BY DARRELL HALEN
Pelham High School’s class of 2007 is an incredible group of people, Tim Mallard told his fellow graduating seniors.
“As we have run in this race we call high school, we have stuck together and formed an alliance,” Mallard, the class president, said during the Friday, June 15, graduation ceremony. “We committed to each other and focused on crossing the finish line as a team.”
Throughout the evening, the 152 graduating seniors were reminded of the qualities that make them special and their accomplishments – including devoting 10,139 hours to community service – during the past four years.
“I don’t know what it is about our class, but we just have amazing unity and camaraderie,” said Mallard, who occasionally donned glasses in the shape of 2007 during the ceremony. “There are no social cliques with our seniors, only cool people. For whatever reason it is, we just go together like, well, peas and carrots.”
The class of 2007, said Principal Dorothy Mohr, was lively and amusing. They knew how to have fun, respect others and accept responsibility, she said.
Mohr cited their numerous athletic, extracurricular and academic accomplishments, which she said provided solid foundations for the students’ aspirations.
“We have accomplished so much as a class in these last four years of high school, ending tonight,” class essayist Bethany Murphy said. “And beginning tonight, we embark on new journeys to make new goals and achieve new heights in our futures.”
Those futures are made up of diverse paths. Plans include military service, college, beauty school, apprenticeship programs, art school and work.
“I want to be a nurse eventually,” said Sarah Perez, who is working as a caregiver, as she was putting her cap on before the ceremony began. “I like taking care of the elderly a lot.”
Joe DeVita, who will study culinary arts at Southern New Hampshire University, wants to be a chef.
Bobby Trudel, who has joined the Air Force, plans to be a military police officer.
Tom Snelders is headed to Miami International University of Art and Design. He wants to design visual effects for movies and commercials, and may someday work in Hollywood.
“That’d be fun,” he said. “That’s on the list of things to do.”
Shannon Reis will study hospitality management at Middlesex Community College in Lowell. She hopes to be a party planner in Boston or Disney World.
Her friend, Galyn Helliwell, starts classes at Continental Academy of Hair Design next month.
“I’m going to try to open my own salon,” she said.
Angela Ziogas, meanwhile, will study human services at Endicott College. She wants to get a master’s degree in social work and work as a counselor with at-risk high school students.
“I like helping people, and I don’t like working in an office,” she said.
The ceremony was filled with cheers and applause, and spiced with humor, balloons, beach balls tossed in the air, and decorated graduation caps. It was a happy day for parents, too.
“It’s wonderful,” said Susan Kerr, whose daughter, Kelsey, was among the graduates. “I’m so proud.”
There was also a bit of solemnity. The graduates wore ribbons and carried flowers in memory of three classmates – Stephanie Chakar, Kyle Campbell and Christopher Edwards – who have passed away.
Mohr said the memories of their smiles, laughter and inspirations will live on.
“I think this class is awesome,” said science teacher Scott Hazen, who hugged several graduates after the ceremony. “It’s a class I’ll remember in all my years teaching. There was a personality to them.”
At times, they could be frustrating. Sometimes, they would make him laugh.
“Seeing them grow up and mature was the best part,” he said. “With every kid, I think I made a connection.”