CLAREMONT — Time and light.

Those were the themes expressed by Stevens High School 2022 Salutatorian Olivia Churchill and Valedictorian Sarah Wood during Thursday’s commencement ceremony in the school gymnasium.

The graduation, Stevens’ 150th, was a traditional affair that included special moments and recognitions punctuated with frequent loud applause.

Wood, who will attend Saint Mary’s College, said high school was not always a wonderful experience for many and the friendships and memories lost to the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning made it more difficult. But the dark times, she said, should not be the focus, which takes away from the good memories that will remain.

“I am walking away from this school with a collection of funny and weird stories that I don’t think could have happened in any other place,” Wood told her classmates and the hundreds of family and friends in attendance.

During high school, Wood said she worked extra hard overcoming obstacles, meeting deadlines and reaching goals only to learn the more “bad stuff” was ahead and there was no “light at the end of the tunnel” because new obstacles and challenges lay ahead.

“There is not enough time to wait until you overcome them all to let yourself be happy,” Wood said, ending on a hopeful and positive note and urging the class to take time for friends, a trip or “that extra slice of cake.”

“So, today, I challenge you to forge your own light and find goodness not at the end of the tunnel but all around you.”

Churchill, who will study at Mount Holyoke College in the fall, said everyone thinks they have so much time until it “really counts and we don’t have enough at all.

“We are running out of time, and that’s OK,” said Churchill, recipient of the Edgar Lord Faculty Award. “What you do with the time you have is up to you. Spend your time wisely and enjoy the time you have.”

The ceremony also included recognition of two retiring teachers with more than 60 years of teaching at Stevens. Scott Pope started in 1988 and Dan Decker in 1994.

“Everyone is replaceable, but I have to say these two gentlemen are not,” said Stevens Principal Patricia Barry, who is also retiring this year. Decker was also recognized for his work on behalf of the Key Club at the high school and Kiwanis Club, where he was part of more than 200 fundraisers over the years.

The class remembered Noah Osgood, who died tragically last year, with a moment of silence and the awarding of a diploma to his family.

“Not a moment of silence but let’s have joy and happiness and remember his smile, his laughter and his nighttime street dancing,” said a family member as she accepted the diploma to loud applause.

Superintendent Michael Tempesta welcomed the students and commended them for their resilience during the pandemic and described them as a remarkable group of dedicated students.

“There is no dress rehearsal for life so make us proud,” Tempesta said.

Barry also recognized and thanked School Resource Officer Crystal Simonds for her work on behalf of students over the years. Simonds brought along the department’s K-9, Sullivan, who was later called on stage to receive his “diploma,” a dog treat, bringing loud cheers.

Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.

Stevens High SchoolClass of 2022

Noah William Abbott, employment; Sean Jacob Adams, Franklin Pierce University; Kylee Renee Akusis, employment; Emelia Grace Anderson, Franklin Pierce University; Alexis Marie Armstrong, Manchester Community College; Mitchell Dennis Baker, employment; Cameron Scott Bard, employment; Caeden James Berry, Plymouth State University; Lilly Blaize Besserer, UMass Amherst; Brindalynn Annette Bickford, post grad studies Stevens High School; Alexis Cadence Boisvert, River Valley Community College; Jenna Marie Bonneau, University of New Hampshire; Trevor James Boutilier, employment; Zackary Russell Box, post grad studies Stevens High School; Elias Matthew Boyington, University of New Hampshire; Caylin Elizabeth Brown, River Valley Community College; Zackary William Bundy, Clarkson University; Nicholis Michael Burke, employment; Melanie Hedgie Carignan, River Valley Community College;Abigayle Sandra Jean Carpenter, employment; Dylan James Chambers, Keene State College; Michelle Anne Chambers, employment; Hunter David Charles Christian, employment; Olivia Brooke Churchill, Mount Holyoke College; Kurt Garret Anthony Coppola, Plymouth State University; Alexys Louriel Corliss, SUNY Delhi; Dayanaira Annabelle Lynn Corliss, employment; James Burton Cox, Franklin Pierce University; Colby Easton Craig, Johnson & Wales University; Andre DaSilva, Southern New Hampshire University; Mathew Julius Davis, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Simon Michael Demars, military; Molly Ann Derosier, Saint Anslem College; Alex Dyer, Keene State College; Matthew Thomas Eagan, Southern New Hampshire University; Emma Madison Edwards, California College of the Arts; Amaya Rose Eitapence, Plymouth State University; Lauren Nicole Fellows, West Virginia University; Kasandra Nakole Fowler, River Valley Community College; Brianna Elizabeth Frisbee, Southern New Hampshire University; Antonio Isaac Garcia, Southern New Hampshire University; Zachary Goyette, post graduate studies Stevens High School; Connor Jay Greenwood, employment; Haydon Nathaniel Grenier, employment; Ava Marie Johnson, Keene State College; Austin Michael Jones, Keene State College; Kaiyla Elizabeth King, River Valley Community College; Jeremy Frank Kovacs, employment; Anthony Parker LaCaillade, employment; Jayden Richard Lapierre, employment; Shayla Madison LaRoche, employment; Serenity Rose Lefebvre, employment; Nicholas James Lembke, Keene State College; Pascal Andre Lemieux, employment; Jackilina Lin, University of New Hampshire; Olivia Rachel Little, Empire Beauty School; Jazmin Lyn Lord, employment; Kaleb Robert Vincent Maccioli, River Valley Community College; Taylor Haile MacLean, Franklin Pierce University; Hannah Lillian Miller, University of New Hampshire; Aden Russell Monbleau, River Valley Community College; Cooper Michael Moote, Keene State College; Brynn Julia Murphy, New England College; Riley Lillian Murphy, University of Vermont; Mackenzie Shea Murray-Brown, Saint Anslem College; Christian Jay Naugler, Keene State College/military; Lauren Michelle Noll, employment; Noah Bryant Osgood, posthumous diploma; Emily Elizabeth Peaslee, River Valley Community College; Eric Andrew Peaslee, employment; Hannah Othelia Pickering, employment; Ryan Stoner Pipkin, River Valley Community College; Ryben Ivan Plamondon, employment; Bella Edith Ploss, post graduate studies Stevens High School; Nicolae Quentin Popescu, River Valley Community College; Robert Jean Raymond, River Valley Community College; Colby Christopher Reed, employment; Zahna Jeannine Peirce Rice, Keene State College; Christopher Cumming Robison, employment; Devin Mark Sabalewski, Keene State College; Pierce Aaro Salony, Plymouth State University; Quade Patrick Salony, employment; Aidan Ezekiel Smith, undecided; Christopher Guy Smith, employment; Danyel Nicole Stackpole, River Valley Community College; Alexander Gryffin Steadman, employment; Caleb Michael Stevens, post graduate studies Stevens High School; Jameson Paul Sucharzewski, River Valley Community College; Jonathan A. Thomas; employment; Madasia Rae Vanguilder, River Valley Community College; Jordan Abbey Vashaw, University of New Hampshire; Teah Rose Vazquez, employment; Emily Anne Vire, University of New Hampshire; Tobyn James Von Kahle, employment; Kaydence Grace Ward, Flagler College; Saban Arie Wein, undecided; Reeve William Wilkinson, New Hampshire School of Mechanical Trades; Jillian Janelle Williams, New Hampshire Technical Institute; Liam John Williams, River Valley Community College; Sarah Joyce Wood, Saint Mary’s College; and Cameron Elizabeth Woodhams, Keene State College.

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