ROCKLAND — Oceanside High School Class of 2014 proudly honored its colors, navy, Carolina blue and white, during the school's graduation program June 10.

The processional, Pomp and Circumstance, was played by Richard Walton and the welcome address was given by Class President Tabbitha Johnston.

Isabella Garver gave the salutatory address, followed by Jacob Hyatt with the valedictory address.

Class marshals were John Ferguson and Johnston.

In addition to Johnston serving as this year's class president, the 2014 class officers were Samantha Dienesch-Calamari (vice president), Isabella Garver (secretary) and Cassidy Rolfe (treasurer). Class representatives were John Ferguson, Nick Judge, Sean Grace and Olivia Hupper.

Following is the speech given atgraduation Tuesday night, by valedictorian Jacob Hyatt.

“Fellow students, friends, family, teachers: Good evening.

“Now, many speechwriters save their thanks for the end; I'm going to invert that process. This is a night to be appreciated but also to appreciate, and so I would like to begin by thanking the numerous people who have made a difference in my life and the lives of my peers.

“So thank you, teachers of Oceanside High School. Thank you for your educative words, your kindness, your preparation, and your cinnamon donuts. Without any one of these, none of us would be standing here tonight.

“Thank you friends, and friends of friends, and friends of friends of friends, for making this community a brilliant and vibrant social web, one which has allowed us all to come together tonight without tearing out each other's hair.

“Thank you, parents and family of those standing behind me, for raising such a wonderful group of young adults.

“And lastly, thanks goes out to my wonderful, wonderful family, without whom I would not have been nearly as academically successful, and to whom I am so lovingly indebted. Thanks go out to my stepmom, Violet, and sisters, Beth and Kaitlyn; my Nana; my grandparents, some of whom traveled here all the way from the distant lands of New Hampshire; my dear friend, Jim Basin; and all other family gathered here this evening. Lastly, thank you Mom and Dad. I owe you everything, and no words can profess the love I have for you. So, I'm just going to hug you all later and buy Mom some Kleenex.

“Now, can we all have a big round of applause for all these people?

“Wait.

“Now, everyone, forgive me for being awkward – it's in my nature – but the time has come for me to discuss life and death. So let me backtrack a bit.

“My peers and I come to you this evening with mixed emotions. Assuredly this is a time of great elation and excitement, a time that represents all we have achieved. Tonight we receive our diplomas; tonight we bask in the glory of scholastic victory; tonight, we stand face-to-face with the magnificent future that will be our lives.

“But tonight, also, we must say our goodbyes. To the teachers who nurtured us, to the friends who faltered and succeeded with us, it seems we must so suddenly give to them a very sad adieu, in conjunction with the thanks they so surely deserved. Tonight, there may be happiness, but a certain nostalgic tragedy inherently exists at every parting of the ways.

“Tonight, I've come to this podium to attempt to allay that sadness. I've come to this podium to convey to you all the grandness that awaits you in your future.

“Now, some of you may be worried. Some of you may feel directionless, may feel that you don't know what path to take with your lives. I want you all to know that that is perfectly OK. There is no existential GPS except the one you carry within yourself. You will figure it out.

“Some of you may feel you have an idea of what you would like to do but may be worried that that idea is not wholly your own. You may be worried that society assaults you with so much data, so often, that you feel compelled to follow a certain path, one which does not ignite the fire that beats in every living person. To this, one must pose a single question: do you love the vision of your life, the one you have this evening in your head, so much that you would die for it? If the answer is no, remember that we all, invariably and inevitably, die for our lives, and that we only have one life to lead. Therefore, it is imperative that you make your life one which you would want to die for. Make your life worth it.

“To those many who know exactly what you want to do and know that it is their passion, you are that much closer to something commensurate to total contentment. Forget money, forget fame, forget social mores – as corny as it sounds, the most important thing you can do in your entire life is to hopelessly, blindly, desperately follow a dream.

“That – everyone, is the one true pathway.

“Don't let society shape you – let yourself shape society.

“On that note, I thank you all for coming this evening and wish all my peers the blessings of God or fortune, whichever they may subscribe to.

“Thank you.”

Oceanside High School Class of 2014 Graduates:

Ross Chandler Alex
Calvin John Allen
Taylor Louise Ankers
Damien Curtis Ball
Miranda Lace Balukas
Sienna Nicole Barstow
Antonio Scott Baudanza
Megan Elizabeth Beal
Evan Billington
Jacob A. Brackett
McCabe Wyatt Burch
Cameron Matthew Butler
Mary Elizabeth Carlson
Benjamin C. Caron
Cody Chase
Cole Damian Chase
Katylyn Rose Clark
Sierra Pearl-Coccia Sinatra
Tyler Emery Conant
Nicholas Allen Cross
Alexandra Curtis
Jacob J. Crockett
Samuel Oliver Chapen Crockett
Kalob Crute
Anthony Ethan Dayboch
Zachary Tyler Dean
Jamilyn Del Buono
Clayton K. Dennison
Sarah Rose Dennison
Lyric Nicole Deprey
Samantha Greer Dienesch-Calamari
Maggie Jean Drinkwater
Brooke Elaine Dugan
Arden James Dunham
Chantae Rose Eaton
Brianna Edwards
Audrey Jane Elliott
Ashley L. Ellis
Zachary Ellis Elwell
Kaylynn Mackenzie Emerson
John William Ferguson
Alexis Fetteroli
Reilly Keenan Flanagan
Janelle Marie Fogg
Jebadiah Lee Fontaine
Isabella Sgobbo Garver
Brittany Rose Glaude
David Hugh Gould
Raegan Goulet
Sean Patrick Grace
Hunter Pavin Grindle
Abby Megan Hersom
Angelica Dominique Hickman
Dylan Alex Hill
Jack River Holt
Devyn Christie Hooper
Jared Richard Hunt
Olivia Mae Hooper
Jalynn Page Hurd
Jacob Orion Hyatt
Cody Gunnar Jackomino
Seirra Jameson
Trenton Kyle Jarrett
Mikayla Marie Jillson
Tabbitha Leigh Johnston
Logan Robert Jones
Nicholas Cameron Judge
Johannes Niilo Antero Korhonen
Marissa Caitlin Labbe
Sadie Lake
Sean Michael Long
Jason Michael Lund
Elijah Lawrence MacDougall
Ashley Mae Malmstrom
Madison McClure
Kaitlyn Ashley McCullough
Ellery Arthur Montgomery
Alexandra Joan Moody
Alexandria Rebecca Moreash-Kennedy
Emily Jean Munro
Noah Henry Nedderman
James Tai Nguyen
Andrews Christopher Overlock
Lindsay Paige Parker
Alec Paul
Takoda Tristan Peasley
Trittany Bridge Penn
Bronson Weeks Philbrick
Kristen Ann Philbrook
Joshua Michael Poor
Kaylie Lee Rhodes
Dylan Emery Richardson
Haley Marie Alden Richardson
Karly McKenzie Robinson
Cassidy Amber Rolfe
Evan Joseph Rosa
Cameron Rubenstein
Samuel Logan Ryan
Mercedes Elizabeth Schweighauser
Tyrus Seawell
Philip James Seekins
Alec Daniel-Ray Simmons
Thomas James Smalley
Benjamin Michael Smith
Emma Ashley Spencer
Chase Robert Staples
Olivia Jasmine Stone
Isaiah Stanley Stone-Patterson
Sarah Marion Elizebeth Tarbox
James H. Tobin IV
Nathan Richard Tochterman
Ashlea Yvette Tyler
Karla Vizcarra Copaja
Joseph Njacke Wanjiru
Ticker Doyle Willey
Owen G. Winchenbach
Kimberly Nicole Young
Benjamin James Young