2018
Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018 — PAGE 1C
Where are they now? &
MIDDLEBURY UNION HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2018
OTTER VALLEY UNION HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2018
uring the high school graduation season we tell the graduates to look forward to the future with hope and optimism, while those of us who have seen a few seasons come and go often look back to our own years in high school and just beyond. The new grads look forward to the next stages of their lives: moving away from home, perhaps seeing the world, getting that first post-graduation job, figuring out what life is all about. It is a time full of promise and a fair measure of apprehension. Look for those familiar faces in the photos inside from the Middlebury, Mount Abraham, Otter Valley and Vergennes union high school graduation ceremonies this month. At the same time, parents and alumni see the fresh, young faces and can’t help but look back at how their own lives and those of their friends and acquaintances have progressed over the years. We join in the reminiscing and asked graduates from these four local high schools to tell us a little about where life has taken them in the years since graduation. Inside you’ll find profiles of a handful of Vermont natives in their mid-to-late 20s — people you may have known when you were in high school. We chose a selection of people who graduated between six and 10 years ago in the hopes that this year’s high school graduates will be able to see something of their own generation in the profiles. You’ll find a variety of vocations and avocations represented in the profiles, but they barely scratch the surface of the diversity that can be found among the young people produced in Addison County. Enjoy the stories and the photos and wish a graduate well.
VERGENNES UNION HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2018
MOUNT ABRAHAM UNION HIGH SCHOOL Class of 2018
PAGE 2C — Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Recent Middlebury Union High School Graduates
EMERSON CONLON 2010 Hometown, current residence, age: Cornwall, Chicago, 26. Family: Parents: Mary and Peter Conlon; siblings: William Conlon MUHS class of 2012 and current 1L at Stanford Law School, Silas Conlon MUHS Class of 2019, fiancée: Rachel Tornquist. We met in college in 2011. Our wedding date is June 21, 2018! What I am up to: I currently teach high school Spanish at Waukegan High School, a far north suburb of Chicago. This past year I taught Spanish 1 and AP Spanish to about 125 students. How I got to where I am now: I attended Cornell College, a small school in Iowa, upon graduating from MUHS in 2010. While in college I made lifelong friends and met my fiancée. College helped me discover
my love of education and gave me the chance to meet new people with a wide variety of life experiences. MUHS Principal Bill Lawson gave me the chance to substitute teach at MUHS at the end of my college career, which reinforced my love of teaching and gave me valuable experience before moving to Chicago. Adults to whom I can attribute my current success: My parents have always supported me. Whether it was the decision to move to Chicago, or the decision to go back to school for a master’s degree, they have always been the people I turn to for advice, for encouragement or just to celebrate good news. Even now, I send them resumés, cover letters and other important documents to ensure I am making sense and not making silly grammar mistakes.
How my Vermont roots have influenced who I am today: I only buy Vermont maple syrup at the supermarket and insist that all my friends call soft-serve “creemees.” In all seriousness though, Vermont gave me a great sense of community and how important it is to find one wherever you may end up. I have carved out a great community of friends in Chicago and serve a great community in Waukegan. My memories of high school: High point: Travelling to New York with AP Spanish to see a play, participating in the senior play, most of senior year. Low point: Getting strep throat right before the premier of the senior play. My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: Travel, and learn a new language!
s n o i t a l tu a r g n o C s! e t a u d Gra
Congratulations Class of 2018!
KRISTEN DEGRAFF 2009 Hometown, current residence, age: Grew up in Middlebury and currently live in New Jersey. 27 years old. Family: Lyn Muller DeGraff and Peter DeGraff. Grandmother: Lorrie Muller. Sister: Alison DeGraff Ollivierre (MUHS ’06). Brotherin-Law: Vendol Ollivierre. Fiancé: Nathan Rudd (Middlebury College Class of 2013) What I am up to: I am currently working as a counselor for students studying Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) at Bergen Community College in New Jersey. In this role I provide advice to students regarding their academics, transferring to a bachelor’s program, and their future career opportunities. How I got to where I am now: After graduating from MUHS, I took a semester off to volunteer and explore Ecuador before starting as a Feb at Middlebury College. At Middlebury, I majored in Psychology partially because I did not know what I wanted to do, and partially because I loved seeing how people think and act. While completing my degree, I also took quite a few archaeology courses. Although I will never be the
first female Indiana Jones, I loved learning how past people lived and even did a senior project classifying, dating and identifying usage of Vermont arrowheads. During my time at Middlebury, I participated in many extracurricular activities including orientation, residential life and being a tour guide. After that I was hooked! Before attending college, I was unaware that there were careers working with college students (beyond the obvious professor roles), but with the guidance of some fantastic mentors at the college, I discovered my interest and passion in helping college students be successful. In 2014 I began my master’s program in Student Affairs in Higher Education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania while holding two assistantship roles as the Orientation Graduate Assistant and as a Disability Support Services Advisor. Throughout my program I worked as a Career Development Intern and as a First-Year Experience Intern where I taught the Freshman Seminar. Once I had completed my degree, I moved to New Jersey, where I worked at Stevens Institute of Technology as a Career Advisor of Experiential
Education before transitioning to the Counselor role at Bergen Community College. Adults to whom I can attribute my current success: I would like to thank my mentors at Middlebury College, who showed me that a career in student affairs is possible and for encouraging me to follow this path. I am beyond grateful for your support! My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: Try new things in college. Whether you think you know exactly what you want to do “when you grow up” or if you have no clue; when you explore different courses, activities and ideas, you may surprise yourself on what interests you and where your path may lead. Listen to the leaders and mentors around you, they often know what your future career will be before you do. It is difficult to look inward to identify and accept a dream, but when you are passionate about something, others will notice. So let them guide you! If you are not sure, ASK! It’s always better to receive the correct information from an expert, because it takes significantly less time to ask as question than to fix a mistake.
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Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018 — PAGE 3C
MUHS Class of 2018 MIDDLEBURY — The following seniors received their diplomas from Middlebury Union Middlebury Union High School Commencement on Saturday, June 9, 2018, at Memorial Sports Center: Josephine Abbott, Lydia Alberts, Jonathan Alger, Jordan Allen, Helen Anderson, Rebekah Anderson, Bridget Audet, Deric Bacon, Benjamin Balparda, Janet McIntosh Barkdoll, Sierra Barnicle, James Baroz, Ella Beattie, Olivia Beauchamp, Guy Beck, Kathryn Billings, Andrea Boe, Tre Bonavita, Brennan Bordonaro, Jacob Brookman, Sarah Broughton, Cooper Bullock, Leigah Burbo, Joe Burke, Jarod Bushey and Anna Buteau. Also Arden Carling, Robert Carter, Rebekah Chamberlain, Alyson Chione, Cade Christner, Kourtney Cota, Brianna Cotroneo, Duncan Crogan, Tucker Cummings, Hunter Cummings-Washburn, Cassidy Cushman, Dustin Davio, Paul Deering, Jack Deppman, Skyeler Devlin, Dylan Disorda, Jackson Donahue, Henry Dora, Keagan Dunbar, Ciara Eagan, Thomas Eastman, Fyn Fernández, Santiago Fernández, Brian Foote, Mercedes Forbes, Ashlynn Foster and Alexander Friedlander. In addition, Wyatt Galipeau, Tyler Giorgio, Abigail Gleason, John Goettelmann, Krystian Gombosi, Lauren Greig, Colin Grier, Lucy Groves, Margreta Hardy-Mittell, Scherina Havens, Polly Heminway, Tulley Hescock, Samuel Hodges, Anna Hodson, Brianna Hogan, Lanelle Hogan, Jane Holmes, Justin Holmes, Tyler Hotte, William Huntington, Thomas Hussey, Alexandria Johnson, Emma Jones, Chloe Kane, Nikolaus Kaufmann, Olivia Kayhart, Brynn
Kent, Cori Kerr, Brian Kiernan, Caroline Kimble, Katherine Koehler and Sarah Grace Kutter. Also Marina Lafountain, Gabe Lamphere, Steven Landry, Alexa Lapiner, Waseya Lawton, Sophie Lefkoe, Carter Leggett, Joshua Levins, Cassidy Lucia, Rachal Lussier, Mary Lynch, Brooks Maerder, Cassandra Manning, Kayli Manning, David Many, Elizabeth Marini, Ezra Marks, Sophia Marks, Jacob Martin, Ziven McCarty, Satchel McLaughlin, Jared Messner, Joseph Miller, Archie Milligan, Ryan Morgan and Georgina Mraz. Also Ella Nagy-Benson, Matthew Ouellette, Bethany Palmer, Nicole Palmer, Jason Paquette, Addy Parsons, Raven Payne, Mercedi Pelkey, Jaro Perera, Bastiaan Phair, Jebadiah Plouffe, Victor Pomainville, Brandon Porey, Hailey Quenneville, Ryan Quenneville, Allison Raymond, Isabel Rosenberg, Meilena Sanchez, Jared Schauer, Julian Schmitt, Nick Scott, Lane Sheldrick, Gaia Sheridan, Anthony Shores, Camden Simpson, Autumn Sird-Hughes, Arianna Slavin, Justine Smith, Spencer Smith, Jay Smits, William Stanley, Blair Stone, Gabrielle Sullivan, Shannon Sunderland and Brandon Sweeney. In addition, Lauren Sylvester, Kendra TatkonKent, Alexandra Tellier, Katalin Tolgyesi, Matthew Townsend, Megan Townsend, Carrie Tracy, Garrett Troumbley, Andre Trudeau, Lucy Ursitti, Emma Vanacore, Caileb Vaudrien, Brendan Wagner, Oziah Wales, Jack Waterman, Joseph Whitley, Laura Whitley, Christina Wiles, Daniel Wisell, Natassia Woodhouse and Alexander Yurista.
Addison Independent photos/Trent Campbell
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PAGE 4C — Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018
Mt. Abe Class of 2018 BRISTOL — Mount Abraham Union High School graduated its class of 2018 on Saturday, June 9. To follow is a list of those graduates. Sophie Judith Alderman, Emily Ann Aldrich, Aine MacLeod Alexander, Bailey Michael Allard, Robyn Kathryn Arena, Megan Jean Aube, Jamee Lea Barnum, Kyle Lee Bartlett, Kyle D. Beatty, Tracy Merrill Bedell, Elyzabeth Mae Bennett, John Henry Bennett, Madeline Anne Bernoudy, Renee Ashley Bolduc, Ryan Levering Bonar, Christopher David Boyer, Martha Jane Bruhl and Toby Stephen Bunch. Also Emma Corinne Carter, Nickolas Charles Catlin, Thomas Jeffrey Clark, Oliver Henry Cole, Foster Peabody Collette, Amaya Rae Cota, Jackson Allan Counter, Brian Allen Cousineau, Peter John Cousino IV, Bridget Lynn Davis, Mackenzie Taylor Denny, Taylor Cousino Duffy, Vanessa Ann Dykstra, Ryan Jeffrey Emmons, Leo Bleue Farrell, Jacob Aaron Fay, Devon Scott Fleming-Belisle, Jared Taylor Forand, Ian Albert Frazier, Alexis Paige Frost and Molly Mariah Funk. In addition Katelyn Elise Gebo, Caroline Lydia Gibbs, Jasmin Mara Gile, Isaac Anthony Giles, Addison Todd Goodyear, Hannah Mae Gratton, Taylor Ann Gurney, Bradley Robert Hill, Dylan Michael Hill-Quintin, Allyson Claire Hoff, Anna Igler, Samuel Gordon Jackman, Derek Anthony Jackson Jr., Jonathan James Jennings, Eli Taft Jensen, Renata R. Khusyainova, Phoenix Fire King, Jessica Vivian Kleptz, Bryson Alexander Knight and
Adam Benjamin Kuhns. Also Jakub RC Landon, Emma Hayley LaRose, Alexander Herman Leavitt, Christian Paul Little, Lucas Adam Livingston, Logan Lee Loftus, Courtney Lynn Loomis, Emily Spring Lowell, Isabella May Lucarelli, Chloe A. Lyons, Mariah Rose Malloy, Abigail Grace Mansfield, Conrad Joseph Marsano, Hannah Beth Martin, Aidan McCauley May, Jenna Louise McArdle, Kayla-Ann Alice McCoy, Greta Rose Meyer and Benjamin Mikhail Murray. Abigail Catherine Clara Nezin, Hunter Makenzi Norris, Julia Megan Norris, Kameryn Leeann Norse, Joseph Lincoln Norton, Casey Keefer Ober, Katelynn Marie Ouellette, Samuel Chase Paradee, Reann Elizabeth Pecor, Timothy Robert Pecor Jr., Abigail Fawn Perlee, Brooke Amber Perlee, Cori Taylor Pike, Lydia Rae Pitts, Brandon Poquette, Emma West Radler, Ian Jaret Reynolds, Sascha Elizabeth Alta Richter, Eli Krin Rickner, Chandler Daniel Robideau, Gilliane Riley Ross and Maria Eugenia Sanchez Rondan. And William Max Schoenhuber, Audrey Kate Shahan, Carley Morgan Sherwin, Betty Grace Snide, Sebastian Anthony Szczecinski, Isaiah Riley Taylor, Kaela Maria Thurber, Mitchell Merlin Romeo Tierney, Delana Rose Tow, Brianna Rose Trayah, Georgia Ried Tricou, Cecilia Jane Vichi, Lohak Wschimuin VonAtzingen, Dustin Jacob Whitcomb, Brittany Ryan White, Brice Donald Winchester, Mason Daniel Wood and Olivia Joy Young.
Photos by Buzz Kuhns/ buzzkuhnsphotography. smugmug.com
Wherever you may go,
Congratulations Dustin!
we hope you engage give advocate
Way to Go Mt. Abe Class of 2018!
volunteer in your community
We Wish you all the best of luck in the future!
All the best to this year’s grads!
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Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018 — PAGE 5C
VUHS Class of 2018 VERGENNES — Vergennes Union High School celebrated its class of 2018 in graduation ceremonies held on Friday evening, June 15. The following VUHS students received their degrees at the ceremony: Philip Armell, Ally Atkins, Lance Bergmans, Anneke Lynn Boelens, David Bowen, Kaitlyn Rose Brace, Lillian Shea Brinkman, Guinevere Moira Brownell, Sierra Chamberlain, Mason Marcel Charlebois, Lillian Kate Clark, Adelaide Morgan Cushman, Rudy Davis, Ashley Gayle DeSmit, Norah Palmer Deming, Allysha Devoid, Camden Dieterle, Tucker Dike, Malcolm Donovan-Cook, Jayna Michelle Duffy, Peighton Marie Duprey and Ryan Emmons. Also Kayla Janelyn Gevry, Eva Ginalski, Silas Goldman, Ian Greenia, Nora Elizabeth Hatch, Olivia Brynmor Hawkins,
Kayla Mae Hoffman, Emma Ryan Husk, Chelsey Elizabeth Jerome, Michael Jewett, Kristina Faith Jochum, Samir Kadric, Benjamin Daniel Kayhart, Casey Hunter Kimball, Brody King, Erin Reilly Lawrence, Abigail Emily Loven, Chloe Alexis Martin, Munro Gates McLaren, Matthew Norton, Hannah Paquette and Judith Jane Portugal-Dunne. And Benjamin Louis Praamsma, Aaron Tyler Premont, E. Thomas Richards, Shawn Richards, Alivia Roach, Lianna Sargent-Maher, Ethan Joseph Sausville, Grace Marie Smart, Bailey Smith, Anya Irene Roz Sonwaldt, Dakota Jon Spear, John Stearns, Jade Rose Sutton, Megan Elizabeth Tarte, Ashley Marie Towle, Keira Thorpe, Raymond VanderWey, Joshua Andrew West, Marigrace Hope Wojciechowski, Willem Wormer and Jordan Christine Yandow.
Addison Independent photos/Trent Campbell
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PAGE 6C — Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018
OVUHS Class of 2018 BRANDON — The following students received their diplomas at Otter Valley Union High School’s graduation on Saturday, June 9: Daniel Allen, Henry Bart, Michael Beauregard, Austin Billings, Sabrina Brown, Storm Brown, Zachary Bruce, Samantha Carroll, Ashley Clark, Robert Cook, Kathryn Coolidge, Madison Coombs, Cameron Corey, Michael Daly, Brittney Danforth, Bryan Desabrais, Savannah Diaz, Jared Disorda, Kyla DodgeGoshea, Hunter Eddy, Cody Fox, Olivia Gaissert, Tristanna Goodwin and Jacob Gorton. Also Calysta Hayes, Sawyer Heath, Sarah Hobbs, Carson Holmquist, Alyssa Hutchins, Katlin Iffland, Brandon Jankosky, Tricia John, Isaia Johnson, Lucas Jones, Dylan Kapitan,
William Kelly, Brian Kilpeck, Owen Kulp, Alexandra Lear, Courtney Lee, Brandi Leno, Joshua Letourneau, Logan Lewis, Garrett Little, Benjamin Markowski, Jonathan McKeighan, Ian McRae, Jacob Miner, Jessica Mischanko and Peyton Mitchell. And Eric Notte, Vincent O’Brien, James O’Neil, James Perlee, Emily Perry, Gabriela Poalino, Houston Pratt, Chelsea Reed, Colby Reynolds, William Ringey, Jacob Saylor, Cameron Silloway, Wesley Smith, Matthew Snow, David Soulia, Brittany Stewart, Justin Tremblay, David Whitney, Michael Whitney, Maxwell Williams, Payson Williams, Christa Wood, Wilson Worn, Ashley Wright and Cody Young.
Brandon Reporter photos/Lee J. Kahrs
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018 — PAGE 7C
Recent Otter Valley Union High School Graduates
NINA GAGE 2011
BRETT LERTOLA 2010 Hometown, current residence, age: I grew up and currently still live in Pittsford. I am 26. Family: My parents: David and Dyanne Lertola What I am up to: I am currently a high school math teacher at Rutland High School. I teach a variety of math courses, including AP Calculus, am a class advisor, and serve on several different school committees. How I got to where I am now: I graduated summa cum laude from Castleton University (then Castleton State College) in 2014 with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and a secondary education teaching
license. I will also receive a Master of Arts in Education from Castleton in August of 2018. Adults to whom I can attribute my current success: My parents, definitely. They have been very influential and supportive of me throughout my entire life. All of my teachers that I’ve had over the years have also helped me grow into the person that I am today. How my Vermont roots have influenced who I am today: I think there are so many benefits that come with growing up in Vermont. Nature, agriculture, recreation and education are just some of the opportunities that this state offers
that a lot of people may take for granted. I’ve had the privilege of being able to partake in many of these things and they have shaped me into someone that enjoys being outdoors, meeting new people and helping out others. My memories of high school: I really enjoyed all parts of high school but I would have to say that the lifelong friendships that I made are the most important. My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: Be observant, be resourceful, and take time to appreciate all of the opportunities you’ve had and will continue to have in the future.
Hometown, current residence, age: Hometown, Brandon, currently reside in Burlington, 24 years old. Family: My parents live in Brandon. Mother, Sue Gage, is the Town Clerk and Treasurer of Brandon. My father, Robert Induni, is a carpenter. What I am up to: I am an Agricultural Water Quality Specialist with the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets in the Water Quality Division. I have been in this position since March of 2017, working to support state efforts to reduce nutrient loading from agricultural operations and improve Vermont farm economic and environmental viability. How I got to where I am now: UVM B.S in Environmental Studies in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. I worked at the Skinny Pancake all through college. I also worked in a variety of environmental jobs including the Vermont ANR/DEC Waste Management and Prevention Division, Keewaydin Environmental Education Center and the Intervale Gleaning Program then the Intervale Conservation Nursery. I moved abroad for a period of time, lived in Oaxaca, Mexico, learning about food and farms systems of the central Oaxacan region. Then lived in Santa Marta, Colombia, teaching English at a public high school. Returned home to commit my time and career to my fellow Vermonters, our landscape and the future of our state. Adults to whom I can attribute my current success: It takes a village to raise a child. I attribute my success to my community of friends, family,
colleagues, professors, employers. Thank you especially to my parents and teachers for believing in me throughout the years! Shout out to a few amazing teachers in my life, Valerie Dawson, Larry Marzec Gerrior, Michael Dwyer, Bruce Perlow, Jim Avery, Pat Roberts and many more! You don’t realize the impact you have on children, but by believing in students and inspiring them you are rewriting history every day! How my Vermont roots have influenced who I am today: I grew up eating healthy local food, enjoying the open lands and recreation of Vermont. I took this all for granted, and it took me a long time, and a lot of traveling to understand this. I consider myself
an environmentalist and I have a deep respect for people, especially those who work incredibly hard every day to grow food and farm the land. My memories of high school: High school is a formative time, so there were lots of highs and lots of lows, but they all made me who I am today! My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: Travel, explore and learn about the world. There are lessons you can only learn by leaving your comfort zone, understanding other ways of doing things, being open to other’s beliefs, and most importantly, make connections and relationships because that is the most important thing in life!
From all of us at the Addison Independent,
CONGRATULATIONS to the Graduating
Class of 2018! All you years of hard work and
Good Luck 2018 Grads!
determination has finally paid off. Good luck in all your future endeavors!
“High expectations are the key to everything.” — Sam Walton
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PAGE 8C — Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Recent Vergennes Union High School Graduates
MEGHAN O’DANIEL 2009
Hometown, current residence, age: I grew up in Vergennes, currently live in Burlington, and am 26 years old. What I am up to: I’m currently working for the Burlington Parks, Recreation and Waterfront Department as the Community Garden Outreach Coordinator — managing 14 community gardens around the city. Along with making sure that the season runs smoothly, I also focus on our New American gardeners to make sure that they have what they need and that their voices are being heard. How I got to where I am now: I went to the University of Vermont and majored in Anthropology with a focus on Food and Culture. After I graduated I moved to Boston for a while and worked in the corporate sector but realized it wasn’t really for me. When I moved back to Burlington, I became an AmeriCorps member with the Parks & Rec Department. After that I convinced them that the position should be formalized as a part-time position and eventually was hired full time. For the past two school years I have also taught an afterschool cooking and nutrition class and taken teams to the Jr. Iron Chef competition. and this year they won! Adults to whom I can attribute
MICHAEL PRIME 2007
my current success: Sue O’Daniel, the band director at Vergennes High School and my Mom, has been my No. 1 supporter from day one (along with my Dad, Mike, of course). Those two helped me believe that I could do anything and have always been there for me throughout the good and the bad. Without the support system that they provided me with, I don’t know where I would be today. How my Vermont roots have influenced who I am today: My Vermont roots definitely helped me find my way back when I needed to
be here the most. After living out of the state for a while, I realized how amazingly wonderful Vermont really is. Nowhere else is quite like it. The sense of community, both on a small and large scale, is absolutely incredible and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: My advice would be to not worry too too much about what the future holds — you’ll get to where you’re meant to be when the time is right, so just enjoy the journey and soak it all in!
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Hometown, current residence, age: I grew up in Addison, Panton and Bridport with my loving mother and father, Marc and Heidi Prime. Family: I have three sibling: Alicia, Cody and my twin sister, Kimberly. They have all become very successful and have built beautiful families. I want to give a very big thank you to my beautiful wife, Jacquelyn Prime, who our first year of marriage stuck by my side through a deployment to Afghanistan with all her love and support. I want to thank my children, Jocelyn and Jonathan, who have made a huge transition in their lives by uprooting all they have known and moving 2,000 miles south receiving a huge culture shock but adapting and making friends through the year. I am beyond proud of you and I love you
both with all my heart. I am also so very pleased to announce the newest member of our family, Oakley Aaron Prime, who will be gracing us with his presence in July. What I am up to: I am currently residing in Texas with my family serving in the U.S. Army. I will be ETS (expiration of term of service) in July to return home back to Vermont Adults to whom I can attribute my current success: There are more people than I can count on one hand that have helped me along the way to where I am now. There is one man who I really want to say thank you to, and that is my father, Marc Prime, from giving me advice from prior military experience to tough love when needed and molding me into who I am today. Thank you, Dad, I love you.
My memories of high school: In high school it’s like any job or any other obstacle you will face in life — there will be great times and bad times that seem like they will never end but always remember nothing lasts forever! Transitioning from middle school to high school was a rough spot for me, you go from being a big fish in a little pond to a little fish in a big pond; it can be a tough time. Walk tall and carry a big stick and you will be just fine. My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: For all graduating seniors: Remain humble, all graves are six feet deep; be respectful to your parents and help them out once in a while, they took care of you for 18 years — return the favor. Your best years are yet to come so live slowly and stay true to who you are.
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Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018 — PAGE 9C
WHERE ARE Recent Mount Abraham Union High School Graduates THEY NOW?
KATE BROWN 2011 Hometown, current residence, age: I grew up in Bristol. I am 24 years old. My current town of residence is Cambridge, Mass. Family: My mom, Betsy Meinhardt, and my dad, Kevin Brown, are still living in Bristol. My older brother, Connor, Mount Abe class of 2008, just completed his second year of medical school at Columbia University in New York City. Before that he completed a master’s degree in Public Health from Columbia. What I am up to: This May I completed my master’s degree from the Harvard Graduate School of Education, in the Higher Education program. My coursework focused on topics like college access, equity and inclusion in higher education and education policy. I also worked in the program’s admissions office, focusing on marketing and recruitment. I am working as an alumni advisor for the Campus Kitchens Project, a national organization that works to alleviate food insecurity, find sustainable solutions to poverty and hunger and reduce food waste. I volunteered with the Campus Kitchens Project for all four years of college, eventually acting as president my senior year. Recently, the national organization reached out to former
leaders to help advise other chapters throughout the country. It has been wonderful to remain involved with such a fantastic organization. I help manage four different chapters of Campus Kitchens across the United States. How I got to where I am now: After Mount Abe, I attended St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York, majoring in government, with a double minor in education and African studies. I graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2015. While at St. Lawrence, I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Kenya. I first developed my passion for the field of higher education as an undergraduate, working as an admission ambassador in the admissions office for three years. I found that I loved working with prospective students and families, and decided to go into the field of college admissions after graduation. I worked for two years as an admissions counselor at a small liberal arts school outside of Cleveland and eventually decided to enroll in graduate school. Adults to whom I can attribute my current success: My parents. They have been so incredibly supportive over the years and
I definitely would not be where I am today without them. I also feel so lucky to have had such amazing teachers throughout my educational career, from high school to graduate school. How my Vermont roots have influenced who I am today: Growing up in Vermont made me appreciate the importance of having a strong community. I am so grateful to have come from a community that supported me and my classmates. Vermont is also the reason for my love of hiking and the outdoors. And I will never use fake maple syrup. My memories of high school: Some of my favorite memories from high school are the Fall Musical, singing in Sweet Transition and playing softball. Taking AP history with Mr. Ross and American studies with Mr. Desorda and Ms. Stultz-Backus were also definite high points as well. My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: Be open to new people, places and experiences. Though it can be scary or uncomfortable to try new things, some of my favorite moments have come from pushing myself to try something new. Have an open mind and be accepting of those who are different from you.
MICHAEL PIERATTINI 2010 Hometown, current residence, age: I’m from Monkton, currently live in Tacoma, Wash., and am 26. Family: My mother, Elizabeth, my dad, Bob, and my sisters, Anna and Catherine. What I am up to: I’m currently a sergeant in the Army, and am applying to become a federal agent. How I got to where I am now: I spent a couple of years at Rochester Institute of Technology, studying Game Design and Animation. I was unable to support myself financially, and ended up doing some VIP security at local conventions. I enjoyed it immensely, and decided to make it a career. I enlisted in the Army, and have since worked as
a counter-narcotics investigator, criminal investigator and have been a member of multiple security teams for celebrities, including Gen. Mark Milley and Gary Sinise. Adults to whom I can attribute my current success: All of the teachers in the school had an impact on my life that got me where I am. I’d like to thank the music department and Mr. Thomas Tailer for everything they did for me. I also want to thank the adults who guided me through my adventures in the Boy Scouts for teaching me valuable life skills and helping to develop my moral compass. How my Vermont roots have influenced who I am today: One of
my favorite things about growing up in Vermont is how willing people are to stop and help each other. This has definitely stuck with me, and I try to do the same wherever I go. Everyone is fighting a battle, and a little help can make a huge difference. My memories of high school: My high points in high school mainly involved the friends I made and the experiences we had. They always helped me through the low points, which, thanks to them, I can barely remember. My advice for this year’s crop of graduating seniors: My advice is to not be afraid of failure. Learn from your mistakes, make improvements, and try again.
u t l a atio r g n n o to our students from Mt. Abraham, Middlebury, Otter Valley and Vergennes!
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PAGE 10C — Graduation 2018 • Addison Independent, Thursday, June 21, 2018
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