New London - New London High School Class of 2009 co-class speaker Dimaris Dixon expects her classmates to be unrelenting in pursuit of their goals.

"Nothing can stop us now," she said. "We will be lawyers, nurses, athletes or marines. We will always be Whalers and our hearts will be always be painted green and gold."

Whaler pride was in great abundance at an ebullient high school commencement Wednesday inside a packed Scanlon Auditorium.

The 150 graduates in green gowns marched from the cafeteria, through the lobby, and down the center aisle where they were met with rapturous applause and shouts, then filled in stands on the stage.

In his opening remarks principal Daniel Sullivan ticked off a list of academic, charitable and athletic accomplishments performed by one of the larger classes in recent years.

"You've demonstrated pride and met the level of expectations," he said.

The graduating class also featured the first four year class from the Science and Technology Magnet School of Southeastern Connecticut.

"There's no group of students as unique as us," said Isaiah Dixon, co-class speaker.

Simone Barner, senior class president, hoped that the class will not be discouraged by failures they might encounter in life. "The only 100 percent shots are the ones you never take," she said.

Guest speaker Roxana Walker-Canton, a Fairfield University professor, documentary filmmaker and New London High graduate, encouraged the class to pursue a rich life in terms of community and family involvement and not to focus so much on material wealth.

Echoing Barack Obama's inaugural address, Walker-Canton invoked the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians, urging the graduates to "put away childish things."

"Be active, contributing adults to in the community," she said.

s.chupaska@theday.com

NEW LONDON GRADUATES

Jessica Abrante, Nicole Marie Alicea, Darchand Anderson, Valentina Argel, Thomas Frederick Arico, Estefany America Aybar, Jorge Barberan, Jr., Erik Bardales, Simone Deshea Barner, Nicholas Adam Battista, Deidra R. Belcher, Charles Bernadeau, Kerline Bernadeau, Beria Bien Aime, Rojaia Dominique Braggs, Zachary Michael Brusca, Elthon Gerson Calderon, Emerson Joel Calderon, Desiree Camby, Laura May Cates, Bryce Branden Childs, Maxine Samone Coleman, George Luis Correa, Jr., Jazmin Marie Cox, Fredrick Marcus Craig, Jose Crespo, Jr., Natasha Frances Cuevas, Brittany Elizabeth Curry, Daniel William Dean Dallas, Adrian Catherine Davis, Mecole Aushante Deas, Kary Mark Delacruz, Gaurav Dhungana, Ruben Diaz, Wilder A. Diaz Ortiz de Villate, Isaiah Dixon, Marquette A. Dove, Tamara Drayton, Joseph AA Duckworth, Stephen S. Dwyer, Daniel Dyer, Emmanuel Echavarria, Najah Elahi, Cynthia Escalera, Thomas David Eshenfelder, Roxanne Mae Evangelista, Troy Evans, Evell Fernandez, Dimaris Figueroa, Terence Desean Ford, Crystal Garcia, Engelys Garcia, Maria D. Garcia, Shalmic Garcia, Tiffany Lynn Gaudenzi, Devon Gilgeous, Victoria Gilliard, Shayra Chanel Gomez, Joshua Gonzalez, Risel Gonzalez, Kyasha Monet Goode, Michael Patrick Grady, David Michael Granados, Aurisalli J. Guzman, Manuel Bolidal Guzman, Ramona Guzman, Delsio Hilario, Danny Shi Hill, III, Jasmine Hodge, Fiona Gabrielle Hook, Marvin A. Jones, III, Olsa Kutrolli, Alyssa Kydd, William Lawrence, Ethan Simon Levine, Ezequiel Jose Lucena Martinez, Gerald Marcus Luter, Jivonna Maddox, Keisha H. Maddox, Tyler Davis Major, Jeanette Diane Manning, Mercedes Manuel, Robert Marin, Mya Lashona Massey, Matthew Jacob McSparran, Julie Menelas, Jonairy Miranda, Michelle Miranda, Auri Enid Miranda Ramos, Jamel A. Monroe, Thomas O. Montague, Miguel A. Montanez, Sean Morneau, Teaurean Ashaud Nolan, Yecenia Nunez-Jimenez, Rebecca Olivero, Jasmine Ortiz, Rafael A. Ovalle, Grecher Pacheco, Brayan Alexander Paulino Familia, Gaby P. Perez, Melanie Marie Perez, Gregorio Jose Pichardo, Darius Queenan, Claudia Quinones, Eliezar Quinones, Kimberly Quinones, Christopher Rabell, Jonathan Ramos, Ramonita Ramos, Jessrael Rapisura, Joanna Marie B. Rapisura, Jordan Reed, Timothy R. Ricatta, Marjorie Rinchere, Lisuanette Rivera Nieves, Brittany Sanchez, Luis Enrique Sanchez, Marcus Adam Santiago, William L. Satti, Anthony Steven Schiavone, Lamont Rashawn Antonio Singleton, Dylan Jerome Smith, Justina Nicole Smith, Michael Soto, William Howard Stanley, Junius Ward Stubbs, Jacquetta Surney, Justin Dennis Tarr, Christian Tavarus Thomas, Jaimee Leigh Topkin, Mayreni Urena-Ramirez, Oscar Valdez, Cynthia Valentin, Merilyn Vargas, Roberto Vega, Christina Rose Velazquez, Connor Louis Snell Vendetto, David Villacorta, Richard A. Vitale, Vivian Vitorino, Bryanna Waites, Jaqueal Wallace, Jason T. Wallace, Jr., Jeffrey Thomas Walz, Bryan Weaver, Nina Marie Wildrick, Tobias Wilson, Danny Yeung, Bernadette L. Young.