SPENCER, MA – June 2, 2023 — Sixty-three times! That’s how many times Principal Nathaniel Malone and Assistant Principal Sara Kinnas turned and smiled for the official photographer as they handed diplomas to David Prouty High School’s Class of 2023.
The graduates with their young, bright and shining faces smiled as well as they walked across McDonough Gymnasium, which was decorated with orange and black ribbons and streamers as well as with flowers, and a massive archway made of black and orange balloons with the sign, Class of 2023 on it.
McDonough Gymnasium had plenty of room for family, friends and others on a warm, late spring early evening with the sun shining brightly.
It was difficult to tell what the graduates were wearing because their black gowns covered their clothes, but their shoes were on full display.
Some wore sneakers (New Balance, Nike), some dress shoes and many of the women were dressed to the nines with high heels while some wore flats.
Some wore sunglasses and some had decorated their caps with photos, words or their college and university of choice.
Each student was greeted with cheers from family and friends as he or she was presented with a diploma.
Some cheers were louder than others, but everyone was acknowledged.
And after the last student received his diploma tassels were flipped; caps were flung in the air; and a massive cheer was shouted from the top of their lungs prior to them exiting the gym.
It was a proud night for the graduates and their families, some of whom had enlarged photos of their son or daughter nailed to a stick which they thrust in the air to show their support.
And there were of course speeches…
As part of the graduation ceremony, each shop of the Career Technical Education (CTE) program had the opportunity to speak with a graduating senior highlighting what they learned in their respective CTE Classes.
Dylan Stanley spoke about the impact his studies in Environmental Science had on his future plans in environmental engineering, a program he plans to take up at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Jessica Duda, who took part in the Early Education and Care program at David Prouty High School, spoke about her work with young children and how it prepared her for future studies. Jessica plans to become a pediatrician after completing her studies also at Worcester Polytechnic Institute.
Emily Soter spoke about the impact her studies in the criminal justice program at David Prouty had upon her and how it helped shape her desire to continue her criminal justice studies this fall at Roger Williams University.
The CTE speeches concluded with Class President Charlie Lascom praising and thanking his friends as well as the faculty, especially Mrs. Bridges, who he said, “was instrumental in guiding his studies of business and marketing.”
“Our teachers taught us to approach every new situation with an open mind,” he said. “With their help we identified our strengths and worked to identify and overcome our weaknesses.”
Valedictorian Cody Chen gave an impassioned speech to the audience and his classmates on the importance of “showing up” as a way of meeting the challenges they faced throughout their high school years and would face in their futures…
Most of those ups and downs were caused by the coronavirus pandemic which hit in March of 2020.
But he too praised the faculty.
“Faculty members showed up every day to make sure we got the most out of high school,” he said.
And he learned other things besides what was taught in the classroom.
“I learned how necessary it is to live each day to its full potential,” Chen said.
Salutatorian William Anderson told how he found his path in his studies of environmental science and how he liked to learn as much as possible in the Career Tech Education (CTE) program; and would continue his studies in this area at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in the fall, thanks to the teachings of his Environmental Science Teacher, Mr. Barnett.
The David Prouty Permanent Scholarship Fund awarded over $40,000.00 in scholarship monies on top of the money awarded a day earlier at Senior Day. Mr. Stein Berthiaume, an active member of the Permanent Scholarship Board, spoke from the heart about the importance of David Prouty and the role it plays in the lives of the community-at-large noting the fact he was part of the first class ever to graduate from McDonough gymnasium. He then congratulated the graduates on a job well done prior to handing out the scholarships.
Principal Nathaniel Malone spoke to the impact the class of 2023 had on the school and the community-at-large, making sure the vote for the high school building project passed last October – making this commencement the last time any class would graduate from this gymnasium. He concluded his remarks by urging the graduates to be open to new friendships, new opportunities and many new adventures.
And finally, Superintendent of Schools Paul Haughey urged the graduates to chase their passion and keep working for it… “You will never – and I mean never - work a day in your life if you love what you do!” Haughey said before congratulating the Class of 2023.