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Class of 2014 Celebrated in 193rd Commencement Exercises

Will McCulloch
 
Inclement weather moved New Hampton School’s 193rd Commencement into the Lower Gymnasium on Friday afternoon, but the raindrops could not dampen the spirit of the Class of 2014 and its accomplishments.

The 96 graduates from 17 states and 16 countries embodied the global reach of New Hampton School, and their many talents reflect a program that served them well.

Graduates finished their New Hampton careers with reflection, celebration, and some inspirational remarks before heading off to matriculate to some of the finest universities in the world.

Commencement speaker Victoria Blodgett ’80 recalled the impact New Hampton School had on her life while asking various members of the graduating class to stand up and be recognized for their distinctive qualities.

Blodgett, who has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2009 and serves on the Executive Committee as the chair of the Governance Committee, provided context for what it means to be a New Hampton School graduate.

“This sense of pride, honesty, accomplishment, and a deep knowing that  you belong to someplace, doesn’t go away when you leave,” Blodgett said. “It goes with you into the next days and years of your life. And like me, and so many others, you can reach back, like reaching for a good luck charm, and remember the lessons learned, the way it felt to succeed when challenged, to experience unabated joy, and laughter. You can remember how to strive and question, take on bullies, and how to let your soul sing.”    
The Assistant Dean and Director of Graduate Career Services at Yale University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Blodgett brought a contemporary twist to her address when she asked all the graduates to take out their phones and snap a “selfie” photo while thinking about a special New Hampton moment.

“Capture the picture of your face,” Blodgett said, “with that thought on this day – so that it is yours to remember forever.”
 
Ninth-year Head of School Andrew Menke applauded the graduates in his opening address and pointed out that in a highly digital world, living in a small community can resonate for a lifetime.

“You class of 2014 are on the cusp of greatness,” Menke said. “Remember the lesson you have learned here about how vital human contact and relationships are to your success. Continue to follow this formula and you will most certainly realize your dreams.”
 
Ben Cecil Speaker Timothy Sestak ’14 of Darien, Connecticut—chosen by his peers— reflected on his personal journey as a full International Baccalaureate Diploma candidate and a varsity hockey goalie.

“I’ve broadened my horizons since moving up from a relatively sheltered community in suburban Connecticut,” Sestak said. “Through the New Hampton experience — through living, studying, and playing with some incredibly talented and motivated students, I have found not just a group of friends, but a larger family.”     

Student Body President Charlie Callif ’14, a four-year student who will attend the College of the Holy Cross, urged his classmates to engage in the opportunities ahead of them. He shared his anxiety with leaving New Hampton and playing his last athletic contest in the school colors.

“So do not take anything for granted, accept new opportunities with an open mind, and always look to push yourself,” Callif said. “Don’t forget to be present in each moment because it’s over before you know it.”

Co-Valedictorians Mackenzie Little ’14 and Julia Lanni ’14, chose to give their speech together as a duo. Little and Lanni, both four-year students from the local community who balanced the rigor of the IB program with numerous co-curriculars, reflected on their lasting memories.

“We have learned many things throughout our time at New Hampton, but one of the greatest lessons to take away from this experience is that it is the people around you that define how you will remember your experiences,” Little said.
 
Little, who hails from Center Sandwich, will attend Skidmore College in the fall. She was awarded the School’s highest honor, the Meservey Medal.

They were two of the 24 students in the class who are part of the School’s third class of International Baccalaureate Diploma Program candidates.

The following students received awards at the Commencement ceremony:
Co-Valedictorian: Mackenzie Little (Sandwich, New Hampshire) Skidmore College
Co-Valedictorian: Julia Lanni (New Hampton, New Hampshire) Wake Forest University
Faculty Citation: Charlie Callif (Hancock, New Hampshire) College of the Holy Cross
Meservey Medal: Mackenzie Little
Academic and Personal Growth Medal: Alden Rhodes (Raleigh, North Carolina) Gap Year
Intellectual Curiosity Award: Peter Burgess (Weston, Massachusetts) Dartmouth College
Citizenship Medal: Gabriel Vautour (Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada) Mount Allison College

Awards presented by department at Baccalaureate on May 22 were:
English Department: Mackenzie Little (Sandwich, New Hampshire) Skidmore College
Golden-Tilton PG Athlete: Matthew McLelland (Reading, Massachusetts) Southern New Hampshire
History Department: Mackenzie Little
Mathematics Department: Bo Yuan Zheng (Shanghai, China) Babson
Joe Plaia Outstanding Male Athlete: Matthew Dean (Gilford, New Hampshire) Wentworth Institute of Technology
Joe Plaia Outstanding Female Athlete: Gabriel Vautour (Hampton, New Brunswick, Canada), Mount Allison College
Science Department: Mian Horvath (Gilford, New Hampshire) Bryn Mawr College
Performing Arts: Taylor Lacallaide (Meredith, New Hampshire) George Washington University
Visual Arts Award: Ariel Goos (Concord, Massachusetts) Dickinson College
World Languages: Taylor Lacallaide
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