Congrats Class of 2008! Soup for the graduate's soul

photo taken by Craig Osborne

Taken for Article in Foster's Daily Democrat
By ADAM D. KRAUSS
akrauss@fosters.com
Article Date: Saturday, June 14, 2008
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080614/GJNEWS_01/892235902/-1/fosnews1404

ROCHESTER — Monique Jessica Wilkins shared her "Campbell's Soup theory" with the rest of Spaulding High School's Class of 2008 on Friday: don't go with the crowd.

The class valedictorian recalled Campbell's old commercials — the ones praising its "Mmm, Mmm, good" taste — in hopes the 291 students graduating with her never lose their individuality.

"Often, many will go with the masses because someone else is doing it," she said, "so why shouldn't they?"

Because, she said, "if it is one thing I'm sure of, it's our class is anything but dull."

It's made up of aspiring professional hockey and football players, college-bound chemists, journalists, prosecutors and members of the Peace Corps, Marines and Air Force.

It includes Wilkins — who received the Salinger Award and $3,000 for her top-notch scholarly achievement — and Sandra Jayne Moon, the Principal's Award recipient who ended with the second-highest grade point average despite being in fourth place at the end of the third quarter.

The class also includes Samuel Tolley, who wrote the song "The Road of Life," which he said was about reflecting on where the students have been and where they're going. Backed up by the high school chorus, Tolley fused deep drumming with choir crescendo that had the beach balls lifting above a sea of Red Raiders red and white regalia.

Wilkins wasn't the only one to stress an individual's ability.

"Remember that regardless of what you do in the future ... no one else has the right to measure your success," said Class President Megan Good, who urged graduates to focus on the journey, not the destination.

It was a long road for the students, who Good calculated heard an alarm clock go off 2,160 times and spent 291,016 hours at school learning Shakespeare and the most obscure geometric shapes. Parents, she also figured, helped clubs and sports teams by buying eight "drillion" T-shirts.

Family and friends packed the bleachers of the school football field as the 6:30 p.m. ceremony got under way under clear skies and a daytime moon. Student's weren't the only ones hearing the last bell. Teacher Linda Mullen, who's retiring, shared in the "last muster" with the class, presenting the commencement address.

"May you have as many happy memories as I do of you ...," she began to say when the microphone temporarily lost power. She stepped aside from the podium and continued delivering her remarks, adding to the sincerity of the moment.

"Goodbye. I love you," she said, blowing a kiss.

Leaving aside the nerves of pulling off one of the most important days of these students' young lives, the class entered and exited the ceremony seemingly confident in their next step.

Adam Sylvain, 18, said he's eager to attend George Mason University to study communication — and continue practicing the class motto, on loan from Gandhi: "Be the change you wish to see in the world."

"The motto was a good interpretation of what we as a class were trying to achieve," said Tim Peabody, 18, who's off to Bryant University to study accounting.

Fallon McKay, 17, who's off to Hesser College to study medicine, said she was ready to move on. Megan Young, 18, said she was going to miss her friends.

Charles Athol Winslow, 18, who's looking forward to a career in the Marines, put the day in perspective as he entered the field.

"It's just a little step for how great my life is going to be," he said.