For ARHS grads, it was a night to give thanks

BY Bob Dunn
Staff Writer

Published on June 15, 2007

For one evening, none of it mattered.

Budgets, constitutional questions, school security concerns or any of the other issues that dogged the school year in Amherst were pushed aside as the community and student body came together to celebrate the graduation of the 322 members of the Amherst Regional High School Class of 2007.

Budgets, constitutional questions, school security concerns or any of the other issues that dogged the school year in Amherst were pushed aside as the community and student body came together June 8 to celebrate the graduation of the Amherst Regional High School class of 2007.

On that evening, the class of 2007 left their high school careers behind - and did so with grace, dignity and a few beach balls and inflatable dolphins thrown in for good measure.

State Rep. Ellen Story, D-Amherst, gave the keynote address at the ceremony at the Mullins Center.

Story told the audience that she had met with about a dozen members of the graduating class and took suggestions from them about what they'd like her to say.

Story said the students passed along their appreciation to the school faculty and the support staff for their time and energy.

The seniors also expressed their gratitude for the range of classes and opportunities that they'd been granted over the years, acknowledging that not every school system provides that privilege.

Story said the class also acknowledged students who managed to reach this point in their academic careers without as much familial support as others.

"Some in this class have managed basically on their own," Story said.

"There are students who have lived independently, often needing to earn money outside the school day, without the family support that most in this class took for granted."

"And they will graduate tonight, too," Story said.

Story left the graduates with advice as well.

She encouraged them to go beyond merely volunteering their time and to be agents for change.

"Be at the center of making policy, not just volunteering around the edges," Story said. "You are exactly the kind of students to do that."

The hometown lawmaker also told students to not take themselves too seriously.

She illustrated that point with an anecdote about former New Jersey Sen. Bill Bradley.

Story said Bradley was denied a second helping of butter at a hotel and Bradley asked the man serving the butter if he knew who he was, to which the man replied, "No."

Story said Bradley listed his accomplishments, including his time as a professional basketball player with the New York Knicks, his winning of an Olympic gold medal in 1964, his academic achievements, including his Rhodes Scholar status, and his 18 years in the United States Senate.

Afterwards, the server asked Bradley if he knew who he was - and Bradley replied, "No."

The server told Bradley he was the man in charge of the butter.

Music for the event was provided by the ARHS Symphony, the ARHS Wind Ensemble, Conjunto De Bomba, a Latin music and dance group, and the Amherst Gospel Choir.

Inclusion of choir sparked controversy last month when a pair of students complained about the appropriateness of religious music at the ceremony.

After initially rescinding the choir's invitation, the school decided to allow it to perform after a meeting with students and supporters.

Superintendent Jere Hochman said that over the course of the next school year decisions will be made on what type of performances will be allowed at school events.

After the ceremony, a beaming Hochman remarked on the community spirit of not only the students who had come together and formed a cohesive unit of the course of their time in the school system, but the community who came out to support them.

Because on Friday night, nothing else mattered.