By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

The identity of Manchester High School Central was on display during the June 16 graduation ceremonies in the Verizon Wireless Arena. According to 2005 Class President Hema Elshamy, that identity was manifested in each of the 462 graduating seniors.

JUBILANT GRAD – Class of 2005 senior Jenna Lee was clearly happy to receive her high school diploma, as was Nick Roy. Central High School graduated 462 students this year during its ceremony on Friday, June 17, at the Verizon Arena. (Nicholas Brown Photo)

Elshamy said everyone in the graduating class, if asked about Central, may now proudly reply, "I am Central High School."

For Elshamy, that declaration carries with it the connotation of unity. He asked the class to remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001, which took place during the graduates. freshman year.

"It was a painful time, but I slowly began to feel safety," he said . safety, he said, because everyone at Central was "like a family."

Elshamy then described the members of his class as "allies," fighting against foes like distraction, doubt, loneliness and despair.

"There will always be critics of you, and they will downplay he said, adding that in a matter of hours the room would be dark and each member of the 2005 class would be heading off alone into a dark night, their futures uncertain.

Elshamy gave some solace to his classmates, telling them, "Control of your future belongs to you."

Elshamy was followed by Central Principal John R. Rist, who was lauded with applause from the graduating seniors.

Rist first thanked the school districts of Hooksett and Candia for signing tuition contracts to send their students to Central, and for not being "wishy washy about it."

He said earnestly that the Class of 2005 was the best he.d ever seen in many ways, and he thanked graduates for "surviving" construction and renovation to the school. He thanked the class also for its athletic achievements, citing state championships in basketball and football.

What Rist said he was most thankful for, however, was the dedication of the class to humanitarian efforts, particularly those who raised $5,000 in aid to victims of the tsunami in Asia.

Rist then urged Central's graduates to passionately pursue greatness.

"Whatever you do after you leave here tonight, do it with passion," he said. "Don't be boring."

He told graduates that no matter what function they may hold, they should try to be "great." He used being a great citizen, brother, soldier, employee and friend all as examples.

Some chuckles surfaced as Rist urged, "When you fall in love, be a great lover."

Rist closed his speech with a remark that again drew emphatic applause from graduates: "I love you all. You will always be my children - and congratulations."

In his introduction of the event's keynote speaker, Southern New Hampshire University basketball coach Stan Spirou, Rist said "(Stan) promised not to yell at any officials or rant and rave like he does on the sidelines."

Spirou began by saying he.d overheard some students in the wings before the ceremony complaining that Adam Sandler would not be speaking as had happened the past two years, and that instead they were getting some "local Greek basketball coach."

A former Central graduate who went on to become a teacher and basketball coach there, Spirou then showed his own comic chops.

"Adam Sandler was a student of mine," he said. "I taught him to be funny."

He continued, presenting Rist with a Boston Red Sox hat, and thanking Manchester Mayor Robert Baines for attending.

"I would like to recognize Mayor Baines who took time off from bar hopping to be here tonight," he said, drawing more laughs from the crowd.

With the jokes out of the way, Spirou then shared some lessons he's learned as a basketball coach, warning graduates that success is not the product of talent, but of hard work.

Spirou was followed by Baines, who recused some mock boos when Rist - in his introduction - disclosed that Baines was a West graduate.

Baines tried to win over the crowd, however, telling them that his parents went to Central, and that he suspected they did some smooching there.

Baines soon asked those graduates who planned to join the armed forces to stand and be recognized. About a dozen robed students stood, and were met by a standing ovation.

Valedictorian Neil Spinner followed Baines, and urged his classmates to "never ever be fake," warning that "fake people make the world superficial."

The 2005 class was then officially graduated by Manchester Superintendent of Schools Michael Ludwell. Students eagerly picked up their diplomas and the ceremony ended.

But rather than being greeted outside by just the dark night as Elshamy predicted, graduates were met outside the arena by swarms of friends and family, all welcoming Central's Class of 2005.