CAMDEN — For each senior class of Camden Hills Regional High School, their graduation ceremony is the pinnacle of a weeklong June celebration; but for the community at large, the best part of comes with the traditional march through downtown Camden four days prior to commencement. That's when the seniors are lead by bagpiper Catherine Pearce along Main Street, stopping Route 1 traffic for 30 minutes, as they march down one hill by the Camden Public Library and then up another, toward the First Congregational Church, where they will settle into pews for a Baccalaureate.

On June 1, at 5:30 p.m., both sides of the street were lined with family, friends and citizens, who cheered the processional forward. An occasional muscle car could be heard thrumming its engine on a side street, and a proud onlooker used a bullhorn to encourage his favorite graduate.  Underclassmen teammates cheered from the sidelines, as did those gathered outside at Lucky Betty's — all were in celebration of the Class of 2026.

Spirited, creative and rambunctious, the seniors moved along in loose formation but with pageantry, some in sneakers, others in flipflops, heels, Birkenstocks, or just barefoot. Route 1 was theirs for 30 minutes, and smiling, they did not miss a beat on the way to the church.

With Class Marshals Naomi Fisher-Barrett and Kylian Babik at the lead, the Class of 2025 made their way at 5:30 p.m. from the Camden-Rockport Middle School to Cross Street, down Mountain Street for a brief stretch, and then along Route 1 to the First Congregational Church on Elm Street.

The baccalaureate is an academic and spiritual tradition with roots in the Middle Ages, and honors education and learning. 

For Camden Hills, the tradition has continued for decades, with clergy representing the Chestnut Street Baptist, St. Thomas' Episcopal, John Street United Methodist churches, the First Congregational Church of Camden UCC, Adas Yoshuron Synagogue and St. Brendan the Navigator Parish.

Rev. David Wood, of the Congregational Church, delivered the welcome, followed by a Call for Prayer, a Senior Welcome by the marshals, A Congregational Dedication, and the singing of "Ad Astra."

That was followed by Scripture readings by Rev. Kristen Burkholder and Fr. Anthanasius Sangnyuy Wirsly, a choral bell selection and Words for the Seniors, delivered by Rev. Adam Kohlstrom, Pastor of the Chestnut Street Baptist Church, and Rev. David Wood.

Rabbi Lorin Troderman delivered the benediction; and Organist Matthew Mainster played "The Power of Life."

Graduation is to take place June 5, at 5:59 p.m., at the high school.