By Rod Hansen
Staff Writer

Joshua Berthiaume signs a yearbook for classmate Samantha Hagan at the Goffstown High School commencement ceremonies. (The Goffstown News/Rod Hansen)

The Goffstown High School Class of 2006 bid the past farewell and embraced the future in a celebratory commencement ceremony on Thursday, June 15.

With some cheers, many tears and intermittent beach balls and flying inflatable animals, the 265 members of the class appeared to be one large group of friends as they looked back on the experiences they’d shared over the past four years.

It felt more like a party than a formal exercise at the Thomas Sullivan Arena at Saint Anselm College, as students waited for the ceremony to begin.

Corey Sullivan, a lifelong Goffstown resident who will attend Thomas College in Waterville, Maine, in the fall, brought along an inflatable shark for the festivities.

“I wanted to do something crazy for graduation,” Sullivan said. “This is only going to happen once in our lives, so I thought I’d make it memorable.”

Beau Bouchard also made a creative statement for the evening, decorating his graduation cap with action figures engaged in a fight scene from “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.”

“Graduation inspired me to do something different, and I’m a huge ‘Star Wars’ fan,” said the graduate.

The mood proved almost as light-hearted once the ceremonies began.

However, the exercise had one strongly emotional moment, about halfway through the graduates’ list.

“Laura Mackenzie,” called out the presenter.

The arena went silent, and every graduate held up a single yellow rose, remembering their classmate, 18, who has been missing since March 8.

Many of the speeches made before the diplomas were presented were focused on humorous personal anecdotes.

Class President Kristopher Cere laughed about hearing the Jennifer Lopez song “Waiting for Tonight” while driving home from graduation practice earlier that day, then drew an analogy to a childhood memory to symbolize the importance of graduation.

He recalled running through a lawn sprinkler as a child and pretending he was passing into a new life.

“Tonight, we actually are passing into a new part of life,” he said.

Jennifer Corriveau, speaking as the third honor student, compared the graduating class to the cartoon “Captain Planet and the Planeteers.” Just as members of the Planeteers embody the elements of earth, fire, wind, water and heart, so does the Class of 2006, Corriveau said.

Earth, she said, represents the solid ground provided by class members’ parents. Fire symbolizes the fire that drives them to do great things. Wind illustrates how the class is going like a strong gust of wind.

Water, she said, has the power to evoke changes. This element has special significance, she said, given the recent flooding of 2006.

Finally, she said heart can be seen in the many charitable efforts made by the class, including attempts to aid victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Class salutatorian Shea Sennett abandoned his prepared speech “Everything a High School Grad. Should Know” to remember his own personal experiences as a Goffstown High School student.

Sennett singled out his friend Adam Loranger as an example of individuality and thrift. He recalled Loranger showing up at soccer practice with a $7 pair of cleats he’d bought at liquidation prices from a sporting goods store.

Sennett, who also delivered the GHS announcements every morning on the school intercom, spoke of how much he enjoyed talking with his fellow students every day.

“I’m going to miss walking through Goffstown High School and knowing that whoever I talk to, I’m going to have an interesting conversation and will enjoy every second of it,” Sennett said.

Valedictorian William Austin was scheduled to deliver a speech titled “A Mirror, a Sponge, an Individual.” However, Austin said he only used that title as a ruse, and would not be offering any wisdom for living that evening.

“If you expected me to impart some life knowledge tonight, I’m not,” Austin said.

Instead, he used the occasion to thank his parents and other family members.

“All I really wanted to do when I got up here was say, thanks mom and dad. I love you,” Austin said.

Following students’ remarks, principal Frank to singled out several students for their accomplishments and introduced history teacher Robert Ward as a special, unannounced speaker.

“Of course I’m going to talk about the past; I’m a history teacher,” said Ward, who started teaching at Goffstown High School in 1978.

“The connections we’ve made at Goffstown High School do not end tonight. When you go out into the world and we see you, you’ll still be our kids,” he said.

Superintendent of Schools Darrell Lockwood, the final speaker, encouraged students to pursue a unique life. He offered one final piece of advice before leaving the podium:

“Graduating seniors, close the door gently behind you. And go Grizzlies.”

The rest of the evening gave way to students crossing the stage and receiving their diplomas.