Pride fires up senior class.

• Position: LOCAL NEWS

Byline: Jim Esslinger

SOUTHBRIDGE - The 95 graduates of the Southbridge High School class of 2007 received their diplomas during the 46th commencement exercises yesterday in the gymnasium.

In his address to the graduates, School Committee Chairman John D. Jovan Jr. said this year's class had "held the vision of our community to persevere and become proud graduates of the town of Southbridge. Take the lessons you have learned here at Southbridge High School because you have learned to overcome adversity. We congratulate you for being the beacon of hope for our community. You are the future of the world and our community."

School Superintendent Dale M. Hanley challenged the graduates to embrace change.

"Those who embrace change and go with it into their future continually stretch the boundaries of their education," Ms. Hanley said. "Your education in Southbridge has prepared you with the skills and knowledge you will need to pursue opportunities in the 21st century."

She went on to remind the students how well they had been prepared by teachers and parents to reach this point. "Use what you have learned and the experience you have gained to make good things happen."

Salutatorian Yevgeni V. Levitzky said preparing for his speech was the greatest task for him. "I approached this task as a great difficulty knowing that accomplishing it would bring me great personal pride."

Further, he said, "I cannot stress enough the importance of setting goals and striving for them. I stand before you not only as a fellow classmate at Southbridge High but as a part of the generation that will harbor our future leaders. I am confident in each and every one my fellow classmates, as I am sure we will make the world a better place."

In recounting the four years in high school, valedictorian Jennifer A. Lynch reminded the class of the challenges faced by all students and the challenges of the future. "Opportunities allow us to travel down the road of life. Although there may be fender-benders and even wrecks along the way, we will learn from our mistakes and correct our errors."

She continued by citing the diversity of the community some will be leaving and to which others will return. Further, she said, "High school is more than we learned in textbooks, but also what we gained from personal experience."

SOUTHBRIDGE HIGH

CLASS OF 2007

Miosotys Agosto, Alba I. Aponte, Luis Aulet, Daniel R. Baez, Daniela Baez, Christopher J. Blanchette, Arno B. Bounphasaysonh, Jesse M. Brousseau, Brandon D. Brunell, Brian Camacho, Anderson B. Castillo, Lindsay A. Champney, Peter J. Chouinard, Angel L. Colon, Jonathan Concepcion, Melissa J. Croke, Jose A. Cruz, Steven K. Delage, Jourhana Devil, Keren Diaz, Brett D. Downer, Malyssa R. Everhart, Joseph Farr, Kaitlin M. Figueroa, Ace G. Fontaine, Meaghin M. Fournier, David M. Garceau, Yanci Gavidia, Raymond M. Gonzalez, Joshua M. Gravel, Mariah Hart, William Hayes, Aaron A. Houatchanthara, Elizabeth Jachimczyk, Emily J. Janes, Amanda J. LaCroix, Christina A. Larson, Rebecca M. Lashua, Jacob Lazo, Samuel J. Lazo, Yevgeni V. Levitzky, Daniel P. Lippe, David A. Livengood, Nathan Loos, Kevin Lopez, Rebecca L. Losavio, Jennifer M. Lynch, Ivelisse Martinez, Katiria M...