1 minute read
Coginchaug Class of 2023 sets sail
from Town Times
By Nicole Zappone Town Times
Jenna DePonte, valedictorian of the Coginchaug Regional High School Class of 2023, told the crowd gathered for commencement on Wednesday, June 14 that she had a difficult time writing her speech.
Advertisement
DePonte said it’s not easy to sum up 12 years of experiences in a 5-minute address. She went through draft after draft trying to find the right words.
“One draft even began with the phrase, ‘four years and three principals ago,’ because Abe Lincoln wrote a good speech, so why not copy him?” DePonte joked. “But anyways, nothing really worked.”
The Class of 2023’s top student is no stranger to pressure, however, and the final draft of her graduation speech hit all the right notes.
“When I worked really hard in school, people would tell
Honored
BOE salutes retirees and student leaders
Town Times report
At the June 7 Board of Education meeting, RSD13 recognized five school employees on their retirement: teachers Carl Bruenn, Kathy Zygmont and Ruth Dwyer, Operations Manager Sue Gaudreau, and Facilities Manager Jim Croteau.
Also, the BOE highlighted local CABE (Connecticut Asso-
See Honored, A7 me to stop being so intense, but as soon as I let up the slightest bit, they would say I had lost myself, and I was failing,” DePonte said.
But through it all, she never lost sight of her goals. “We slayed,” DePonte told her fellow graduates, “and it’s time to realize that we are enough, and we can be proud of what we have accomplished.”
One hundred and sixteen students collected their diplomas at the ceremony, which was moved indoors at CRHS due to the weather forecast.
In her speech, salutatorian Catherine Taylor said the
Class of 2023 was a family of sorts. And no family is perfect.
“As in a family, any class is likely to have the crazy uncle you just don’t agree with, the aunts who gossip about you behind your back, or the grandmother who is a master at the passive-aggressive judgment,” Taylor said. “We have our differences, but we begrudgingly love each other anyway. ”
Taylor mentioned some memorable high school moments, both good and bad. “Together, we have overcome and accomplished so much in our time here,” she said. “And now we’re finally done.”
