Classy Class Graduates from GHS

Their spirits soared, and so did their caps, as members of what had just been the Grafton High School senior class became graduates tonight at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester.

"This is the moment we waited for our entire lives, our greatest victory,'' said senior class president Eric Nolan. 

He paid tribute to classmate and fellow graduate Seshu Kandukuri, who spent a portion of his senior year battling cancer.

"Seshu has shown what it means to be truly brave, and what it means to be as tough as a $2 steak,'' he said.

National Honor Society president Nicholas Porcella told his classmates that "even the occasional loss has its purpose ... to make the good times better.''

High school principal James Pignataro praised the class for their efforts in improving the world. From helping earthquake victims half a world away to lending a hand to a special needs student in the cafeteria, these students made a difference, he said.

"It has been my privilege and my honor to serve as your principal for four years,'' he told the students.

Student speaker Molly Shunney acknowledged that leaving the comfort of home can be frightening.

But she left her fellow graduates with this advice: "Take life as it comes, and live it with confidence and perseverance.'' 

Meet the Grafton High School Class of 2011:

Tyler John Adams

 Jessica Rae Ahlman

Erica Andrade

Kylund Neil Arnold 

Maxwell Leif Arnold

Michael Patrick Bane 

Debra Lynn Begonis*

Jasmine Shanice Blaize

Jessica Michelle Bond

 Nikole Lynn Bonner

Kaitlyn Marie Bullard

Shayla Madeline Carlo

Jonathan William Carlson

Anthony David Catallozzi

Catherine Grace Cattley*

Ellen Renee Chapleau

Miriam Amina Clegg

Sean Michael Coates

Danielle Leigh Collette

Noah William Collins*

Patrick Ryan Coonan

Carissa Ann Couture

Paul Henry Couture

Nina Perry Cozzolino

Rebecca Ann Cross

Christina Theresa Cuevas

Julie Marie Cupido*

Mathew David Cusella

Matthew Ryan Currier

Alexandra Rose Dauphinais

Mahin Dawood*

Lyndsey Kayla Deane

Taylor Scott Dee

Joseph George DeMoranville

Trista Jean DeVries

Amanda Lee Dow

Andrew Michael Downton*

Stephanie Anne Doyle

Jacob Holbrook Evans

Kelli Ann Fanning

Alexa Lee Fantoni

Toni Marie Farrar

Paige Katherine Fasold

Emily Taylor Felbaum

Kaycee Lynn Fitzgerald

Christopher Matthew Flores

Andrew Craig Forbes

Tia Lee Ford

Julia Ann Frey*

Katie Elizabeth Fridley

Jessica Nicole Gagne*

Samantha Ann Gilchrist*

Camille Rose Godbout-Chouinard*

John Daniel Graham

Marybeth Louise Graham

Eleanor Chamberlain Greene*

Brendan Patrick Griffin

Casandra Anne Hadis

Katelyn Anne Hagan

Maude Marie Hamel

*Matthew Sargon Hanna

Kristen Williams Hartley

Erynn Audra Hauk

Rachel Ann Holm

Alexander Edward Holmes

Trevor Peter Houlden

Ashley Elizabeth Ide

Courtney Anne Jendrzejewski

Seshu Kandukuri

Andrew Richard Kelly

Brendan John Kelly*

Tess Nicole Kelly

Timmery Lyn Kuck

Aaron Christopher L'Esperance

Elizabeth Ann L'Esperance

Philippe Richard L'Esperance

Lauren Maureen LaBounty

Wyatt Conor Ladd

Nicholas Joseph Laferriere

Felicia Lyn Lanctot

Jessica Lee Lapierre

Gerald Barret Leazes

Joshua Michael Leclerc

Alyssa Vivien Lee*

Victoria Anne Legge*

Corey James Leonardi*

Megan Holly Levesque

Eric Norman Levitre

Honghui Lin

Nicole Helen Lombard*

Krystal Ann Long

Tracey Celeste Maffei

Alyssa Lynn Magill

Kayla Patricia Magill

Stevie Lynn Magri

Emily Elizabeth Malone*

Kenneth Corey Maranda

Leah Elizabeth Marley

Kaitlyn Marie Matloff

Brian Edward McCarthy*

Brad William McCrary

Cleo Emerson Merrill

Scott Thomas Miller

Jamie Nicole Nash

Eric James Nolin

Ashley Taylor-Tanner Noronha

William Erik Olsen

Natalie Rose Onacki

Kyle Richard Pellerin

Nicole Marie Picconi

John Andrew Pilczak*

Nicholas Joseph Porcella*

Caitlin Brosnan Quilliam*

Rachel Mary Grace Quist*

Anne Killian Reardon

Ryan Joseph Reardon

Lucas James Rebidue

Katherine Anne Renzoni

Brett Joseph Richard

Jason Smith Riches*

Dylan Anthony Riggieri

Francisco Roman

Brayden Jeffrey Rudert

Andrew Michael Ruivo

Priya Dharmesh Shah*

Shawn Richard Shannon

William Benjamin Shaw*

Alexandra Lee Sheehan

Ann Kathryn Sheridan

Molly Elizabeth Shunney

Dominique Silva Sa Forrest

Warren Smith Taylor

Marie Snediker

Kaitlyn Elizabeth Sowyrda*

Jonathan Arthur Staknis

Marita Jane Steinmetz

Courtney Doris Szkutak*

Ryan David Tamulevicz

Brian Edgar Tatro

Jacob Alexander Taubinger

James Ralph Tomaiolo

Stephen Charles Tota

Rebecca Marie Toucey

Eric Harold Tower

Nicole Martha Trakadas

Zachary Brian Tucker*

Zachary Patrick Tucker

Caitlin Elizabeth Vogel*

Hannah Lynn Wagner

Stephen James Walsh

Joan Dorothea Weckback

Nicholas Seth †Whitney

Ian Michael Wixon

Kaitlyn Ann Wooten

Jessica Lynne Wozniak

David Jonathan Wright*

Michelle Jingyun Xia

Sarah Elizabeth Yates

Dylan Richard Zimmer

Anthony Aaron Ziolkowski Jr.

*Asterik indicates National Honor Society member

Come back to Grafton.Patch.com Monday and Thursday for more photos.