Seniors at Wiscasset Middle High School (WMHS) shared the passage of a milestone together Thursday, June 8. Before family, friends, faculty and the community, the 25 graduates marched into commencement at Stover Auditorium. 

The evening began with welcoming remarks delivered by graduate Payton Blagdon of the student council, followed by the pledge of allegiance and the national anthem, sung by Valedictorian Carolyn Potter.

The ceremony’s keynote speaker, Ed Thelander, a decorated combat veteran, former Navy Seal, and congressional candidate, spoke of perseverance and strength in the face of adversity before closing, “Congratulations to the class of 2023, I can’t wait to see the incredible things you do.”

Salutatorian Madison Westrich spoke to her classmates about evolution. “Over the next few years, our lives will be changing immensely and in various different ways ... Much like Darwin’s statement about accumulating all that is good, we too have the potential to preserve our successful traits to become the best version of ourselves.”

Valedictorian Potter congratulated her classmates on completing a chapter in their lives. “To my fellow graduates, we grew up. All we’ve ever wanted was to grow up,” she said. “We grew up dreaming about the day we get to go off on our next adventure, joking about how we couldn’t wait until graduation, eager to explore the world, and here I stand before you today as we take our first steps down divergent paths.”

Interim Superintendent of Schools Robert “Bob” England Jr. kept his remarks short and sweet: “Believe in yourself and most of all have fun.”

Assistant Principal Warren Cossette collected laughs as he compared individual students to the detention-stuck characters in the 80s coming-of-age movie classic “The Breakfast Club.”

Pianist Cheryl Dilts kept the ceremony on pace. Students lined up to receive their diplomas; as their names were called, they shook hands with and received diplomas from school committee member Michelle Blagdon, followed by another handshake from England, before having their tassels turned by Principal Gina Stevens. Stevens also gave students roses.

Eight students wore purple cords to denote honor student: Angelina Haggett, McKayla King, Alivia Orr, Carolyn Potter, Lilly Repine, Cory Ricker, Johnny Spies and Madison Westrich. Of these graduates, Potter, Ricker and Westrich are National Honor Society students. King, Potter, Ricker and Westrich wore an additional gold cord to signify “Top Scholar” and Westrich carries a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) endorsement.

The new alumni marched off the stage and through the gym in pairs, greeted by loved ones waiting to take pictures, give flowers and share in the moment.