Contrary to past practice, the graduation exercises were held at the high school instead of the Great Oak Middle School athletic fields because of unsettled weather.

It was a good call, even though 300-400 friends and relatives who couldn't be accommodated in the auditorium were relegated to watching the ceremony on a simulcast in the school gymnasium.

Class President Brennen Diaz welcomed the class, congratulating them and Principal Brian Murphy who started his administrative career at Great Oak in 2006.

"We are essentially his first graduating class," he noted.

Brennen expressed thanks to teachers and urged fellow graduates to keep in touch as they embark on their high school careers.

State Rep. Dave Labriola , R-131, used an ancient Chinese fable about a wise man and a bird to convey to the graduates that the path they follow, the choices they make, the life they lead is in their own hands.

He also encouraged them to consider public service in their futures, a calling, he described as "the most noble."

"They were young children when they began their educational journey," added Board of Education Chairman John DeGennaro.

On Mr. DeGennaro's suggestion, the audience rose to their feet and applauded the graduates to show how proud they were of their achievement.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Judy Palmer entreated the students to demonstrate caring.

She asked them to care about helping others to feel included, about staying healthy in mind, body and spirit, about their own identities.

She asked them to care about the quality of their schoolwork and about the goals they set for themselves, about their classmates, teachers and families.

"Care about being a part of the solution instead of the problem," she added.

Awards were presented to a number of outstanding students in the class, as follows: The American Legion Awards for outstanding achievement to James Badas and Jacqueline Ortiz; the Oxford PTO awards for dedication and exceptional effort to Richard Katrenya, Autumn Burns, Kyle Blake and Kayleigh Spataj; The Riverside Ladies Auxiliary awards for highest achievement to James Badas and Tess Cersonsky; the Oxford Education Association Awards for academic excellence in math to Dallas Passerine and in science, Trevor Haigh; the Jessica Lodice Memorial Awards for students who demonstrate love of life and love of children to James Kostka and Ashley Veltri; the Eleanor Foster Memorial Awards for students who demonstrate qualities of kindness and caring to Daniel Mott and Bailey Wright and the Sue Davies Memorial Award for love of animals and for public service to Ashley Peters and Allison Curnan.

Diplomas were presented by Mr. DeGennaro, Mr. Murphy and Dr. Palmer to the following:

Michael Altman, Zachary Antonio, Daniel Arpie, Brandon Chea Au, James Badas, Erik Baktis, John Banores, Matthew Barbaris, Jami Barbieri, Lauren Barry, Ariane Bigi, Monica Bilodeau, Kyle Blake, Victoria Bogen, Cody Bond, Bridget Borowy, Scott Brennan, Autumn Burns, Jeremiah Burr, Christina Buswell, Katheryn Byrnes, Rachel Camarra, Alexandra Capel, Kaitlyn Carey, Brandon Carrasquillo, Domenic Casablanca, Jr., Tess Cersonsky, Kyle Cheh, Jonathan Christie, MIchael Cone, Robert Costigan, III, Kaleigh Angela Cragan, Allison Curnan, Chandler Curtis, Kiersten Davelaar, JohnPaul DeFrancesco, Matthew Dempsey, Sarah DeNisco, William Denslow, Adam DeVito, Kara DeVito;

James DeWitt, Margaret DeMatteo, Brennen Diaz, Edward Dion, Zachary Dobbins, Amanda Donofrio, Andrew Duncan, Jacob Eames, Christopher Faber, Jessica Fedak, Michael Federowicz, Alyssa Ferreone, Shayne Fitol, Meredith Folsom, Meghan Giannettino, Christopher Gilbert, Loren Gintoli, Camille Glasow, Nicholas Greenhouse, Cody Gregory, Bucky Gumbrewicz, Melissa Gyba, Trevor Haigh, Stavros Hatzikostas, Kevin Haynes, Frank Healey, Jr., Brandi Hogestyn, Lauren Imbro, Lia Jankauskas, Savannah Johann-sen, Lauren Jones, Richard Katrenya, Daniel Knepple, Kelly Konopka, Raquel Kopeck, James Kostka, Melissa Krassner, Haley Krivensky, Joshua Kupec, Kristina Lacasse, Taylor Lauder, David Lavorgna, Robert Lee, Chance Lee-Casey, Justin Leone;

Stephanie Leone, Jonathan Lesak, Jessica Lewis, Kelly Lipka, Julie Lombardi, Isabella Loughlin, Samuel Low-Chappell, Andrew Lynch, Steven Mahoney, Keara Main, Christopher Manley, Alexander Mardis, Victoria Marino, Christina Martinelli, Anastasia Martinez, Talia Martino, Corey Martovich, Angela Matijczak, Sean McCabe, James Michaud, Katherine Mitchell, Brendan Moore, Daniel Mott, Jason Mraz, Lamar Munson, III, Brian Murphy, Amber Murray, Adam NIchio, Cory Nihill, Mercedes Onofrio, Jacqueline Ortiz, Timothy Osborn, Serena Pagano, Dallas Passerine, Brandon Pavlik, Stefany Pazmino;

MIchelle Perez, Ashley Peters, Bryan Petersen, Gabriel Pineau, Alyssa Pretka, Samantha Ramsay, Katelyn Ray, Kevin Reid, Jesse Robinson, Ryan Rosler, Michaela Ryan, Marissa Savoy, Gina Scott, Kevin Shevlin, Kaitlyn Shortell, Megan Silversey, Alison Soderquist, Kayleigh Spataj, Kaitlyn Speaker, Valerie Stedner, Marcea Stilson, Joshua Stramoski, Christopher Sutay, Sierra Swiski, Brianna Talarico, Ryan Tuttle, Kaitlyn Twombly, Chatree Van Ark, Brandon VanDerLaan, Ashley Veltri, Taryn Venable, Anissa Vicens, Angeleia Vitali, Taylor Walker, Jonna Welsh, Brianna Wilkison, Emily Williams, Cody Wing, Jeanmarie Winger, Abby Wise, Jordan Wisniewski, Dylan Woodin, Bailey Wright, Ellen Yacovelli, Lucas Zalik, Joshua Zitnay, Michelle Zupa.