‘Like no other’: Newport’s Class of 2020 congratulated from a distance

By Jordan J. Phelan
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NEWPORT — It wouldn’t have been a fitting graduation ceremony for members of Newport Middle High School’s Class of 2020 without overcoming one last obstacle to close out their four years of academic success.

A brief rain shower failed to dampen the spirit of the 64 students in the Class of 2020 at their commencement ceremony held on Wednesday, June 10 on the school’s football field and track, a location change from the traditional Newport Common in an effort to sufficiently enforce regulations to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus while best accommodating guests.

Soon-to-be-graduate Ethan Trombley began the celebratory proceedings with a lovely rendition of the national anthem as the nearby flags waved in the passing breeze.

Class President Natasha Whipple, also one of the three valedictorians this year, gave the welcome address to her fellow students, administration and families in attendance watching from their own personal rectangular slice of grass on the other side of the fence. In her speech, Whipple commemorated Newport staff, students and guardians for everything they have done to be able to receive their diplomas along with a dash of comedy.

“We have all been through a lot — a lot more than what most classes go through. But I feel as though that brought us closer. Everybody who is here fought to be here, whether that means doing everything they can to make online school work, being an essential worker or just struggling to find toilet paper in the grocery store,” Whipple said. “I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Newport staff on behalf of all of us sitting here today.”

Whipple also thanked all student-athletes for giving the community something to cheer for, the band for providing the music homecoming is known for and all students for attending class meetings that helped the Class of 2020 raise $15,000 over four years. The money will be used to donate an electronic board for future classes.

A significant theme of the ceremony involved touching tributes and recognition to the community for all it has done amid the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic, an unforeseen disruptor for educational institutions and its students all around the world.

“Thank you to our community. Throughout the past four months, you have shown us what Newport is really all about. Thank you Dunkin’ Donuts and Dr. Minnihan for our beautiful senior mural. Thank you senior parents for getting us signs all around town. And thank you to every member of Newport for being kind and supportive to our class. We cannot thank you enough.”

Valedictorian Mason Martell applied his experiences competing in the 100m hurdles on the track & field team to empower fellow colleagues that even though there may be obstacles in your way the Class of 2020 can and does always find a way to succeed.

“The second definition [of hurdles] is ‘an obstacle or difficulty. These are the ones our class has had to jump — both of which takes grit, perseverance and an understanding that falling on your face is a very likely possibility,” Martell said. “The Class of 2020 has overcome some hurdles ourselves.”

Some examples of challenges Newport Middle High School’s Class of 2020 included Homecoming, becoming accustomed to the academic schedule at the end of each summer, student elections and the current global pandemic. Martell reflected that although he initially thought the closing of school would allow students to take a much needed break from academics, soon he realized that this would be the most significant leg of their collective yet individual races.

“The greatest hurdle was suddenly placed before us. We were tired. We were exhausted. We had run the race but didn’t save any gas,” Martell said. “Yet we sit here tonight, an inch in front of the finish line… We cleared the hurdle.”

Martell closed his speech by providing a bit of advice for all the graduates for when they take on their next big race.

“In your next race know that you’ll need to pace yourself,” Martell said. “Know that there may be times you need to laugh or that the hurdle might be too high. But if you don’t try, you’ll never know what crossing the finish line may feel like.”

Valedictorian Anthony Sanville offered some sentiments on what makes the Class of 2020 stand out from past classes.

“The thing that ultimately makes Newport Middle High School unique is the character that the teachers provide,” Sanville said. “These are the things that I most admire about my teachers and what I want to apply into my own life.”

Sanville believes that the Class of 2020 will go on to do great things throughout the world but wanted to remind everyone before departing what the word success truly means.

“Success is not becoming financially rich. Success is not becoming the most important. And success is not becoming the most powerful. Success is making yourself and others around you happy while doing the things you enjoy and making the world a better place.”

Although the shadow of COVID-19 still looms overhead, Sanville does not want that to eclipse what the Class of 2020 has achieved.

“We are all put on this Earth for a general purpose so we must make the most out of it,” Sanville said. “We should not let COVID-19 overshadow our accomplishments or our abilities. We must keep fighting.”

Valedictorian Natasha Whipple took the podium for the second time to emphasize the significance of being together one last time before going off on their separate, equally exciting adventures.

“Everybody sitting here today deserves to be here,” Whipple said. “I stand here before you looking back on our four years of high school smiling because we are here. We are not in a Zoom class. It is not a drive-thru. We are here in person, face-to-face, to celebrate one another.”

Amid these unusual times, Whipple wanted to share 20 things to carry on after high school that just might come in handy.

Remember to hand in your work on time

Never be late

Masks are useful

Take your time

Park in your own parking spot

Have a positive attitude

Life isn’t always fair

Be flexible

Thank your friends and family every day

Friendships change but always remember who was there with you along the way

Be confident in who you are and don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise

Take food class (free food)

Step out of your comfort zone

Thank your community because they will be the ones who catch you when you fall

Thank your teachers after class

More people are kind than not

Be helpful in any way you can

Never take anything for granted

Remember where you came from

Four years may seem like a lifetime, but it goes by in a blink of an eye

Newport Middle High School’s Class of 2020, its educators and officials, along with the adapted ceremony held on the evening of June 10, can all be summarized simply with a statement made by Valedictorian Mason Martell

“The Class of 2020 is like no other.”

Class officers

Natasha Whipple, President

Anthony Sanville, Vice President

Jasmyn Wilkinson, Secretary

Michael Wilkinson, Treasurer

Sarah Griffin and Kaitlynn Porter, Class Advisors

Presenters of diplomas

Jenna Darling, School Board Member

Brendan Minnihan, Superintendent of Schools

Shannon Martin, Principal

Sarah Griffin, Senior Class Advisor

Kaitlynn Porter, Senior Class Advisor

Class of 2020

Alexandra Marie Armstrong

Lindsay Grace Baker

Hailey Lugene-Magpie Bent

Morgan Ashlee Blackinton

Cory Michael Bowie

Victor Branch

Kelsey Lynn Brodeur

S’akowen Michael Brunelle

Alyssa Marie Burr

William L. Cross

Kyle Wayne Currier

Adam David Daniels

Zackary Tyler Davis

Juliette Driscoll

Isabelle Catherine Fischer

Hunter James Frye

Kurt Allen Gagne Jr.

Kiley Giguere

Scott Graham

Peggy Jolene Greenhalgh

Nevaeh Rose Griggs

Cameron Edward Hall

Zenith Lee Hall

Garrett Patrick Harold

Ayden Michael Hennessy

Allison Riley Howald

Nicholas Mitchell Hubert

Braydon Avery Kraft

Alyshya Marie Lee

Austin Conner Malool-Juneau

Jocelyn Marie Mann

Mason Michael Martell

Blake Thomas McKinney

Lacey Marie McNeel

Jarred Allen Meyette

Josephine Antoinette Millard

Brooklynn Nicole Mitchler

Kayla Murphy

Kayla O’Leary

Rebecca J. O’Neill

Kelci Jean Page

Caleb Andrew Palmer

Alexis Marian Quimby

Annika Rose Mary Randall

Reuben Joshua Relente

Alexandra Jolyne Sandra Lena Beth Richardson

Blaize Richardson

Tyreese Michael Francis Ripley

Ryan Henry Sanborn

Tyler Russell Sanborn

Anthony Allen Sanville

Erin Seagrove

Cooper Leland Skarin

Ethan Trombley

Katherine Leigh Trombley

Alicia Truell

Dakota Ryan West

Natasha Jane Whipple

Jasmyn Rose Wilkinson

Michael Todd Wilkinson

Shylene Winship

Bishop Christopher Wong

Angela Nicole Woolbert

Courtney Michaela Yeingst