Graduation/Commencement Exercises

Class Motto: "Labor Omnia Vincit"

• Order of Exercises

  • MUSIC

  • Prayer

  • Latin Salutatory - Christenze F. Files

  • ESSAYS

  • "Fate of the New England Lakes" - Ivory C. Farr

  • "Noah Webster's Great Work" - Virginia A. Burnham

  • "Anarchists" - Walter Dolley

  • "Story of an Old Mill" - Annie L. McDonough

  • MUSIC

  • ESSAYS

  • "The Nemesis of Speculation" - Howard A. Sanborn

  • "Alaskan School-boys and School-girls" - Katharine M. Files

  • "Cassius' Denunciation of Caesar" - Chase A. Boothby

  • "History of a Grain of Sand" - Ida M. Foss

  • MUSIC

  • ESSAYS

  • "Caesar as a Public Benefactor" - Bion W. Bickford

  • "Thralldom of the French Masses Before the Revolution" - Anna L. Dunn

  • "American Myths and Superstitions" - Mary E. McDonough

  • "The Power of Public Sentiment" - Harry A. Davis

  • MUSIC

  • ESSAYS

  • "A Century's Change in New England" - Olivia R. Barker

  • "Invective Against Verres" from the Latin of Cicero - Ernest C. Edwards

  • "Origin of America's Aborigines" - Fred B. Sanborn

  • Class History - Jennie L. Drown

  • MUSIC

  • Class Oration - "Labor Omnia Vincit" - William Files

  • Class Poem - "June" - Emily F. Fardon

  • Class Prophecy  - Frederick H. Hinkley

  • Valedictory - Fannie S. Newman

  • MUSIC

  • Conferring of Diplomas

  • Singing of the class song, written by Katharine M. Files

  • BENEDICTION

• Music

• Prayer

• Music

• Salutatory and Essay: Helen Hamblen* (excused)

• Class History: Emma Florance Storer

• Essay: "Advantages of the Panama Canal" - Earle S. Russell

• Music

• Class Prophecy: Catherine Carlton Robie

• Essay: "The American Girl's Heritage" - Ruth E. Roberts

• Oration: "Canadian Expansion" - Manfred Lawrence Warren

• Presentation of Gifts: Elinor P. Allen

• Essay and Valedictory: Ruth Hazel Robinson

• Music

• Conferring of Diplomas

• Singing of the Class Song

• Benediction

1914 Class Song

Written by Leon J. Weymouth

Music by Archibald J. Rich

Happy school days now are ended,

And with half a smile, a sigh,

Joy and sorrow strangely blended,

Once again we say goodbye.

Time is beck'ning, Duty calling

To the nineteen here today

To assist the weak and falling,

As we journey on life's way.

When all other joys shall perish

In the grave of years gone by,

Still fond memories we will cherish

Of happy days at Gorham High.

And this promise to us given,

By our motto and our God,

That in Earth as well as Heaven

"As the labor, the reward."

Class Motto - "Conquering and still to conquer"

• March, "Alumni March" - High School Orchestra

• Prayer

• Music, "Our Cheer Leader" - High School Orchestra

• Salutatory and Essay, "Cooperative Discipline in American Schools" - Ethelyn Pierce

• Essay, "Agriculture and the Farmer" - Jerome Keating

• Chorus, "'Tis Morning" and "Fadeth the Smiling Day" 

• Essay, "The High Road to Education" - Ruth Kimball

• Poem, "Here Endeth, Here Beginneth" - Kate Libby

• Essay, "Arnold's March Through Maine" - Margaret Stimson

• Clarinet Solo, "Cavatina" from "Giralda" - Waldo Fenlason

• Essay, "Forest Conservation" - Carleton Butler

• Valedictory and Essay, "Vincens et Victurus" - Evelyn Hooper

• Music, "The Bouquet" - High School Orchestra

• Conferring of Diplomas

• Benediction

• Processional - performed by Mrs. Marion Sylvain

• Prayer - Rev. William Stewart

• Salutatory and Essay - "George Bernard Shaw" - Joan McAllister

• Essay - "John Masefield" - Ida Hamblen

• Music - "Entrée de Procession" - HS Orchestra

• Essay - "Rudyard Kipling" - Philip Bodge

• Essay - "Robert Peter Tristram Coffin" - Edith Webster

• Piano Solo - "Seguidilla Castilian Dance" - Sidney Goodrich

• Essay - "Mary Ellen Chase" - Merrilyn Thomas

• Chorus - "The Lost Chord" 

• Valedictory and Essay - "Eugene O'Neill" - Lorraine Landry

• Awarding of the Dole Essay Prize

• Conferring of Diplomas

• Singing of Class Ode

• Benediction

Class Ode

Tune: "The Same Old, Dear Old Place"

Words by Barbara Hill

We're standing together,

Faithful and true,

Dear Gorham High School

We're leaving you.

We'll sing your praises

And go our ways,

Always remembering

These happy days.

(Chorus)

In our mem'ry's heart we'll treasure

Each and every friendly face,

Every classroom, every teacher;

Pictures time can ne'er efface.

Though our high school days are ended,

Still our lives are just begun.

There's a happy future just ahead,

If life's battles can be won.

With youth and good courage,

We're starting out;

Out on life's highway

With not a doubt.

Life's full of gladness,

And sorrow, too,

But we'll be strong

In remembering you.

(Chorus)

In our mem'ry's heart we'll treasure

Each and every friendly face,

Every classroom, every teacher;

Pictures time can ne'er efface.

In the years to come we'll thank thee

For thy guiding light so clear,

That illumed the path for us to see,

Gorham High, we salute thee here;

Gorham High, we salute thee here.

• Processional - Mrs. Nina Bailey

• Invocation - Rev. Harrison W. Dubbs

• Music - Choral Ensemble

  • "The Heavens Resound" - Beethoven

  • "Where e'er You Walk" - Handel

  • "Hymn to Courage" - Beethoven

  • "Oh Lovely Heart" - Roberton

• Presentation of Speaker - Sarah E. Packard

• Address - Rev. Frederick H. Thompson

• "Reverie" by DeBussy - Miles Brookes, Jr., Clarinet, Sarah Packard, Accompanist

• Valedictory - James L. Moody, Jr.

• Presentation of Awards - Principal Theron R. Stinchfield

• Conferring of Diplomas - Dr. Stanley H. Rowe, School Committee Chairman

• Singing of Class Ode

• Benediction - Rev. Haywood Thomas

• Recessional

Class Ode 1951

Tune: Etude by Chopin

Words by Sarah Packard

O Author of all on land or sea,

As now you close this chapter in our lives

O let it be

One of knowledge, one of wisdom gathered

As each one strives.

And illuminate each day,

Each page with joy we've had in these three years

At work and play.

Tell the gladness, tell the heartbreak,

Tell the things that made our hearts quake,

Things that we'll recall as years go by;

Fond dreams that deep in our hearts will lie,

Dreams of Gorham High.

As this Book of Life grows deeper still

Give us the courage e'er to do Thy will.

Give us Thy care.

Make us steadfast as the pine tree,

Faithful as the heavens to Thee,

Calm as any deeply shadowed pool,

May love of man be the guiding rule

Throughout life's hard school.

This is our prayer,

This is our prayer.

• Processional - Mrs. Nina B. Bailey

• Junior Marshal - Bernard Bean

• Invocation - Rev. Lewis Beckford

• "The American's Creed" - Class of 1950

• "God Ever Glorious" - Boys' Ensemble

• "Devotion" - Girls' Ensemble

• "Awake" from Die Miestersinger - Choral Groups

• Presentation of Speaker - Evelyn Warren

• Address - John Gould, guest speaker

• "Pastorale" - Phyllis Guptill, soprano

• Valedictory - Edward Schriver

• "The Swan" - Abbott Mosher, Trumpet

• Presentation of Awards - Principal Theron R. Stinchfield

• Conferring of Diplomas - Linwood H. Brofee, School Committee Chairman

• Singing of Class Ode - Class of 1950

• Benediction - Rev. Harrison W. Dubbs

• Recessional

Class Ode

Tune: "Turn Ye to Me"

Words by Frances Carey

We leave thee, dear Gorham High,

Singing thy praises loud,

E'er shall our hearts be proud

Of Gorham High.

Our mem'ries will fonder grow

As the years quickly pass;

Praise to thee from our class,

Our Gorham High.

Soft! How the echoes resound from thy walls

But soft in our mem'ries the faint echo calls --

Echoes of joys found there.

Youthful days free from care.

Thank thee for days gone by,

Dear Gorham High.

We leave thee with aching hearts,

Bidding thee fond farewell.

No words can ever tell

Our love for thee.

Though life's path may lead us

Far from thy portals wide,

Thy name be glorified,

Honor to thee.

Still through the long years thy mem'ry shall cling

And ever with longing our proud voices ring,

Chanting thy praises strong.

E'er shall our hearts belong

And ever loyal be,

Gorham, to thee.

• Processional - Elgar

• Junior Marshal - Kenneth True

• Invocation - Reverend Thurber Weller

• Choral Reading - Class of 1951

• "Great God of Nations" - Larson; Mixed Ensemble

• Presentation of Speaker - Florence Brookes

• Address - "Your World, Your Country, and You" - Payson Smith, guest speaker

• "The Shepherdess" - Roberton, Girls' Ensemble

• Valedictory - Harlene Blake

• Presentation of Awards - Principal Eugene Rourke

• Conferring of Diplomas - Austin Alden, School Committee Chairman

• Singing of Class Ode - Class of 1951

• Benediction - Reverend Ernest Roberts

• Recessional - Elgar

Class Ode 1951

Written by Margaret Rowe

Tune of "Golden Gate"

Now we must leave thee, Dear Gorham High,

We all find it hard to say goodbye.

Friendships we've made here together

Surely will not die.

Courage and strength we have gathered here,

May they help us overcome all fear.

Though we're not together,

We're loyal forever.

Gorham High, farewell to thee.

• Processional - Mendelssohn (on organ)

• Invocation - Father John Finn

• Mixed Chorus - "Alleluia"

• THEME: The Imperative Needs of Youth

• Essay, "The Need to Understand the Significance of Good Family Life" - Arlene Spraker

• Essay, "The Need to Understand Science and Its Influence on Human Life" - David Kreiton

• Essay, "The Need to Develop One's Capacity for Appreciation of Literature, Music and Art" - Elizabeth Taylor

• Organist Douglas Eaton - "When Thou Art Near"

• Madrigal Singers - "The Waits," "O Melody," "Which is the Properest Day to Sing?," "All Creatures Now are Merry Minded"

• Essay, "The Need to be Able to Use Leisure Time Well" - Carolyn Ginn

• Essay, "The Need to Grow in Insight into Ethical Values and Principles" - Gwen Kiefer

• Essay, "The Need to Grow in Ability to Think Rationally" - Beth Murray

• Mixed Chorus - "Turn Back, O Man"

• Presentation of Awards - Principal Charles Delano

• Conferring of Diplomas - Elmer Dodge, Chairman of School Committee

• Class Ode - Class of 1960

• Benediction - Rev. Harrison Dubbs

• Recessional - Elgar

Class Ode

Tune: "Still as the Night"

Words by Douglas Eaton and David Kreiton

Let us now sing our song to thee,

School of our hearts, Gorham High.

Our years have been filled abundantly

With many memories that never die,

Our thanks to thee, Gorham High.

While seeking the way, a true one to see,

You've been our guide, Gorham High.

Loyal we'll be and faithful to thee

Now and in all the years to come,

Our thanks to thee, Gorham High.

Junior Marshal: Sumner Peter Mills III

• Processional - Mendelssohn (on organ)

• Invocation - Rev. Frederick Harter

• Mixed Chorus - "Let There Be Music"

• Special Chorus - "Come, All You Fair and Tender Ladies"

• "Onward, Ye Peoples!" - Jean Sibelius

• "Together" - Class President Russell Outhuse

• Conferring of Diplomas - John Labrecque, Jr., School Committee Chairman

• Class Ode - Class of 1968

• Benediction - Father Roland Normandeau

• Recessional - Elgar

Organist - Mrs. Alfred Mann

Junior Marshal - Stephen Brown

Class Ode

Tune: "Born Free"

Words by Alana Brown, Melinda Sawyer, Rosanne Holman

Gorham,

Tonight is a sad time

Tonight is the last time,

We'll stand together as one.

Leaving,

Is something we must do,

So that we may follow

The path you've set as our guide.

Stay true, 

To what you believe in,

And follow your heart

'Til all your dreams come true.

Always,

Remember the good times

And friends that you made here

All your life.

• Processional - Mendelssohn (on organ)

• Invocation - Rev. Harrison Dubbs

• Mixed Chorus - "Sine Nomine," "Concord"

• "The Stories We Tell" - Rev. Russell Peppe, School Street Methodist Church

• Conferring of Diplomas - Mrs. Merle Brofee, School Committee Chairman

• Class Ode - Class of 1969

• Benediction - Rev. Marus Pollard

• Recessional - Elgar

Organist - Mrs. Alfred Mann

Junior Marshal - Christopher Johnson

Class Ode

Tune: "Yesterday's Gone"

Words by Anne York

We laughed with all, the school year through

We know we've found happiness in you

For us Gorham was the one

But that was yesterday

And yesterday's gone.

Some walked together hand in hand

Through miles and miles of golden sand.

But now it's over and done

For that was yesterday

And yesterday's gone.

We had such happiness together

We can't believe it's gone forever

Wait till friends meet again

We hope that they'll remember when

Our days had just begun

We shared them yesterday

And yesterday's gone.

We shared them yesterday and yesterday's gone.

• Processional - Mendelssohn (on organ)

• Invocation - Rev. George Gifford, Little Falls Baptist Church

• Mixed Chorus - "And To Each Season," "Did I Ever Really Live?"

• Address to Graduates - William S. Cohen, Representative to Congress, Second District, Maine

• Remarks by Superintendent - Woodbury Saunders

• Presentation of Special Awards -

  • Conrad Knight Memorial Scholarship, presented by Principal Mark S. Eastman

  • Master Sgt. Darcy Memorial, presented by former governor Kenneth M. Curtis

• Conferring of Diplomas - Principal Mark Eastman

• Class Ode - Class of 1975

• Benediction - Rev. George Bullens, School Street United Methodist Church

• Recessional - Elgar

Organist - Mrs. Alfred Mann

Junior Marshal - Karen Edwards

Class Ode

Tune: "Leaving on a Jet Plane"

Words by Gloria Chapman and Susan Charrier

Well, our time is through at Gorham High

it's time to say goodbye

In our hearts these memories

will never die.

We have had our fun throughout the years

With all our laughter

and all our tears

We've seen our friends grow up

before our eyes.

There's so many times that we have shared

So many times that we have cared

How much we'll come to

miss this place we've known.

There's so many times we've played around

We have had our share of ups and downs

And now it's time to go

out on our own.

(Chorus)

So miss me and smile for me, 

tell me that you'll pray for me,

hold me like you'll never let go.

We're leaving Gorham High School

Don't know when we'll be back again,

Oh, how we hate to go.

• Processional - Mendelssohn (on organ)

• Invocation - Pastor Darold Nickerson, Pine Tree Baptist Church

• Mixed Chorus - "The Road Not Taken," "We Shall Overcome"

• "Doing Your Own Thing" - Marshall Dodge

• Remarks by Superintendent - Woodbury Saunders

• Conferring of Diplomas - Principal Mark Eastman

• Class Ode - Class of 1976

• Benediction - Rev. Anthony Rotunno, Saint Anne Catholic Church

• Recessional - Elgar

Organist - Mrs. Alfred Mann

Junior Marshal - Timothy Guiles

Class Ode

Tune: "Your Song"

Words by Kristine Linnell, Nancy Woodbrey

It's a little bit funny - 

See what we've become,

All we've accomplished,

All we have done.

Now looking back on our

High School days,

We've learned and we've grown, each in different ways.

But now the time has come

To take different roads

We each have our calling,

Each our own goals.

The fun we have had

Must come to an end.

Our gift is our love and,

It comes from within.

We give it to everybody

To help them along.

It's hard to leave old friends.

Somehow we'll be strong.

Yet while we're parting,

We're only starting

Another act in a play.

The actors new friends and

The setting another day.

(repeat chorus)

• Processional - Mendelssohn (on organ)

• Invocation - Rev. Arthur St. Pierre

• Song - Kimberly McCollor, Susan Stevens, Wendy Leavitt; Accompanied by James Goodrich

• Speaker - Governor Joseph Brennan

• Remarks - Superintendent Woodbury Saunders

• Conferring of Diplomas - Principal Philip Blood

• Class Ode - Class of 1981

• Benediction - Rev. Arthur St. Pierre

• Recessional - Elgar

Organist - Mrs. Lois Hardy

Senior Marshal - Jennifer Rioux

Class Ode

Tune: "Piano Man" by Billy Joel

Words by Beth Woodbrey, Jodie Bickford, Kelli Miller

The time has come to take different roads,

We each have our own goals to follow.

It's time to part from our high school years,

To go on and look for tomorrow.

Our gift is our love given to everyone,

The memories will stay in our minds.

The fun we have had must now come to an end,

It's hard to leave old friends behind.

We've learned and grown each in different ways,

Somehow we will be strong.

For today as we leave we'll be starting,

To learn as we travel along.

• Welcome - Principal Christopher Record

• Pomp and Circumstance - Performed by Mr. Ray Cornils

• Presentation of the Colors - Gorham Fire Department

• National Anthem - GHS Chamber Singers

• Opening Remarks - Principal Christopher Record

• Class Presidential Address - Eben Benson

• Salutatory Address - Allison Matthews

• Gorham High School Barbershop Quartet - Mitchell Perrin, Andrew Ernest, Ian Hawkes, Jonas Rimkunas

• Valedictory Address - Sydney Butler

• Faculty Speaker - Mrs. Amy Smith

• Presentation of Diplomas

  • Principal Christopher Record

  • Assistant Principal Kimberly Slipp

  • Assistant Principal Charles Tryder

  • Class Advisor Darren Panagakos

  • Superintendent Theodore Sharp

  • School Committee Chair Dennis Libby

  • School Committee Member Katherine Garrard

  • School Committee Member Kyle Currier

• Class Song "In My Life" - The Beatles - Performed by Senior Chorus

• Turning of the Tassel - Class Officers

• Presentation of the Class of 2011 - Mr. Darren Panagakos

• Closing Remarks - Principal Christopher Record

• Class Marshals - Audrey Adkison, Kevin Lubelczyk

ABOUT (COVID-19 CEREMONY)

Due to COVID-19, this ceremony was split into six smaller ceremonies to account for social distancing and reducing the spread. They were held on June 6th and 7th, 2020. 

The small groups of graduates met in the school auditorium for their ceremony, and were seated apart from one another. There was no physical audience, rather the ceremony was live-streamed on the internet for families to watch. 

Masks were required of all, excluding when speaking at the podium. 

Each graduate would see their name on a TV screen and wait on a marked spot on the stage, until they were called. The principal then placed their diploma on a stool and stepped back, applauding rather than handshaking due to social distancing. The graduate would then have their photo taken by Amanda Landry, a local photographer, and then the parents would be allowed in for a group photo. After that, the parents were escorted out of the building and the graduate then sat down for the remainder of the ceremony.

As I (Ethan Bump) was a part of this graduating class, I can say it was a very...different...type of ceremony than previous classes and classes since. 

This program applied to all six ceremonies.

• Welcome - Principal Brian Jandreau

• Processional - "Pomp and Circumstance" (RECORDED)

  • Graduates stood up for this, but did not march due to COVID-19 restrictions. Additionally, this was a recording and not a live performance.

• National Anthem - Gorham High School Chamber Singers (RECORDED)

  • Due to COVID-19's restrictions on in-person singing, the national anthem was a recording.

• Opening Remarks - Principal Brian Jandreau

• Class Presidential Address - Westley Brinegar

• Salutatory Address - Peyton Morton

• Valedictory Address - Madisen Sweatt

• Presentation of Diplomas

  • Principal Brian Jandreau

  • Assistant Principal Christina Cifelli

  • Assistant Principal Ryan Watts

  • Superintendent Heather Perry

  • Assistant Superintendent Christopher Record

  • School Committee Members

• Turning of the Tassel - Westley Brinegar

• Presentation of the Class of 2020 - Principal Brian Jandreau

• Recessional - "Home" by Phillip Phillips (class song)

ABOUT (COVID-19 CEREMONY)

Due to COVID-19, this ceremony was held outside. Restrictions had been eased back since the previous year (2020) so an audience was permitted to be in person to watch in the bleachers. 

• Welcome - Principal Brian Jandreau

• Processional - "Pomp and Circumstance"

• National Anthem - Sierra Cummings

• Opening Remarks - Principal Brian Jandreau

• Salutatory Address - Nathan Eichner

• Valedictory Address - Emily Paruk

• Class Presidential Address - Emily Paruk

• Keynote Address - Senator Angus King, Jr. (Independent Democrat)

• Presentation of Diplomas

  • Principal Brian Jandreau

  • Assistant Principal Christina Cifelli

  • Assistant Principal Ryan Watts

  • Class Advisor Sarah Drury

  • Class Advisor Rebecca Manson

  • Superintendent Heather Perry

  • Assistant Superintendent Christopher Record

  • School Committee Members

• Turning of the Tassel - Class Officer

• Presentation of the Class of 2021 - Principal Brian Jandreau

• Recessional - Class of 2021

Class Marshals - Tatiana Jonk & Tess Libby