May (2014)
5/16/2014
Invested
5/12/2014
What We Meant
April (2014)
4/22/2014
Earth In Mind
February (2014)
2/17/2014
Looking Ahead
January (2014)
November (2013)
October (2013)
September (2013)
May (2013)
April (2013)
4/24/2013
Advancement!
March (2013)
February (2013)
Graduation 2006
6/6/2006

The 2006 Commencement exercises were held in Farrell Fieldhouse Saturday. The program began with superior student speeches. Below, seniors lead the applause for Brit King's personal reflections on the balances of joys and sorrows in life.

In a page I wrote two years ago today, the topic of humor at Proctor graduations received thorough treatment.

In 1997, when John Pendleton suggested that he might be interested in teaching English at Proctor, he received mixed signals from surprised teachers and trustees. An attorney in his thirty-fifth year of practice, John was a past-parent of two Proctor graduates, and had served as both a trustee and as Chair of the Board of Trustees. Nine highly successful years later, he delivered "some remarks" (not The Commencement Address--he doesn't like them!) at his final graduation.

In his talk, entitlled "I Touch the Future; I Teach," John shared personal reflections from the classroom, coaching on soccer fields and tennis courts and dorm parenting forteen girls in Ives House. During the (alphabetical) presentation of diplomas, John's name was called, and he stepped forward one more time, for the ultimate prize.

The John O'Connor '79 Award for Excellence in Teaching went to David Pilla, whose roles include Land Use Manager, forestry instructor, Ocean Classroom Director and singer in the faculty rock 'n roll band.

Speaking of music, Forrest Schwab and Luke Hogan, who have been entertaining us with their stubtly inspired compositions for three years, performed one last time.

In response to a comment (below), here is an image of Ali Radloff, who sang beautifully at both the Senior Dinner (pictured here) and Commencement.

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Selected by seniors and faculty, Essayist Brit King spoke in a deeply personal manner of the balances we experience in life.
Students offered concise, focussed remarks on this moment of passage. This is the Salutatorian, Katelyn Klauzenberg.
Valedictorian Meredith Yasek offered a humorous reflection on student life over the past few years.
Allan S. Bursaw Award for High Effort and Citizenship went to Krysta Frye.
The Carl B. Wetherell Award for faithful and willing performance of all extracurricular responsibilities, to Jared Coffin.
The Citizenship Award to the best all-around citizen in the senior class (male and female) went to Nick Pruett and Isha Rizal (pictured).
The Fred Elroy Emerson '86 Award to the student who, during their junior and senior years, has shown the greatest development in attaining the ideals of Proctor, to Amy MacMahon.
The Lyle H. Farrell Award to the senior who has performed outstanding service to the school and to his/her fellow students, to Alex Stein.
The Alice S. Fowler Awards to the student in the graduating class who best exemplifies strength of character, personal dedication, and commitment to the Proctor community, to Scott Robator.
The Robert J. Livingston Community Service Award to the student who has made outstanding contributions to the community through volunteer service to others, to Saka Croteau.