By DOMENIC POLI
Recorder Staff
ATHOL – Francine Morlock-Rajaniemi will always remember Athol High School as her Hogwarts.
The salutatorian of the Class of 2017, Morlock-Rajaniemi moved to Athol years ago with few friends and said the high school enabled her to blossom and reach her potential in a similar way to the school of witchcraft and wizardry in the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling. She said she found great mentors who helped improve her life.
“No matter how bad it can be, it can always get better as long as you let it,” she told her classmates from a podium in the middle of the high school’s football field on Sunday. “Happiness can always be found, even in the darkest of times.”
Valedictorian Olivia Kimball jokingly told her classmates they had survived their “four-year sentence of high school.”
“We made it,” she said to applause.
Dr. Steven C. Meyer, superintendent of schools, told the graduates he recently spoke with a former student who now writes novels and for newspapers. He said he asked this person how to write a novel and the former student said he starts with a character who has a want or desire and the story chronicles the conflict embraced to obtain it. Meyer said he soon realized this is also the definition of life. He said graduation closes the first chapter of a life and sets the stage for the next.
“You need to find your next want,” he said.
Meyer also quoted founding father Benjamin Franklin as saying, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing,” but also warned that every choice comes with consequences.
“Decisions are what fill the pages in the story of your life,” he told the 70 graduates. “Go do something worth writing about.”
Before the graduates received their diplomas, each student who had earned a scholarship or award was recognized. Principal Mitchell Aho said the Class of 2017 earned more than $86,000 in scholarships.
Graduates
Dustin Marcus Aikey, Nina True Alvarez, Rowan Neal Anderson, Daniel Jose Arpide, Hannah Lynn Arsenault, Anthony Joseph Barbieri, Zachary James Bergquist*, Tyler Stephen Boyd, Jacob David Brissette, Jacob Kurt Brozell, Julia Marie Carey, Riley Leo Carey, Brianna Lillian Mary Cauley, Jordan Matthew Chapalonis, Karalyn Elizabeth Cleveland, Avery James Clyatt, Brianna Marie Comeau, Jared Matthew Cormier, Dakota Dalton Cortis, Kyle Joseph Cortis, Alexis Jade Cucchi, Trever Matthew Curtis, Merrick James Decker, Alexis Elizabeth England, Colin Kenneth Fish, David Joseph Fortin, Roy Ashby Fox III, Kassandra Frazier, Brejahna Elise Geise, Ashlee Nicole Giansanto, Cameron Jacob Gonzalez, Michael Anthony-Allen Gray, Joshua Daniel Herk, Ryan Matthew Herk, Ryan Christopher Hulbert, Caleb Aaron Jennings, ♦Olivia Ann Kimball, Abby Christine Leadbetter, William Camden LeBlanc, Natasha Storm Ledoux*, Lindsey Elizabeth Lee*, Jamison Tyler R. LePouttre, Tyler James Lutz, Dakota Lucas Lyman, Sarah Faith Lyon, Kentya Marie Mason, Andrew Thomas Matthews, Matthew Roger Meunier, Gregory James Moore, ♦Francine A. P. Morlock-Rajaniemi, Trever Wayne Mousseau, Anthony Carlos Negron, Kirsten Rose Newell, ♦Hope Katherine Parker, Chenoa Jean Poulin, Brendan Curtis Proctor, Isaac James Raulston, Destiny Leigh Ricko, Wayne Allen Rouisse Jr., Kaleb Andrew Salmond, ♦Justin Andrew Simkewicz, Genovieve Willow Sirstins, Duane Russell Smith Jr., Griffin Andrew Smith, ♦Jessica Ann Soucie, ♦Mia Desiree Swenson, Madison Nicole Truehart, Amber Haley Vieu, ♦Ryan Mark Warner, Lucy Bonney White, Gage Anthony Roger Wood.
♦ Denotes National Honor Society. *Athol Early College Experience Graduate (M.W.C.C.).
Scholarships
202 Street Hockey Association Kirk VanOs Scholarship: Colin Fish. A.A.R.P. Scholarship: Brianna Cauley. Athol Booster’s Association Scholarship: Dustin Aikey, Zachery Bergquist, Tyler Boyd, Julia Carey, Alexis Cucchi, Colin Fish, Okivia Kimball, Abby Leadbetter, Gregory Moore, Trever Mousseau, Colby Newcombe, Hope Parker, Destiny Ricko, Jessica Soucie, Ryan Warner. Athol Lions Club Scholarship: Tyler Boyd, Ashlee Giansanto, Abby Leadbetter, Lindsey Lee, Jessica Soucie. Dr. Herbert Aaron Scholarship for exceptional community service to: Ashlee Giansanto. Athol Masonic Charity & Educational Society: Julia Carey. Athol Teachers Association: Daniel Arpide. Athol-Orange Eagles Scholarship: Brejahna Geise, Anthony Negron. Athol-Orange Rotary Club Scholarship: Tyler Boyd, Ashlee Giansanto. Athol Police Association Scholarship: Trever Mousseau.
Athol Royalston Athletic Association: Athol Teachers’ Association: Julie Carey, Hope Parker. Athol Women’s Club Scholarship: Lindsay Lee, Jessica Soucie. Athol-Orange Lodge of Elks Scholarship: Tyler Boyd, Colin Fish, Ashlee Giansanto, Jessica Soucie, Ryan Warner Elks Memorial Scholarship: Abby Leadbetter R.C. Anderson Scholarship: Julia Carey. Kevin “ZIP” Robinson: Zachary Bergquist. Brian E. Wallwork Memorial Award Scholarship: Joshua Herk. Bud Girardi Track Scholarship: Rowan Anderson, Kirsten Newell. Chet Hall Memorial Scholarship: Tyler Boyd, Jessica Soucie. Dr. Norman Goldman Award: Lindsey Lee. Friends of Athol Hospital: Julia Carey, Brianna Cauley. Gertrude Hale Award: Olivia Kimball, Francine Morlock-Rajaniemi. Government Service Scholarship is sponsored Tamara Martin, Class of 1982: Trever Mousseau. Kessler Investments Inc. Scholarship: Jessica Soucie. Ladies Benevolent Society of Royalston Scholarship: Marguerite E. Langlois Award: Tyler Boyd. Maxine E. Wilcox Award: Ryan Warner. Massachusetts State Elks Scholarship: Abby Leadbetter, Jessica Soucie.
North Quabbin Chapter No. 340 Vietnam Veterans Scholarship: Ashlee Giansanto, Joshua Herk. North Worcester County Anglers Assoc. Scholarship: Orange American Legion Post No. 172 Scholarship: Joshua Herk. Royalston Academy Judy Jenkins Musco Fund: Ryan Warner. Katherine Seymour Bullock Cole Scholarship: Tyler Boyd, Kassandra Frasier. Terry W. O’Brien Scholarship: Zachary Bergquist. The Late C. Edward & Vondy Rowe Award: Tully City Council Scholarship: Colin Fish. Orange American Legion Post No. 172 Scholarship: Post Graduate: Tyler Lajoie. Athol Teacher’s Association Scholarship: Post Graduates/Others: Elizabeth Casella, Emily Casella, Abby Divoll, Lexis Kitzmiller, Caitlyn Lacasse, Jacob Lacasse,Tyler Lajoie, Sophia LaRoche, Caley McLaughlin, Mitchell McLaughlin, Mike Rouleau, Rebecca Rouleau, Kaitlyn Steve, Rachel Vargeletis, Matthew Winters.
A.H.S. Scholarship Association
Scholarships are awarded to the following graduating seniors: Dustin Aikey, Daniel Arpide, Zachary Bergquist, Tyler Boyd, Jacob Brissette, Julia Carey, Brianna Cauley, Karalyn Cleveland, Brianna Comeau, Colin Fish, Kassandra Frazier, Ashlee Giansanto, Joshua Herk, Olivia Kimball, Abby Leadbetter, Natasha Ledoux, Francine Morlock-Rajaniemi, Trever Mousseau, Colby Newcombe, Hope Parker, Destiny Ricko, Ryan Warner.
In addition, the following awards are being presented:
William G. Lord Award: Rowan Anderson, Justin Simkewicz. Henry A. Stearns Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Kimball. Cathy Cole Award: Karalyn Cleveland. Webb R. And Ethel S. Avery Award: Daniel Arpide. Edwin C. Temple Memorial Award: Jacob Brissette. Athol American Legion, Post 102, Award: Colin Fish, Trever Musseau. Lloyd Newton Memorial Award: Hope Parker. Gladys Crawford Webber Award: Olivia Kimball. Theodore H. and Helen E. Berard Memorial Scholarship: Ashlee Giansanto. Ashley Beth Softic Scholarship Award: Kassandra Frazier. Helen C. Ellsworth Award: Dustin Aikey, Daniel Arpide, Zachary Bergquist, Tyler Boyd, Jacob Brissette, Julia Carey, Brianna Cauley, Karalyn Cleveland, Brianna Comeau, Colin Fish, Kassandra Frazier, Ashlee Giansanto, Joshua Herk, Olivia Kimball, Abby Leadbetter, Natasha Ledoux, Francine Morlock-Rajaniemi, Trever Mousseau, Colby Newcombe, Hope Parker, Destiny Ricko, Ryan Warner. Henry and Clare Brouillet Sanders Street School Award: Colin Fish.
Henry J. and Clare E. Brouillet Award: Francine Morlock-Rajamiemi. Alan Plotkin Scholarship: Julia Carey. Joseph R. Songer Scholarship: Karalyn Cleveland. Daniel Laakso Scholarship: Tyler Boyd. Randall Kamerbeek Scholarship: Trever Mousseau. Forrest and Bernice Blackmer Scholarship: Shelby Sawin. Etienne Lozier Scholarship: Brianna Cauley. John Linker Scholarship: Colby Newcombe. Morris E. Katz & Freda H. Katz Award: Natasha Ledoux. Cathy Robuccio Award: Olivia Kimball. Ann Findlay Williams Scholarship: Abby Leadbetter. Farrar Family Scholarship Fund in honor of David Farrar: Jessica Soucie.
Brian Rivers Award: Colby Newcombe, Destiny Ricko. Leo D. Chibas for Electrical Engineers: Zachary Bergquist. Karen Raymond Dugay Award: Dustin Aikey, Tyler Boyd, Brianna Cauley, Karalyn Cleveland, Joshua Herk. Greg Stone Award: Zachary Bergquist. Lithuanian Club Scholarship: Ryan Warner. David McCaffery Scholarship: Tyler Boyd. Prior A.H.S. graduates receiving scholarships are: Eric Aikey, Carter Amadon, Ashley Bacigalupo, Vanessa Baptista, Holly Brissette, Elizabeth Casella, Emily Casella, Molly Cleveland, Wyatt Doiron-LaRue, Matthew Drazek, Tanner Favreau, Christopher Gordon, Nicole Guerin, Alexis Hamlett, Lindsey Hamlett, Callie Jillson, Rachel Karan, Krystal Kilhart, Amanda King, Owen King, Lexis Kitzmiller, Tyler Lajoie, Sophia LaRoche, Nelson Leadbetter, Caley McLaughlin, Mitchell McLaughlin, John Morissette, Alexander Page, Sophia Palmacci, Jamie Posk, Stephanie Putnam, Anastasia Ricko, Alicia Riddell, Zachary Roberts, Kayla Robideau, Katelyn Robinson, Michael Rouleau, Shelby Roussel, Julia Salmond, Shelby Sawin, Delaney Selanis, Tyler St.Cyr, Matthew Winters. Amber Simmington Memorial Book Award: Jordan Carey, Michael Findlay, Katelyn Robinson, Sophia LaRoche, Shelby Roussel.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com
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On Twitter: @DomenicPoli