MacCurdy Salisbury awardees gather for a photo. From left to right, seated are: Maria Awwa, Veronica Lee, Jennifer Kowalski, Lauren Colburn and Lindsey Scott; standing: Foundation President Ned Perkins, Christian Tompkins, Georgia Male, Jackson Bennett, Vincent Angeli, Erik Carlson, Anthony Goncalves, James Hubbard, Tim Shoemaker, Allyson McCarthy, Jabez Crook, Blaise Berglund, Caroline Tompkins, Rebecca Tompkins, Foundation President Rowland Ballek, Gregory Garrison. Absent when photo was taken were: Gunnar Abrahamsson, Mollee Labriola and Taylor Teixeira.

The MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation held its Annual Reception for this year’s High School Seniors receiving Foundation awards on Monday afternoon, June 17, at the Lyme Art Association in Old Lyme. Over 100 students, parents, contributors and Foundation Board Members were present.

At the reception Foundation President Rowland Ballek stated that this is the 120th anniversary year for the Foundation and the 40th anniversary of the Brevillier (Lyme) portion of the fund.  He also said “This is the first time since the fund was established for Lyme students in 1973 that Lyme awards will be based on the same formula as the awards given out to Old Lyme students.  This is because many generous contributors helped boost the Lyme portion of the Foundation’s endowment to be in proportion with the Old Lyme fund.” He thanked supporters in the audience and the community whose contributions helped the Foundation achieve this balance and also helped the entire fund keep up with the ever increasing cost of college.

This coming academic year the Foundation expects to give out $236,050 to 78 students from Lyme and Old Lyme who are attending colleges throughout the United States. Included in these numbers are 20 students graduating this year from Lyme and Old Lyme who were awarded grants at the reception totaling $66,900 to use for the coming school year.

In the past six years the MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation has given out over $1.3  million dollars (actual number: $1,322,850) to students from Lyme and Old Lyme.

Foundation awards are based on the degree of financial assistance a student requires to meet their college expenses. If a student keeps a satisfactory grade point level they will continue to receive the same award for an additional three years of their undergraduate studies.

From left to right, Foundation President Rowland Ballek, Salutatorian Maria Awwa of Old Lyme, Valedictorian Jennifer Kowalski of Lyme and Foundation Secretary Treasurer Ned Perkins.

The Foundation presented two $500 awards at the reception; the W.E.S. Griswold Valedictorian Award to Jennifer Kowalski of Lyme who will attend Haverford College and the Willis Umberger Salutatorian Award to Maria Awwa of Old Lyme who will attend  Barnard College.

The MacCurdy Salisbury Educational Foundation has a long standing tradition of providing financial support to local students going on to further their education at colleges and universities after their high school years. Founded in 1893, the Foundation began giving direct grants to students to continue their education beyond High School in 1918, a practice that continues today.

The weather was perfect for a graduation. In the fields behind the newly-renovated Lyme-Old Lyme High School (LOLHS), friends and family chatted eagerly in their seats; their anticipation was electric, intensifying the bright colors of summer and the crisp, blue sky.

Then the LOLHS band, directed by Jacob Wilson, began to play the classic graduation anthem, Pomp and Circumstance, and the excitement began to escalate, climaxing in cheers as the graduating Class of 2013 finally emerged.

First to speak was Class President Nora Syed, who praised her class for sticking together from their early days in elementary school to the “awkward” middle school phase, and finally through the construction at the high school.  She ended her speech in a triumphant, “Congratulations Class of 2013, we did it!”

Principal James Wygonik was next, thanking the senior class for all they had contributed to the school by working hard and giving back to the community.  Remarking that it would seem odd coming from him, since he had spent the past four years encouraging the Class of 2013 to be risk-averse, he now advised the Class to take risks and step outside their ‘comfort zone,’ whether in the making of new friends, taking of a difficult course or applying for a tough job.

“Embrace the road less traveled,” he urged, while congratulating them on a challenging four years, which had spanned the entire high school renovation.

Aron D’Aquila, the history teacher at LOLHS, offered his own wise words, “Be true to yourself … yet trust.”  Peppered throughout with references to his beloved Abraham Lincoln, he told the story of his decision to pursue his passion — history — rather than become an engineer as expected like his father and grandfather.  Although he was initially nervous to tell his father of his change of plan, his father was, in fact, very receptive, encouraging his son to follow his own instincts.  D’Aquila told the Class of 2013 to do the same on their unceasing search for “self”.

Michelle Gao, the Honor Essayist, described her high school experience in her speech, comparing LOLHS to an open door.  She reminisced about middle school days and then alluded to the class’s future beyond the threshold of high school: employment, mortgage, marriage, children and more.  No longer children themselves, she urged her class to overcome their fears and take advantage of any opportunity.  Her sage advice to her peers?  “Leave no door unopened.”

After a rousing rendition of Phillip Phillips’ Home by the LOLHS combined choirs, directed by Kristine Pekar, Salutatorian Maria Awwa drew a parallel between the growth from freshman to senior and the renovation of the high school.  Like the high school, the Class of 2013 needed “fixing up” in their freshman year but, by senior year, they were ready to shine.

Valedictorian Jennifer Kowalski cleared up any superstitions about “unlucky” 13.  She proceeded to thank her family, teachers, and classmates for supporting her and for allowing her to be herself.  She recounted many of her fond memories at the high school, concluding that she and her class were, contrary to the superstition, “very lucky.” and wishing them a future of, “Good luck.”

Following the presentation of the Mildred Sanford award for Outstanding Educator to Spanish teacher Jeanne Manfredi, the presentation of the diplomas by Superintendent of Region 18 Schools Ian Neviaser and Chair of the Region 18 Board of Education, James Witkins began.

Excited parents armed themselves with their cameras as the soon-to-be alumni confidently walked onto stage to receive their diplomas.  Despite the request that all applause should be held until the very end, the audience could not help but erupt into cheers (and sometimes airhorns) after each candidate.

Finally, Assistant Principal Michelle Dean reminded the Class of 2013 to always find humor in life and never take them selves too seriously.  In a final farewell, she commended them for their joyous camaraderie and wished them much luck for the future.

And with the toss of their hats, the Class of 2013 stepped from childhood into adulthood.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School Class of 2013

Erik Knut Abrahamsson
Gunnar Stephan Abrahamsson
Vincent Robert Angeli
Maria Awwa
Sebastian Blaize Bakoledis
Jackson Church Bennett
Blaise Nash Berglund
Jeffrey David Berry
Nicholas Elliott Berry
Lilly Marie Birk
Olivia Susan Borsari
Gabrielle Faith Borzillo
Alexandra Marie Bowker
Alex Richardson Brault
Michael Allen Bray
Paul Edwin Burdick
Amanda Rose Burke
Dylan Joseph Burton
Devin James Byrne
Nathan Todd Carabello
Kayla Marie Carberry
Erik Leighton Carlson
Micaela Elizabeth Caulkins
Patricia Louise Celone
Madalyn Adelle Cika
Lauren Carol-Helen Colburn
Samantha Lorraine Constantinou
James Bennett Cromarty
Jabez Alan Crook
Sean Xavier Crowley
Nathan Daniel Crysler
Georgia Morrell Cummins
Daena D’Mello
Chris Anthony Espinal
Keegan Rain Fecher
Agatha Ruth Forstein
Tyler Miguel Franco
Matthew James Fuller
Andrew Michael Ganey
Michelle Gao
Gregory John Garrison
Richard Arthur Gaudet
Anthony Ramiro Goncalves
Slater Broderick Gregory
Frederick John Harrison
Lily Claire Hartmann
Matthew Joseph Harty
Hunter Graham Holmes
Audra Jayne Inglis
Trevor Talbot Kegley
Najee Nicole Keller
Steven Wayne Klimaszewski
Lindsey Brooke Knepshield
Jennifer Kay Kowalski
Molly Kristen Labriola
Veronica Oddny Lee
George Harold Logan
Cara Lord Lucey
Agatha Luma Magalhaes,
Georgia Elizabeth Mal
Tanya Malih Malik
Carly Janette Mangs
Michael Austin Mann
Kathryn Rachel Mastrianna
Allyson June McCarthy
Robert William McDonald
Isabelle Erin McKeon
Lucky Hana McLaren
Mercedes Marie Mercado
Anne Elizabeth Meyer
Victoria Jane Montanaro
Dylan Joseph Morrissey
Elliott Patrick Mueller
Erik Gunnar Nicholson
Meghan Ellen Nosal
Aidan Brooks O’Donnell
Paige Elizabeth Palenski
Kelly Biren Patel
Shawn Patrick Pelissier
Andrew Masayoshi Pitman
Rory Elizabeth Plyler
Robert Edward Poirier
Katherine Mary Quinn
Travis George Russell
Taylor McCall Saunders
Lindsey Beverly Scott
Crow Jared Sheehan
Arielle Rose Sherman-Golembeski
Timothy James Shoemaker
Audrey Elizabeth Spina
Samuel Thomas Stadnick
David Benjamin Sturgell
Samuel Brooks Sweitzer
Nora Binti Syed
Sarah Allyn Talcott
Xinyue Cynthia Tan
Taylor Marie Teixeira
Arin Jean Thomas
Alexis Rayanne Thornton
Brooke Andrea Tinnerello
Caroline Kay Tompkins
Rebecca Grace Tompkins
Andrew Robert Tyrol
Amber Gabriella Vernacatola
Brenna Rose Visgilio
Spencer Thomas Ward
Caleb Isaac Weissinger
Lucille Iva Welles
Morgan Ward White
Samuel James Wilkie
Alexis Marie Wright