This past June 27th 120 young Doverarians gathered with friends and families for a milestone day in their lives, their high school graduation. Despite the threat of rain in the forecast, Dover school administrators took their chances and held this year’s graduation ceremony outside, and were given a beautiful day, not too sunny and not too hot.
When asked about his thoughts on the Class of 2015, principal Daniel Doherty commented on how this class is perhaps the most resilient he has come across. Rather than crumble at the threat of adversity, the Class of 2015 stood strong, together as a class. Mr. Doherty remarked that their motto, “We rise above,” is a very fitting one because with their understanding and appreciation of their community, they were able to do just that.
The salutatorian, Megan Wood, who is going to Iona College to study Biology on the Pre-Med track and who will also be playing varsity soccer, told us the story of Christian Press, a famed woman soccer player. How she stayed strong and persevered in the face of challenge and how each member of the graduation class, Megan included, can learn from this example. At the end of every climb up a treacherous mountain is a beautiful view.
The valedictorian, Kierstan Monahan, who will attend Nova Southeastern University in Florida to study Marine Biology, waxed poetically about the struggles of a newborn sea turtle. The baby turtles undergo a hazardous journey full of birds of prey and deadly terrain to get from their nests to the sea. Kiersten asserts that this is similar to how we must make our own path through life. She claims that our experience differs though, because we have friends and family to help us along the way. Being a member of the Class of 2015 taught her that whenever she may need help all she need do is ask those who are around her.
The graduation ceremony was a fantastic time that included musical performances by the high school band and chorus, as well as the awarding of scholarships in which $45,500 was presented in the form of scholarships to the Class of 2015. Eruptions of applause filled the tent hundreds of times, each more raucous and joyous than the last. There was not one face, graduate or family member, that was anything less than ecstatic.
Mr. Gregory Hill, a Social Studies department member who teaches a class required of seniors to graduate, told the audience some of his best stories about the Class of 2015, and reminded them that even if they don’t feel it now, Dover will always hold a special place in each of their hearts. He reminded each of them to go out into the world and “Do what you love and love what you do.”
Pawling Public Radio congratulates the Dover Class of 2015 as they go out and find what it is they love.
