Villa Novans Celebrate 2013 Graduation

Woonsocket High graduates — 295 of them —  received their diplomas at Woonsocket High School's gymnasium Friday night.

"You will always be Villa Novans," Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine told the grads, seated on folding chairs in the center of the gym, their friends and family packed in the bleachers and in seats around them eagerly pointing cameras, smart phones and Ipads at the scene.

Fontaine took a moment before his speech to snap a few photos of his own of the seniors, drawing laughs and smiles from the imminent graduates.

"Improve the world. I know that you're connected to it with Facebook and Twitter," Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan said to the grads, "The world is in your hands, truly."

"We all have a fair shot and a level playing field, a chance to start over and create a new life for ourselves," said Salutatorian Kimberly Nguyen "We are going out into a world that holds no preconceived notions of us. It has heard no rumors and holds no grudges."

Nguyen told her fellow grads that they would always be afraid, because life is frightening. But, she said, life is not a contract, it's a gift. "So remember to break the rules and mess up," she said, "The power lies in the coming unknown."

As the end of the ceremony neared, several beach balls began bouncing among and above the red and white-gowned grads while guest speakers shared their parting wisdom.

Today is not the beginning or end of our educations, said Valedictorian Derek Bell, "but a continuation of an education that started the day they were born.  

Bell encouraged his classmates to lead, to pave the way for others. "This is not going to be easy. As a result you will need someone to lean on and ask for help. When the time comes, call on a member of the Class of 2013, because we are not only a family, but the best class the city has ever seen."