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Graduation Day, 1998 Senior Rebels True to Their Name

Pomp and circumstance for the Rebels?

No way.

"Sometimes in life, you just have to shout," Salutatorian Alice F. Hill told a crowd during Friday night's high school graduation ceremony. "We resist the pressure to conform."

Indeed. Friday's commencement, held inside the gym because of rain, included a little standup comedy, a sing-a-long, a poetry slam - and only occasionally a tearful goodbye.

Salutatorians Hill and John S. McMahon III set the tone early with their joint speech. They also led the seniors, in shimmering blue and white gowns, in the Rebel cheer.

"We have been taught to speak our own minds," McMahon said. "We have to be SK Rebels, whether the big bad world likes it or not."

It's like tasting the extra crispy version of a fast food for the first time, he added. "You can never go back."

Hill and McMahon were followed by Valedictorian Christopher M. Conley, who was more subdued. Conley reminded those jammed in the school gym that the class of 1998 had produced a bevy of all-star athletes, state championship teams, merit scholars and "clearly the best-looking class in the school."

He also paid tribute to the parents, siblings and mentors in the audience. "We couldn't have done it without you."

School officials handed out 232 diplomas. And Student Council President EvaRose Dwyer gave the school a $5,000 gift, the result of a year's worth of fundraisers.

Among the items the money will buy: a trophy case, a weeping cherry tree, "and most importantly, a new toaster for our cafeteria," Dwyer said.

Swaying on the bleachers, the senior class sang along with Kool and the Gang's "Celebration," the class song. Parents provided the backbeat by clapping.

Unlike some schools, South Kingstown doesn't invite outside speakers for the annual event. "We let the kids speak for themselves," School Supt. Jack Harrington said.

This meant that Conley was followed by Valedictorian Gregory S. Datseris, who recited a poem about being free from school. Datseris was followed by Valedictorian Rashid Zia, who quoted Dr. Seuss.

"You have brains in your head and feet in your shoes," and you can steer yourself in any direction you choose, Zia said.

Graduating isn't just about growing up, he added. It's also about keeping your childhood dreams alive, "whether you want to be a doctor or a lawyer or you just want to have an apartment away from South Kingstown."

The graduates are:

Aferdita Abdullovski

Lani M. Flaherty*

Kiersten Paasche

Nicholas S. Alfred

Benjamin J. Flynn

Michael P. Pagel

Desiree M. Allaire

Steven P. Follett Jr.

Danielle Panarello

Melissa L. Allbee*

Patrick J. Forbes

Donald M. Panciera III

Ruth E. Anderson*

Max Forster

Matthew W. Paolino**

Kyle N. Andrews

Richard G. Gardner

Charles E. Patton

Ryan G. Angelo**

Melanie C. Garofalo**

Justin M. Paul*

Edward L. Arnold

Nisanne S. Ghonem**

Peter T. Phlelps**

David A. Arundel*

Malin C. Gibbes

Isak N. Philbrick*

Steven A. Bailey

Wanjiku N. Gitahi**

Dawn M. Platthner

Kimberly A. Balch*

John P. Gorman*

Michelle L. Porter

Kristen L. Balkun*

Catherine M. Gover

Amanda F. Pretto**

Sorboni Banerjee**

Ashley W. Grasso**

Desiree L. Prior

Ian D. Barlow*

Marian A. Grenier

Jonathan D. Quinn**

Christopher K. Beagle

Nicholas A. Grigorian

Ryan T. Rand*

Heidi E. Beckmann

Samuel Grimley

Richard C. Rhodes IV*

Brandon P. Bell

Nicole A. Guglielmetti*

Denison R. Richmond

Rebecca D. Bell

Evan S. Hamel

Travel W. Ringler

Renee R. Bell

Daniel S. Hannegan

Anthony P. Rivard*

Erin B. Bergen

Eric L. Hargraves

Jonathan D. Robadue*

Michelle C. Berker

Timothny M. Hart

Jane K. Robinson

Scott D. Bessette

Joseph S. Hassan**

Stephanie L. Rockwell*

Dianne M. Bianco

Shawn M. Hazard

Christina M. Rojee

Brendon K. Bjorness-Murano

Stephanie A. Hazard

Nancy K. Rolofson

Kimberly M. Boamah

Justin A. Hazlewood

Denise K. Romano**

Emily L. Boenig

Rory D. Henderson*

Jennifer L. Rowinski**

Debralee E. Boisvert

Alice F. Hill**

Adam C. Roy

Tamara L. Borrelli

KIristina J. Hilton

Jay Rudegeair**

Erik R. Bougie

Peter N. Hilton

Zachary A. Rudegeair*

Sean M. Brady*

Shawna Holdredge*

Jacob C. Schomp**

Tucker A. Brierty

Elizabeth M. Horton*

Kashan A. Shaikh*

Andrew A. Briggs***

Emily Huggins**

Margaret J. Shanley*

Jason E. Briggs

Ryan C. Hughes

Chi Shen**

Melissa R. Busby

Ross E. Humphrey

Carrie A. Sheppard*

Rachael L. Campbell*

Amanda K. Hunt

Amanda J. Siegmund

Daniel F. Carpenter

Paul A. Hutchins

Chasity M. Simon*

Richard H. Carpenter

Shannon M. Jackson

Eamonn O. Sirhal

Erica L. Carr

Joshue J. Jalbert

Michael J. Sisto

Jeremy J. Caswell

Paul R. Jennings**

Bradley M. Smith

Richard A. Cavanagh*

Timothy S. Jennings

Charles M. Smith III

Christian D. Cerrito**

Lindsey L. Johnson*

Deborah M. Smith

Kate E. Chartier*

Philip B. Johnson**

Michael B. Sosnowski Jr.

Amy L. Chernasky**

Adam B. Juda**

Kendra M. Steere*

Genevieve E. Chicoine*

Jennifer M. Juday*

Jennifer L. Stram

John C. Choquette

Christopher J. Keegan**

Alissa L. Strickland**

Elizabeth A. Cinquegrana

Lindsey J. Kroll

Caitlin V. Strom

Melissa A. Cinquegrana

Aleksandr Kushlak

Michelle B. Sweet

Erin S. Collins

Zachary S. Ladin**

John T. Swiney

Christopher M. Conley**

Hillary A. Lamoureux*

Danielle J. Tanguay*

Colin R. Cookson

Evan M. Lapisky**

Daniel R. Tartaglia

Noelle F. Coppa

Justin M. LaPre*

Islay M. Taylor*

Andrea L. Costa

Dina R. Lindia

Erin M. Tedeschi

Michelle L. Cote**

Alexander A. Little**

Audrey J. Thayer

Roxanne L. Cottrell*

Dong M. Liu

Kimberly N. Thibodeau*

Moll6y Coupland

Jonathan P. Logan**

Tudor L. Thomas IV*

Eric Creamer*

Margaret M. Lovesky**

William C. Tickner**

Scott F. Creamer**

Alyssa M. MacLean*

Christopher J. Todd

Melissa K. Crocker

Lindie E. Markdodvich

Lisa C. Towhill**

Margaret Cruser

David J. Matteson

Brant A. Truax

Joseph P. Daley**

Kevin M. Maynard

Brian J. Turcotte*

Gregory S. Datseris**

Meaghan R. McGrath**

Emily B. Varnum**

Graham C. Dawson*

Tia M. McGraw

Scott J. Velicer**

Jessica A. DeAngelis**

John S. McMahon III*

Christine L. Viele

Pasquale S. DeMatteo**

James H. McNamara

Michael J. Viele*

Liv A. Detrick**

Davide B. Meeker

Jeremy S. Voelker

David R. Dickinson

Jayne L. Merner**

Robert F. Weinreich III

Andrea L. DiMasi**

Camille R. Meyer**

Jessica L. Wepman

Anndria DiSalvo

Caitlin P. Mitchell

Chelsea A. Wetherell*

Jennifer B. Dixon**

Jessica C. Moretti

Jennifer M. Whaley*

Megan K. Donovan**

Justin W. Morris

Rebecca L. White*

Kaley M. Doran

Marie T. Morrissey**

Timothy A. White

Kathleen E. Dougan**

Christopher J. Mulhearn**

Amy M. Whitford*

Amanda R. Downing*

Martina S. Muller*

Juistin D. Wilcox

Rachel B. DuPont*

Patrick F. Mullins

Gladys Y. Williams

Gregory B. Durant

Sarah J. Murray

Jennifer A. Williams*

EvaRose Dwyer**

Bryon A. Nelson*

Keara Wolstencroft

Jennifer P. Dwyer

Elijah R. Nelson

Meredith C. Wyss

Allysoln E. Eno**

Loan T. Nguyen

Daniel W. Yoder

Matthew S. Erni*

Rafael Nightingale*

Dimitri Yogaratnam*

Adam J. Ethier*

Jonathon L. Northup

Rashid Zia**

Tasha B. Evans

Lisa A. Olivet-Gallo

Marc A. Zurcher**

Amy L. Fish

Brian C. Olivier**

 

* Rhode Island Honor Society

** Rhode Island and National Honor Society

The Providence Journal-Bulletin,  15 June 1998
by Paul Davis, Journal-Bulletin Staff Writer

Copyright 1998-2000, Denise Pagel Moskovitz

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