And so were the program's six teachers' keynote speakers Elise DeRego (math), and Kirsten Narowski (social studies); Holly Miotke (math), Heidi Florian (science), Benoit Richard (English) and William White (art). Also watching, from the audience, were Dr. William Collins, principal of Newington High School, and number of the school's curriculum coordinators and teachers.
The evening's ceremony included prelude and processional music, photography by Art Rich, the granting of several awards and scholarships including one by Mrs. Esther Eddy of the Newington Kiwanis Club and a buffet dinner at the close.
It was a triumph of effort and achievement by all concerned and by all of the graduates, who had returned to evening school in order to complete their high school education. Some with the intention of continuing their studies at institutions of higher learning; by their families and friends, whose support and enthusiasm were evident throughout the evening by their instructors, most of whom are Newington High School teachers who held these positions in addition to their full-time daily teaching responsibilities, and by the Director of the Program Thomas Abruzzese; the program's Counselor, Rosemary Poitras; and other program staff including Billy Palmer and Paula Bowman.
The event was a tribute, as well, to Newington's Board of Education, which has sponsored and funded the program, originally conceived by former NHS Principal Raymond R. Newton, who was present that evening, for many years.
Counselor Rosemary Poitras, who also shared the stage, along with Mr. Abruzzese and the teachers, echoed the remarks of the keynote speakers when she commented later as follows:
"We can say that each of us learns in a different way, in different settings, and with different time-frames. We see all of these students as bright young men and women who found a place to learn that suited them."
She then cited a quote on "perseverence" by Ralph Waldo Emerson: "Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail."
Mindful of these words, parents, relatives and friends cheered and applauded as 27 of the 31 graduates walked across the stage to receive their diplomas from Mr. Carson and Dr. Perlini. Among them were students not only from Newington, but also from Wethersfield, West Hartford and Simsbury, who came to Newington's Credit Diploma Program in the absence of similar programs in their home districts.
This is surely the town of Newington, and Newington's Board of Education, at its best.
We congratulate all of the graduates of the Evening High School Class of 2009:
Steven Alarmani
Afiyfa Lewis
Simon Albani
Elizabeth Jane Maloney
Samantha Mendes Amaral
Christopher Mangiafico
Ashley Bellere
Mergim Nela
Brent Bowman, Jr.
Robert Niemczyk
John V. Daly
Christopher Joseph Ouellette
Melissa Davis
Daniel Salvador
Jeffrey J. Fiumara, Jr.
Anthony Michael Sanzo
Ashley Galli
Daniel Setzer
Nicole Gronski
Gianluca Spagnuolo
Elaine May Hicks
Jessica Tata
Amanda Homar
Jamie Tedeschi
Chris Jiminian
Mark Thomas
Peter Kavroudakis
James Irving Traver, III
Mark Stephen Kozieradzki
Luke R. Vereneau
Nicole L. Kummer
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