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06/21/2016 12:00 AMOn June 16, The Morgan School’s 130 graduating class members turned their tassels and threw off their caps as the last class to graduate at the current campus; a new Morgan School further north on Route 81 welcomes the class of 2017 this fall.
Valedictorian Kate Mozzochi joked about the quirks of the old school building, legendary for its leaky roof and navigational challenges from years of additions.
“Even after only four years here, I have grown accustomed to the quirky Morgan way. The way the crickets chirp all day up until the weather gets colder. Mrs. Karcich’s ‘Good morning, Morgan. There seem to be some computers down today, but we will get through this.’ The obstacle course of trash barrels catching water in the locker room every time it rains. Speaking of rain, if you have ever had to stop in the middle of an English class when it starts to downpour, or ever had a teacher stick their head out the window to yell at the men mowing near the windows, you, too, have lived the Morgan way...
“This building was there when the class of 1978 let chickens loose in the senior courtyard as a senior prank. This building was there to watch all 130 of us scared little freshmen run around at STEP. And finally, this building is here to watch all 130 of us mature and confident individuals, the last class to ever graduate from this building, go off into the world alone for the very first time.”
Salutatorian Meghan Lindsay encouraged the Class of 2016 to reflect on the important and often imperceptible ways their lives and stories are interconnected.
A popular catchphrase at the school, said Lindsay, is “We are Morgan. We are family,” which she said “helps to acknowledge the impact the people around us have had that will leave a lasting imprint on each of our hearts.” Every member of the Morgan community, she noted, has a story “that in one way or another is entangled with yours—a story that one way or another makes yours that much richer.”
‘The Beginning of Many New Adventures’
Superintendent of Schools Jack Cross, in his final commencement speech at Clinton Public Schools, touched on the talent gathered on the field and the future that awaits them.
“I am proud and honored to attest to the caliber of the students that will be walking across the stage this evening to receive their high school diplomas,” said Cross, who retires June 30. “This evening marks the completion of a grand adventure, and more importantly, it marks the beginning of many new adventures. As each of you walk across the stage this evening, you are crossing a threshold into the future—a future that is bright, exciting, challenging, and unknown. As you cross this threshold, you carry with you the experiences and connections that you have had that have molded and shaped you and prepared you for this next step. While you may not truly yet appreciate the importance of these last 13 years, the connections and relationships you have created serve as a foundation for your future endeavors.”
He left the graduating class with a quote: “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow men; and among those fibers, as sympathetic threads, our actions run as causes, and they come back to us as effects.”
Mozzochi reiterated the value of connecting, empathizing, and growing roots as well as wings.
“Though we may be leaving Morgan physically, Morgan will never leave us. Though this building may not be here much longer, the memories crafted inside of that school will be around forever. Class of 2016, go out into the world, do amazing things, chase your dreams, but always remember where you came from.”