Portland Holds Graduation for Class of 2011

The weather could not have been more perfect, the outdoor ceremony more low key. It was graduation day for the Portland High School Class of 2011.

“Today we take our leave of our small academic community,” Class Valedictorian Ashley Johnson said.

But not of the community in which these students grew up. Small town values, such as family, friends, home and fond memories, the ties that bind a close-knit community, not just over 13 years of schooling but for a lifetime, were a constant theme Monday evening.

“There are three things to always have in your life: family, friends and a place to call home,” Salutatorian Susanne Dickerson said. “Your family is present today in the audience and your friends are sitting beside you on stage. … Just remember that no matter how far away you go or how much you change, you will always be welcome back home to Portland with open arms.”

Johnson reminisced of grades gone by, from kindergarten to high school, wearing Halloween costumes to school to taking SATs. Thirteen years of memories, a bond called growing up Portland.

“Thirteen years have come and gone and 13 years from now we will still be Portland High School Class of 2011,” Johnson said. “No matter where the path of life takes us we will still have our memories to tie us together

“Now is the time to make new memories.”

There were also plenty of kind words and thanks for the teachers, from preschool through high school.

“More importantly, I’ll miss the encouragement and support given by all the teachers at Portland High School, Class President Stan Law said. “They created an environment which allowed me to not only to learn, but also to grow, and yes, become an adult. They pushed us and gave us the confidence to be more than we thought we could be. Without them, we would not be pursuing the opportunities that lie before each of us.

“While I am very excited to begin the next four years of my life, it is with a heavy heart that I say goodbye to Portland High School. The faculty and students at Portland High School have made the past four years nothing short of amazing.”

In the end, it was the school pride and community spirit that made it an amazing evening.

Class of 2011

Brendan Anderson *#^

Jason Anglis

Timothy Ryan Barksdale

Kaitlin Marie Berube >

Michael Anthony Bordonaro

Justin Michael Cahill

Jonathan Clark

Taylor Clark

Julie Anne Clausi

Kelly Marie Coleman #

Thomas John Coman *#^

Alyssa Erin Danielewicz ^

Sarah Elizabeth Daniels

Peter Nicolas Arthur Davis *# >

Susanne Marie Dickerson *++ # >^

Lindsey Elizabeth Dionne ^

Melissa Helen Durkin ^

Nicholas Emond

Jacob David Errichetti * #^

Thomas Dylan Etheridge

Andre Etienne

Trevor Benjamin Fleischmann ^

Meaghan Anne Franklin

Jessica L. Garrison

Jesse Goodrich-Gotta

Norberto Guerra

Danielle Catherine Guzzardi ^

Ryan Arthur Healey

Alaina M. Hintz

Nicole Horton

Christopher Howell

Emily Amelia Jeffers

Ashley Elizabeth Johnson *+ # >^

Kyle Johnson ^

Marissa Rae LaMalfa >

Marissa Laree Larson

Keith Lastrina

Stanford T. Law

Tina Melissa Leopizzo

Michael G. Leslie #^

Andrew May

Michael T. Mazzarella

Cory James Nesci ^

Jordan Scott Nolan *#^

Julie Catherine Nolan

Jessica Laura Nursick >^

Zachary A. Orcutt

Shannon Ashley Osak^

Danae Lyn Overton

Steven Daniel Paley *#^

Katherine Elizabeth Pelletier

Heather Ann Petzold

Kevin Philipchik

Kyle Philipchik

Nikolas Steven Piasecki

Gabrielle Marlena Pierini

Clayton Taylor Puida

Jeffrey D. Realejo ^

Connor Rudewicz

Laura Scaramella ~

Haley Marie Schmidt # >

Connor Sterling Schultz # >^

Alexa Marie Schwartz >

Michelle Sienko

George D. Sirigos Jr.

Richard S. Smazer ^

Brittany Lynn Smith

Anthony Angel Solis

Mary Helen Spakowski

Tyler William Stebbins

Erica Eleanor Stoto ^

Erin Elizabeth Sweeney

Gregory Tischofer

Amanda-Lynn Tobias #

Frank Tomboly ^

Nickolas R. Trudell

Juliana Rose Twichell ^

Nicholas Paul Vetrano # >

Lindsey Lily Virgadaula

Jennifer Liane Wall

Brianne Webster >^

Kevin Wicke ^

Michael C. Zapatka

* Top 10 percent of the class – Yellow Cords

# National Honor Society – White Cords

> Tri-M Music Honor Society – Pink Cords

~ January Graduate

+ Valedictorian

++ Salutatorian

^ CAPT Mastery (all tests)