Community Corner
SHS Class of 2011 Celebrates Success, Told to 'Dance in the Rain'
Members from throughout the community came together to celebrate the Class of 2011 commencement ceremony at Southington High School Thursday.
Rain clouds hovered over Southington High School but even heavy downpours couldn’t dampen the spirits of those in the Class of 2011.
Thousands packed the schools two gymnasiums and auditorium for the 2011 commencement ceremony as the community celebrated the accomplishments of the 533 graduates in the class of 2011.
“Life isn’t about how we survive the storm, but how we dance in the rain,” Board of Education Chairman Brian Goralski told the graduates. “I ask that you celebrate this accomplishment, that you spend time with your family, and when the rain starts to come back, get outside and dance in the rain.”
Life has changed a lot since those in the class of 2011 were first born, said Class President Matthew Macchi. Gas was just $1.07 per gallon, families enjoyed dinner and nighttime television together and Microsoft was introducing the first windows operating system.
Fast forward almost two decades – gas now hovers around $4 per gallon, those hit game shows have been replaced with American Idol and Jersey Shore and technology and social networking has changed the way we work and live every day, Macchi said.
“Just look at how much times have changed and we’ve been at the epicenter of it all,” Macchi said. “It’s hard to imagine how through all this, we all could have turned out as well as we did. We’ve all shown that we have the ability to change and adapt to our environment…we’ve proven we have what it takes to learn and to grow.
“These last four years this high school has been home to some of the best talent Southington has ever had and ever will have to offer,” he said, “With outstanding academic achievements at the forefront of this class, multiple state and conference athletic champions, four consecutive marching band state championships, over ten sold out drama club shows, superior involvement in over 35 organized clubs and organizations and exceptional effort in community service projects, the class of 2011 has been the epitome of what a class should be.”
Success, in almost every area imaginable, defined the class of 2011 and that’s something that students Niels Thomsen, Ray Simmon, Isaac Monts and Kevin Thompson said they hope will remain part of their legacy in the years to come.
The four graduates, speaking just before receiving their diplomas Thursday, said they were not only proud of their own accomplishments, however, but also of the rich learning environment in Southington that helped mold them into good citizens.
Asked what they’d most like to be remembered for, the graduates – all of whom were members of the marching band – said it would be for their part in winning best percussion for the band in 2010, a feat that hadn’t been accomplished in 20 years.
“You think about it, and it’s a day of mixed emotions,” Monts said. “I’m glad to be getting out of here, but I already miss (the school) at the same time.”
Simmon’s mother, Joyce Simmon, said she couldn’t be more proud of her son and his graduating class a whole.
She said just sitting in the audience made her remember him as a young boy and the times growing up. She said the school taught her son well and she is confident he and many of the graduates will adjust to new lives with relative ease.
“It’s an emotional time, for myself and for my son,” she said. “This marks one book closing and a new one about to open.”
School Principal Martin Semmel applauded what the class has accomplished and said he looks forward to seeing the success each of his former students will have once leaving Southington High School.
“This is my first graduating class as principal and I couldn’t have asked for a greater group – talented, smart, energetic and outgoing,” said Southington High School Principal Martin Semmel. “This truly is a class filled with winners.”
Congratulations to the following Southington High Class of 2011 graduates:
* -Denotes high honors graduates
+ -Denotes honors graduates
Sare Ajmal
Cody James Albee * Jenna Marie Aldieri
Alexa Adrianna Alejandro
Ashley Lynn Aleksinas * Elizabeth Cook Alexander * Diana Alka * Madison Elyse Altwies * Christopher Robert Amnott * Cody Jonathan Andelin
Mariano Antonio Andino + Katharine Michelle Andres
Sarah Lindsley Appleby * Daniel Richard Arndt * Nicholas Alexander Arnista * Bilal Aslam * Usama Aslam
Tanner Alan Aszklar
Chelsea Tashia Atkins + Andrew Jeffrey Aylett + Samantha Leigh Babin Zeinab Ibrahim Badr * Kendal Marilyn Bailey * Kara Elizabeth Baker
Hayley Ann Balducci * Peter James Bard * Michael Brian Barniak
Ryan Anthony Bavaro
Edward Thomas Beach * Jonathan Michael Bean * Nathan Gary Beaumont
Angela Emily Beaupre
Amanda Corinne Bedell + Brigid Carla Bednarczyk + Ashlee Marie Belanger * Kristen Nicole Bennett * Matthew Michael Bernacki * Elsie C. Bernaiche
Mariah Lynn Berry
Tyler Scott Blanchette
Alex Michael Boccardi * Julia Mary-Rose Bocek
Georgia Bolovis + Courtney Victoria Borowy
Cassandra Ashley Bouchard + Samuel David Boudreau
Jennifer Ann Bourgoin
Christian Robert Tyler Bowles
Mary Ann Brasile * Cassondra Marie Brayfield * Timothy Jonathan Brown * Shanna Lynn Brozowsky
Jenalee Nichole Bruneau
Anne Elizabeth Bucko * Alexander Joseph Buganski
Ericka Barbara Buonocore
Tyler Colby Burns
Connor Harrison Butkiewicz
Samantha Jean Byron * Brady Baxter Callahan
Alyssa Jean Campochiaro * Michael Thomas Cannata III
Natasha Zosia Carlbert * Victoria Linnea Carothers + Michael Alan Carrier
Matthew James Carta + Lauren Marie Casarella * Erin Elizabeth Casey * Rebecca Lynn Casner + Blair Alexa Casserino
Robert Michael Catucci
Megan Marie Cerreta * Jocelyn Rose Ceruti + Jonathan Michael Chamis
Morgan Lynn Chandler
Nicholas Champlin + Jordan Gregory Chapman
Trevor James Chapman * Jacquelyn Nicole Charamut * Michelle Marie Cianchetti
Genesis Isabel Eguizabal Cifuentes * Michael Anthony Cipollone
Ryan Patrick Clancy
Corissa Dee Clark
Jessica Lynn Cole * Shannon Kelly Coleman
Brianna Dorothy Collin * Evan Gerard Comeau * Amy Elizabeth Conant
Ryan Edward Connors * Kelly Elizabeth Cook + Sarah Ann Coonan
Brandon Charles Corjulo * Shannen Doreen Corrigan * Eric Tylor Corriveau * Catherine Frances Cota + Giovanni Joseph-Peter Cottone * Katharine Anne Craven
Felicia Lynn Crawford * Kevin Andrew Crispens * Laura Ann Crowley + Samantha Rose Crowley
Michael Anthony Cruess
Amy Lee Cruz
Nathalia Cruz + Brittney Lynn Cyr
Sara Elizabeth Cyr * Jessica Marie Dabkowski
Olga Dabrowska
Kathryn Leigh Daddona * Colin Daniel Daigle
Bridget Kathleen Dailey
Ashlynn Elizabeth Daley + Trevor James Dalia * Jessica Marie Davenport * Nicole Renee Davidow * Leo Jeffrey DeBarba * Andrea Michelle DeFrancesco * Michael Patrick DeJohn
Christina Rose Della Vecchia * Kimberly Myers DeMarino
Alexander Sterling Derisi
Emily Rose Derynoski
Neel Sanjay Desai + Richi Rahul Desai + Matthew Joseph Desprey * George Patrick Dibble * Daniel Roy Dietz * James John DiNello
Adam Michael DiPinto
Chantal Elizabeth Distefano * Eric Charles Dizenzo * Douglas Robert Dominello * Claire Marie Donahue + Timothy Michael Donovan II
Shawn Patrick Doolan * Edana Catherine Downey
Kasidee Rain-Ann Drivdahl
David Vincent Dube Jr. * Tyler Daniel Dube * David Alan DuBois
Samantha Amelia Duclos + Spencer Zachary Duffany
Nicholas Alan Durand * Clare Ann Dzilenski * Alicen Mallory Dziubek
Haley Ann Eagan * Gretchen Lundin Egan * Nathan Gerald Emery + Jonathan Fernando Esteves + Richard William Etheridge * Sarah Olivia Falcetti * Dylan Michael Fallis
Emily Mary Faraclas
James Donald Faroni
Amie Marie Faust * Mollie Giovannia Faust + Kara Michelle Fazzolari
Brandon Matthew Fernandez
Angella Marie Ferrucci
Melissa Anne Fiasconaro + Thainara Figueiroa * Meghan Elizabeth Fitzgerald
Patrick Gino Fitzgerald
Karisma Ashley Flores
Redmond James Foley + Jasmin Samantha Forrest
Breanna Lee Fortin
Alayna Jean Freer
Colin Freer
David Gregory Friedman + Shane Ryan Fusco
Alexa Danielle Garcia
Michael Richard Garcia * David Joseph Gardner
Jonathan David Garvey
Kaitlin Marie Gendreau * Annie Elizabeth Gentile
Joseph William Gianatti
Zachary Storm Gillis
Cory James Gioia
John Pelino Giovannucci * Julia Cora Rose Girardin * Colleen Marie Girouard
Kostandina Gjiza
Caitlin Caroline Goff
Thomas Golymbieski * Jakub Krzysztof Gorski
Nicholas Paul Gothberg
Lisamarie Anna Graham * Evan Matthew Gray
Kenneth Shaun Green
Stephen Andrew Green * Briana Justine Gregoire + Stephanie Elizabeth Griffin
Logan Thomas Griffith * Alexander Mark Groom * Brandon Adolewski Haas
Zackary Richard Haiman * Nosherwan Sarosh Hamid
Gayle Elisabeth Hamilton
Danielle Marie Hamm
Lance D. Hammell * James Patrick Hammond
Nicole Elizabeth Hanson * Kylie Yvonne Harrington * Dylan Richard Hart
Benjamin Robert Hartman * Nicholas Gregory Hasko * Mark G. Hayden + Zachary Michael Heller * Sarah Ann Higgins * Cassandra J. Hilerio * Alexander Stephen Hoder * Kendall Anne Hodges * Allyson Riley Hoskins * Jillian Deanna Hricko
Branden Clark Hughes * Kelley S. Hwang + Katelyn Elizabeth Hyde * Alexandria Lauren Irace + Jessica Lynn Jaffer
Fantasia Rose Janazzo
Alicia Irene Janelle * Bryan David Jannetty
David Paul Jaros + Aleksandra Katarzyna Jaworska * Emily Grace Jepson
Cameron Paul Johnstone
Sarah Elizabeth Judd + Siranoush Grace Kalfayan + Alexander Robert Kaliszewski + Aaron Michael Kalkowski
Jadey May Kammerer
Austin Edward Karpiej
Artur Jerzy Kasinski * Joshlyne Monique Kates
Timothy Dylan Keal
Tara Maureen Kearney * Gina Margaret Kelley
Lynze Mariah Khan * Kaylie Ann King
Vittoria Elena King
Casey-Lee Marie Kirdzik * Shannen Belle Kizilski
Faith Alexandria Knell * Kaitlynn Marie Kofsuske
Almedina Kokic
Steven Michael Kowalczyk
Kaylene Marie Kraft
Daniel John Ksiazak * Katelyn Ann Kujawski * Kaleigh Costello Kupstis
Shane Paul Kvietkus * Soyoung Kwon * Timothy Alan Lachapelle
Kaylee Lada * Stephanie Karen LaFollette * Katherine Ann Lainas * Nina Elizabeth Landy * Jennifer Diane Lange
Natasha Lange + Olivia Ellen Lank
Zachary Craig LaPlante * Alexandra Lee LaPorte
Tyler John Lappen * Anastasiya Larina
Andrew Philip Larkin * Alicia Jean La Rose * Jane Elizabeth Larson
Chelsea Sarah Lasky
Douglas Francis Kenneth Latham Jr.
Shannon Elizabeth Laucks * Jason Jeffrey Lawrence + Timothy Stephen Leahy * Keith David Lebel + Randall John Ledet Jr. * Christopher John Lee * Naomi Ruth Lemire + Tyler Noah Letendre * Jeffery Thomas Lipinski
Lori Elizabeth Lisitano
Timothy Morgan Lockwood
Brittany Marie Longo-Frascatore + Susana Lopez
Anthony Aristo Lorenzo * Jeanette Rachelle Luna + Allyson Marie Lund
Amber Faro Lynch * Matthew Joseph Macchi
Bryan Thomas MacDonald * Steven James Maffiolini * Colin David Magaro * Mahwish Makhdoom
Brian Paul Mamula
Richard Charles Martinelli
Daniel Matthew Marut * Tiffany Marie Masciangioli * Elizabeth Maria Massucci + Ryan Adam Masters * Nicholas Vincent Mastroianni
Luke A. Mauro + Brianna Rose Mayer * Rebecca Lynn McCarthy
Cassandra Marie McDougall + Brett Andrew McKenna * Erin Naomi McLean * Molly Frances Meehan
Michaela Marie Melillo
Andrew John Menard
Andrew Joseph Menard
Carmine Mennone Jr.
Toby Louis Meyer * Jamie Rose Mierzejewski
Jeffrey Michael Milano
Jenna Marie Miller * Justin Peter Miller + Allison Lee Minahan + Joshua August Mitchell * Kristen Marie Mongillo * Jessica Holly Monson
Jordan Elizabeth Montague
Brandon Philip Monteleone
Isaac Geoffrey Monts * Ellen Joy Morelli
Tyler Keegan Morey
Michael James Morley
Tyler Anthony Moss + Jordan Thomas Mottola
Emilee Elizabeth Mowatt * Artur Ryszard Mularczyk
Enjan Mullaj * Victoria Grace Munson * Melissa Rose Muroski Pamela Rose Murphy * Stephen David Murphy + Jordan Nathaniel Nadeau * Samantha Taylor Nappi * Joseph Robert Nardello * Kristie Kayla Nardini + Hayley Rose Nati + Rachael Candice Nelson
David F. Nichols
Zachary Thomas Nichols
Gary Michael Nicolo
Adam Nicholas Niezgorski * Tanner Joseph Niland * Zachary Gerard Niles + Tabitha Lynn Nolan
Kyle Edward Noury * Evan Edward Nyerick * Daniel Lawrence O'Connor + Megan Shreya O'Doherty
Melissa Christina Olesen * Paul Carl Oliva
Rachel Lynn Orfitelli * Katharine F. Otis
Rhiannon Kimberlyn Ouellette
Joseph John Ozga
Franco Alfonso Pabst
Jeffrey Scott Pabst
Joseph David Pacheco Jr. * Michael Ibraham Pajor * James Michael Palko
Cateri Maria Palmieri + Thomas Placid Paradis
Mitanshi N. Patel * Roshni P. Patel
Thomas Pattison + Larissa Lynn Pawlak
Dylan Jesse Pelletier
Stepfanie Dianna Pelletier
Mason James Pelton * Jocelyn Elizabeth Perlini * Joseph John Pesce
Tyler Peterson + David Michael Phillips + Sarah Mae Phillips * Morgan Leigh Piazza
Evan James Pikora
Shawna Lee Pinette + April Lynn Pinto * Meredith Anne Pinto * Jason Andrew Pisko
Kevin Daniel Pistilli
Amanda Ida Plourde + Bryan Thomas Polzella
David Mark Pontbriand
Brett Cameron Powell
Bridget May Pratt * Matthew John Prezioso * Austin Carnio Primus + Shane Michael Quadrato
Tara Sue Raczka + Chelsea Nicole Regish * Patrick James Reid
Elizabeth Anne Rember
Jonathan May Repollet
Michael James Rhodd
James Robert Rich + Kimberly Ann Ricker + Nicole Michele Riedinger * Maeghan Rose Risser * Mackenzie Rose Ritchie + Kyle Carvalho Ritondo
Breanna Alexandrea Rivera
Marissa Alexandra Rizzo + Peter Barlow Roach
Bethany Dawn Robertson + Michael Andrew Robling * Elaine Rose Rodriguez * Kevin Medina Rodriguez
Kaitlyn Pilar Rodriques * Kaitlyn Lauren Rogalski
Alexander Raphael Roger Jr.
Austin Thomas Rogers * Nathalie Lucila Castro Rolling * Salvatore Joseph Romano * Brian Matthew Ross + Geoffrey Thomas Rotondo * Matthew Michael Russo Kevin William Ryan
Chelsea May Ryder
Joseph Douglas Rye * Jessica Nicole Sackett * Brooke Nicole Sakowicz + Kevin Anthony San Angelo
Cody Elisabeth Sankowski + Matthew Alex Santucci * Jaimee Taylor Sargent + Brian Douglas Sargis * Matthew Alexander Saucier + Mirela Sawicka * Marykate Scanlon
Matthew Bryan Scarpati * Kara Kimberly Scheffler
Christopher Scheibel + Carly Ann Schienda
Alexandra Evelyn Schiffer
Anthony Michael Sciuto
Joshua John Serafino * Matthew Shafran + Hannah Lynn Sheard * Emily Jude Sherwill
Zachery E. Siegel
Jason D. Sikoski + Raymond Fernando Simmon II
Michelle Lee Sirois + Aaron Thaddeus Skarzynski
Gregory Scott Smedberg
Benjamin E. Smith
Zachary Scott Smith * Victoria Ashley Smolinski * Daniel Joseph Snyder * Kristy Lyn Solomon * Christie Elizabeth Soltys + Alexis Marie Sone
Maxine Sorrells * Roberto Christopher Soto
Felicia Elizabeth Spero
Justin David Sposato
Marc St.George
Jillian Ann St.John
Mark Allen Stakey
Jessica Elizabeth Stanley * Olivia Judith Stephenson
Zachary Marc Stewart * Miles Jordan Stone
James William Strange III * Benjamin Richard Straub * Sarah Nicole Stublarec * James David Stylinski * Jennifer Marie Suleski * Joseph James Sullivan
David Lee Swanson Jr. * Colleen Marie Tangney
Connor Elizabeth Taricani * Alyssa Nicole Tassie
Amanda Marie Tellerico * Jenna Marie Tellerico * Mark Anthony Tellerico
Damian K. Tereda + Gillian Ann Testa + Brian Laz Thompson * Kevin Joseph Thompson * Niels Joseph Thomsen + Jeremy Daniel Thorpe * Lauren Christine Tordanato
Vincent Christopher Torone
Robert Francis Treado Jr.
Rosalinda Kelsey Tufano * Nicholas Daniel Tumolo * Andrew Frank Turci * Kevin Andrew Twerago * Lauren Margaret Tycz * Meaghan Marie Ukers
Jordan Robert Uliasz
Jenifer Lee Vaillancourt * Mitchell Nicholas Veltri
Chelsea Shakyra Vialpando * Elaina Allessandra Vicari
Paul Anthony Vigneault
Matthew Joseph Vigue
Pavlo Vynar
Joseph Thomas Walasewicz + Christopher Robert Walczewski + Matthew John Walker * Alisha Thavone Washer
Alec James Wasserman + McKenzie Christopher Watson + Codi L. Wayton * Carly Rae Wershoven * Andrew James White + Zachary J. Wholley + Kristin L. Wiemert
Joanie Amber Wierzbicki * Bryan Robert Wilcox
George Michael Williams
Mistene Sue Williams * Genna Lynn Wislocki * Kayla Alisia Wodzicki
Justin A. Yaskolka
Brianna Angelique Yevich
Taylor Morgan Zajac * Lindsay Marie Zissis + Gregory Slawomir Zmarlicki
Zachary Cameron Zubko
Amar Zukic
Adam Zukowski Jr.
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