BETHEL — Gould Academy presented diplomas to 79 seniors at its 176th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 26.

Led by bagpiper and Gould alumna Hillary Hough ’07, speakers, faculty and graduating seniors made their way from Hanscom Hall and across Alumni Field where several hundred family and friends gathered under the tent to celebrate the Class of 2012, the 176th graduating class at Gould Academy.

The Rev. Virginia S. Rickeman of the West Parish Congregational Church gave the invocation.

Wendy Penley, president of the Gould Academy board of trustees, introduced keynote speaker, Dr. Frank Lee, a scientist, executive and entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry, and former Gould parent and current member of the Gould Academy board of trustees.

Lee recalled two inspiring and momentous events in human history – Neil Armstrong’s first step onto the surface of the moon, and the eradication of small pox. He stressed the importance and relevance of these “big, hairy, audacious goals” to the Class of 2012.

“I know that each of you in your own lives will have opportunities, ideas, goals and dreams that at first will seem unlikely, if not unachievable. Inevitably, each of you will encounter your own moon shots. When these opportunities present themselves, and I know they will, you must seize them. Whatever they are, you must try to achieve your personal, individual moon shots, however challenging or risky they may seem. You may not succeed, but you need to take those risks because you never know how many such opportunities will present themselves. When Theodore Roosevelt said, “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed,” he was speaking about all of us.”

Student speakers

In her address, Class of 2012 Valedictorian Molly Siegel of Bethel challenged her classmates to live selfless lives and to have a meaningful impact on the world in which they live.

“It’s about living a life that is dedicated to helping. It’s about not being selfish. It is a natural thing to want to help oneself, even commendable sometimes. But when you have grown up with such freedom and opportunity as we have, there comes a time to give back. We have spent the last four years of our lives being groomed to go out in the world and be successful, but I challenge you to define success in terms of your impact on the world,” she said.

“It will not be an easy task. There will always be a wealth of problems that need our attention. It’s going to be hard work. But I look forward to embarking on this journey with the rest of you, sharing your stories, using you as resources and sources of inspiration.”

Jesse Tutor of Islesboro was chosen by his classmates to present the senior student address. He spoke of the importance of his classmates embracing the emotional moment of graduation and invoked the timeless Gould adage, “to thy ownself be true.”

“The only person who can make you happy, truly content and at peace is yourself. True, genuine happiness and joy is not a circumstantial state, but a personal one. And likewise, the only person who has the power to make you unhappy is sitting in the same seat as you are as well. Remember this feeling, and remember that you always have the power to feel this way if you truly want to. No one else can give it to you, and no one else can take it away.”

Awards

Daniel Kunkle, who will retire on June 30 after 11 years as Gould Academy’s Head of School, then announced the presentation of honors to members of the graduating class for the last time.

Merritt Harlan received the Headmaster’s Bowl, presented annually to the senior who has exhibited the highest standards of scholarship, character, service to the school and participation in activities of the school.

Amalia (Molly) Siegel received the Scholarship Shield, awarded to the senior with the highest academic average.

Seniors acknowledged for achieving a cumulative average of 90 or above over their careers at Gould are: Elizabeth Cramton, Abbie Goldberg, Merritt Harlan, Bo Huang, Isabel Kannegieser, Aaron Mason, Jacquelyn O’Sullivan, Eliana Rowe, Margaret Runyon, Amalia Siegel, Abigail Turner, and Jesse Tutor.

Members of this year’s senior class elected to the National Honor Society are: Margaret Adams, Stefanie Casella, Jebediah Clarke, Elizabeth Cramton, Kyle Curry, Mitchell Fraser, Rose Gill, Abbie Goldberg, Merritt Harlan, Bo Huang, Connor Huggins, Isabel Kannegieser, Robert Leeson, Aaron Mason, George Merrill, Jacquelyn O’Sullivan, Eliana Rowe, Margaret Runyon, Hailey Sarausky, Mirina Sato, Eugene Shin, Amalia Siegel, Abigail Turner, Jesse Tutor, Marguerite Wiser

Merritt Harlan received the Francis “Hi” Berry Award, and Jebediah Clarke received the Joe Roderick Award for outstanding competitive spirit through example and overall competence in athletics.

Stefanie Casella received the Gould Academy Alumni Association Award, which recognizes the son or daughter, grandson or granddaughter of an alumnus or alumna whose attitude, involvement, and contributions typify the ideals of Gould’s alumni and its Alumni Association. Stefanie’s father, Robert Casella, is a member of the Class of 1975.

Academic Book Prizes were presented to the following students: English: Amalia Siegel, History: Abbie Goldberg, Mathematics and Science: Merritt Harlan, French: Isabel Kannegieser, Spanish: Jacquelyn O’Sullivan, Computer Science: Nicholas Schwarz, Theatre: Abbie Goldberg, Pottery and Technical Theatre: Helen Cooper, Art: Ian Jackson, and Dance: Rose Gill.

The Linwood “Lindy” Lowell Award, an honor voted upon by the graduating class, is given annually to the member of the senior class whose friendly personality and helpful nature have brightened the lives of fellow students. The Class of 2012 chose to award the honor to classmate Damian Dryjas.

The Senior Point Award, given to that senior whose Senior Point project best exemplifies the three values at the heart of any Gould endeavor, “the energy to try, willingness to risk, and capacity to tolerate,” was given to Eliana Rowe.

Merritt Harlan received the William P. Clough III award, which recognizes an on-snow athlete who has demonstrated outstanding character, attitude, and leadership.

The MELMAC Principals Scholarship is awarded to a graduating senior who has made a difference in the lives of others and that of his or her community and is a solid school citizen involved in extracurricular activities; a student who has exhibited a commitment to public service; and an individual with the potential to make a difference in the world. This year it was awarded to Jonathan Scheidegger.

The Ralph Gould Music Award was given to senior Aaron Mason in recognition of his improvement, excellence, and contribution to the school in the area of music.

Gemma Alcodori Leon received the Gayle A. Foster Award for her outstanding work in photography.

The Rhode Island School of Design President’s Award recognizes an accomplished artist in the senior class for his or her effort and achievement in the arts, overall academic achievement, and creativity and talent. The Rhode Island School of Design established the award in 1984. This year’s recipient was Jamin Byun.

Yushen Xiang and Wyatt Costello received the Elwood F. Ireland Award, given to the boy and girl of the senior class who best exemplified the qualities for membership in the National Honor Society but who were not eligible academically for consideration.

The Town of Newry presents a monetary gift to each of the graduating seniors who are full-time residents. This year’s recipients were Cody Bullen, Scott Cameron, Jameson Corey, and Zachary Finnimore.

In addition, Kunkle noted two awards announced at an Underclass Awards Assembly earlier in the week. Ella Dorval Hall received the Edmond J. Vachon Award given to a member of the junior class for outstanding contribution to the school and achievement in the community. The award was created by Gould Academy in honor of Headmaster Emeritus Edmond J. Vachon. Mr. Vachon joined the Gould faculty in September 1940, became Senior Master in 1941, Associate Headmaster in 1954, and Headmaster in 1959. He also served on the Gould Board of Trustees from 1961 until his retirement as Headmaster in June of 1967.

Delaney Pals received the Carolyn S. Wollen Award given to a sophomore girl who reveals leadership potential through personal example and engages fully in school life. The award was created by Headmaster Emeritus and Mrs. William P. Clough III in honor of Trustee Emerita Carolyn S. Wollen who personified these qualities as a Gould Academy Trustee.

Kunkle and Penley then presented diplomas to the graduating seniors, and the Rev. Rickeman gave the benediction.

Baccalaureate

On Friday evening before commencement, Gould held its traditional baccalaureate exercises at the West Parish Congregational Church with the Rev. Rickeman officiating.

The Class of 2012 selected graduating senior Benjamin Martin of Chelmsford, Mass. and science teacher Peter Hedden to address them at the ceremony.

After baccalaureate, the graduates and their parents attended a reception under the tent and a special dinner in Gould’s Ordway Hall, followed by the annual Spring Concert in Bingham Auditorium.