130 Graduate from Coginchaug

Before receiving their diplomas Friday night, graduates of Coginchaug's Class of 2011 were told to the take the leap - advice from Valedictorian Lora Manley, who said success is measured by how high you set the bar.

"High jump is something I did in high school, but it's really just a metaphor that has prepared me, all of us, for what's happening tonight. Tonight, we've just gone over one bar. Tomorrow, we'll set the bar higher," Manley told her classmates.

The 130 graduates - supported by an auditorium packed with family and friends - were reminded by Principal Andre Hauser that 2011 was a year of 'firsts'.

"Your last year of high school is also my first year as your principal. We rode a bus to Washington, D.C., ... a longtime Coginchaug tradition, but a first for all of us. You were the first senior class to have your own football team. The first class to finally use that new athletic facility... we all ran that first lap together. We also worked together to plan and carry out the first Cogfest earlier this month," he explained.

"Just think about that whenever anyone tells you that there's something you can't do."

The evening's invited speaker, Coginchaug band director Dean Coutsouridis, joked that he wasn't wearing his "usual black attire" while revealing a royal blue shirt to the graduates and audience.

"Lets face it, if you're going to do the same job for 30 plus years, you really want to be passionate about what you do. You never really want it to feel like 'my job'. You want it to be an extension of who you are," advised Coutsouridis, who also asked students not to take their family or friends for granted.

In between speeches, the crowd was treated to musical performances by graduating seniors E.J. Luther (guitar/vocals) and Tommy Ryan (conga drums), who played Jack Johnson's "Upside Down" and Kelly Dorsey, who sang "Astonishing" from the musical Little Women.

It was announced during the ceremony that the senior class gift, two granite stone benches, will be installed in front of the school this summer. One of the benches will be placed in memory of Coginchaug teacher Phil Martel, who died in March at the age of 64.

As students prepare to move on to college or work, Superintendent Susan Viccaro said they will be faced with making decisions, some difficult. She challenged students to embrace lifelong learning.

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go," she said, quoting Dr. Seuss.

Seniors Kelly Dorsey, Aubree Keurajian, and Ben Hamilton were recognized for their efforts in putting together Cogfest, a field day mixed with performance arts. "I believe you have started a new tradition at Coginchaug," Viccaro said.

She also thanked longtime Board of Education members Bill Currlin and Debbie Golschneider for their service, as well as RSD13 Director of Cirriculum and Professional Development, Carol Luckenbach, who is retiring after 39 years with the district.

Roe Granger, the class president, was the first to speak during the ceremony, and summed up the achievement of his classmates by looking forward. 

"When the sun rises tomorrow morning we will no longer be high school students from Coginchaug, but rather adults who will make a difference in society."

Check out Patch's video of the Valedictorian and Salutatorian speeches here.

Check out Patch's video of "Upside Down" performed by E.J. Luther and Tommy Ryan, as well as "Astonishing" performed by Kelly Dorsey here.

If you missed graduation, check out our Coginchaug graduation in 2 minutes video on our Facebook page.