ATHOL — Callie Jillson is proof stepping outside your comfort zone doesn’t kill you.
The valedictorian of the Athol High School Class of 2016, the 18-year-old said she tried everything to get out of speaking at Sunday’s graduation. But she eventually decided to use the opportunity to give a lighthearted speech to show her 90 classmates what is possible when you test yourself.
“And it’s not because I was dragged up here against my will or because I was threatened by my parents, but because not too long ago I was told that I needed to step outside of my comfort zone,” she said from a podium inside a packed gymnasium. “So, here I am standing very, very far outside of my comfort zone, trying to set an example for all of you to do the same. I encourage you all to push your boundaries, because it’s the only way to know whether or not you’re good at something and it’s the only way to recognize your full potential.”
Jillson also lauded her classmates’ athletic accomplishments and mentioned 90 percent of the graduating class has been accepted into college. Other graduates, she said, are joining the military or entering the workforce. However, she said, all will start a new chapter of their lives.
“During this new journey that we’re about to experience, it is important that we all embrace this change. Be brave,” Jillson said. “Don’t be afraid to challenge yourself. Take a semester abroad, meet new people, make friends, try something you would never in a million years picture yourself doing. And, most importantly, don’t be afraid to fail. You will not regret it.”
Salutatorian Lindsey Hamlett used her speech to quote a diverse group of people. She read the words of Albert Einstein, Greek philosopher Plato, and rap artist Sean “Diddy” Combs.
“Nobody is going to take you to the front of the line unless you push yourself to the front of the line,” she quoted Combs as saying, in between own words to the audience. “Every student sitting in front of you today has the potential to do great things.”
Before stepping from the podium, she left her classmates with a quote from fictional news anchorman Ron Burgundy.
“Stay classy, Athol High,” she said to applause.
A diploma was given posthumously to Mark Paul Brighenti Jr., who died in July 2015.
Scholarships
202 Street Hockey Association Kirk VanOs Scholarship: Emily Casella, Shawn Smart.
Amber Simmington Memorial Scholarship: Sophia LaRoche, Shelby Roussel.
Athol Booster’s Association Scholarship: Carter Amadon, Ashley Bacigalupo, Vanessa Baptista, Holly Brissette, Tatyana Carrasquillo, Emily Casella, Lindsey Hamlett, Callie Jillson, Owen King, Tyler Lajoie, Nelson Leadbetter, Caley McLaughlin, Bryce Melanson, Kayla Robideau, Shelby Roussel, Shawn Smart, Tyler St. Cyr, Nicholas Whelpley, Ryan Whelpley, Matthew Winters.
Athol Firefighter’s Association Scholarship: Matthew Winters.
Athol Lions Club Scholarship: Emily Casella, Owen King, Tyler Lajoie, Nelson Leadbetter, John Morrissette, Kayla Robideau, Ryan Whelpley.
Dr. Herbert Aaron Scholarship for exceptional community service to: Tyler Lajoie.
Athol Masonic Charity and Educational Society: Holly Brisette, John Morrissette, Tyler St. Cyr.
Friends of Athol Hospital Scholarship: Callie Jillson, Kariana Tobias-Tessier.
Athol-Orange Rotary Club Scholarship: Nelson Leadbetter, Tyler St. Cyr.
Athol Police Association Scholarship: Curtis Neale.
Athol Police N.E.P.B.A Local 59 Union Scholarship: Emily Casella.
Athol Royalston Athletic Association: Lyndsey Hamlett, Owen King, Tyler Lajoie, Caley McLaughlin, Ryley Saisa.
Athol Teachers’ Association: Emily Casella, Abigail Divoll, Owen King, Lexis Kitzmiller, Tyler Lajoie, Sophia LaRoche, Caley McLaughlin, Matthew Winters.
Athol Women’s Club Scholarship: Emily Casella, Kayla Robideau.
Athol-Orange Lodge of Elks Scholarship: Emily Casella, Lindsey Hamlett, Sophia LaRoche, Caley McLaughlin, John Morissette, Kayla Robideau, Shawn Smart, Tyler St. Cyr, Ryan Whelpley.
Brian E. Wallwork Memorial Award Scholarship: Carter Amadon.
Bud Girardi Track Scholarship: Owen King, Alicia Lachance.
Disabled American Veterans Chapter 46 Scholarship: Callie Jillson, Kariana Tobias Tessier.
Dr. Norman Goldman Award: Tatyana Carrasquillo.
North Quabbin Community Coaltion Scholarship: Roy and Miriam Cooke Scholarship:
Scott Mackenzie Memorial Scholarship: Nelson Leadbetter.
Gertrude Hale Award: Tatyana Carrasquillo, Shelby Roussel.
Government Service Scholarship is sponsored Tamara Martin, Class of 1982: Matthew Winters.
Jason Trombley/Mike Bridgwood Memorial Scholarship: Ashley Bacigalupo, Holly Brissette, Tatyana Carrasquillo, Nicholas Whelpley.
Kessler Investments Inc. Scholarship: Lexis Kitzmiller.
Ladies Benevolent Society of Royalston Scholarship: Dorothy B. Corser Award: Abigail Divoll.
Nancy S. Bolton Award: Zachary Roberts
Massachusetts State Elks Scholarship: Ashley Bacigalupo, Tatyana Carrasquillo, Emily Casella, Lindsey Hamlett, Tyler Lajoie, Nelson Leadbetter, John Morissette, Kayla Robideau, Ryan Whelpley.
North Quabbin Chapter 340 Vietnam Veterans Scholarship: Ashley Bacigalupo, Kariana Tobias Tessier.
North Worcester County Anglers Assoc. Scholarship: Matthew Winters.
Orange American Legion Post 172 Scholarship: Tyler Lajoie.
Pleasant Street School Scholarship: Ashley Bacigalupo, Holly Brissette, Tatyana Carrasquillo, Emily Casella, Callie Jillson, Tyler Lajoie, Sophia LaRoche, Nelson Leadbetter, Caley McLaughlin, Shelby Roussel, Shawn Smart, Tyler St. Cyr, Ryan Whelpley, Matthew Winters, Autumn Young.
Royalston Academy Judy Jenkins Musco Fund: Abigail Divoll.
Royalston Community School PTO: Abigail Divoll.
South Royalston School Reunion Scholarship: Abigail Divoll.
Terry W. O’Brien Scholarship: Michael Welcome.
The Late C. Edward and Vondy Rowe Award: Olivia Dufour.
Tully City Council Scholarship: Jillian Euvrard.
Wheelerville Community Club Scholarship: Shelby Roussel.
Athol Teacher’s Association Scholarship: Post Graduates/Others: Elizabeth Casella, Chelsea Deveneau, Carolilne Grutchfield, Caitlin Lacasse, Gibson LaRoche, Jessica Mann, Mitchell McLaughlin, Michael Rouleau, Kaitlyn Steve, Matthew Songer, Alexandria Triozzi.
A.H.S. Scholarship Association aids 88 graduates with awards totaling $109,200. Scholarships will be awarded to 43 members of the class of 2016 and to 35 prior graduates who are currently attending college.
Scholarships are awarded to the following graduating seniors: Carter Amadon, Ashley Bacigalupo, Vanessa Baptista, Desiree Belden, Holly Brissette, Bethany Bump, Tatyana Carrasquillo, Emily Casella, Allen Clair, Steven Crawford, Patrick Curtin, Elizabeth Dame, Abigail Divoll, Olivia Dufour, Nigel Etienne, Jillian Euvrard, Lindsey Hamlett, Christopher Jenkins, Callie Jilson, Owen King, Lexis Kitzmiller, Tyler Lajoie, Sophia LaRoche, Nelson Leadbetter, Caley McLaughlin, Bryce Melanson, Sergio Morales, John Morissette, Yanibel Perez, Anastasia Ricko, Zachary Roberts, Kayla Robideau, Misty Rogers, Shelby Roussel, Shawn Smart, Tyler St. Cyr, Kariana Tobias-Tessier, Ian Truitt, Michael Welcome, Nicholas Whelpley, Ryan Whelpley, Matthew Winters, Autumn Young.
In addition, the following awards are being presented:
William G. Lord Award – Brendan Hulbert, Tatianna LaCroix.
Henry A. Stearns Memorial Scholarship – Callie Jillson.
Cathy Cole Award – Bethany Bump.
Webb R. And Ethel S. Avery Award – Owen King.
Edwin C. Temple Memorial Award – John Morrissette.
Athol American Legion, Post 102, Award – Steven Crawford, Anastasia Ricko.
Lloyd Newton Memorial Award – Holly Brissette.
Gladys Crawford Webber Award – Callie Jillson.
Theodore H. and Helen E. Berard Memorial Scholarship – Abigail Divoll.
Ashley Beth Softic Scholarship Award – Alan Clair.
Helen C. Ellsworth Award – Carter Amadon, Ashley Bacigalupo, Vanessa Baptista, Desiree Belden, Holly Brissette, Bethany Bump, Tatyana Carrasquillo, Emily Casella, Allen Clair, Steven Crawford, Patrick Curtin, Elizabeth Dame, Abigail Divoll, Olivia Dufour, Nigel Etienne, Jillian Euvrard, Lindsey Hamlett, Christopher Jenkins, Callie Jilson, Owen King, Lexis Kitzmiller, Tyler Lajoie, Sophia LaRoche, Nelson Leadbetter, Caley McLaughlin, Bryce Melanson, Sergio Morales, John Morissette, Yanibel Perez, Anastasia Ricko, Zachary Roberts, Kayla Robideau, Misty Rogers, Shelby Roussel, Shawn Smart, Tyler St. Cyr, Kariana Tobias-Tessier, Ian Truitt, Michael Welcome, Nicholas Whelpley, Ryan Whelpley, Matthew Winters, Autumn Young.
Henry and Clare Brouillet Sanders Street School Award – Carter Amadon.
Henry J. and Clare E. Brouillet Award – Kayla Robideau.
Alan Plotkin Scholarship – Patrick Curtin.
Joseph R. Songer Scholarship – Misty Rogers.
Daniel Laakso Scholarship – Emily Casella.
Randall Kamerbeek Scholarship – Matthew Winters.
Forrest and Bernice Blackmer Scholarship – Tyler St. Cyr.
Etienne Lozier Scholarship – Nicholas Whelpley.
John Linker Scholarship – Matthew Winters.
Morris E. Katz & Freda H. Katz Award-Vanessa Baptista.
Cathy Robuccio Award – Caley McLaughlin.
Ann Findlay Williams Scholarship – Shelby Roussel.
Farrar Family Scholarship Fund in honor of David Farrar– Tatyana Carrasquillo.
Brian Rivers Award – Lexis Kitzmiller, Ryan Whelpley.
Karen Raymond Dugay Award – Ashley Bacigulpo, Desiree Belden, Nigel Etienne, Yanibel Perez, Autumn Young..
Mark Brighenti, Jr. Award – Ashley Bacigalupo, Vanessa Baptista, Holly Brissette, Abigail Divoll, Lindsey Hamlett, Tyler Lajoie, Nelson Leadbetter, Shelby Roussel, Nicholas Whelpley, Ryan Whelpley, Matthew Winters.
Prior A.H.S. graduates receiving scholarships are: Eric Aikey, Jordan Carey, Allyson Carra (Parker), Elizabeth Casella, Kayla Chapalonis, Molly Cleveland, Zachary Dodge, Wyatt Doiron-LaRue, Matthew Drazek, Tanner Favreau, Michael Findlay, Christopher Gordon, Nicole Guerin, Alexis Hamlett, Jennifer Holden, Kevin Hume, Rachel Karan, Kristal Kilhart, Amanda King, Gibson LaRoche, Jessica Mann, Haley McGrath, Mitchell McLaughlin, Nicholas Nelson, Alexander Page, Sophia Palmacci, Jamie Posk, James Raymond, Ashleigh Ricchiazzi, Alicia Riddell, Katelyn Robinson, Michael Rouleau, Delaney Selanis, Kyle White.
Graduates
Carter James Amadon, *Ashley Elizabeth Bacigalupo, Vanessa Baptista, Brandon Joseph Barilone, Desiree Elizabeth Belden, Thomas Arthur Bickford, *Jacob Alex Billiel, Ethan Mark Blake, Tyler Mark Bosworth, Mark Paul Brighenti, Jr., *Holly Mae Brissette, *Bethany Lee Bump, Joseph Cameron Buzzell, Elizabeth Jane Carlson, Lorenzo Carra, Tatyana Marie Carrasquillo, *Emily Katherine Casella, Allen James Clair, Dylan Michael Costa,
Dylan Raymond Cowen, Steven Austin Crawford, Sarah Jean Crino, Kristopher Philip Currier, Patrick Michael Curtin, Elizabeth Erin-Lee Dame, *Abigail Sue Divoll, *Olivia Katherine Dufour, Cassidy Nicole Duggan, Christopher Michael DuPray, Nigel Balton Etienne, *Jillian Michele Euvrard, Nicholas Richard Fifield,
Tiffany Anne Gaffney, Zachary Joel Gallagher, Nicole Barros Goncalves, Raymond Robert Gowey, Dylan Joseph Gray, *Lindsey Diane Hamlett, Caitlin Abigail Hart, Brendan Roderic Hulbert, Christopher David Jenkins, *Callie Marie Jillson, Christopher Jon Jones, Owen Loren King, Lexis Alexandria Kitzmiller, *Tatianna Cydney LaCroix, Alicia Marie Lachance, *Tyler Jeffrey Lajoie, *Sophia Kathleen LaRoche, *Nelson Brian Leadbetter, Jesse James Littlefield, Bradley William Logan, Jaiden Amber Mallet, Chelsea Noel McCarthy, Matthew Ryan McDonald, *Caley Ann McLaughlin, Bailey David Melanson, Bryce Patrick Melanson, Sergio Ivan Morales, *John Francis Morissette,
Curtis Robert Neale, Colby Harrison Newcombe, Nicholas Ross Osborne, Raine Michael Patterson, Yanibel Perez, Ellwood Tenney Perin IV, Nicholas Micheal Pollock, Kyle Jordan Rice, Anastasia Elizabeth Ricko, Zachary Mitchell Roberts, *Kayla Marie Robideau, Misty Pauline Rogers, *Shelby Janine Roussel, *Ryley Edward Saisa, Xavier Paul Santana, Travis Denny Siwek, Shawn Michael Smart, Luke Mason Soucie, *Tyler John St. Cyr, Pirate Demetri Alexander Stewart. Zachary Lee Surette, Erika Tyler Teague, Antoine Scott Testa, *Kariana Loretta Tobias-Tessier, Ian Stayton Truitt, Jarrett Austin Vorce,
*Michael Anthony Welcome, *Nicholas Edward Whelpley, Ryan Joseph Whelpley, Charlie Timothy White, Tiffany Lizabeth Wilder, Matthew James Winters, Autumn Ryan Young.
*National Honor Society