08/15/2008

It is better late than never, tardy West Warwick High grads agree
WEST WARWICK — Some of them tried to hide it.

07/24/2008

Mount St. Charles valedictorian prepared to be a leader
WOONSOCKET — Jameson T. Clem, valedictorian of Mount St. Charles Academy, won’t be just another college freshman this fall.

07/18/2008

Attleboro High School valedictorian: He’s all about academics, athletics and not sitting around
ATTLEBORO — When James A. Bensson first entered Attleboro High School four years ago he stood about 5-foot-2. He describes the experience as being inside a huge, intimidating building, lost among a group of “giant seniors.”

07/17/2008

St. Raphael Academy valedictorian: A winning double play — hard work and softball
PAWTUCKET — Kyllie E. Magill’s nursery school teacher often likened her to a sponge because she was so quick to soak up, if you will, every new idea and every new concept.

St. Raphael Academy valedictorian: A winning double play — hard work and softball
PAWTUCKET — Kyllie E. Magill’s nursery school teacher often likened her to a sponge because she was so quick to soak up, if you will, every new idea and every new concept.

07/16/2008

North Attleboro High School valedictorian: She makes the time to study; but also finds time to have fun
NORTH ATTLEBORO —Anupama Q. Khan loves watching old French movies.

07/15/2008

Valedictorian following in her sisters’ footsteps
WOONSOCKET — No one has faced the pressure of doing well in school more than Karen Duong, this year’s Woonsocket High School valedictorian.

07/11/2008

Bishop Keough High School valedictorian: A love for many things, with a passion for learning
PAWTUCKET — When Stephanie L. Barrena attended Bishop Keough High School’s freshman orientation, she saw three lists hanging on a wall. They contained names of students who had been recognized for their superior academic performances. Barrena’s father pointed to the list of highest honors and told her that one day he would like to see her name on it.

07/10/2008

Masters Regional Academy valedictorian: A free spirit with songs to be sung
SMITHFIELD — She can’t go two weeks without cutting her hair. She likes to wear purple skinny jeans and different types of vests. She collects funky hats and Chuck Taylor Converses. She almost always wears bright blue or bright pink eye shadow.

07/09/2008

Bishop Feehan High School valedictorian: Deftly juggling academics with just being a teen
ATTLEBORO — Amanda M. Burlone never thought about being Number One. When she entered Bishop Feehan High School, a Roman Catholic institution four years ago, her goals were simple: to do her best in everything and to get into her dream school, Georgetown University.

07/08/2008

Lincoln valedictorian: She figures majoring in biology is the right medicine
LINCOLN — When she was younger, Lincoln High School valedictorian Alexandra Sexton said if there was a show about doctors, she watched it. If there was an exhibit on the human body, she wanted to see it.

07/03/2008

North Smithfield valedictorian: A place that combines math and music would be his heaven
NORTH SMITHFIELD — For some kids, the Fourth of July is the big non-gift holiday deal, fireworks and explosives. For the romantics, maybe Valentines Day gets them going. For Corey Sper Brier, North Smithfield High School’s valedictorian, the big day is in March.

07/01/2008

BEACON Charter School valedictorian: After making top grades, she’s wants to make it in films
NORTH SMITHFIELD — Samantha Watier and her friends at BEACON Charter School spent some time together in Boston recently.

06/26/2008

Valedictorian of Pawtucket’s Shea High School wants to make a difference
PAWTUCKET –– Erik Munsell’s interest in chemistry and biomedical engineering goes back to Varieur Elementary School, where he discovered he was good at math and science.

Shea High School graduates
Elson E. Abotsi

R.I. Training School honors 77 ‘grads’
CRANSTON — Seventy-seven young people were honored for their hard work during a commencement ceremony last night.

06/25/2008

As valedictorian, she’s simply following her sister’s lead
BURRILLVILLE — Kayla F. Caron played the flute in the high school band, just like her older sister.

06/24/2008

Johnston High valedictorian pursues interest in the Far East
JOHNSTON — Japan and the cultures of the Far East have been part of Nicholas Varone’s life since elementary school.

Tolman High School graduates
Ganiatu D. Afolabi*+

06/22/2008

Carter School grads receive diplomas
With most of the area’s Class of 2008 having already received diplomas, the pomp-and-circumstance spotlight yesterday turned to the graduates of The Carter School in Providence, part of the Meeting Street program.

06/20/2008

Narragansett High School graduates
Corey A. Adams

Narragansett High School graduation
Narragansett High School graduation

Scholarly pursuits in Barrington
Rhode Island’s two Presidential Scholars, classmates at Barrington High School, will be in Washington, D.C., this weekend.

06/19/2008

New England Academy of Torah awards diplomas
PROVIDENCE — The New England Academy of Torah held commencement ceremonies last night with a valedictory address by Miriam Y. Diamond.

For Rocky Hill School’s Tilley, certainties of math a comfort
WARWICK –– Ask Steven Tilley II, the Rocky Hill School valedictorian, why math was one of his favorite subjects, and he doesn’t hesitate.

Vets standout book-smart, a bit quirky
WARWICK –– There’s no doubt that Shannon Hyle, this year’s valedictorian at Warwick Veterans Memorial High School, has book smarts.

E. Greenwich High’s Jovian Yu lives for academic competition
EAST GREENWICH — For Jovian Yu, high school was replete with academic competitions, rehearsals and performances in school musicals and more awards than he could keep track of.

Coventry’s McCardle hedges his bets
COVENTRY — David McArdle figured it was the smart thing to do: pursue a major in pharmacology and earn a degree that could net him a $90,000-a-year job upon graduation.

Toll Gate High’s Spellun lauded as ‘truth seeker’
WARWICK–– Dr. Seuss’s Oh, the Places You’ll Go! was the literary leitmotiv that ran through Toll Gate High School valedictorian Arielle Spellun’s commencement speech.

Hendricken ace likes roller coasters
WARWICK — By the last day of school, even Michael A. Wahl could admit he was tired of hearing about it.

W. Warwick grad heading for Hub
WEST WARWICK — To Erica Paré, paradise is only 45 minutes down the road.

Pilgrim’s top senior is a self-motivator
WARWICK — Consider Pilgrim High School valedictorian Ashley Greenberg a student who makes her own opportunities.

06/18/2008

West Warwick High awards diplomas
PROVIDENCE — The West Warwick High School class of 2008 always had that something special.

Graduating St. George’s School senior turns stereotypes about the deaf on their ears
Editor’s note: Westley Resendes, of Middletown, graduated from St. George’s School on Memorial Day and is off to Harvard University in the fall but his story is much more complex. He tells it here in his own words.

For Smithfield valedictorian Megan Skwirz, the stress is gone, but the intensity to succeed remains
SMITHFIELD — Ask Megan Skwirz what the most challenging thing about high school was and she’ll respond without hesitation:

For Megan Skwirz, the stress is gone, but the intensity to succeed remains
SMITHFIELD — Ask Megan Skwirz what the most challenging thing about high school was and she’ll respond without hesitation

06/17/2008

Cumberland's graduating seniors graduates in good spirits, despite tough year
CUMBERLAND — Whether it was blocked hallways, constant classroom changes or walking from the parking lot at Tucker Field to the high school because the school had no parking lot, the Cumberland High School Class of 2008 saw a lot of changes in the past four years because of school construction.

Met School’s grads see better tomorrows
“I realized that this was a different place. I could be myself,” says Tania Hurtado, who will head to Roger Williams University.

The graduates
Tiffany Abreu

Birch Vocational awards 8 diplomas
PROVIDENCE – Eight students graduated Friday from the Harold A. Birch Vocational High School as part of the Mount Pleasant High School commencement.

For Kathy, the play’s the thing
SOUTH KINGSTOWN — Kathy Ryu had a hard time when she arrived from South Korea 2½ years ago. She struggled with English and missed her friends. She suffered from culture shock.

Family, friends and religion inspired Scituate valedictorian
SCITUATE — Less than two months into her freshman year at Scituate High School, Laura Gould lost her best friend and older brother, James.

South Kingstown High School
South Kingstown High School

South Kingstown High School graduation
South Kingstown High School graduation

South Kingstown High graduates
Kevin J. Agostinucci*

Cumberland High School graduates
Nelson E. Abreu

Coventry High School Class of 2008
The following students received diplomas in commencement exercises Thursday:

Court order prevents student from graduating
EAST PROVIDENCE — A parent and school administrator confronted each other with opposing court orders Saturday morning, less than an hour before the start of East Providence High School’s commencement.

Other local news

06/16/2008

Barrington High awards diplomas
BARRINGTON — It was standing room only in the warm gymnasium of Barrington High School, which moved its commencement indoors yesterday because of skies that threatened but never actually produced an afternoon shower.

The graduates
Samuel C. Abbott*

06/15/2008

Middletown’s seniors an ‘unconventional lot’
Principal Steven S. Ruscito tells the 135 graduates: “Your legacy is that you will be remembered by your character and your heart.”

East Providence students’ graduation speeches add Latin flavor
East Providence High School awards diplomas at Pierce Field.

The graduates
Geilyn J. Akucewich

The graduates
Fatsuma S. Abdulkadiri

06/14/2008

Rocky Hill School grads told to be part of ‘the bundle of life’
Speaker Joan Countryman tells the school’s 33 graduates to live by a sub-Saharan African ethic: I am because you are. I am because we are.

The graduates
Bakhtiyar Z. Baidaralin

Having it made in the shade
Marge O’Grady, of Howell, N.J., found a cool spot under a tent during yesterday’s graduation at the Rocky Hill School in Warwick. Her great nephew, Brendan W. Shultz, graduated.

Wheeler students ready to roll
Police chief Dean Esserman tells graduates of the private Providence school to choose their own path.

The graduates
Sean Adu-Gyamfi

Ocean Tides graduates find new direction
Ocean Tides school strives to provide troubled boys with a structured school and residential program that teaches skills they will need as adults.

The graduates
William W. Buxton

Graduates bid farewell to Mt. Pleasant principal
Michael Sollitto is leaving the Providence high school for a job in Lincoln.

The graduates
Giovanne Acosta

Believe in yourself, U.S. Attorney Rose exhorts grads
The E³ Academy in Providence holds last night’s commencement at Rhode Island College.

The graduates
Juan Acevedo

Correction
The Journal yesterday incorrectly published a list of graduates from Lincoln High School with a story about the Lincoln School graduation. Here are the graduates from Lincoln School:

06/13/2008

North Kingstown High School graduates
Kevin T. Alexander*

Chariho High School graduates
Hank W. Abbey Jr.

The graduates
Rebecca G. Benevides

Block Island School graduates
Marlin J. Blansfield

Rocky Hill School
Rocky Hill School

The graduates
Matthew A. Adams

The graduates
Christine E. Alber

The graduates
Justin M. Alford

Westerly High School graduates
Jacqueline B. Ahern+

Block Island School graduation
Block Island School graduation

North Kingstown High School graduation
North Kingstown High School graduation

Chariho senior class overcame adversity
Faced with adversity, the Chariho High Class of 2008 pressed on, together, and won.

Seniors too tough to fret over ‘13th’
BURRILLVILLE — Barring any disruptive witchery, 178 Burrillville High School seniors will earn their diplomas later today — Friday the 13th.

Woonsocket High School Graduates
Kayla M. Ackley

Seniors to hear ‘message of hope’ from principal
WOONSOCKET –– Principal Lourenco P. Garcia’s “message of hope” to Woonsocket High School’s graduating class this evening will come largely out of his own experiences.

Seniors too tough to fret over ‘13th’
BURRILLVILLE — Barring any disruptive witchery, 178 Burrillville High School seniors will earn their diplomas later today — Friday the 13th.

Scituate High School graduates
Justin R. Albanese

A talented, outgoing class departs
LINCOLN — Things were getting a little harried at the high school late yesterday morning. The seniors were lined up along the sidewalks leading into the school, rehearsing for tonight’s graduation.

The graduates
Mary Genga

Burrillville High School graduates
Eric R. Ainsworth

Tonight ends seniors’ video of life
JOHNSTON — Each person in Johnston High School’s Class of 2008 is expected to amble through an arch on the stage at the Providence Performing Arts Center tonight to collect a diploma.

Ponaganset High School graduates
Alexandria L. Albanese*+×

Handling stress earns diplomas in Scituate
SCITUATE — With 28 years of service under his belt, Scituate High School principal David H. Light could have retired two years ago, but he had unfinished business.

Lincoln High School graduates
Christine C. Affleck †

Lincoln School graduates move on to the next step
Forty-one students receive diplomas from the Quaker school.

Central Falls High School Graduates
Roberto Almonte

Johnston High School graduates
Sonia L. Aldana +

Class picks posher graduation venue
WEST WARWICK — Fed up with their school’s traditional, and dreary, commencement venue, West Warwick High’s Class of 2008 felt it was time for a change.

Alum to Moses Brown grads: ‘Make the most of it’
Ethan Ruby was paralyzed after an accident in 2000 and went on to become an entrepreneur.

The graduates
Julia C. Aparicio

06/12/2008

North Providence grads leave with a smile
PROVIDENCE — North Providence High School’s Class of 2008 became part of school history last night with a festive and upbeat graduation at Veterans Memorial Auditorium.

Alum gives timely tips to Times{+2} grads
PROVIDENCE — Ask the 2008 graduates of Times{+2} Academy what they’ll be doing in five years and the answers probably aren’t all that different than the ones they gave when they were 5 years old.

96 recognized in Providence Alternate Diploma Program
PROVIDENCE Graduation was held last night for students in the Alternate Diploma Program, which is designed for people who might otherwise have dropped out of school.

At PAIS, graduation is only a beginning
PROVIDENCE — The Providence Academy of International Studies awarded diplomas to 95 graduates in a ceremony yesterday at Sapinsley Hall at Rhode Island College.

Masters Regional Academy: Words of wisdom mark close-knit class
SMITHFIELD –– When Jordan C. Boyce was unanimously voted to speak at graduation by his fellow seniors, he was faced with a dilemma.

N. Smithfield graduates urged to expand their world
SMITHFIELD — Placed in a fishbowl, koi will grow no more than six inches; in a small pond, a foot. But take that same koi and place him in a lake, and he can grow up to three feet long.

Jodi L. Croce would be delighted if her future rained cats and dogs
LINCOLN — When she was little, Jodi L. Croce took care of her black Labrador Retriever. Now that she’s graduated from William Davies Technical and Career School, she wants to take care of more of them. And cats. And almost anything else.

Masters Academy graduates
Jordan C. Boyce

Smithfield High School graduates
Brenden M. Agrela*+

The graduates
James D. Alexander

06/11/2008

Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center: ’08 Class excelled with senior projects
The Woonsocket Area Career and Technical Center Class of 2008 has been resilient, toughing it out when it came time to present the school’s first graduation portfolios and senior projects for graduation.

Prout students lend a hand in Nigeria
A mission project helped build an orphanage in Nigeria.

As freshmen, these Beacon grads helped to save the school
WOONSOCKET — Last night’s graduation ceremony at BEACON Charter High School kicked off with a short video, a news reel.

Class of 2008 changed culture at Hope
PROVIDENCE — When the Hope High School Class of 2008 arrived as freshmen in 2004, Hope was a very different place.

N. Providence valedictorian and Trinity ‘veteran’ is headed to Harvard
NORTH PROVIDENCE — Tiny Tim is alive and well and headed to Harvard University.