KINGSTON — Brady Kettle tried to “take it all in” as he processed from the floor of the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center after receiving his diploma — one of 146 graduates of The Prout School to be honored with “Pomp and Circumstance” on June 4.
Kettle, the now former high school senior with the world at his feet pondered the next phase in his life as he headed outside, anxious to meet up with his family.
“It feels great. I don’t like change all that much, so I’m going to miss the fixed schedule, but I’m definitely looking forward to the freedom and new life experiences,” Kettle, 18, an Attleboro, Mass., resident, said after graduating.
Kettle, who plans to study graphic design at Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., was among 146 students at the Wakefield school’s 45th graduation ceremony on June 4.
Ninety-eight percent of the Class of 2013 will attend college in the fall. Three graduates not attending a university are enlisting in the U.S. Air Force, Army and Marines.
“The people we have met have all changed us forever and helped us to become better people,” said Catherine Orszulak, the class salutatorian.
For Becky Chinn, the class valedictorian, the past four years at Prout passed more quickly than she or many of friends were even aware.
“Or perhaps too well aware of it,” said Chinn, who added that the biggest challenge for her in high school might have been writing her valedictory speech. Reflecting back on her time at Prout, Chinn compared the challenges of high school to running a never-ending treadmill of classes, tests, term papers and projects.
But along the way, Chinn said she acquired “incredible study habits,” and a solid work ethic as she fell in love with books, poetry, cultures, religions and music.
“And I have truly come to appreciate learning,” Chinn said.
Many of the graduating seniors took both International Baccalaureate and Advanced Placement courses and ten are candidates for the full International Baccalaureate diploma. Five graduates were “legacy” students, sons and daughters of Prout alumni.
The graduates were offered more than $8,188,245 in combined grants and scholarships to help pay for their next four years at college.
David J.A. Carradini, principal of The Prout School, told the graduates that they are “authors” of their lives just as God is the creator of all life. Carradini also told the class to “live well” the questions of life.
“Live the questions well and the answers will come in the most unexpected ways in the most unexpected times,” Carradini said.
Providence Auxiliary Bishop Robert C. Evans congratulated the graduates as he offered the benediction to close the ceremony.
Matthew Costaregni, who will study business this fall at the University of Tampa, said he hoped to keep in touch with his friends and some of the teachers.
“This is so unreal, so surreal. It’s weird. The past four years went by so fast,” said Jessica M. Mongeau, 17, who plans to become an OB-GYN. She plans to attend Community College of Rhode Island before transferring to a four-year school in California.
Caelan Nardone, 17, plans to work at his parent’s law firm this summer before attending The University of Rhode Island, where he will study writing.
“I had some great friends here over the years. They were like a family,” Nardone said.
Owen Puerini, 18, who will attend the University of New Hampshire, was ready for new challenges in college.
“I thought high school was easy,” he said.
Prout Class of 2013
Sean E. Altshuler
Evan Anderson
Jamie Lisa Anderson
Samantha Faith Antone
Korine Barlas
Brent J. Bazinet
Amanda M. Borges
Justin P. Bristol
Shannon Mae Brown
Douglas John Buonanno
Maya E. Byrne
Kimberlee S. Cambio
Amanda Nicole Cantrell
Alisha Anne Capobianco
Callie Mae Carchedi
Alicia N. Carpenter
Sara J. Carpenter
Sienna J. Carraccio
Lauren Marie Chamberlain
Rebecca R. Chinn
Alyssa Elizabeth Conforti
Nicole Corneau
Matthew Costaregni
Sydney Morgan DaCosta
Johanna Kathleen Dauray
Matthew Ryan DePietro
Ashley Jane DiClemente
Richard DiLibero
Joshua Schaeffer DiPietro
Andrew James DiSandro
Olivia Rose Dodd
Charles Thomas Donnelly
Kayla Michelle D’Onofrio
Brittany Rebecca Donovan
Devyne Christine Doran
Abigail Rose Duckworth
Marissa Hope Egan
Felicia Marie Faria
Matthew Sullivan Farrell
Matthew James Filardo
Megan Faro Flanagan
Alison Lucia Fonseca
Nicholas Hazen Furcolo
Selina Emily Gomes
Olivia Sabina Gormley
Emily René Greenwood
Karly Rose Gregory
Clare Marie Griffin
Tayla Regan Hall
Christian Michael Harding
Brandon G. Hayes
Adam Joseph Haynes
Brandon C. Hazelton
Graham R. Jamison
Kaylee E. Janton
Victoria E. Jedson
Andrew B. Jennings
Adam Wakefield Kaley
Katherine Keimig
Brady James Patrick Kettle
Ryan J. Kiernan
Conner M. Kittell-Porter
Evan T. Klick
Julie-Ann Marie Knight
Casey W. Koffler
Jerry M. Krahn
Anika Maris Kreckel
Ryan Andrew Laskowski
Sarah Frances Lennon
Laura C. Leone
Kelley Shannon Magill
Riley Kathleen Martin
Justin Gillis Mateus
Alexandra R. Mattera
Emma Ann McConnell
Sarah Katherine McDaid
Thomas A. McDonald
Katelyn Mae McElkenny
Aaron Joseph McGillivray
Nicole Ann McGovern
Emily A. McLaughlin
Gavin J. Megley
Evan James Melillo
Susana Mena
Allison Jane Miller
Danielle Daly Millick
Shannon Margaret Mis
Adriana Mary Mitrelis
Jessica M. Mongeau
Matthew A. Monjay
Felicity Ann Moore
Matthew Connor Murphy
Caelan Nardone
Erica Lynn Norman
Connor Marie O’Loughlin
Catherine Grace Orszulak
Matthew David Peacock
Sophia Perrotti
Lauren Pinto
Julia Bicknell Pizzuti
Elizabeth Ann Plotkin
Alexander David Pontarelli
Frederick Pope
Owen Puerini
Duncan Mitsuru Quinn
Kathleen Allison Radigan
Raymond
Michael Reilly
Rachel Christina Reilly
Victor John Ricci
Alicia Ray Richards
Katelyn Riggs
Amanda Rodriguez
Christopher Rousseau
Emily Rose Sceery
Nicole Gabriela Scola
Anna Therasa Lyon Sentell
David Shoemaker
Konnor Smith
Sean Stanford
Alicia Storti
Brooke Sullivan
Elizabeth Sullivan
Andrew Tell
Sarah Tetreault
Gabriella Madigan Theroux
Ashlee Thomas
Rachel Nicole Thomas
William Harold Thomas
Samuel Patrick Torrejon
Jacquelyn Y. Tousignant
Hannah Alina Tramontano
Bianca Elizabeth Ulmschneider
Erin Elizabeth Viera
Sierra McCabe Walker
Edward Walsh
Jenna Walsh
Rachel Elizabeth Waring
Andrew J. Webb
Jackson Welsh
Mengyuan Xing
