Send questions/comments to the editors.
Deering, Portland and Casco Bay high schools send off Class of 2015
You are able to gift 5 more articles this month.
Anyone can access the link you share with no account required. Learn more.
With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month.
It looks like you do not have any active subscriptions. To get one, go to the subscriptions page.
With a Press Herald subscription, you can gift 5 articles each month.
Loading....
-
Applause fills arena as Deering High graduates 205
Students are exhorted to hold fast to their dreams, and hear messages both lighthearted and personal from their classmates.Gofran Ali uses her phone to help adjust her cap while waiting in line to start the processional at Deering High School's graduation at the Cross Insurance Arena in Portland on Wednesday.Deering High School celebrated its 141st commencement Wednesday at the Cross Insurance Center, sending off a graduating class of 205 students.
The flurry of purple-and-white caps, thrown into the air to mark the students’ unofficial transition to adulthood, drew deafening applause from all parts of the auditorium, as family and friends celebrated the achievements of the new graduates.
Deering’s ceremony on Wednesday was among the first public high school commencements of the season. Portland’s two other four-year high schools – Portland High School and Casco Bay High School – will hold commencements Thursday. Many southern Maine high schools are scheduled to hand out diplomas at commencement ceremonies this weekend.
Deering Principal Ira Waltz started proceedings Wednesday, greeting audience members and faculty. The DHS Concert Band played a rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance” by Edward Elgar as the students processed in, dressed in their gowns, girls in white and boys in purple.
A group of eight seniors sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Co-class presidents Mohamed Nur and Stephen Ochan provided an official welcome and introduced Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk. Caulk delivered a well-received speech about milestones, quoting a Langston Hughes poem – “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly” – and exhorting the students to cling to their aspirations.
Senior Muna Adan read aloud a poem of her own that explored the struggles that teenagers face, and the achievement of pulling through.
There followed musical interludes composed by Jack Bullock and Stephen Schwartz, a witty and lighthearted salutatory from Christopher Richardson, and a deeply personal valedictory from Olivia Blom.
“Our lives are all interconnected,” Blom said at one point during her speech. “I believe that relationships are at the core of the human experience.”
At last, there was the presentation of diplomas. Each and every student went up individually and received a diploma from Waltz and Caulk, and walked offstage while audience members clapped for them.
Commencement ended with the co-class presidents congratulating the graduating class one final time, and everyone throwing their caps into the air to rapturous applause.
Sam Norman can be reached at 791-6366 or at:
snorman@pressherald.com
-
Portland High sends off 234 grads in blue-and-white commencement
In her remarks, Valedictorian Miranda Richman pointed to the diversity and dynamism of the graduating class, exhorted everyone to stand together to face geopolitical crises, and finally thanked everyone 'for an inspiring four years.'Portland High School English teacher Karen Phillips takes a selfie with Kevin Hong before the graduation ceremony at Merrill Auditorium Thursday morning.Portland High School held its 194th graduation ceremony Thursday as family and friends crowded into Merrill Auditorium to celebrate the 234 members of the Class of 2015.
Dressed in blue and white gowns and each holding a single rose, the students processed in to the sound of the organ playing “Pomp and Circumstance” by Elgar.
“Milestones along the road are constructed as points of reference,” Superintendent Emmanuel Caulk told the seniors. “Graduation from high school is a very significant milestone on the path of life.”
Class President Aren Kiladjian, Salutatorian Francesca Butterfield and Valedictorian Miranda Richman also spoke. Richman, who plans to attend Harvard College next year, spoke on the subject “A New Legacy.” She celebrated global progress over the last 18 years, pointed to the diversity and dynamism of the graduating class, exhorted everyone to stand together to face geopolitical crises, and finally thanked everyone “for an inspiring four years.”
Music was very much a feature of the ceremony: The entire class joined together in a rendition of John Lennon’s “Imagine,” and various student bands played John Mayer’s “Gravity,” Caroline Cotter’s “This Place” and Billy Joel’s “Vienna.”
Principal Deborah Migneault presented various awards and then the diplomas as each of the 234 students came up to shake her hand, receive their diploma and get applauded offstage. When this came to its conclusion, the entire class sang the school song, “The Blue and White,” and finally exited the stage to scenes of rapturous celebration.
-
Casco Bay High graduates its class of 2015
Portland's public expeditionary high school awards diplomas to 64 students at Merrill Auditorium.Scott Shibles, a wellness teacher and director of student life at Casco Bay High School, embraces graduates as they enter Portland's Merrill Auditorium for graduation.Casco Bay High School in Portland held its 2015 commencement Thursday evening at Merrill Auditorium, awarding diplomas to 64 graduating seniors.
Casco Bay is Portland’s public expeditionary high school, which emphasizes interdisciplinary, project-based learning.
Sebastian Andrew, who plans to attend Concordia University in Montreal, was the class speaker.
Liam Fowler, who plans to attend Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont, was recognized as the graduating senior with the highest grade point average.
The school does not have a formal valedictorian or salutatorian.
Success. Please wait for the page to reload. If the page does not reload within 5 seconds, please refresh the page.
Enter your email and password to access comments.
Hi, to comment on stories you must . This profile is in addition to your subscription and website login.
Already have a commenting profile? .
Invalid username/password.
Please check your email to confirm and complete your registration.
Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.
Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.