Thirty-Four Receive Diplomas, Feathers From Massena High School

 

Above are two grads with creative mortarboard designs.

Thirty-four Akwesasne students graduated as part of Massena Central's Class of 2018 on June 23 in a ceremony at Massena Arena.

Native American students receiving diplomas included Savannah Arney, Rose Arquette, Meghan Arquette, Dayna Barclay, Dallas Benedict, Lochlan Bower, Kaynen Buckshot, Reese Clute-Francis, Kainen Francis-Thompson, Seana Gambill, Michael Gardner, Ratwenniio (Evan) George, Blayke Gibson, Tori Gray, Linc Hamelin, Rain Hill, Dylan Holcomb, Lexis Jacobs, Jocelyn Jock, Abigail Johnson, Blade LaFrance, Mckenzee Lazore, Georgia Oakes, Mason Panuelo, Montana Pierce, Tahanwentsiawakon Pyke-Jacobs, Amanda Rourke, Toryn Sawatis, Kashia Sharrow, Victoria Square, Collin Sunday, Jenna Tarbell, Kirby Thompson and Makenzie Thompson.

George, Johnson and Lazore all received honors diplomas.

This year, all Native American grads were presented with a feather as they left the stage after receiving their diplomas, a new addition to the commencement ceremony.

They were presented to each student by Robin Logan, a Title VI Native American resource teacher and advisor to the MCHS Mohawk Club.

Massena Arena was full to near capacity for the June 23 graduation ceremony.

The valedictorian was Meagan Morgan and salutatorian Al'lainya Dumas.

Morgan in her valedictory speech encouraged her classmates to work toward their desires and try to effect positive change in the world.

"If there is a goal you want to achieve, only you can make it happen," she said, urging her audience to "confront the world's issues and take on its challenges."

Dumas in her address likened her high school career to a book, and later encouraged her classmates to surround themselves with positive people.

"The analogy that most closely mirrors our high school days is a book," she said, equating each day to a page and "no two are the same and each is unique."

"Finding positive people that build you up is the key to success."

 

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