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Community Corner

Wilcox Sends 173 Off Into The World

Students reflect on their four years at Meriden's technical high school and the future ahead at their graduation.

Wilcox Technical High School graduated 173 seniors Saturday morning in the parking lot of the school, on what turned out to be a day with lovely weather.

“Last night I spoke at another technical high school’s graduation right during the middle of a thunderstorm outside, I’m just happy for all of us that it’s such a nice day out,” said Patricia Keavney- Maruca, a member of the Connecticut Technical High School Board of Education.

Wilcox is Meriden's technical high school, drawing students from the city and throughout Middlesex and New Haven County to study vocations ranging from cosmetology to plumbing. 

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Besides the great weather the graduates were also in high spirits about finally finishing their four year technical education.

“It’s a sigh of relief. It’s been a long four years but it’s been great,” said Chris Morales, whose trade was culinary arts.

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Despite his relief of finishing high school the Wallingford resident states he will still miss Wilcox.

“I’m going to miss all the people, all the classes, and the sports,” said Morales, who played on Wilcox’s varsity basketball team.

Morales will be continuing his education in the fall at Johnson and Wales University majoring in Culinary Arts.

Valedictorian Samantha Roccapriore was more philosophical in her commencement address. She spoke of a story a friend told her at a summer camp last year.

“My friend Neil said in life it is up to us to remove any barriers we may encounter, we must realize we have to deal with any of life’s setbacks in order to get back on the soft grass,” said Roccapriore.

As for the future, Roccapriore felt she and her classmates controlled their own destinies.

“The only one who knows where you are going is you,” she said.

Class president and salutatorian Orlando Valentin had a positive message for his class during his commencement speech.

“Like Bruce Lee once said, always be yourself, express yourself, and have faith in yourself,” said Valentin. “It’s not about how many times you fall, but rather how quickly you get back up.”

Valentin’s trade at Wilcox was electrical and he plans on pursuing it further when he attends the University of Connecticut in the fall. He is going to major in electrical engineering.

”I already miss it, the people, the memories, I’m really at a loss for words right now,” said Valentin about his time at Wilcox.

Wilcox teacher of the year Monica Rogers took the ceremony to teach all of the graduating seniors one final lesson.

“Never utter these horrific words ‘it’s good enough’…every success is built on the ability to do better than good enough,” said Rogers.

Seniors Olivia Foersch and Jennifer Brouillard were more direct about their time at Wilcox.

“Yes, we’re going to miss it. Everything,” said the two seniors.

Both girls’ trade was hairdressing and while Brouillard is going to seek employment, Foersch is continuing her education at Middlesex Community College.

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