PORTLAND — With cheers, applause and merriment, the Massabesic High School Class of 2014 marched into the Cumberland County Civic Center Thursday night as students ”“ and departed as graduates.

Two-hundred-and-twenty-five seniors marked their graduation from the school, which serves students from Alfred, Limerick, Lyman, Newfield, Shapleigh and Waterboro, before heading off to Project Graduation for a celebration with their classmates.

What makes the Class of 2014 special? For starters, they’re the first MHS class to have their graduation ceremony at the newly renovated Cumberland County Civic Center, and the first class that Principal Christian Elkington has seen through since their freshman year.

But there’s more than that.

“We all support each other when we come together,” said Branden Pratt.

“There are cliques, but we all find our niche and we get along,” agreed Hunter Coulombe.

Austin Murphy added, “We’re not afraid to stick out,” and that’s evident in the diverse array of future plans the students plan to pursue.

“What’s cool about our class is the variety of careers” the graduates will be pursuing, said Nigel Wrightington, from firefighters to musicians. Many of the students took advantage of the vocational classes offered at technology centers in Sanford and Biddeford and are already applying to jobs, he said.

The grads are, indeed, embarking on varied futures, as evidenced by the class members who stood when Elkington asked them to be recognized during the ceremony for going on to the workforce, one- or two-year colleges, four-year colleges or the military. Those joining the armed forces received a standing ovation from the audience.

“Each of you who stood represents an opportunity and potential for yourself, your family, your community, your state and most importantly, your nation,” said Elkington. “Each one of you has untapped potential and your best is yet to come.”

Many students are pursuing a bachelor’s degree or more as their next step: Ben Hamilton is heading to Southern Maine Community College for paramedicine and plans to become a doctor; Rain Reinauer will attend Colby-Sawyer College in the pre-veterinary program, and Angel Waters will pursue a degree in marine science at the University of New England.

“We have people who always want to get involved in so many different things,” said Zachary Peters. “There’s a lot of school spirit.”

Waters said she loved all her teachers, especially her cross country and track coach, but she’s looking forward to sleeping in for a while now that high school is over.

“We have the most supportive teachers ever,” said Pratt. He remembered math teacher and swim team coach Kevin Broad, one of the teachers he respected, who died from cancer in 2012 ”“ their sophomore year. “Everyone missed him when he was gone. School was silent the whole day. It was hard.”

A moment of silence was observed after the National Anthem, to remember all of those who were unable to be with the graduates that evening.

Inspirational speeches followed, from Elkington, Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Davis and the class’ top three students.

Peters, third in his class, spoke as the honor essayist and compared their high school education to the travails of Leonardo da Vinci as he sought to develop a flying machine.

“If you have the courage to fly on your own wings, you will go far,” he told his classmates.

Salutatorian Olivia Bradley recognized her classmates’ hard work to reach graduation and reflected on how they should treasure their memories of growing up together.

“Our most important job is to do everything in our power to find out who we are, where we belong and to make a difference,” she said.

Valedictorian Rayne Whitten acknowledged the class’s transition from immature freshmen to adults and urged them not to leave any room for regret in their lives. She also let some of that school spirit shine through: “We have defined what it means to be Mustang Nation and created a legacy for other classes to follow.”

Jennifer Blair, chairperson of the MHS math department, presented Whitten with the Faculty Bowl award, which she said is given by the entire faculty to a student who demonstrates leadership, citizenship and dedication.

And Davis offered one last bit of advice before handing out the diplomas: Spend time with people you like, and don’t make a career out of doing something you don’t like.

— Kristen Schulze Muszynski can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 322 or [email protected].