Gorham High School’s Class of 2005 celebrated the graduation of 185 members at Merrill Auditorium on Sunday, June 12.
The class valedictorian Mary Johnston and salutatorian Adam Lord spoke at the ceremony, as did class president Joshua Lortie. Music also played a key part in the ceremony.
A parent played the auditorium’s historic organ, and Gorham students displayed their performing talents for a nearly capacity audience of family and friends at the graduation ceremony. The Gorham High School Chamber Singers sang the National Anthem and the Senior Chorus sang the class song, “Change the World.”
Johnston and fellow graduate Sammie Francis sang “For Good.” The lyrics included “So much of me is made of what I learned from you, you’ll be with me like a handprint on my heart.”
As graduation parted members of the class, words of the song said they might never meet again. “The words make you melt,” said Principal John Drisko before the ceremony.
In her valedictory address, Johnston alluded to the years the class has had together. She said classmates would now be spreading across the world. But she said they wouldn’t go by themselves. “Someone is on your side, no one is alone,” she sang the last line of her speech.
The graduating class also heard from two other classmates. In his salutatory address, Lord spoke of class memories and the importance of making a difference in the lives of others.
Lortie, class president, urged his classmates to stay informed by reading newspapers and listening to the news. He said they should have strong and intelligent opinions.
Teacher Scott Caulfield, the faculty speaker, told the class they would have to risk failure to achieve their dreams. “Thank you for being the awesome people you are,” said Caulfield.
Gorham’s 185 graduates marched into the auditorium as David Wallace played “Pomp and Circumstance” on the Kotzchmar Memorial Organ. Wallace has cared for the organ for two decades. Five of Gorham’s graduates lent a hand to Wallace in restoring the organ. The five are Courtney LaPierre, Anna Pease, Erin Webster, Ashley Wood and Wallace’s son, Nicholas Wallace.
Last year, Gorham High School graduated 160.
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