'And still you endured.' Wells High graduates celebrate perseverance in reaching their goals

WELLS, Maine – After they were rained out last Friday, the Wells High School Class of 2022 took center stage on Sunday, June 5, actually a much better choice as the day was picture perfect.

“This is the first morning graduation for Wells High School,” said Principal Eileen Sheehy. “Welcome to the 119th Wells High School Commencement exercise.”

Earlier, as the class of 98 students waited in the gymnasium for graduation ceremonies to begin, Sheehy said she is very proud of this graduating class.

“It is a beautiful day, and this class has been amazing,” she said. “With the challenges they faced, they have been resilient, creative, productive and dedicated. They have become outstanding leaders and examples for the entire student population. They were focused on their goals despite the challenges.”

More: Wells High School names Top 10 students in Class of 2022

One thing that stood out in Wells from many other graduating classes were the cap and gown colors. With no seeming pattern, kids were dressed in red, white or black.

“They all had a choice of color and all three are our school colors,” said Emily Knight, art teacher and class advisor. “We made a choice to be non-gender and the students really embraced that.”

Class Valedictorian Anavi Curtiss has big dreams. And she is going to France, to ArtFX -School of Digital Arts to pursue them.

“I am going to be an animator,” said Curtiss. “I will study there for five years to graduate with a director’s degree. I have loved art since I was very small and I think animation is the way to be successful. My degree will get me places in existing studios, but my dream is to one day have my own studio.”

In her valedictory speech, Curtiss said that when she first learned she was to be valedictorian, she celebrated. Then she realized she was going to need to give a speech.

"I panicked,” she said. "Of all people, I didn’t think I was the right kind of person to be making this kind of speech. And because of that, like with all of my assignments, I procrastinated a really long time before writing the whole thing last minute.”

Curtis talked about how her class became a community, whether they had been together since kindergarten, or had come in somewhere along the journey.

Curtiss thanked the school staff by name and talked about how they helped her to succeed. She thanked her parents and her brother.

“With that being said, congratulations everyone on making it this far. We’ve all done so well and worked so hard to make it to this point in our lives,” she said. “I wish you all the best luck with your ambitions. Thank you for an interesting 12 years here in the Wells-Ogunquit Community School District, and who knows when I’ll see you next.”

Andrew Lopez, a popular English teacher, was selected by the class to be the commencement speaker.

“You voted for me to speak; what’s wrong with you?” said Lopez. “You know I can’t shut up. I have decided to tell you a story. The story of the class who endured.”

Lopez led the graduates through each of their four years at the high school, highlighting the ways they had grown and persevered.

“As freshmen, you faced fresh challenges: Finding your way in a new building, forging alliances, fighting for your place among upperclassmen, filling your schedule with required classes,” he said. “The gods of the guidance department gifted you with a perfect storm of a schedule: English 9, World Studies, Physical Science, Algebra, P.E., Spanish or French, Band, Chorus, Art, and possibly Creative Writing.”

“The bell came at the end of the day, barely allowing you to catch your breath, before you began afterschool sports and activities. You found yourself spinning like a boat buffeted by the forces of high school life. When the storm seemed strongest, you found your compass, the circuit of your strength to see you through.”

"As you struggled to stay on course, you were surprised to see the spires of your sophomore year looming large. English 10, World After 1945, Biology, Geometry, PE II, and more French or Spanish,” said Lopez. “Now settled into the afterschool routine, you sailed along into sports, singing, sculpting, and shaping new roles on stage. These activities continued to mold you."

Lopez touched on the pandemic, saying March of 2020 was when the world suddenly stopped.

“Surrounded by sickness, stuck in the cell of your room, screaming for someone to let you out, wishing for the world to re-open, wanting nothing more than friends and fellowship. And still you endured," he said.

In their junior year, Lopez said the class faced temperature scanners, sitting still in the same seat for a seemingly endless period of time, maintaining masks - the kind that covered your nose all day  and marching to the gym for the blessed 25 minutes of breathing freely.

“Working together, you refused to allow the palisade of the pandemic to define you, not as individuals, not as a class,” he said “You chose to endure.”

As seniors, Lopez said the class could see the dawn.

“March came, masks went,” he said. “You breathed the air of freedom, relieved and relishing the new found treat of reacting facially to what others said. You entered as timid freshmen and here we are, the final chapter. Go ahead. Take that first step. You did it for four years. You can do it again.”

Not all students know immediately upon graduation where they want their lives to head. It has become very common for some kids to choose a gap year.

“I am taking one year off,” said Paige Kraus, “I want a chance to make some money and to figure out what I want to do next.”

Best friends Joey Ritchie and Spencer Tyler are also planning a gap year and plan to be roommates.

“We just need to decide where,” said Ritchie. “I just know I want to move out of state and try somewhere new, as I have been here my whole life. And I am hoping to do it with my friend Spenser.”

Spenser said he and his mom are heading to New York for a month after graduation.

“After that we can look around and figure out where we want to be,” he said. “I am undecided on what I want to do with my life, so I want time to figure that out.”

Wells High School Class of 2022

Meredith Ann Adams++

Charlotte Virginia Allaire++

Emma Marie Badger++

Delia Maureen Bailey++

Benjamin Oliver Beisswanger

Colby Kevin Bolduc++

Grace Ireland Rose Boucher++#

Justin Kyle Boulay++#

Ryan Luke Boulay++

Elizabeth Kate Bradish*++

Ryan James Bridges

Evan Joseph Brouillard

Devin Chandler Brown++

Reyna Aislynn Burrows

Joseph Matthew Calcina+

Zachary Curtis Carpenter++

Brynn Marie Cavaner

Olivia Jayne Chase++

Tyler Andrew Chase+

Auguste Anthony Ciorra++

Caroline Arianna Clarrage+

Nathan Alexander Coleman++

Megan Madison-Nicole Cox+

Anavi Hana Charleen Curtiss++

Olivia Mackenzie DaRosa+

Erin Diane Davis+

Michael Joseph Ducharme Jr.+

Lauren Alexandre Dunham+

Jillian Lorraine Evans+

Brayden Evan Fazzina+

Leah Noelle Finn++

Brady Kevin Fox++

Anna Allene Franks

Pierce Robson George+

Trent Leino Gibson

Kathryn Joan Gilbert+

Gretchan Marie Graffam++

Peyton Elizabeth Haggerty+

Kayla Ann Haken++

Riley Alyssa Hansen++

Bailey Richard Hayden+#

Haley Christine Hennessey++

Lily Rose Heyland+

Jack Andrew Kaszubinski+

Tristan Stone Kay

Ethan Santos Kenney

Sophie Estelle Killam++

Emma Kondor-Ouellette+

Paige Darlene Kraus

Lauren Christina Luttrell+

Eric Larn Mabry Jr.++

Daniel John Marquis III+

Jacob Christopher Marshall++

Heath Thomas McHugh+

Ruby Jean McMinis+

Elle Donovan Meffert++

Tristan Steve Michaud-Nolan++

Theodore Joseph Morin++

Camden Emily Morrison++

Andrew Harrison Mott++

Zachary Jason Naffah++

Owen James Nelson+

Owen Anderson Neville+

Amiah Kristina Nichols

Rosemary Ann Norton

Olivia Riley Noury

Mia Makensi Pasciuto+

Aaron Jeffrey Patnaude++

Nicole R. Perkins

Caitlyn Rachel Perron++

Lindsay Marie Plourde+

Joshua Nathaniel Price+

Maura Anne Ragnarsson++

Grace Ann Clifford Ramsdell++

Laci Charlotte Raso+

Ella Joan Richard+

Joseph Arthur Ritchie IV

Ryan David Robinson++

Alexander Vladimir Romanov+

Robey Josh Rose

Camden Riley Sevigney+

Colton Phillip Sharpe*

Grant Richard Soper+

Noel Read Spofford

Paige Elizabeth Stone

Daniel Kevin Swanick

Ava Lynne Tavares++

Lucas Charles Templeton

Michael Jeffrey Thiffault

Spencer James Tyler+

Leo Robert Vachon

Grace Hewan Ward+

Samuel Thomas Ward++

Libby Bridget Webb++

James Cuno Wirths VI

Dylan Michael Woodman

Connor Wolff Woodward++

++Graduation with High Distinction

+Graduation with Distinction

* Class of 2023 Early Graduate

# SRTC's chapter of the NTHS 

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Wells ME High School graduates its Class of 2022