Coginchaug Graduates Challenged to Remain Humble, Search for Infinite Happiness

Moments before their high school journey came to an end on Tuesday night, Coginchaug High School graduates were reminded that the world would soon be handed over to them.

With more than 800 family, friends and faculty looking on inside the Julian B. Thayer auditorium, the 146 members of the high school's graduating class shared the stage for the final time.

"The adult world may be harder and more complicated than we could ever imagine but that doesn't mean its devoid of lasting, genuine and infinite happiness," valedictorian Carli Wallace told her fellow graduates.

In her last graduation as superintendent of schools, Susan Viccaro was recognized for her many years of service to Regional School District 13. She returned the favor by reflecting on the journey students took to get from kindergarten to graduation day.

"Do you remember your first day of kindergarten? I bet your parents do," Viccaro said. "Now, you're at the ending part. You're ready to move on to the next chapter, the next beginning."

Several speakers, including Coginchaug vice principal Brian Bodner, who announced earlier this week that he would be leaving the school district at the end of July, asked students to take a moment to thank their parents.

Bodner then shared a personal thank you of his own.

"I want to congratulate all of you and thank you for being such a wonderful group of young men and women to work with over the years," he said. "This is a great school because of its faculty, staff and students and I will truly miss you all."

The Class of 2013 will donate two granite benches to be installed in front of the high school, according to class treasurer Wolfgang Wallach, who also announced two donations from the class in the amount of $3,500 for Project Graduation and $500 for this fall's Community Round-Up.

Salutatorian Justin Etheridge challenged graduates to embrace humility over pride while reflecting on the recent tragedies Newtown, Boston and Oklahoma.

"We must never cease to be humble. Humility is the anchor of humanity," Etheridge said. "It keeps us rounded and sensible. It makes us aware of our own limitations and more importantly, aware of the conditions of those around us."

Following Coginchaug graduation tradition, class vice president Jeff Giantonio and Garrett Judson provided the evening's musical entertainment — an acoustic performance of the song "Going Where I Need to Be."

Kris Nystrom, chair of the school's English department and the evening's invited speaker, provided a moment of levity when he belted out "Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'" before giving students some sage advice.

"If you find yourself in a position of purchasing dark socks for work, get one kind and one color," he said. "You can spend as much as one full year of your life looking for a match."

"And please resist all urges to wear them with sandals," he joked.