Page 4 - Newsletter_Winter_2020

Houlton Seniors Ready

to Soar to New Heights! By Joseph Cyr '89

Houlton Pioneer Times, Asst. Editor

HOULTON, Maine -- It was Class president Grace Johnson since middle school days.”
anything but a traditional welcomed those in attendance
commencement for the Class of and thanked the staff and DeLucca then took his
2020 at Houlton Middle-High administration for pulling off classmates on a comical trip
School, but that only made it all such a unique ceremony. down memory lane recapping
the more memorable for the 86 how the boys, as fifth-graders,
graduates. “A special thank you to [RSU 29 were required to use just one
superintendent Ellen] Halliday bathroom because of pranks
Because of the COVID-19 and Mr. Tweedie for working so pulled. He then noted how as
pandemic, which essentially shut tirelessly to provide us with an sixth-graders, the class got lost
down in-person education and in-person graduation ceremony,” on the school’s annual trip to
socialization in March, Thursday Johnson said. “Their hard work Bar Harbor and missed out on
night’s graduation ceremony and perseverance has not been shopping for “stink bombs,” or
was held in the hangar of the lost on us.” when the class lost out in the Leighanna Martin
Houlton International Airport. Battle of the Grades contest.
Marty Bouchard, Houlton’s
The evening began with a large former high school principal, “At the time, these issues are
motorcade of seniors and their was invited back to the what consumed and influenced
families, complete with police Shiretown to serve as the guest our daily lives,” DeLucca said.
and fire escorts, starting at the speaker. Bouchard was the “Now, these once-momentous
high school and traversing school’s principal from 2004 misfortunes seem trivial. Now,
through town before ending at to 2018 before relocating to we can look back on these
the airport. southern Maine. memories with appreciation, not
bitterness. In simple ways, they
And while there was not the “I want to extend a sincere taught us that life is not always
traditional shower of confetti thank you and congratulations fair and prepared us for the
and Silly String at the end of the to the Houlton High School larger trials of adult life. As we Amelia Ivey
ceremony, there were plenty of Class of 2020,” Bouchard said. are learning right now, the trials
car horns and noisemakers to “It truly is a pleasure to be back only become grander and more
celebrate the graduates. to the place that I called home challenging. So, as we literally
for 50 years.” drive off into the sunset, let’s
“This is a new and unique way look back with satisfaction and
to celebrate a commencent,” said Bouchard encouraged the group appreciation because we know
Principal Tim Tweedie in his to continue the learning process, our yesterdays have prepared us
welcoming remarks to students regardless of what their future to manage tomorrow’s surprises,
and their families. “We ask that holds and to continue being hard setbacks and stumbling blocks.”
you maintain social distancing in workers throughout their lives.
all scenarios. Please be respectful Salutatorian Nolan Jacobs
of others and let’s do our part Valedictorian Nathaniel referenced Loren Eiseley’s novel,
to make this an enjoyable DeLucca injected a bit of humor “The Star Thrower” in which a Guest Speaker, Marty Bouchard '81
ceremony for all involved.” and thoughtfulness into his young boy tosses starfish back
remarks to the class. into the ocean one at a time.
Featuring a drive-in style
graduation, students and their “Today is a day of honor “I cherish this story because it
families were required to remain and celebration for the Class reveals to us a fundamental truth
inside their vehicles, except of 2020,” he said. “I have about human nature. It tells us
when it was time to receive their had countless community that despite all of our flaws, and
diplomas on the makeshift stage members express their despite all of our limitations
erected inside the airport hangar. sympathy and disbelief that as individuals, we can make a
such a large chapter of our difference,” Jacobs said. “We
While no outside spectators were lives would end this way, but might not be able to change
allowed to attend the event, the my fellow classmates and I the entire world, but the true
ceremony was broadcast live are accustomed to these types intrinsic reward comes from 2020 Valedictorian,
courtesy of WHOU-FM. of disappointments. We have helping at least one person and Nathaniel DeLucca
gotten the short end of the stick changing his or her world.”

PAGE 4 www.houltonalumni.com