The Tabor Academy community came together at the campus waterfront on May 26 to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2015.
Local graduate Logan Russell of Marion opened the ceremony with the National Anthem and 1971 graduate Carmine Martignetti addressed the guests as the chair of the Board of Trustees.
Co-Heads of School Ned Mitchell and Hadley Ramsay gave heartfelt speeches about their experiences at Tabor.
“I have been loved by hundreds more people than if I’d chosen to stay home,” reflected Ramsay about her choice to attend Tabor and the relationships she has formed over the past four years.
Travis Roy, founder of the Travis Roy Foundation, graduated from Tabor in 1995 and headed to Boston University where he would play on the hockey team. In his very first collegiate game, Roy was paralyzed from the neck down.
Despite his tragic accident, Roy has remained positive and has done a tremendous amount of good over the past 20 years he has been confined to a wheelchair. Roy spoke candidly about his experiences, urging students, faculty, and family members to enjoy “real moments” whether they are solitary or shared with others.
Roy also discussed the importance of expressing how we feel.
“Telling the people around us that we love them should be a daily occurrence, not something saved for special occasions,” said Roy.
Roy mentioned that the first thing he would do if he were to get out of his wheelchair would be to hug the people he loved. He described the power of hugs, saying if one is not ready to verbally express their admiration, they shouldn’t “be afraid to give them a hug.”
President of Tabor’s Cum Laude Society Chapter Kelli McSweeny then inducted the newest members into the society.
“The Cum Laude Society was initiated in 1906 ‘to give scholastic achievement of seniors as much recognition as that given to other activities,”’ said McSweeny. “The society grants a limited number of memberships to schools of superior academic quality.”
For a student to earn membership in the Tabor Cum Laude chapter, McSweeny said, he or she must maintain a 90 average in each semester of the junior and senior years “in a rigorous, challenging, and broad course of study that includes at least three Honors or AP courses in each year.”
This year, 19 students were inducted, making up about 14 percent of the graduating class.
Local inductees are: Melissa Hooke, Gweneth McCain, and Julia O’Rourke of Marion, and Abigail Taber of Rochester.
Awards were then handed out to a select group of graduates, which included a few local students.
The Matthew W. Houlihan Memorial Scholarship is given to a student “who has participated in the full range of the Tabor experience, demonstrating positive attitude, strong character and scholarship, commitment to classmates, and exemplary school citizenship.” This award was given to Abigail Taber of Rochester.
The William Makepeace Atwood Scholarship “is presented to a senior from the local area who has made an outstanding contribution to the life of the school.” This year two students received this scholarship: Julia O’Rourke of Marion and Connor West of Rochester.
The Lyndon Paul Lorusso Award “is presented to the senior who … has demonstrated an unselfish commitment and constant willingness to help in all phases of school life,” and was given to Gwen McCain of Marion.
Lastly, The Hamilton Webster Thayer Prize was given to the student “whose overall experience best exemplifies the ideals of Tabor Academy in scholarship, citizenship, and leadership.” This award was presented to Julia O’Rourke of Marion.
By Julia O’Rourke