MIDDLEBORO — On the morning of Saturday, June 6 the weather did not befit the mood at Middleboro High School's 2009 graduation exercises. Gray skies loomed overhead while hundreds of seniors milled around in their black gowns chatting excitedly; friends and family making their way into the gym to witness the class of 2009 graduate high school.

"I feel absolutely great right now. I'm on top of the world," said graduating senior Cameron Lewis.

Cameron said that he is unsure of what he will do after graduation, but friend Garret Parker said he is excited to be graduating high school and attending ITT Tech in the fall.

"It's really an exciting time," said classmate Rebecca Douglas, "I will be hanging out for the summer and next year I'm going to UMass Amherst and studying pre-med," she added.

Starting promptly at 1 p.m, the entire audience rose to watch the 208 seniors file into the gym to take their places in front of the crowd.

Senior Class President Erica Pike gave a heartfelt speech about starting the road to adulthood while reminiscing about the class's time spent in the Middleboro school system. Citing Powder Puff football games and SATs to grade school events such as Crab Soccer and Rome Day, Erica appeared to touch upon the memories they all share.

"While our time has been filled with firsts"¦the next stage in our life is where we will utilize what we have learned here to make a difference," Erica said.

Erica ended her speech with tears streaming down her cheeks while reciting a lyric from the musical "Wicked" which deals with the impact that people have on one another's lives.

Salutatorian Molly Driscoll then took the podium. While thanking all those who had a hand in her life, she proceeded to speak about Brian McMahon and Joseph DeYoung, the two high school students whose lives were lost in a car accident last December.

"These two young men were friends to many and their loss came as a severe blow to our class. However, in the wake of this tragedy, the Class of 2009 came together to comfort one another and honor the memories of our two classmates," Molly said.

Molly went on to state that the way the senior class reacted to the tragedy was just one example of what "set the Class of 2009 apart."

Middleboro High School's Valedictorian Gabriella Hornbeck spoke to her class about the accomplishment they were taking part in that day, while also touching on the nostalgic memories of their shared childhood in Middleboro schools.


"I commend all of us," Gabriella said, "Being a high school graduate is an honor that each of us will carry for the rest of our lives. It serves as a reminder of what each of us is capable of achieving and how we must be pro-active in our lives."

Although the majority of scholarships and awards were given out at Senior Last Assembly, a few were saved for graduation day. The Lois W. Buck Mathematics Award was presented to Nolan Paduch, who Principal Flaherty described as the most gifted, "pure" mathematics student at MHS. Mark Wadsworth earned The Norma Woodburn Science Award for his excellence in scientific studies. Molly Driscoll was asked to remain at the front of the crowd while she received two awards, the Outstanding Student of Foreign Language Award as well as the History and Social Studies Department Excellence in History Award.

The faculty had many words of praise for the graduating class of 2009.

"I will say it with honesty; it's probably one of the best classes to ever come through this high school. Their energy, their creativity, their leadership, every time they needed to come together as a class they did so perfectly," said Department head and Student Council Advisor Paul Branagan.

"This class has great character," said retired principal Harvey Brooks. "When you start over in the fall, you start over with another class and you hope they will build the same kind of spirit the previous one did," he added.

And so as the latest crop of graduates exited the Middleboro High School gymnasium the sun had emerged and shed new light on the day, each grad starting the next stage of their life.

And as Class President Erica Pike stated, "When we leave here today we will be leaving the security of a place that we have grown up in, for the "real world." No, not MTV's Real World, but the home of Responsibility, Patience, Leadership, Cooperation, and Integrity."


Special awards presented to graduating Middleboro High School seniors:

Lois W. Buck Mathematics Award: Nolan Paduch; Norma Woodburn Science Award: Mark Wadsworth; Student Council President: Stephen Marble; Class President: Erica Pike; Spirit & Service Award: Emma Harnett; Spirit & Service Award: Sean Siciliano; Student Advisory Council: Dillon Simmons; Student Advisory Council: Courtney Bigelow; Principal's Award: Erica Pike, Stephen Marble; HOBY Representative: Courtney Simao; Boy's State Representative: Brandon Poli; Girl's State Representative: Molly Driscoll; Student Government Day: Boaz McMahon.

Excellence In English: Jennifer McKeon; Excellence In Social Studies: Molly Driscoll; Excellence In Foreign Language: Molly Driscoll; Excellence In Fine Arts: Allison Porter; Excellence In Physical Education/Health: Abigail Hindmarsh; Walter Hicks Business Award: Anthony Barbato; JAKE Award: Gregory Wilkinson; Food Services: Brendan Lane, Ryan Lane; DECA Achievement: Alexandra Furtado, Kyle Empey, Christopher Rousseau, Gregory Wilkinson, Nicholas Varjabedian, Melissa Anderson, Heather Hedding, Julianne Mitchell, Anthony Barbato; DECA Participation Award: Daniel May; Work Achievement: Matthew Bryant.

Harvey F. Brooks School to Career: Lauren Farmer, Molly Driscoll, Boaz McMahon, Julianna Tucker, Daniel Holden, Mark Wadsworth; Video Technology Award: Nicholas Maksy, Sean Siciliano; National School Orchestra Award: Patrick Converse; National School Choral Award: Samantha Fahey; John Philip Sousa Award: Emma Harnett; Phoenix Award: Jennifer Nistendirk.

SOCIEDAD HONORARIA HISPÁNICA/ SOCIETE HONORAIRE DE FRANCAIS AND SLAVA, Foreign Language Honor Societies: Philip Alexander, Jaime Bainton, Courtney Bigelow, Casey Botelho, Scott Chamberlain, Thomas Chestna, Samantha Corcoran, Kristina Daggett, Alison DeArruda, Molly Driscoll, Robert Donaghue, Elizabeth Durso, Rebecca Gaudet, Andrew Golob, Michael Golob, Emma Harnett, Derek Hines, Gabriella Hornbeck, Ryan King, Stephen Marble, Mariah Marks, Daniel May, Elissa May, Jennifer McKeon, Corinne Monty, Nolan Paduch, Brandon Poli, Allison Porter, Courtney Simao, Tia Spetacciono, Lauren Tierney.

OPUS BONO HISTORIAE, History Honor Society: Courtney Bigelow, Nathaniel Bradstreet, Scott Chamberlain, Kelsey Dewey, Robert Donoghue, Molly Driscoll, Amanda Ehney, Gabriella Hornbeck, Caitlin Lynch, Stephen Marble, Elissa May, Boaz McMahon, Corinne Monty, Allison Porter, Courtney Simao, Lauren Tierney, Mark Wadsworth.

Awards and scholarships presented during Senior Last Assembly:


Student Government: Courtney Bigelow, Scott Chamberlain, Molly Driscoll, Daniel Holden, Caitlin Lynch, Boaz McMahon, Brandon Poli, Allison Porter, Kathryn Shields, Courtney Simao, Dillon Simmons, Lauren Tierney; Yearbook: Emily Richardson, Allison DeArruda; Library: Miranda Carveiro; Work Achievement: Matthew Bryant; Peer Leadership: Scott Chamberlain, Matthew DeLuca, Taylor Dyer, Amanda Ehney, Elissa May, Cassandre Michel; Peer Mediation: Matthew DeLuca, Taylor Dyer, Samantha Fahey, Hailey LaBollita, Richard Leonard, Kathryn Shields.

Key Club: Casey Botelho, Emma Harnett, Elissa May, Erica Pike, Rachael Schuberth, Courtney Simao; Speech & Theatre: Brittany Berg, Courtney Bigelow, Audrey Brown, Brian Davis, Krista Daly, Samuel DiJune, Taylor Dyer, Anthony Genatossio, Sheala Lambrecht, John Cameron Lewis, Erica Pike, Allison Porter, Sean Siciliano, Dillon Simmons, Nicholas Swale, Derek Terrio, Corey Tufts; Food Services Award: Brendan Lane, Ryan Lane; Best Athlete - George Richards Athletic: Emma Harnett, Dominique Bailey, James Muirhead; Edward R. McQuiggan Memorial Sportsmanship: Mary Farley, Vincent Henry: Student Athlete: Courtney Simao, Scott Chamberlain; MIAA Student Ambassador Award: Lauren Tierney; Athletic Achievement Award: James Muirhead.

Majorette Award: Alexandra Furtado, Kaitlynn Grungo, Rachel Kline, Christina Ransom; Marketing/Business Management: Melissa Anderson, Anthony Barbato, Kyle Empey, Alexandra Furtado, Heather Hedding, Daniel May, Julianne Mitchell, Christopher Rousseau, Nicholas Varjabedian, Gregory Wilkinson; Walter G. Hicks Business: Anthony Barbato; Music: Casey Botelho, Patrick Converse, Samantha Fahey, Emma Harnett; Harvey F. Brooks, Jr. School-to-Career: Molly Driscoll, Lauren Farmer, Daniel Holden, Julianna Tucker, Mark Wadsworth; AV - TV Production - Audio Visual: Sean Siciliano,Video Technology: Nicholas Maksy; Technology Department Award: Thomas Chestna; Phoenix Award: Jennifer Nistendirk; Fire Science/JAKE Award: Gregory Wilkinson.

National Merit Scholarship Program: Jennifer McKeon; Psychology: Catherine Jessop; Foreign Language: Jamie Bainton, Lauren Tierney; MSSAA Student Achievement: Scott Chamberlain; Spirit & Service: Emma Harnett, Sean Siciliano; American Legion: Lauren Tierney; Salutatorian: Molly Elizabeth Driscoll; Valedictorian: Gabriella Lang Hornbeck.

Senior Awards

Brianna Albert: Middleboro Lodge of Elks #1274, Bridgewater Savings Bank, Middleboro District Nursing Scholarship, Elizabeth B. Cushman, School Street School Centennial, Sarah Heinz Memorial Scholarship; Jamie Bainton: Elizabeth B. Cushman, Anna C. Erickson Scholarship, Dr. Lincoln D. Lynch; Anthony Barbato: Kiwanis Club of Middleboro, Christmas Wishes; Michael Bernabeo, Class of 1952 Scholarship; Jonathan Bettencourt, Ethel Maria Delano; Courtney Bigelow: Elizabeth B. Cushman: Joseph Braasch: John T. (Tiger) Nichols, Jr. Memorial; Nathaniel Bradstreet: Fletcher Clark, Jr.; Scott Chamberlain: Elizabeth B. Cushman, Oak Point Homeowners, Myra A. Shaw Memorial; Patrick Converse, Middleboro Lodge of Elks #1274, Louisa Burt Wood Pratt Scholarship, Middleboro Music Guild, Anna C. Erickson Scholarship, Middleboro Music Boosters Scholarship.

Brian Davis: Talbots Charitable Foundation; Allison DeArruda: NES Class Rings; Sam DiJune: Heather Mackenzie Memorial; Amanda Dittrich: Laura B. Cannon Scholarship; Mercedes Dones-Patricelli: Class of 1954; Robert Donoghue: Albert A. and Ruth W. Thomas, Frank Arthur Roukas, William J. Spratt Memorial, Abington American Legion Auxiliary Scholarship, Trustees of Pratt Free School Scholarship, Geraldine Langley Memorial Scholarship; Molly Driscoll: Faye H. Deane, Elizabeth B. Cushman, Charlotte Souza Seltzer Memorial, Lawrence K. Parker Education Trust, Order of Eastern Star.


Pauline Easterbrooks: Jane M. Bennett, American Legion; Amanda Ehney: John T. (Tiger) Nichols, Jr. Memorial, Oak Point Homeowners, William Anthony Martin Scholarship; Samantha Fahey, Honey Dew Donuts Scholarship; Mary Farley, Friends of Cranberry Specialty Hospital, Rose M. Weston Memorial, Alfred "Jim" Farley, Roderick M. Berry, Jr. Memorial, Debbie Blais Real Estate; Lauren Farmer: Cabot Club Scholarship, Arleen and Arthur Dunham, Elizabeth B. Cushman, Lakeville Area Mothers' Club, Staff Sergeant Bruce Rushforth Memorial, Oak Point Association, Dr. Lincoln D. Lynch; Nicole Feldman: Deane Award #1; Jeanette Foley: Cabot Club Art Department Scholarship, Order of Eastern Star; Rebecca Gaudet: Eugene Savard Memorial Athletic Scholarship.

Andrew Golob: Amy Jameson Memorial, Sparrow Brothers, McMahon/DeYoung Fund, MEA Teacher Memorial Scholarship; Michael Golob: Elizabeth B. Cushman, McMahon/DeYoung Fund; Jeremy Haber: James Tessier Memorial, Middleboro Permanent Firefighters Association; Emma Harnett: Faye H. Deane, Dr. A. Vincent Smith (Harry E. Richmond), Oak Point Association, Coleen Twigg Memorial Scholarship, Class of 1948 Scholarship; Daniel Holden: Paul and Winona Harrison Memorial Scholarship, James Tessier Memorial, William Greeley, Sr.; Gabriella Hornbeck, Faye H. Deane, Elizabeth B. Cushman, Neil Maranville Memorial Music; Mark Jackson, Jr., Middleboro Lodge of Elks #1274; Catherine Jessop: George J. Marra Memorial Scholarship, Oak Point Association; Hailey LaBollita: Oak Point Association, Old Colony Youth Cheerleading Association; Richard Leonard, Jr., Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, Inc.

Caitlin Lynch: Faye H. Deane, Elizabeth B. Cushman; Stephen Marble: Elmer R. Harlow, Jr., Elizabeth B. Cushman; Elissa May: Ann White Washburn, Art Leonard Kiwanis Club of Middleboro, Dawn A. Reed Memorial, Lawrence K. Parker Education Trust; Jake Mazzola: Elizabeth B. Cushman; Jennifer McKeon: Elizabeth B. Cushman; Boaz McMahon: Oak Point Association, Plymouth County Education Assoc. Scholarship, Middleboro Police Union Local #339; Sarah Medas: Elizabeth B. Cushman, Middleboro Park Department; Cassandre Michel: McMahon/DeYoung Fund, Wankinquoah Rod and Gun Club; Corinne Monty: Marion Huxley West Memorial, Dr. Lincoln D. Lynch, Middleboro Tennis Association; Kelley Moquin: Middleboro Lodge of Elks #1274, John and Eva Sowyrda Memorial Scholarship; Nolan Paduch: Faye H. Deane, Elizabeth B. Cushman, Oak Point Homeowners, Shotgunflat Creative Agency.

Shauna Pejouy: The Stacey Ann LeRoy Foundation Scholarship; Erica Pike, Adelia C. Richards, Oak Point Association, Plymouth County Education Assoc. Scholarship; Brandon Poli: Oak Point Homeowners; Allison Porter: Louisa Burt Wood Pratt Scholarship, Adelia C. Richards; Christina Ransom, Oak Point Homeowners; Emily Richardson: Antonetta Iampietro Memorial, Shotgunflat Creative Agency; Benjamin Rogers, Middleboro Lodge of Elks #1274; Stephanie Scanlon: Clara S. Shepherd (White Church Guild), OakPoint Homeowners; Tyler Schofield: Middleboro Lodge of Elks #1274, Oak Point Association, Middleboro Tennis Association, Lt. Leon B. Desrosiers Memorial; Leah Schuler: Oak Point Association, American Legion, Ruth Brown Memorial Scholarship; Kathryn Shields: Doris Perkins Orr, Deane Award #2, Anna C. Erickson Scholarship, Oak Point Association, McMahon/DeYoung Fund, Rotary Club of Middleboro Schoarship.

Sean Siciliano: Leonard O. Tillson, Doris Perkins Orr, North Middleboro Mothers' Club Scholarship, Oak Point Association, Coleen Twigg Memorial Scholarship; Courtney Simao: HarborOne Scholarship, Faye H. Deane, Elizabeth B. Cushman, Oak Point Homeowners, Lawrence K. Parker Education Trust, The Kenneth Clinton Scholarship; Dillon Simmons: Class of 1959; Michael Teri: Brookfield Engineering Laboratories, Inc.; Lauren Tierney: Cranberry Country Chamber of Commerce, Sparrow Brothers; Nicholas Varjabedian: Dorothy Gamache Memorial Art Scholarship, Henry R. Caswell Memorial Scholarship (Pratt Free School); Mark Wadsworth: Joseph C. Whitcomb, David G. Reed Memorial.

Arthur Battistini: James Tessier Memorial, MEA Teacher Memorial Scholarship; Nicholas Bean: Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Christina Berger: Marion Huxley West Memorial; Eden Brownell: Lt. Leon B. Desrosiers Memorial; Amanda Chipman: Faye H. Deane, Middleboro Police Union Local #339; Lacey Craig: Faye H. Deane, St. Luke's Hospital Club; Lindsey Craig: Ida M. Washburn Memorial Nursing; Kristen Cowan: Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Mark Cunningham: Elmer R. Harlow, Jr., Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Sherren Doyle: Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Melissa Driscoll: Albert A. and Ruth W. Thomas; Stephen Dudek: Elizabeth B. Cushman; Jordan Fongeallaz: James Tessier Memorial; Isaac Fowler: Oak Point Homeowners, Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Timothy Green: Louisa Burt Wood Pratt Scholarship, Elizabeth B. Cushman; Ethan Guenard: Elizabeth B. Cushman, Middleboro Police Superior Officers Union NEPBA Local 96, Howard W. Maxim Foundation, Middleboro Police Union Local #339; Max Harnett: Arleen and Arthur Dunham; Kellie Holden: Elizabeth B. Cushman; Lauren Howes: Marion Huxley West Memorial; Stephen Johnson: Faye H. Deane, Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Ashley Kelly: Faye H. Deane; Leah Kutzy: Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Emily Leonard: Elizabeth B. Cushman; William Lydon: Howard W. Maxim Foundation.

Natalie MacDonald: Elizabeth B. Cushman; Timothy Maxwell: Louisa Burt Wood Pratt Scholarship, Howard W. Maxim Foundation, Order of Eastern Star; Michael McGourthy: Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Michael Ohrenberger: Arleen and Arthur Dunham, MacDougall Student Fund, Howard W. Maximum Foundation; Shelly Ortelt: Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Evan Pittsley: Order of Eastern Star; Daniel Rutledge: Eugene Savard Memorial Athletic Scholarship; Mary Shields: Howard W. Maxim Foundation; Christen Soden: Faye H. Deane; Robert Stephanian: Elizabeth B. Cushman, George J. Marra Memorial Scholarship; Jenna Sweitzer, Marion Huxley West Memorial; Emily Silva, Vic Syliva Scholarship; Krystina Vieira, Oak Point Homeowners; Heidi Woofenden, Oak Point Homeowners, Order of Eastern Star; Jennifer Wrynn, Arleen and Arthur Dunham.

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