Montville - Occasionally Cara Matteson will still spin the small, plastic globe that is her desk at home.

She'll close her eyes and then stop the spinning orb with one finger. Under her fingertip is the name of a country where Matteson, should she ever want, knows she'll have the courage and ability to visit.

Matteson, president of the Montville High School class of 2009, told her peers that when her seventh grade social studies teacher gave her the globe as a gift for her academic accomplishments, he did more than give her an educational tool.

"It was as if I was being given the world," Matteson said during the school's 45th commencement exercises.

Thursday night, in front of a standing-room-only crowd in the high school auditorium, Matteson encouraged about 200 of her peers to take a chance in life and just go.

The theme of courage, conviction and perseverance carried throughout each of the six speakers during the graduation ceremony.

Keynote speaker and school alumna Dr. Alta DeRoo quoted Winston Churchill's famous, brief-yet-powerful speech to a graduating class.

"Never, ever, ever give up!" DeRoo, a scholar athlete in high school and college, told the graduates.

DeRoo went on to share her own tales of overcoming personal obstacles as she strove to become a medical doctor and succeed as a U.S. Navy pilot and one of the first women to take part in a combat mission.

Salutatorian Kayla Bassett acknowledged her peers' accomplishments, such as team and individual athletics, drama productions and surviving the school renovations that began when they were freshmen and ended this year.

Valedictorian Jessica Bennett asked the graduates to take with them the lessons learned in high school and to "open your door to the future and proceed with open eyes and an open heart."

Prior to Superintendent David Erwin officially certifying to the Board of Education that each graduate had fulfilled the requirements to receive a high school diploma, Principal Thomas Amanti encouraged his students to enjoy their lives.

"You have represented Montville High School in a proud, dignified and exemplary manner."

Before bidding the graduates a final farewell, Amanti shared a favorite quote penned by Mark Twain:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."

m.bard@theday.com

MONTVILLE GRADUATES

Graciela Gabriella Abbiati, Matthew Charles Alaimo, Mario Alexis, Jr., Rhoda Kate Alfred, Maxwell Peter Anderson, Nicholas William Andrew, Joanna Marie Arpin, LesliAnn Nicole Baker, David Christopher Ball, Catherine Banta, Gabrielle Arianna Barboza, Kelsey Elizabeth Barlow, Lauren Kate Barnett, Kaitlyn Marie Barnhouser, Kyle Andrew Baron, Kayla Mary Bassett, Stephanie Marie Bayreuther, Kelsey Jean Bazinet, Raena Marie Beetham, Jessica Colleen Bennett, Matthew Ryan Bernier, Chad Stephen Berry, Eric John Brennan, Joseph Alan Brennan, Kayla Marie Brennan, Megan Gesine Brosig, Alec Matthew Brown, William Andrew Bullinger, Rachel Anne Burdick, Philip Robert Carlsen, Hannah Ingrid Carlson, Dominic Joseph Carpino, Brandon Scott Carroll, Michael Angelo Castano, Douglas Fielding Chapman, Victor Chen, Jennifer Catherine Helen Clark, Kimberly Robyn Cole, Chelsea Nicole Colella, Audrey Lea Collin, Jordan Alan Contillo, John Michael Courville, David Charles Cummings, Elizabeth Anne Darney, Laura Anne Davis, Nichole Renee Delaney, Nicholas Paul Deshefy, Michael Daniel DeShong, Brian Kevin Dragoo, Haley Kimberly Dragoo, Patrick Eugene Dugan, Ross Cushman Dvorak, Andrew Jonathan Dye, Shawn Robert East, David John Faraci, Jr., Kevin Thomas Fontaine, Nicholas Julian Foster, Cayla Loren Fresquez, Joseph John Furman, Felicia Marie Gagnier, Alisha Ann Ganley, Jenna Darcie Gauthier, Lauren Marie Giroux, Ariana Noel Cramer Gittens, Michael Gittens, Alysha Jane Giulietti, Kimberly Marie Gladue, Brian Patrick Glynn, Peter Bernard Godin, Samuel Alonzo Gomez, Emily Anne Grondall, Eross John Sogo-an Guadalupe, Cristy Diane Haddon, Alexandra Theresa Haggett, Amanda Gabriel Hajj, Alexander Michael Hall, Samantha A. Hatch, James Thomas Haumer, Jessica Ann Heavenor, Elizabeth Noel Heller, Ryan John Heller, Julia Marie Henry, Jane´e Elizabeth Hinojos, Wei Hao Huang, Jeanette Marie Jarvis, Moriah Ashley Jensen, Andrew Sanders Jeon, Leigha Marie Johnson, Laura Jean Kalin, Rourke Jonathan Kennedy, John Patrick Keryc, Justin Eric Kobyluck, Jeffrey Kwan, Brittney Alexis LaBrosse, Man Lung Law, Mei Xiu Li, Xiao-Wei Li, Harold Eugene Limkemann, Jessica Marie Long, Shane Long, Andrew Longo, Jr., Branden Nelson Lyon, Ming Ho Ma, Sarah Beth Maher, Brittany Lee Majeski, Taylor David Manville, Logan James Marsh, Cara Grace Matteson, Melanie Jordan Mazzei, Patrick Sean McNamara, Ashlee Al'ise McNichol, Nathan Tensing Mei, Mariam Mena, José Miguel Mendoza, Diana Carolina Mercado, Marissa Nicole Meredith, Brianna Lynn Middel, Max Norman Mikolajczyk, Cristina Maria Morell, Jennifer Irene Navin, Kasey Jo Nitsch, Kaylee Erin Oatley, Anthony Joseph Occhialini, Benjamin James Oettinger, Kyle Anders Palmer, An Qi Pang, Fred Gino Pardini, Jr., Akash Shashikant Patel, Joseph Steven Piersa, Alexandra Lyn Plack, Timothy David Plourde, Jessica Police, Stephen Ralph Price, Jr., Sydney Kathleen Price, Shelby Jacqueline Prokop, Shen Hai Qi, Travis Shawn Quidgeon, Lauramarie Rahusen, Emily Catherine Reed, Jessica Burgess Remondi, Kendall Lee Remondi, Daniel Austin Rheaume, Cassandra Marie Rice, Samantha Louise Richards, Alanna Mary Riley, Sarah Nicole Roberge, Larissa Araújo Rodrigues, Kevin Arthur Roe, Jared Lloyd Roeder, Rachel Morgan Rogoff, Joseph Lawrence Russell, Nicholas Palmer Sabilia, Anthony David Santiago, Kaela Shenae Santiago, Samantha Lynn Sautter, Heather Michelle Scoggins, Lorie Katherine Scovish, Taylor Joseph Seacor, Dawa Phuti Sherpa, Elizabeth Theresa Smith, Nikkia Patrice Smith, Lisa Alexandria Stark, Macy Lee Stefanski, Parker Christopher Stevens, Thomas Gary Taylor III, Sarah Elizabeth Thoman, Ryan David Thompson, Tynisha Lé-shea Thompson, Katherine Joy Todd, Corey Patrick Tonucci, Jonathan James Trombley, Joseph Michale Turner, Morgan Ashley Vadnais, Richard Eligio Valdes, Kali Marin Varney, Sarah Kay Vine, Matthew James Voelker, Frank Thomas Walden, David Jonathan Wasilko, Brandon Joseph Watterson , Brieanna Elizabeth White, Derek Christian Wilcox, Freddisha Brittney Williams, Justin Michael Williams, Jordan Ashley Wojick, Vinkei Wong, Megan Marie Yakimchuk, Lei Ye, Jessica Marie Zalagens, Edward Ryan Zubritsky.

Adult Education

Caitlynne Baker, Marshall Brooks, Matheau A. Brown, Samantha Angela Davis, Will T. Fulcher IV, Karissa Girard, Christopher Blaine Henault, Kayla Kumpf, Thomas A. Messore, Ryan Alan Page, Brittany Ann Schalla, Kayla Marie Smith, Jeffrey R. Stone, Justin Stone, Renalda Telesford, Violet Walters, Kristina Wood, Joseph P. Williams, Paula Williams.