Landry, Kassandra Laskarides, Seth Tucker Lavenski, Bridgette Nancy LeBlanc, Jenna Linda Marie LeBlanc, David Raymond Liming, Patrick Daniel Lothrop, Christopher Mark Louney, Robert Conrad Lowe, Ross Tyler Lucier, Vincent John Lussier, Dennis Anthony Maccarone, Kimberly Jeanne Maguy, Sawyer Lane Mahoney, Alan Scott Mann, Daniel Jospeph Marino, Haley Elizabeth Marshall, Elissa Maria Guimaraes Massote, Edmond John Matilainen, Daniel Lee McDonald, Brittany Laura McGuirl, Eric David Meehan, Stephanie Marie Meikle, Stephen Charles Michel, James Henry Mitchell, Alexandra Grace Morrison, Melissa Ann Munger, Kenneth Michael Murphy, Stephanie Lynn Nebes, Tyler Alan Noseworthy, Ashley Anne Nutting, Jillian Sarah Ogilvie. Also Thomas Michael Palmer, Kelsey Rae Perrett, Jacob Michael Phelps, David Norman Plamondon, Kyle Richard Price, Chelsea Jean Quinn, Brian Patrick Rafferty, Misti Alberta May Rahaim, Michael Thomas Rathier, Lauren Marie Reid, Sarah Nicole Rheault, Andrew Phillip Richard, Meaghan Eileen Riney, Philp Joseph Rivers, Joshua Alan Robichaud, Allison Casey Rocheleau, Jonathan Daniel Roger, Marry Ann Rojas, Rebecca Noelle Root, Kirsten Whitney Ross, Ashley Renee Ruel, Victoria Lee Ryan, Scott Emor Sargent, Erica Libby Schlier, Eric John Schonborg, Caeli Shea Scotland, Blake Frederick Sheldon, Maxwell David Shenk, Hannah Elizabeth Sheridan, Matthew Ryan Sirois, Sean William Snyder, Adam David St. Jean, Craig Paul St. Pierre, Alexander Paul Stamas, Kristen Nicole Strazdas, Christopher Patrick Streeks, Bryana Cole Sullivan, Shawn Thomas Sullivan, Randi Jean Swihart, Alex Lee Tambling, Ethan Gregory Taylor, Gabriela Marilia de Godoy Tessitore, Alice Suzuko Louise Trei, Rachael Haley Tucker, Hannah Elizabeth Ulshen, Melissa Ventura, Nicole Renee Westlake, Paul Joseph Wetzonis, Matthew Daniel Whalen, Mitchell Eric White, Alicia Nicole Winslow and Olivia Christine Wirtanen. oboss@thegardnernews.com

Appeared on Page 1 on 6/2/2008 (Vol. 206 No. 130)