By AVIVA LUTTRELL
Recorder Staff
TURNERS FALLS — Do not wait for life to hand you your dream — go into the world and be your absolute finest.
That’s what Turners Falls High School Salutatorian Ian Moriarty told his 52 fellow graduates Friday evening during the Class of 2017’s commencement. Donning mortarboards decorated with everything from “U.S. Air Force 2017” to “I Did It for My Cat,” Moriarty’s classmates listened as he urged them to put the greatest expectations on themselves, saying life owes them no favors.
“Earn your success,” he said. “Be your absolute finest.”
Valedictorian Jordyn Fiske spoke about the success and adversity her class experienced during their years together, from seventh grade to senior year. “In this small western Massachusetts town, you discovered yourselves,” she said.
Class President Riley Wood congratulated his classmates for breaking records in sports and on MCAS, and for winning awards for their artwork. He was met with applause when he pointed out that his class is the last to graduate with the Turners Falls Indians logo.
Graduates
Jeremy Joseph Anderson, Gabrielle Lynn Arzuaga, Michael Lee Babcock, Kyle Everett Bergmann, Artyom Nikolaevich Bocharnikov, Tionne Lamont Brown, Jaynise Oliveia Burton, Tahner J. Castine, Cristian A. Cioclea, Nolan Hugh Courtemanche, Richard Roland Craver, Nicholas Patrick Croteau, Madison Rose Currier, Jack Richard Darling, Keara B. Deery, Desmond Riley Demers, Savannah Doyle Donahue, William Joseph Doyle V, Jordyn Rylie Fiske, Terrell Michael-William Goodyear, Jenna Hackett, Hattie Glynna Harvey, Melissa A. Hersey, Tess Casey Hunter,
Amilee Anne Jarvis, Madelyn Ruth Johnson, Bryn Meredith Kruzlic Jeruel Lopez De Victoria Vega, Kaili Austin Lynch, Zachary Dyllan Mabb, Zachary McDaniel, Alison Maura McKenna, Ian Alexander Moriarty, Nicholas Paul Morin, Owen Michael Ortiz, Haleigh Rochelle Paulin, Alexsys Christine Perkins, Avery Beattie Riddle, Will Thomas Roberge, Patrick Christopher Salls, Veronika Sankova, Frederick William Smith, Alexandria Soucie, Nicole Taylor Thibeault, Kortney Lynn Thurber, Hailey Marie Trott, Wileshka Lee Vega, Mark R. Waite, Emily Marie Watrous, Hailey Jean Weston, Jeremy Ryan Wolfram, Riley Wood, Alysha Marie Wozniak, Jacob Robert Wright, Jordan Lynn Wyman.
Scholarships
American Legion Clarence Allen Post 178 Scholarship: Keara Deery. Anna Garbiel Scholarship: Alison McKenna. Arthur E. Neipp Scholarship: Alexsys Perkins. Avenue A Dental 2nd Chance Scholarship: Jordyn Fiske. Bill Petravage Memorial Scholarship: Bryn Kruzlic. Brian Boguz Athletic Scholarships: Tionne Brown, Richard Craver, Tess Hunter, Owen Ortiz. Community Foundation of Western Mass Scholarship Presents The Michael A. Smiarowski. Memorial Scholarship: Ian Moriarty, Kortney Thurber.
Dawn Monkiewicz Memorial Scholarship: (Donated by Class of 1994): Hailey Trott, Owen Ortiz. Edward Brown Memorial Scholarship: Savannah Donahue. Richard O. Guy Memorial Scholarship: Jordyn Fiske. Everald Kate Zeno Nursing Scholarship: Savannah Donahue. Franklin County Rotary Club Scholarship: Hailey Trott. Fred R. Whitcomb Scholarship: Terrell Goodyear. In Memory of Frederick S. Lego aka/Newt Guilbault Baseball League Scholarship: Kyle Bergmann. Friends of Gill Scholarship: Gabrielle Arzuaga. Gilmond Lamore Memorial Scholarship: Jordan Wyman, Nicholas Morin. Gill-Montague Education Association Scholarships: Jenna Hackett, Kaili Lynch.
GMEF Enrichment/Scholarship: Tionne Brown, Tess Hunter, Kortney Thurber, Jacob Wright. GMEF Special Recognition: Riley Wood. Greenfield Girls Softball Scholarship: Melissa Hersey. H. Royer Collins Student Athlete Scholarship: Jordyn Fiske. Harriot E. Tidd Memorial Scholarship: Bryn Kruzlic. Madeline J. Carlson Scholarship. In memory of Marion Packard Carlson: Keara Deery, Hattie Harvey, Patrick Salls, Hailey Trott, Jacob Wright, Jordan Wyman. Mary Stuart Rogers Scholarship: Jaynise Burton, Mary Valley Forest Scholarship: Keara Deery. Massachusetts Elks Scholarship.
Savannah Donahue. Mery O’Brien Scholarship: Tionne Brown, Savannah Donahue, Jordyn Fiske, Melissa Hersey, Tess Hunter, Madelyn Johnson, Bryn Kruzlic, Owen Ortiz, Will Roberge, Riley Wood. Molly Baxter Photography Scholarship: Nicole Thibeault. Our Lady of Peace Scholarship: Tess Hunter, Frederick Smith. Rebekah Assembly of Massachusetts Scholarship: Kortney Thurber. The Recorder Scholarship: Madelyn Johnson. St. Stan’s Scholarship: Bryn Kruzlic, Richard Craver. Tobin Scholarship: Will Roberge. TFHS All-Sports Booster Scholarship: Tionne Brown, Melissa Hersey. TFHS Alumni Scholarship: Tess Hunter. TFHS Class of 1957 Bernard Plaza Service Scholarship: Tess Hunter.
Turners Falls Athletic Club Scholarships: Tionne Brown, Richard Craver, Nicolas Croteau, Jordyn Fiske. TFHS Student Government Service Scholarship: Alysha Wozniak, Riley Wood. Wells Trust Fund Scholarships: Gabrielle Arzuaga, Tionne Brown, Richard Craver, Savannah Donahue, Madelyn Johnson, Will Roberge, Nicole Thibeault, Kortney Thurber. William Connelly Memorial Scholarship: Bryn Kruzlic. Women’s Club of Turners Falls Scholarship: Hattie Harvey. Women of the Moose Chapter No. 316 Scholarship: Tess Hunter.
Senior Class — Most Valuable Players: Baseball, Tionne Brown, Boys Basketball, Tionne Brown. Girls Basketball, Field Hockey, Nicole Thibeault. Football, Tahner Castine. Golf, Patick Salls. Softball, Gabrielle Arzuaga. Girls Swimming, Melissa Hersey. Boys Tennis, Nicholas Morin. Girls Tennis, Hailey Trott. Boys Track, Owen Ortiz. Girls Track, Bryn Kruzlic. Volleyball, Tess Hunter. Class of 1945 Joseph J. Sheff Memorial Award for all-around athletic ability in basketball and contributing to the team at Turners Falls High School, Kyle Bergmann. Marston Baseball Award for all-around athletic ability in baseball and in contributing to the team at Turners Falls High School William Doyle V. Nate Lucas Award for the senior swimmer with excellent sportsmanship and contribution to the swim team: Melissa Hersey.
Academic, Service Awards
Excellence In Art Award: Keara Deery. Excellence in Communication Design Award: Emily Watrous. Excellence in Film Editing Award: Desmond Demers. Excellence in Filmaking Award: Jordan Wyman. Excellence in English: Madelyn Johnson. Excellence in French, Kaili Lynch. Excellence in Latin, Riley Wood. Excellence in Mathematics: Will Roberge. Excellence in Physical Education: Melissa Hersey. Excellence in Life Science Award: Jordyn Fiske. Excellence in Physical Science Award: Ian Moriarty. Excellence in Social Studies Award: Patrick Salls. Music Excellence Award: Owen Ortiz.
National Honor Society Members: Gabrielle Arzuaga, Tionne Brown, Savannah Donahue, Jordyn Fiske, Melissa Hersey, Tess Hunter, Bryn Kruzlic, Ian Moriarty, Will Roberge, William Doyle V, Madelyn Johnson, Kaili Lynch, Owen Ortiz, Patick Salls, Nichole Thibeault, Riley Wood. The President’s Award for Academic Achievement: Hailey Trott, Amilee Jarvis, Zachary McDaniel, Jordan Wyman, Tess Hunter, Mark Waite, Veronika Sankova, Alysha Wozniak, Jeremy Wolfram, Kortney Thurber.
The President’s Award for Academic Excellence: Jordyn Fiske, Ian Moriarty, Savannah Donahue, Gabrielle Arzuaga, Kaili Lynch, William Doyle V, Riley Wood, Tionne Brown, Bryn Kruzlic, Madelyn Johnson, Owen Ortiz, Nicole Thibeault, Melissa Hersey, Will Roberge, Patrick Salls. TFHS Class of 2017 Plant to Plate Award: Zachary McDaniel, The Massachusetts Secondary School Administrators Association Award: Jaynise Burton. Turners Falls High School Class of 1947 English Award for Outstanding Effort: Jordyn Fiske. Class of 1953 for Excellence in Drama, Miss Alice Teed Award: Jordan Wyman.
Society of Women Engineers of Boston: Jordyn Fiske. Turners Falls High School American Citizenship Awards: Tionne Brown, Melissa Hersey, Bryn Kruzlic, Madelyn Johnson, Will Roberge. Turners Falls High Service Award: Riley Wood. Ellen T. Wrightson Memorial Award: “To the senior who best exemplifies the Spirit of Turners Falls High School”: Owen Ortiz. Turners Falls High School Class of 2017 Scholastic Merit Awards: Jordyn Fiske, Ian Moriarity, Savannah Donahue, Gabrielle Arzuaga, Kaili Lynch. The Salutatorian Award: Ian Moriarity, The Valedictorian Award: Jordyn Fiske.
Junior Book Awards
Bay Path College Book Award: Madison St. Marie. Rensselaer Medal Scholarship: Snejana Lashtur. Saint Michaels Book Award: Hannah Graves. Smith College Book Award: Maya Hancock-Pezzati. The Sage Award: Peyton Emery, Nicholas Taylor. Wells College 21st Century Leadership Award: Samantha Kolodziej. Williams College Book Award: Simon Lorenzo.