Friday, June 23, 2023
www.towntimes.com
Volume 29, Number 25
Coginchaug Class of 2023 sets sail By Nicole Zappone Town Times
Jenna DePonte, valedictorian of the Coginchaug Regional High School Class of 2023, told the crowd gathered for commencement on Wednesday, June 14 that she had a difficult time writing her speech. DePonte said it’s not easy to sum up 12 years of experiences in a 5-minute address. She went through draft after draft trying to find the right words. “One draft even began with the phrase, ‘four years and three principals ago,’ because Abe Lincoln wrote a good speech, so why not copy him?” DePonte joked. “But anyways, nothing really worked.”
Commencement excercises for the CRHS Class of 2023 were held Wednesday, June 14. Turn to page A7 to see a complete list of graduates. Photos by Brett Bogdan
me to stop being so intense, but as soon as I let up the slightest bit, they would say I had lost myself, and I was failing,” DePonte said.
The Class of 2023’s top student is no stranger to pressure, however, and the final But through it all, she never draft of her graduation lost sight of her goals. “We speech hit all the right notes. slayed,” DePonte told her fellow graduates, “and it’s “When I worked really hard time to realize that we are in school, people would tell enough, and we can be
proud of what we have accomplished.” One hundred and sixteen students collected their diplomas at the ceremony, which was moved indoors at CRHS due to the weather forecast. In her speech, salutatorian Catherine Taylor said the
Class of 2023 was a family of sorts. And no family is perfect.
have our differences, but we begrudgingly love each other anyway.”
“As in a family, any class is likely to have the crazy uncle you just don’t agree with, the aunts who gossip about you behind your back, or the grandmother who is a master at the passive-aggressive judgment,” Taylor said. “We
Taylor mentioned some memorable high school moments, both good and bad. “Together, we have overcome and accomplished so much in our time here,” she said. “And now we’re finally done.”
Lions Club welcomes its 67th president
Honored BOE salutes retirees and student leaders Town Times report
From the Middlefield Lions Club:
At the June 7 Board of Education meeting, RSD13 recognized five school employees on their retirement: teachers Carl Bruenn, Kathy Zygmont and Ruth Dwyer, Operations Manager Sue Gaudreau, and Facilities Manager Jim Croteau.
On June 15, Hannah Malcolm was installed as the 67th president of the Middlefield Lions Club. The new Lions leader was born and raised in Middlefield. Besides being our creative and committed Parks and RecreThe Lions’ directors are Marc D’Amaation director, she works as a Health to, Nancy Sennick, Jay Dalo and Bob and Physical Education instructor in Veeley. the New Haven School District.
Also, the BOE highlighted local CABE (Connecticut Asso-
We are grateful that Hannah is our new president. She joins a new Board of Directors that includes:
See Honored, A7
The Middlefield Lions Club’s new president, Hannah Malcolm.
Brenda Hanley, vice president; Rita Kolasinski, secretary; Chris McInvale, treasurer; Scott Casciano, financial secretary; Mike Skelps, membership chair; Summer Lerch, public relations; and Peter Cabelus, “Lion Tamer.”
All of us are looking forward to creating an exciting year for Middlefield.