Platt Graduates Get Plenty of Good Advice

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road.
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go.
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why.
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time.
It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
--“Time of Your Life” by Green Day

With this song sung by their classmates echoing in their minds, 216 Platt High School seniors moved the tassels from one side of their mortar boards to the other and entered the world of adulthood Monday. With family and friends filling the lawn in front of the school on this pleasant early summer evening, the graduates listened to advice from city officials, class leaders and their principal, Donna Mik.

“It was 22 years ago that I stood on that same stage,” said Meriden School Superintendent Mark Benigni, who led off the succession of graduation speakers. “If you think you can or if you think you can’t, you’re right,” he told the graduates, quoting Henry Ford. “Your beliefs can limit you, or they can empower you,” he continued. Benigni praised the class for all their community service before leaving them with this advice: “Create your own life and live it without regret.”

Senior Class President Jose Brocero then spoke, citing motivational speaker Zig Ziglar: “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.” After sharing some of his favorite memories of his years at Platt, Brocero said, “I know that we will never forget the experiences we shared in these four years.” Before closing, he spoke fondly of former Platt principal Timothy Gaffney who retired in 2008 and passed away last year.

Next, Board of Education President Mark Hughes told the graduates, “Don’t just reach for the stars. Grab one and make it your own.” He also asked them to “please be safe as you celebrate everything you’ve earned.”

Salutatorian Tina Dutra urged classmates to “live your life with enthusiasm” and “never settle for good enough.” Her remark “Being smart is something to be proud of” was met with applause. After tearfully thanking her parents for teaching her the value of hard work, she closed with a quote from Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over,” she said. “Smile because it happened.”

Valedictorian Kevin Buonanni wanted classmates to know that, even though most people know him as someone who has had his life planned out since kindergarten, he, too, is “going off into the world with uncertainty, just like everyone else.” While everyone will face failure at some point, he advised his peers to embrace those times because they make us stronger.

Following Buonanni’s speech, class officers presented the 2011 class gift to the school--a 42-inch television and multimedia monitor to be mounted in the main hallway.

The following special scholarship award winners were then announced:
Melanie Alicia Blain – Zachary Westin Memorial Award
Jordyn-Marie Dudley – Michael Schilsky Scholarship
Alexandria Ellen Michaud – Tomie dePaola Scholarship
Joseph John Jones, Jr. – Francis T. Maloney Memorial Scholarship
Tina Marissa Dutra and Carla Maria Sauza - Rachel Kimball Pulino Scholarship

Principal Mik then informed the crowd that 75 percent of the class of 2011 will be pursuing an education after graduation—40 percent at four-year colleges and universities, 33 percent at two-year schools, and 13 members of the class in the armed services. Platt graduates will be going on to institutions including Worcester Polytechnic Institute, New York University, Boston University, Temple University, The Ohio State University, UConn, Quinnipiac and others. Members of the Platt class of 2011 have received grants and scholarships totaling $1,400,000, Mik revealed.

“Believe deep down in your heart that you’re destined to do great things,” she advised the senior class, quoting legendary college football coach Joe Paterno. She closed by echoing the school motto: “What you believe, you can achieve.”

Congratulations to the 2011 Platt graduates: 
Jordan Ashley Adams***+
Sydney Janine Agosto
Emilio Agudo
Johanna Esther Alicea
Raven Marie Allen
Ashley Angelique Alvarado
Katherine Ann Andrews*
Lionel  Andujar, Jr.
Elizabeth Zumico Arce
Juan Luis Arce*
Maria-Elena  Arjona*
Meghan Julie Asplund**+
Christopher Paul Avery
Carlyne Francine Ballard
Michael  Robert Barillaro
Nicholas Anthony Barillaro
Lauren Suzio Victoria Beale**+
Jessica  Beauchamp
Brooke Jamie Marie Benigni
Michaela Christine Bentley
Kasie  Berube
Melanie Alicia Blain***+
Ryan Jeffery Bownes
Matthew Brazier
Jose Emilio Brocero**+
Marc  Alwrick Brown
Trevon Brown
Trevon W. Brown
Christopher Allen Bruenn*
Kevin T. Buonanni***+
Ronald Manning Burgess*
Erin Rose Burns*
Onyx Ariel Burton
Geoffrey Craig Canales
Kristina Nichole Cardona*
Harley Raymond Carter
Jesse James Castro II
Danielle Ann Cavallo
Bianca Anne Cerio*
Nicole J. Chasse
Emely Maria Chenard**
Matthew Cipollone
Brittaney Alexandria Connelly-Pidge
Anthony Luis Cortes
Ashley June Crean***+
Tayler Marie Creekmore
Christopher Joseph Crespo
Precious Angelic Cruz
Emmanuel  Cupeles
Kayla Marie Curtis
Kahari Jaliek Davis
Justyna Ivona Dawidowicz***
Anthony Orlando Dejesus
Alex Tyler Delcore*
Oliver M. Delcore*
Elizabeth Jayne DeMartin
Amanda Elizabeth Denison
Alexa Morgan Dennis***+
Keyla Marie Diaz
Maria Eneida Diaz
Antonietta Marie DiFonzo*
Samantha Lynn DiFonzo*
Jessica L. Dingle
Karina  Donato
Eric Anthony Dudley
Jasmin Loretta Dudley
Jordyn-Marie  Dudley***+
Emily Ann Dudow
Tina Marissa Dutra***+
Caleb Jakeel Edwards
Mario Esquilin
Ja'Von Emanuel Fagan
Eliovadis  Fernandez
Korey Austin Flint*
Kelley Marie Frasco**
Charles Rocheem Freeman
Abigail Eva French***+
Zechariah David Gadwah*
Amber Dianne Galaske
Christopher  Gancarz*
Yajaira M. Gavilanes*
Ashley Marie Giannotti
Nicole Marie Gilluly**
Gina Marie Glen
Mariah Giselle Gomez
Jessica Alexandria Gonzalez-Bonilla
Leilannie  Gonzalez
Misael  Gonzalez
Nereida Gonzalez
James Andrew Goodison*
Amber Lynn Gratta*
Dolores C. Gutierrez
Chelsea Rae Hamm
Bishop Sabastian Hatcher*
Joshua M. Heany
Rachel Beth Hendrickson*
Jose Luis Hernandez
Vanessa Hernandez
Somer Marie Hettrick***
Bethany K. Hible*
Destini Latoi Highsmith**
Brandon Jarod Holloman
Rebecca L. Hubbard***
Henry Reddick Jackson
Joshua Chevez Jackson
Damon Mason Jacobson
Jose Luis Jeffers
Joseph John Jones, Jr.***+
Cassandra Rae Kane*
Marcin Jerzy Kurzatkowski
George Alexander LaBissoniere***+
Melissa Marie Laracuente*
Monique Larsen
Stephanie Nicole Lehr*
Jermaine  Lester
Colton Christopher Little
Karena Janice Lopez
Adriana Marie Lund
Damika Jenise Martinez
Ashley Marie Mattern*
Alexander Mauri*
Reneé Pearl McBurney
Shamir S. McDaniel
Courtney Ann McNulty**+
Melanie Jasmine Medina
Nicole Emmanuelle Medina
Waldemar Medina
Nicholas Medovich**
Julian  Melendez*
Kendra Arlene Menard**
Carmen Maria Mercado
Alexandria Ellen Michaud**
Shelby Rose Ming**
Demi Allison Monet
Ashley  Montanez
Griffin John Moore
Patrick James Moore
Carmen Elizabeth Mora
Kathryn Elizabeth Mordarski***+
Jennie Catherine Morenz*
Scott James Morton
Daniel Paul Mroczka*
Marco Antonio Navarrete
Nicole Bianca Nevarez**
Christopher Nobles
Samantha Marie O'Dell*
Jaime Antonio Ocasio
José Alberto Ortiz
Thomas Anthony Ouellette**+
Shanishia Marie Pantoja
Alexandra Nicole Papallo
Keval Patel*
Katarzyna  Pawelek*
Abel Perez
Shawn M. Perez
Jaime Lynn Petit
Francesco  Picone
Joshua Robert Pino
Elisa Victoria Plaza**
Garrett Adam Pleines
Rebecca Elizabeth Potvin
Joseph Christopher Quilty***+
Brittney Marie Ramirez*
Gerald Christian Ramirez
Rocio Alexandra Ramos
Lance Samuel Raye
Shanice Laprisha Reed
Tyler S. Riberio
Angel Luis Rios
Jonathan Edwin Rivera
Joshua Juan Rivera
Luis Rivera
Matthew Scott Rivers***
Alyssa Mae Roberts**
Anthony Michael Rodriguez
Jasmin Milagros Rodriguez
Christopher James Rogers
James Clayton Rooks
Shantal Christina Rosa
Peter Louis Ruffino**+
Melissa Aida Ruiz*
Ziomayra Ruiz
Kristen Marie Ryan
Anthony Alphonso Sanders
Nadia Alexandra Sandoval
Melissa Ann Sandreuter
Celeste Aneth Santiago*
Cydney Angel Santiago
Carla Marie Sauza***+
Zachary Serrano
Bryan David Sheehan
Tyshon Eric Shields
David James Silvia
Holly Joyce Smith
Justin Lorenzo Spikes
Andrew Jonathan Standish
Justine Alexandra Stone
Amaries Yareimy Suárez Guilloty**
Eric Anthony Suarez**
Amanda Louise Sunderhauf*
Karen Vanessa Tamariz
Erika Marie Teodosio
Antonio Juan Toro
Stephanie Torres
Genesis Valentin
Jonathan Vargas
Jesse Veguilla
Joseph Michael Velasquez
Toniann Villaverde
Gabriella Marie Virella
Erica R. Westfort
Alexis Monique Williams
Aaron Wilson
Justin Joseph Wotton***
Sadia Younas**
Amy  Zafra

+    National Honor Society
*** Highest Honors (4.0 or higher)
**   High Honors (3.5 - 3.999)
*     Honors (3.0 - 3.499)