01:00 AM EDT on Friday, June 2, 2006

BY TALIA BUFORD
Journal Staff Writer

NORTH ATTLEBORO -- Andrew Hunt just can't believe it's over.

Standing in alphabetical order with 254 of his classmates at North Attleboro High School graduation practice on Tuesday, Hunt, 17, tried to wrap his head around the fact that a chapter of his life was closing.

"It's more surreal than anything," said Hunt, who plans to attend Brown University in the fall to study neuroscience. "You've spent the last four years at one place and then wake up the next day, and you don't have to go to school anymore."

In hours, he will be among those who will walk across the stage and officially begin their ascent into adulthood. The ceremony begins at 6 tonight at Beaupre Field at the high school, or, in case of rain, the school auditorium.

"I could see engineers, doctors and lawyers in this class," said Sue Caldwell, senior class coadviser. "They're so talented with their hands and with computers. I just hope we taught them to be responsible, good people."

Many of the students are pursuing a higher education, Caldwell said. A bulletin board outside of the auditorium boasts Temple University, Georgetown University, Sacred Heart University and University of South Carolina as some of the colleges graduates will attend in the fall.

"Some of them are more like friends than students," principal Robert Gay said, "because I've seen them in class, at athletic events and school plays. I know them so well."

Elliott Sinclair, 18, is ready to take the next step in life. He'll be attending University of Massachusetts Amherst in the fall to study business finance or marketing, he said.

"High school prepared me for everything I'll be facing in life," he said. "College will just put the finishing touches on everything."

Valedictorian Benjamin Chagnon and salutatorian Michael Flynn, both 18, have been friends since sophomore year -- their schedules practically paralleled many semesters. Both were editors of the school yearbook, Northern Lights, as well as founding members of the school's Model Senate.

That will change this fall when Chagnon goes to Brown to study biology and Flynn heads to NYU, possibly to study political science as a National Merit Scholar.

"I'll take any excuse to visit New York," Chagnon said with a laugh.

Memories of school plays, football games and homerooms will soon be all that's left for the class and for seniors such as Colleen Megley, 18, the idea that things won't ever be the same is finally sinking in.

"You don't realize until you're walking down the field that it's too late to enjoy it all," she said.

tbuford 277-7378

The graduates are:

Paul E. Acosta

Atinuke D. Adeyemi

June E. Alexander

Christine M. Anderson

Hillary E. Andrews

Suzanne L. Armon

Nicholas J. Azzolina

Amber L. Banks

Jenna L. Banks

Joshua D. Barney

Kali C. Barrett

Philip T. Barry

Erin N. Bastiaans

Anthony E. Belben

Paul J. Belham Jr.

Bryanne Bellavance

Kimberly E. Belskis

Kathryn M. Bodinski

Nicole S. Borrelli

Michelle L. Bowen

Kyle J. Boyd

Robyn M. Boyle

Cassandra M. Brown

Sarah C. Brown

Thomas E. Brown

Andrew M. Brule'

Stephanie A. Budd

LaTina S. Burns

Ryan A. Burns

Jessica L. Cabral

Christopher R. Calderone

Erin N. Campbell

Julie M. Cannata

Nicholas J. Caparell

Tricia E. Carlson

Karina Carmona

Elizabeth H. Carpenter

Darcey L. Carrion

Gregory J. Caruso

Evan D. Castro

Patrick A. Cavalieri

Andrew N. Cerrone

Nicole E. Chace

Benjamin P. Chagnon

Michael E. Chandler

Sarah A. Cicchetti

Ashley L. Clark

Katherine R. Clavette

Brian J. Connolly

Kathryn L. Cormier

Krystle M. Cornetta

Nicole M. Cotton

Sean S. Coughlin

Emily T. Cournoyer

Ashley T. Coviello

Steven W. Criscione

Jeffrey Cumplido

Mary K. Curtis

Courtney A. Dallalis

Brittany J. D'andrea

Shawn M. Davidson

David L. Davignon

Crystal L. Davis

Anthony J. DeBalsi III

Benjamin P. DeForest

Sarah E. DelSole

Michael A. DeSisto

Alisse M. Desrosiers

Stephanie M. DeWeese

Danielle M. DiGiantommaso

Linsie M. Dillon

Karine A. Dion

Caitlin M. Doherty

Nicholas M. Dunham

Amanda L. Dupre

William M. Edge

Jessica L. Elkins

Ashley-Rae Emerson

Amy C. Favali

Aaron N. Fears

Cara N. Fertitta

Richard A. Finch

Amanda N. Flynn

Michael J. Flynn

Sean P. Flynn

Shauna M. Forbes

Lauren E. Foster

Marlo G. Franco

Matthew S. Fricker

Charles D. Garnett III

Joseph S. Germani

Angela L. Gilbert

Robyn H. Gimler

Adrienne C. Goldberg

Zachary B. Goodman

Codi M. Goodwin

Steven T. Goss

Matthew J. Grace

Edward J. Gronostalski

Michael P. Hain

Rayna M. Hall

Laura H. Hammond

Jared S. Hanley

Joshua M. Hardy

Benjamin V. Hatch

Kaitlyn E. Hebert

Elizabeth A. Henderson

Michael R. Hickey

Dallas M. Higgins

Kelly C. Higgins

Brad J. Hillard

James M. Hillcoat IV

Kyle D. Hitchcock

Stephen W. Hodgman

Andrew J. Hunt

Jenan A. Issa

Cathrine Iversen

Harry E. Jean Conte

Christopher J. Jiannetti

Charlotte B. Johnson

Jessica L. Johnson

Rachel M. Kain

Karissa M. Karageorge

Katelyn R. Kelley

Matthew M. Keogh

Katie A. King

Nicholas A. Kirby

Davy Kok

Jacob S. Kornreich

Nicholas A. Kostaras

Paige C. Lacasse

Katelyn C. LaFortune

Justin D. LaMothe

Joshua S. Langille

Melissa L. Lawes

Charles V. Leitao

Danielle A. Leland

Krista J. Lewis

Andrew M. Lumnah

Brett C. Luongo

Joshua A. MacDonald-Grim

Alan J. Macedonio

Allyson D. Markie

Dawn-Marie Martinkus

Samantha J. Mathieson

Jennifer A. McCarthy

Courteney D. McDonnell

Brian P. McGowan

Maura C. McGowan

Christopher M. McGrady

Kelli E. McLoughlin

Nathan T. McMorrow

Melissa L. McTernan

Colleen M. Megley

Kyle Mehrtens

Darren K. Meierdiercks

Christina E. Menyo

Bradford C. Metzger

Heather L. Meyer

Ryan J. Millin

Kendra L. Mooiman

Nicholas Morin

Ashley E. Morriseau

Bruce M. Morse II

Thomas P. Mullaney Jr.

Jesse C. Mullett

Nicole E. Murray

Abbey E. Nelson

Mark T. Nelson

Samantha A. Nelson

Mathew P. Newman

Jonathan L. Norman

Michael J. Noviello

Amanda R. O'Brien

Daniel M. Ovoian

Jason J. Pacheco

Kyle P. Panciera

Jennifer A. Paquin

Mirage Patel

Anthony O. Patjane

Alexander W. Paynton

Evan J. Perkoski

Jonathan E. Perrault

Alexandra J. Perry

Daniel L. Peter

Corey H. Pfantz

Chelsea L. Picchi

Jordan A. Pickering

Janay D. Pina

Kimberly M. Pino

Jeffrey S. Pirri

Samantha C. Plante

Michael J. Poirier

Ashley C. Proal

Jerome N. Ragnaught

Nathan W. Reddy

Corin M. Reidel

Conor O. Richardson

Katie E. Richardson

Meghan E. Rickard

Stephanie A. Riesenbeck

Heather E. Ripley

Jessica L. Roberts

Kerri L. Robinson

Christopher R. Rogers

Casey A. Rose

Sarah C. Roy

Matthew R. Ruggiero

Benjamin F. Rullo

James D. Rutter

Mona J. Sarkis

Aimee L. Savard

Laurie A. Savioli

Daniel R. Scanlon

Nicole E. Sellner

Daniel S. Serafin

Darylle L. Sheehan

Joseph J. Shruhan

Eric C. Silva

Keri A. Silva

Elliott W. Sinclair

Emily A. Sinnott

Adam J. Smith

Lauren M. Smith

Joshua D. Snead

Katelyn W. Speicher

Lyndsey T. Spinney

Kayla M. St. Don

Kelli L. St. Pierre

Robert K. Staab

Kelly E. Sullivan

Brandi L. Tammany

Cassandra E. Tardif

Sarah A. Tobin

Christina T. Turcotte

Brett M. Tuzzo

Kelly L. Tyler

Eric W. Vandeventer

Robert A. Vaughn

Robert A. Vitagliano

Katelyn A. Vitkauskas

Loan Kim Vo

Paul D. Walukevich Jr.

Alexander P. Warot

Richaud M. Washington

Brian R. Webber

Malory I. Weiner

Melissa L. Whalen

Jessica L. White

Michael J. White

Erica H. Whiteside

Julie A. Wikiera

Robert F. Wolfe

Jeffrey R. Woods

Xiaoliang Yao