11:51 AM EDT on Monday, June 9, 2003

By ROB MARGETTA
Journal Staff Writer

ATTLEBORO -- Three days before graduation, Attleboro High School valedictorian Erica Pavao had only one concern about delivering her speech.

"I feel that, by the end, I will be crying," she said.

At the school's 134th commencement ceremony yesterday, as Pavao addressed 373 graduates and an audience that covered the bleachers at Attleboro High's football stadium and spilled onto the field, her prediction proved true.

By the middle of her speech, when she began talking about the friends she'd made in school, her tears started to flow.

Journal photo / Bill Murphy HAPPY DAY IN ATTLEBORO: Becky Hewitt waves as she enters Tozier-Cassidy Field for the start of Attleboro High School's graduation yesterday.

Pavao called her family and friends her "support system," and credited them with giving her the strength to face life's obstacles.

Student Council president Ashley Howarth told the graduates to appreciate the people who gave them assistance throughout high school.

"Don't go to bed tonight without thanking those people," she said.

Salutatorian Carlen Adler said the graduates, no matter their differences, would all have similar experiences shortly after receiving their diplomas.

"Tomorrow morning, consciously or unconsciously, we'll all have the same epiphany," she said. "We're not in high school anymore."

In addition to addresses by the valedictorian, salutatorian and members of the student government, each Attleboro High graduation features a speech by a class essayist, elected by the graduating class.

Attleboro principal Robert Neely said the Class of 2003 elected this year's essayist, Daniel Grenier, by an "overwhelming majority."

Grenier compared life to a game of Wiffle Ball, and people to children playing the sport.

He said there were five types of Wiffle Ball players: the naturally talented, the naturally clumsy, the average, the player satisfied with mediocrity and the small player just looking for a chance to get in the game.

"At the risk of sounding like an after-school special, try to include all of the types of people in your game of Wiffle Ball," he said.

About 55 percent of Attleboro's Class of 2003 will attend college. Diplomas of Academic Distinction went out to 25 graduates who had met the criteria of the school's honors program.

The 84 students who graduated from Attleboro's vocational program received Certificates of Career and Technical Education.

The 31 students who did not pass at least one of the state-mandated MCAS tests received Certificates of Attainment, signifying that they passed local graduation requirements. They have the option of retaking the MCAS tests for diplomas.

This is the first year the commonwealth has made passing the MCAS tests a requirement for diplomas.

Neely called Attleboro High one of the best schools he's seen in his career, which has spanned eight school districts from California to Massachusetts.

"It is a school in which a great deal of excellent teaching goes on every day of the week," he said.

The ceremony was Neely's first and last as principal of the school. He began his tenure last September when former principal Carol Martin left for a middle school position.

During the ceremony, Neely introduced the school's principal-designate, Jacqueline Proulx, whose contract begins July 1.

Journal photo / Bill Murphy SMILES TO GO: Ben Fay, one of 373 seniors to graduate Attleboro High School, is all smiles as he awaits the start of commencement exercises at the school Sunday afternoon.

Katie Lynn Ackman

Carlen E. Adler

Melanie Anne Aguiar

Jessica L. Ahern

Sullymar Alamo

Shannon Lyn Allberry

Stuart V. Altamirano

Nicole Antonino

Erica D. Appleton

Brittany J. Arruda

Kenneth P. Aveiro

Erin K. Bailey

Michelle E. Barrett

Steven A. Bassett

Anthony D. Bates

Liza B. Battista

Kevin M. Beaudry

Katie A. Becker

Matthew J. Bell

Michael J. Bennett

Stephanie M. Benson

Krystal Lynn Bessette

Amanda J. Bettencourt

Samuel E. Billings

Jennifer Lynn Bisio

Lauren K. Black

Michael W. Blackburn

Aaron J. Blais

Michael P. Botelho

Michelle A. Bouvier

Savannah R. Braden

Charles M. Bradshaw II

Kristen E. Brady

Susan R. Bragg

Matthew D. Brassard

Christopher W. Brennan

Jonathan J. Bridges

Rachael R. Brochu

Krystle E. Brule

Jennifer K. Bryant

Amanda Lynne Burgess

Amanda J. Burns

James W. Burrus

Regina M. Buxton

Emma E. Byrnes

Eric M. Caine

Kaylene M. Camara

Jeffrey K. Cambridge

Joel R. Cambridge

Shawn M. Cameron

Breelyn M. Carlstrom

Catarina R. Carreiro

Wirmel A. Carrion

Alyssa M. Caruso

Christopher S. Casiello

Emily Castro

Nicholas C. Catudal

Scott A. Cavalieri

David A. Challis

Kara Anne Champagne

Joshua A. Childs

Ashley Mei Chretien

Brandy Ann Clark

Hazel Anne Clark

Jonathan D. Conroy

Kira Anne Coogan

Michael J. Costa

Aran T. Cox

Sean M. Crowley

Gregory W. Croxford

Amanda L. Culhane

Sheri Lynn Cullen

Christopher M. Cunniff

Dustin J. Curran

Jonathan M. Curry

Robert D. Cusack

Brandi Lyn Cutler

Gabriel D'Agostino

Timothy J. Daneau

Jennifer Lynn DeMedeiros

Jessica Lynn DeMedeiros

Brian G. DeRosa

Sarah E. DeRosa

Matthew B. DeTore

Ashley Ann Devine

Crystal M. Diaz

Joel Diaz

Michael A. Diette

Daniel M. DiNicola

Christopher T. H. Dion

Matthew R. DiTrolio

Brent E. Dow

Lynne Doyle

Eric L. Dubuc

Evan L. Dubuc

Andrew G. Duffy

Peter J. Duffy

Wesley J. Dufresne

Joshua D. Duphily

Tracie M. Durda

Courtney Ann Eastman

Robert W. Ebert Jr.

Lisa Lee Elliott

Nicholas Emerson

Kristen Lyn Ethier

Benjamin R. Fay

Brendan J. Ferguson

Jenna Lynn Fernandes

Sean M. Fernandes

Jacqueline Anne Ferreira

Brian N. Fischbach

Crystal Sun Fleming

Allyson J. Foley

Ryan S. Fontaine

Ryan G. Fontneau

Piroshka K. Forster-Price

Monique N. Freeman

Jonathan E. Friedman

Brian J. Froment

Lindsey N. Furbush

David R. Fyfe

Paul E. Gagnon

Paul Galligan

Anthony J. Gasbarro

Melissa Anne Gendreau

Jennifer K. Giguere

Jamie L. Godfrey

Devajit Gogoi

Joseph M. Gomes

Jamie P. Gorman

Ashleigh Lyn Gorst

Jaime R. Goulet

Jenna E. Graziosi

Eric R. Greene

Hafiz Khury Greigre

Daniel P. Grenier

Ryan J. Gross

Krystal L. Grow

Christopher Gugliotta

Brian T. Hale

Derek R. Hall

Buntha Ham

Francis R. Handorff

Marissa L. Hanlin

Travis J. Hanscom

Christopher C. Hanson

Brian E. Harrop

Jared R. Haselton

Ronald D. Haskell

Michael F. Hassey

Michael J. S. Haviland

Cameron K. Hayes

Sharon E. Heng

Becky L. Hewitt

James P. Hey

Franklin D. Hicks

Laura P. Hogan

David M. Honeycutt

Peter R. Horton

Melissa Ann Houle

Sodee Dee Hout

Ashley F. Howarth

Tabitha N. Hulme

Natalie M. Imlay

Erica J. Ingalls

Amanda Sue Jean

Matthew L. Jillson

Steffani Lyn Johnson

Douglas S. Jost

John R. Kandalaft

Matthew P. Kapinos

Drew A. Karaniuk

Muhammed N. Karim

Kevin M. Keane

Lynsi B. Keene

Tarah Karidja-Helene Kesse

Derek M. King

Marcus Koutroubas

Adam M. Kress

Rachel E. Kunsch

Danielle M. Lacasse

Jessica M. LaFontaine

Ashley E. Lander

Nathan M. Lange

Monique E. LaPlume

Susan Lynn LaRosee

James E. Larson

Lindsey L. Laster

Austin W. Leach

Ryan R. Leclerc

Katie Ann Lee

Jenna M. Legare

Kendra D. Lemieux

Derek J. Levesque

Dara Ann Levine

Melissa Lin

Mynor A. Lopez

Jonathan D. Lowell

Ryan G. Lundstrom

Jeremy R. Luthy

Elizabeth Ann Lutz

Ashley B. MacDonald

Steven A. Mackey

Nicholas J. MacKinnon

Jennifer L. MacLeod

Ryan M. Mador

Ellen L. Mangiaratti

Mark V. Mangiaratti

Stephanie Ann Mansfield

Bethany G. Marshall

George F. Martell

Athena N. Martin

Nicole R. Martin

Craig W. Maston

Ashley T. Maynard

Caitlin Anne McBride

Craig M. McCra

Denise Ann McNamee

Gregory A. McVeigh

Jill Ann Mechan

Scott A. Medeiros

Tais D. Medeiros

Kristy Medrano

Adam J. Meier

Jenna L. Mercier

Scott D. Mercier

Douglas R. Messier

Gregory M. Messina

Tyler J. Mihm

Ashley L. Milton

Carlos Minero

Josh D. Minero

Kevin R. Mobley

Vygngley K. Moore

Melissa M. Morgan

Aubre R. Morin

Robert W. Morris

Amanda B. Morton

Kristen R. Moussalli

Ashley N. Mulcahy

Heydi L. Munoz

Kyle E. Murphy

Aimee M. Nadow

Sarah F. Nashat

Amanda B. Nelson

Samuel R. Nelson

Edward A. Nesi

Jillian Nolan

Ariel L. Nunes

Steven W. Nye Jr

Brendan J. O'Brien

Trevor J. Osborne

David M. Otto Jr.

Juliann Ouellette

Cassie L. Owens

Erin E. Owens

Jessica Ann Owens

Jamie M. Pacheco

Frederick S. Parena

Prachi Anil Patel

Tina M. Patel

Erica M. Pavao

Jillian B. Pedersen

Stacy W. Pedini

Shaun M. Pelissey

Amanda P. Perry

Brandon M. Pettersen

Carly E. Pettingill

Phetra Phath

Brandon L. Phinney

Nathan L. Phipps

Joshua A. Pickering

Steven B. Pina

Ashley C. Plass

Cynthia L. Podesta

Thomas A. Pora

Karen L. Proulx

Greg K. Quenneville

Deven J. Ramaglia

Jonathan M. Regan

Jessica Lynn Reilly

Brian R. Renoni

Chelsea M. Revelle

William F. Rice

Alexander T. Rioux

Antonio J. Rivera

Felix A. Rivera

Jefte J. Rivera

Kevin Rivera

Dionna O. Roberts

Sherry M. Robinson

Jenna L. Rodrigues

Matthew J. Rohen

John A. Rosa

David M. Ross

Jennifer E. Ross

Daniel A. Rotondi

Dennis E. Rotondi

Paula A. Saldarriaga

Cindy M. Samson

William J. Sauer

Nicholas R. Schoch

Christopher M. Schoonmaker

Abraham Scott

Lisa M. Semler

Christopher D. Semple

Keith R. Shockroo

Anthony G. Silva

Jessica Ann Silva

Peter M. Silveira

Matthew D. Simmons

Meghan L. Simmons

Joseph D. Simoneau

Jonathan A. Skinner

Shannon M. Slack

Edward W. Somers

Vanessa N. Speer

Alicia M. Spencer

Courtney M. Spieler

Jolie I. Steiman

Matthew J. Stott

Abbigale J. Stringham

Nichole Ann Stringham

Kraig R. Strumar

Douglas M. Sulham

Kyle J. Sullivan

John M. Swistak

David Taborda

Christopher M. Tamburrini

Candace M. Taylor

Matthew D. Tedeman

Jessica E. Thomas

Laura Anne Thompson

Kenneth A. Thurman

Samantha A Tiews

Christopher A. Till

James A. Tirabassi

Lisa Tom

Carlos G. Torres

Cristin E. Tower

Patrick E. Tracey

Anthony J. Trott

Thanh Le Truong

Harry F. Twyman

Christopher D. Vaz

Ashley E. Viens

Jessica Ann Viveiros

Ryan P. Viveiros

Shawn M. Viveiros

Trung Thanh Vo

Peter Vong

Anand Harshed Vora

Danielle M. Waite

Barry M. Wall

Kenneth S. Walters

Brian M. Waterman

Kerri N. Watters

Edward White

Kendalle L. White

Michael J. Wild

Daphne T. Wilson

Bradford J. Witherell

Daniel J. Withers

Matthew C. Wood

Eric K. Zeigler