WHS Graduates Class of 2012 [IMAGE GALLERY]

Students, families, teachers and school staff gathered at the football field on Saturday, June 9 to celebrate and graduate 231 students in the Class of 2012. It was a beautiful, sunny New England day — a graduation present to all who walked the 50-yard line to receive a high school diploma.

Custodian Gary Bonneau said that he and the custodial staff started setting up for the 5 p.m. event at about 8 a.m., though much of the preparation happened days ahead of time.

Chairs were meticulously aligned on the midfield for the graduates, a podium and American flag were in place by a row of seats for the speakers and dignitaries, cameras from several media outlets were arranged throughout the crowd and the Westborough High School band lined a portion of the track.

The crowd overflowed the stands and spread onto the grassy hillside and across the field on the visiting team bleachers. Many families came early in the morning to mark seating at the bleachers with beach towels and blankets.

For Paul Crivello, who arrived with a bouquet of flowers for his daughter, it was emotional. “Becca is the last of my three daughters to graduate high school,” he said with a smile. He said Becca was heading to Regis College in Westin this fall on a scholarship. “It’s an exciting time.”

“He is very excited, but he’s tired of all the picture taking,” said Katy Demers, whose son Matt was graduating. Matt is her youngest child to graduate high school. “It feels weird. It’s strange to think of an empty nest,” she laughed. Matt is heading to Australia for the fall semester, the start of his education at Northeastern University where he plans to study engineering.

Westborough Selectman and father beamed as he walked through the crowd before the ceremony. “This is the nicest bunch of kids. had an incredible experience for four years.”

“I remember many of these kids from when I taught them at ” Superintendent Marianne O’Connor told Westborough Patch. “Now they’re all grown up. The potential [of this class] is so amazing.”

“It’s bittersweet,” said “I’m very proud of all of their accomplishments and hard work.”

Westborough Police Officer Chip Dapolite, dressed in suit and tie for the occasion, said the day was emotional. “It’s nice to see them all bettering themselves as they move on.”

Dapolite is the School Liaison Officer and spends time with students at all of the schools — lecturing in classes, participating in meetings, assisting at school events and getting to know the students. When asked if he was there as a spectator or an officer, he chuckled and said, “I’m here as the Beach Ball Supervisor. My job is to stop the beach balls.”

The speakers were brief and included Class President Erin Collins, Principal John Smith, Salutatorian Ningrui Li, O’Connor and Valedictorian Lucy Song.

“Follow what makes you happy,” advised Smith.

“Let’s end this year as we started it,” said Collins, “with no regrets.”

In addition to diplomas, assistant principals Brian Callaghan and Carol Cavanaugh announced the awards of over $100,000 in scholarship money to 140 students.

In less than 90 minutes, the event was over and the football field was transformed into a sea of smiles and tears. Students and family members united for photos wherever they could find space.

For Bonneau and the custodial staff, it was time to strike the set and clean the fields. He said he and fellow workers would be at work until about 10 or 11 p.m. to clean up from the event.

As he looked around at the crowd, Bonneau summed up the past 18 years for 231 Westborough families when he said, “It’s everybody coming together.”

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