BY SUSAN WARE

Memorial High School’s Valedictorain Emily Stekl, decked in the school’s red, white and blue,  encouraged graduates to ignore the old adage “youth is wasted on the young” and to embrace new experiences every single day and enjoy their youth.

On Friday, June 15, Memorial High School sent 502 graduates on their way with a ceremony at the Verizon Wireless Arena. Memorial is the school Auburn residents attend for high school.

Senior Class president Andrew Provencher opened up his remarks by getting the entire class to perform a human wave. He closed by quoting Semisonic’s ‘“Closing Time” a song now as closely with associated with graduations as “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta, a speaker at all of the city’s graduations, cheered on graduates, saying,  “You really are filled with passion, enthusiasm, dedication and honor. Count your blessings and never let obstacles get in the way of your passions and goals.”