Stoneham High School Class of ’02 ready for challenges that lie ahead
Published on June 12th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA - The early morning rains finally lifted and graduates marched on to the football field under bright, sunny skies to the strains of "Pomp and Circumstance" as played by the Spartan Band, under the direction of Edmund Grammer. Graduates were led by Graduation Marshals, Matthew Russell and Kerri Smith, Class of 2003. In addition to the graduates, the procession included the Stoneham School Commit-tee members; the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Joseph Connelly; the Assistant Superintendent of Schools, Mr. Joseph Casey; Mr. Denis Mulvihill, teacher of social studies; and Ms. Patricia Nolan, teacher of world languages. In addition, retirees were included in the procession. They included Geraldine Cruickshank, Deanna Day, Howard Dimmick, Margaret Puffer, and Ellen Rodman. Prior to the processional, the band entertained the audience with three selections: "Night Flight," "Georgia on My Mind," "Sabre Dance," and "March of the Irish Dragoons."
Principal Thomas Ryan greeted the audience. The Spartan Chorale, under the direction of Robert Lague, Program Supervisor of Music, sang the National Anthem. Mr Ryan announced the fourteen members of the staff of the Stoneham Public Schools who are retiring at the end of the current school year. Six members of the high school's staff are in this group: James Campagna, Vice-principal and teacher of Social Studies for 37 years, Dorothy Corum, teacher of business for 40 years; Howard Dimmick, teacher and Program Supervisor of science for 39 years; Patricia Norelli, teacher and Program Super-visor of World Languages for 36 years; Ann O'Sullivan, teacher of Mathematics for 36 years, and Margaret Puffer, teacher of English for 35 years. Also recognized at this time was retiring School Committee person, Jeanne Craigie.
Jillian Murphy, President of the Class of 2002, officially welcomed the audience to graduation. Jillian began her message with a message her older brother had left with her when she entered high school. She then drew a thread through her memories of her four years at Stoneham ending with a message of making a difference for her classmates.
Dr. Ryan asked the audience to remember the victims of September 11, 2001, with a moment of silence. The silence concluded with a keyboard duet by seniors Laura Melkonian and Lauren Mosher of Pachelbel's "Canon in D."
Pamela DeAmicis presented the Honor's Address. Pamela's remarks portrayed the evening of graduation as a bridge from high school to the many opportunities in the future. She recalled other transitions in her life thus far and ended with this most important transition to the world of adulthood.
Each year MacDonald Medals are presented to the highest-ranking female and male students in the graduating class. This year Denis Mulvihill and Patricia Nolan presented the medals. The medals, in honor of a former Stoneham High School Principal, were presented to Peter Cucchiara and Maria Barth.
Although scholarships were presented at the annual awards night held on May 30, 2002, recipients are introduced at graduation. Superintendent Joseph Connelly and Assistant Superintendent Joseph Casey introduced the winners of the Stoneham scholarships.
The class gift was presented by Vice-President of the class, Lauren Mosher, to Daniel Moynihan, Chairperson of the School Committee. The class is presenting an American flag, framed and engraved, as a memorial to September 11, 2001. This memorial will be hung in the main lobby of the high school.
The final musical number of the evening, "I Remember," was sung by seniors Renee Scola and Yan Yan Yii, with accompaniment by senior Maria Capuano. The final individual presentations of the evening were the William Nadeau and Wendell Horton Memorial Awards. These awards are presented to one boy and one girl who have contributed substantially and unselfishly to Stoneham High School. Thomas Ryan, Principal, presented these plaques and flags to Michael Forman and Casey Prior.
School Committee member and former Chairperson, Marie Christie, awarded diplomas to 167 members of the Class of 2002. Immediately following the ceremony, graduates and families enjoyed light refreshments while congratulating each other and taking pictures.
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