Wiscasset Middle High School (WMHS) seniors walked across the stage, received a diploma and shared joy with Superintendent of Schools Kim Andersson, School Committee Chair Jason Putnam and Class Advisor Deb Pooler as the seniors became graduates. Pooler moved their tassels, marking the rite of passage, on Thursday, June 6 in Stover Auditorium. Celebrated by family, friends, faculty and the community, the graduates marched as a group for the final time during commencement. Andersson and Principal Sarah Hubert led faculty and their families into the auditorium before the students entered.

The evening began with welcoming remarks by Class President Emily Gilliam. Ben Roach led the audience through the pledge of allegiance before students Linnea Andersson on trumpet, Gilliam on flute, and music teacher Matt Gordon on trombone performed an all-wind-instrument rendition of the national anthem.

Gordon briefly took to the stage to announce that three students on stage had recently received major national music awards: Rina Munz, an exchange student, received the Louis B. Armstrong Jazz Award, one of the highest-level interscholastic musical awards given to high school students in the U.S.; Gilliam received the Patrick S. Gilmore Band Award, which honors outstanding high school band students; and Linnea Andersson received the John Phillip Sousa Band Award, which recognizes superior musicianship and dedication.

The ceremony’s emotion was set by Pooler as she addressed the students and those who have supported them. She noted this was her final year at WMHS. After her decades of service, Pooler’s at times teary address included recognizing the parents for their dedication to their child’s success. And Pooler told the graduates, “It has been a true honor and privilege to be a small part of your journey.”

Salutatorian Gilliam spoke to her classmates about capturing this moment and choosing to say “see you later” as opposed to “goodbye.” Said Gilliam, “No matter who we become or where we end up in life, we will always be the graduating class from Wiscasset High School 2024.” Gilliam also honored her grandmother, who died recently.

Class Vice President Grace Greene spoke of her class’s resiliency, having had a rocky freshman year in isolation from COVID-19. “Despite rough times and rocky beginnings to our high school years, we’ve been fortunate enough to have been able to experience these past four years with each other.” Class Secretary Andersson encouraged her classmates to build their ideal futures. “Looking ahead, I’ll admit I’m nervous – nervous for the big wide world ahead of us, but the future isn’t something we enter. The future is something we create,” she said.

The awarding of diplomas was emceed by Hubert, with Supt. Andersson shaking hands and awarding diplomas. Graduates then shook hands with Putnam before having tassels turned by Pooler.

Students recognized in the program as Top Scholars were Ruth Burchstead, Gilliam, Greene, Alton King IV and Valedictorian Christopher Seiders. Those five students, along with Linnea Andersson, Kenneth Henry and Benjamin Roach were listed as honors students. Andersson, Gilliam, Greene and Seiders are National Honors Society members and student council members along with Munz, Kaitlin Talbert and Austin Trask. The new alumni marched off the stage and through as they had entered, in pairs, to loved ones who greeted them with flowers and picture-taking.