Cape Elizabeth students urged to fully embrace life.

CAPE ELIZABETH – The welcome address by Cape Elizabeth High School Principal Jeffrey Shedd was interrupted briefly at Sunday’s graduation as a plane flew over the heads of the hundreds of family members, friends, teachers, administrators and students gathered at Fort Williams.

“It’s too bad that didn’t happen five minutes ago,” said Shedd after the noise from the plan subsided. “I could have pretended we planned a military fly over.”

It was a fitting start to the graduation, Shedd said, because the event has had patriotic overtones since the 1944 ceremony took place on an historic day.

“When our troops invaded Normandy it happened to coincide with a graduation ceremony in Cape Elizabeth, and it has become tradition since to honor them,” he said.

It was an historic day as well for the 127 graduating seniors of Cape Elizabeth’s class of 2010, who spent the day listening to staff and students relive the last four years while providing valuable tips for the future.

Shedd began by jokingly mentioning the senior pranks the students had performed in the previous weeks.

“I liked the colorful tree decorating,” he said, also mentioning the “chalk art” all over the walls of the school.

The main point of Shedd’s speech was humility, though, which he believed to be an underutilized and underappreciated quality.

“Humility makes it OK to ask for help,” he said.

Shedd asked the students to thank their parents for all they had done for them. “Say how much you are indebted to them, and in most cases, indebted for the next four years, as well.”

Teacher Win Phillips then gave the faculty address, which included many jokes and references to students. He said he thought this class had more nicknames created by him than any before it. Phillips didn’t spare himself as a target of his jokes.

“I’d like to acknowledge my mother, who is here,” he began his speech. “She missed my speech as high school valedictorian, not because she wasn’t there, but because I finished in the middle of the pack and wasn’t asked to speak.”

After a lot of fun, Phillips spoke about the value of putting technology aside, and advised students to think, and to read more than just text messages and e-mail.

“Hang up, log off, and be present,” he said.

After citizenship awards were presented to Allison Johnson, Madeleine Spagnola, Anya Staszko, Morgan Pillsbury, Samuel Naseef and Olivia DeSena, student Nell Britton performed “Etude Opus No. 1: Aeolian Harp Etude,” by Frederic Chopin, a performance that was met by rousing applause.

The senior class address was issued by Gabrielle Donahue, who brought to light the value of taking chances, saying that she thought she had made a fool out of herself in front of the school more than anyone.

Bringing up different students, she discussed what made them special, and that “the ability and bravery to do something special,” is what separates someone from the pack. There is a thin line, she said, between being foolish and being creative.

“When in doubt, make a fool of yourself,” Donahue said.

Graham Findlay, the class valedictorian, gave his address on the celebration of the group and the reality of choice. Using scientific backing to prove his theory on choice and genetics, Findlay apologized to the crowd when he started speaking with ultra-scientific language. He then closed his speech using language everyone could understand.

“Good luck to the entire class of 2010, equally,” he said.

Members of the class of 2010 listen as Graham Findlay gives the valedictory address during the Cape Elizabeth High School commencement ceremony, June 13 in Fort Williams Park. (Photo by Rich Obrey)