Norwich Tech valedictorian to Class of 2014: Life is like a walk in the woods
Norwich — The 149 members of Norwich Technical High School’s Class of 2014 marched briskly into the gymnasium Friday evening wearing Navy blue gowns and looking eager to collect their diplomas and get on with their lives.
The ceremony was brief, with a few remarks from Principal Nikitoula Menounos followed by speeches from the class valedictorian and salutatorian and the conferment of diplomas. The speakers warned of challenging times ahead, but the only immediate obstacle the graduates faced before truly moving on from their high school careers was a traffic jam as their families, friends and faculty exited the parking lot.
Salutatorian Mark S. Novic, a graduate of the plumbing program, said he plans to complete a plumbing apprenticeship, become a licensed plumber and pay for his college education without incurring any debt. Novic said the Class of 2014 has life skills and experiences that sets them apart from other high school graduates.
“Norwich Tech gave us more than classes, trade skills and professionalism,” Novic said. “Everyone that we’ve met, student and teachers alike, have helped us become us.”
Valedictorian Daniel J. Dudar, who completed the health technology program, said he is headed to the University of Maine, where he plans to study nursing with the goal of becoming a flight nurse on a rescue helicopter. He spoke of the many paths the Class of 2014 is pursuing.
Some graduates are going on to apprenticeships, while others are going directly to work in their trade, he said. Some are going on to higher education and others are enlisting in the armed forces.
Dudar told his classmates to think of life as a walk through the woods.
“As you can see, our class is on the path to success,” he said. “But as we know, when walking in the woods, the straight path will eventually change. That’s why it is important to be prepared, expect it, and have a backup plan.”
k.florin@theday.com
Norwich Technical High School Class of 2014
Clinton O. Adams, Katelynn Mayra Adams, Emily Rose Algiers, Nashalis Marie Ayala, Douglas James Babbitt, Nicholas S. Baldi, Robert J. Barrus, Katelyn Elizabeth Baumann, Tiffany L. Bayreuther, Andrew J. Beaudoin, Daniel J. Benoit, Wyatt Eugiene Bergeron, Sheyanne Christopher Biltcliffe, Cody A. Boenig, Garrett Adam Boerenko, Autumn Channel Bostick, Max Leo Bousquet, Amber Jean Brayman, Alexandra Irene Brown, Nicholas William Brown, Tyriece D. Burke.
Zachary Joshua Robert Cadieux, Taylor Elizabeth Cardin, Karen Gabriela Castillo, Luis Gabriel Castro, Vinessa Marie Cedio, Tina Amber-Rose Chartier, Heather Lynn Cicio, Madison Elizabeth Clohecy, Zachery David Cloudas, Amanda Lynn Cole, Edwin Omar Colon, Rigo Alexis Contreras, Elijah Timothy Cook, Richard Kyle Corsaletti, Kianna Marie Dailey, Kayla Marie Davis, Dustin Ryan Dean, Cerena D. Dean-Rathbun, Audrey May Decker, Teresa Marie Delicato, Schneidie Judeling Delmas, Shannon Marie Deveny, Derek R. DiGioia, Henry Charles Dominick, Stephanie JoAnne Dominique, Daniel J. Dudar, Randy L. Duff Jr., Gregory John Dziekan.
Jordan Troy Evrett, Renée Marie Fannon, Kobi A. Favreau, Carl James Feder-Craney, Daniel Lee Fields, Abigail Lassett Fournier, Summer Alexis Gadreau, Anissa Garland, Nicole Elizabeth Gibson-Lindholm, Shelby Lynn Gilman, Benjamin Arnold Giroux, Devin Michael Gleason, Taylor Rita Goodwin, Nathan D. Goslin, Travis T. Gowin, Kimberly Griggs, Logan Tigga Hanes, Jesse Way Harwood, Christopher T. Hebert, Corey James Holman, Jordan S. Hyde, Alanna D. Insalaco, Rachael Faith Marie Jones, Hayley Michelle Keenan, Ackens Duane King, Kyle Aaron King, Mark Matthew Kriksciun, Elijah P. Kumpf.
Amanda S. Lack, Ian J. Ladd, Paige Robyn LaFlamme, Jillian Lauren Langlois, Brent Carl Laquitara, Brandon J. Lavallee, Shane M. Lewis, David L. Libby, Jeremy R. Luck, Jeffrey Michael Lukoski Jr., Dylan Michael Lussier, Matthew Edwin Madera, Justyn Lee Manning, Benjamin Patrick Matzul, Jeremy A. McGillicuddy, Kevin Matthew McNicol, Nicole Maite Medina, Kyle David Mehlinger, Richard Joseph Messier Jr., Brittany Nicole Meyer, Nicholas BeauSoleil Michnevitz, Kaitlyn Jessica Mitchell, Molly O'Flaherty Morgan, Destiny Maria Morin, Dylan Edward Muller, Miranda Sage Nelson, Mark S. Novic, Dominique Giovan Novoa-Mixon.
Phillip Obas, Katherine Marie Ouellette, Raj R. Patel, Robert George Percy, Justin C. Perez, Nicole Grace Plantier, Alexander D. Prescott, Ian A. Proctor, Eric Matthew Quinones, Thomas Anthony Raymond, Christopher W. Read, Jenna Alexandra Ritchie, Kevin R. Rodriguez, Deyaneira Rodriguez-Jiménez, Matthew Xavier Rosa, Rachal Nikole Rubelmann, Dominique Elizabeth Ruley, Kimberly Sanon, Samantha Lyn Savage, Daniel James Semmelrock, Stephen R. Shea IV, Cole Mitchell Silvia, Alex Giovanni Smith, Bailey Lynn Smith, Sarah Mariah Smith, John Patrick Stanford, Tyler David Sweet, Tyler Jon Swift, Michael B. Szura, Thomas R. Theroux, Mason Alexander Thibodeau, Isaiah Michael Thomas, Riley Alexander Thomas, Thomas J. Thompson, Jeremiah Winthrop Timm, Hannah Rose Tracy, Jessie Scott Vadnais, Alexander Michael Valdes, Jason Lee Vertefeuille, Kayla Marie Walsh, Taiylor Marie Watson, Heather Lynn Wilson, Emily Annette Woodmansee, Steven Lawrence Worden Jr.
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