Principal Amy Meehan dons her superhero glasses at Thursday's ceremony.

Olivia Carlson takes the scissors to her valedictorian sash. See  more photos here. A list of awards and scholarships is here.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It was an evening of surprises and superheroes at Drury High School on Thursday night as 92 graduates crossed the stage to receive their diplomas.

It included a heartfelt thank you to everyone from family to faculty from valedictorian Olivia Carlson, a rousing speech from Spider Principal and ended with a burst of cheers and high fives as the class belted out the alma mater and exited stage right.

"Thank you to the extended community of North Adams, although I know a few of us are running for the hills as soon as we get a hold of our diplomas, we must always remember that we are a sum of our experiences and Drury High School, our hometown, and all the loving and kind people who live here are forever a permanent part of us, let's be proud of where we came from," Carlson said.

She didn't have any "cliche metaphor" as advice for her peers, no roller coasters of life or chapters of books. Rather, she mulled on the decimal points that landed her as valedictorian, and what "smart" really means: regurgitating information? Or also kindness, creativity, empathy, athleticism, self-awareness, sacrifice, confidence?

"No one is every kind of smart, no one ever will be, but there are often times I wish I could be more of one kind or less of another," she said. "I believe it is only fair to recognize the diverse and beautiful array of intelligence sitting beside me. Know that you, the class of 2016 are a class of geeks, a class of artists, of friends, of athletes, of musicians. A class of future doctors, mothers, fathers, entrepreneurs, teachers, singers, hard-workers and do-gooders."

So Carlson decided to share her valedictory sash, pulling out a pair of scissors and snipping off pieces that she handed out to several classmates. To make sure everyone got a piece, she pulled a cord to rain down hundreds of golden squares of satin and balloons upon the class.

"I have no doubt that one day, one of you will be the best nurse I have ever had, that one day I will have one of your CDs, if those will even still be a thing, playing in my car, that one day my children will sit in your classroom and that one day you will all do amazing things."

Muscian and salutatorian Michael Mazzu said his friends had urged him to write a song for graduation address, but he, too, decided to dispense with cliches. Instead he told an anecdote about different perceptions of his black guitar, which he pulled out and played to accompany his speech.

"I am a firm believer that the success one can attribute to their lives is directly a result of their own happiness, and everybody's happiness is derived from achieving their own personal aspirations," he said. "While I want to play guitar and see music that I created bring enjoyment, relief, and oneness within others, your dream in life may be to travel the world and see every country in Europe."

But don't ask the person next you what their perception of your own happiness is, he cautioned.

"I tell you class, to sit back and think, what in life drives you, what in life makes you want to get up in the morning, what in life puts a smile on your face," Mazzu said. "So try new things until you find your passion, and pursue it like no other, take it and run like the devil, run like you stole it, and live a life you're proud to look back on!"

Although there were 92 graduates, there were 93 diplomas, with James Montepare being the first name called. This was the superintendent's final graduation after more than in 40 years working in the public school system.

"Every year, I come to graduation and I leave and wonder how can it get better than that and every year I come back to the next one and it's just better and better and better," he said. "I am filled with pride to be part of the Drury High School community. Thank you all for what you've done here tonight."

A second surprise was for Kateleynn Lacosse, whose brother, who is in the service, appeared as she received her diploma.

Class President Kody Crosier made the introductions and led the Pledge of Allegiance; the band played "Variations on a Korean Folk Song" and the chorus sang "Never Alone." Mayor Richard Alcombright presented the diplomas, with Montepare and Principal Amy Meehan, congratulating the class on their accomplishments and wishing them the best success.

The packed gymnasium was treated to a short video, "Situation Graduation: Code Red," starring Meehan and students that poked some fun at the event preparations.

Meehan said she'd struggled with what to stay, even as she mocked her situation in the video. Then she decided to be her "own superhero."

"A superhero is an average person with some not-so-average abilities or powers," she said. "Some might argue the value in believing in super heroes, because they aren't real. But let's face it, we all probably were believers at some point in time, or even now. ...

"Regardless of their powers and abilities, superheroes personify the very best qualities of humanity."

Those include courage, justice, hope, perseverance and truth, attributes she'd seen in each and every senior.

Meehan said there were three defining traits: Defining your own identity; using your powers for good; and choosing wisely when it comes to sidekicks.

Then the principal donned her Spider-Man glasses and called on her two "Batman" sidekicks, Kodey and Stew, to induct the class in to superherodom by pledging: "To be the hero in my own life/So I may/Turn fears into fierceness/ Turn I Cant's into I Cans/ And turn my adversities into achievements."

"May you go forth, with courage and confidence, poise and passion," said Meehan. "Good luck and thank you to the class of 2016 for being our super human, super heroes."

The graduates are:

Emily Rose Andreatta*
Christopher Samuel Healing Andrews
Mariah Renee Arnold
Nicholas Ryan Bator**
Elizabeth Ann Billetz*
Nicholas David Boulger**
Kimberly Elizabeth Brames
Haley Victoria Brown*
Nicholas Alan Burchard*
Olivia Kathleen Carlson**
Tehya Mirae Zoe Christopher
Travis David Crawford
Dominique Melissa Crews
Brandon Christopher Cropper
Brianna Tress Crosby
Kody Michael Crosier*
Sarah Abigail Czarnecki*
Lakeria Charnee Darkins*
Jake Anthony Daugherty
Alex David Decker
Jocelyn Marie Dupee
Devin Anthony Durant
Elliott Joseph Eastman*
Briston Dean Estes-Williams
Morgan Elizabeth Fortin
Miranda Kathleen Gagne
Destiny Jordan Gallagher*
Jenevieve Marie Gavazzi**
Corey Michael Girard
Kyesha Tarae Goodson-Duncan
Samantha Rose Griffin
Brianna Nicole Harrington
Ryan James Harrington
Alyah Marie Hartman
Joshua James Hartman Jr.
David James Kelly Jr.
Jacob William Keplinger
Abigail Nicole Kline**
Celene Marie Koperek*
Carolyn Alexis Koprowski
Katelynn Marie Lacosse*
Michael Edward LaForest
Christopher Michael Lamberton
Zachary Michael LaRocque
Tarrenz Lee LeClair
Alexis Paige Lesure
Kimberly Elizabeth Loring
Tabitha Christy Lugo
Madison Jean Marceau**
Brady Matthew Marko
Hannah Lynn Marko
Gabriella Elizabeth Martinez*
Jennafer Saree Maselli**
Isabella Jeanna-Maria Massari
Michael Robert Mazzu**
Jordan Mendez
Amanda Michaels
Jenn Elizabeth Moulton
Molly Elizabeth Moulton**
Brenda Ann Neff
Devon Andrew Notchick
Ingrid Louise Olsen
Jordan Elizabeth Owensby*
Angel Starr Pachecano
Nicholas Enrico Palmer
Carolyn Rose Poirot
Sara Elizabeth Pontier**
Ricky Anthony Ramos
Tatianna Syann-Marie Raymond
Alyssa Leigh Richardson*
Nicholas Jake Ritcher
Gregory Allan Royal
Logan Thomas Rumbolt**
Kam'Ron Tariq-Robert Ryan
Giovanni Arthur Santelli
Hanna Florence Schrade*
Tyler James Shaw
Matthew Allan Stewart
Skye Amber Sweeney*
Charles Louis Talis
Madison Lark Tarsa**
Vanessa Lia Thomas
Jillian Ellen Tietgens**
Katlyn Taylor Toomey**
Alexandra Marie Tower
Monica Grace Vallieres
Sutye Owen-Peng Vilayvanh
Kayla Marie Vivori
Daranne Shemiah Warner
Xander Michael Wilkins
Malik Donya Wilson
Mayan Isabel Zungy*
 

High Honors**   Honors*

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