By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Jim Caron of Allenstown gets a lift from his older brother, Doug Cote, shortly after receiving his diploma at Pembroke Academy’s commencement ceremony on June 17. Caron was one of about 180 graduates this year. (The Hooksett Banner / Nicholas Brown)

Kaitlin Carroll, vice president of Pembroke Academy’s graduating Class of 2006, described the progression of her peers, who gathered at the school one last time on Saturday, June 17.

“We were a medley of nervous, excited and scared,” she told the 180 seniors gathered on the school athletic fields for graduating ceremonies. “But by the end of our four years, we had it all mapped out.”

Just their luck, said Carroll, that as soon as Pembroke Academy’s seniors mastered the system, they would each be off to a new life next year.

“Know that your mark is made,” said Carroll. “We’ve transformed into the most close-knit class Pembroke Academy has ever seen.”

The class’ valedictorian, Christine Laverdiere, urged her peers to continue the goal of self-improvement.

“Even though we have finished high school, we are never done learning,” she said.

School Headmaster Michael Reardon similarly urged the graduates to stay focused. He used a moment from the Boston Red Sox’s 2004 playoff run as an analogy, likening his students to Dave Roberts, who stole second base off New York Yankee great Mariano Rivera in a playoff game.

“Like Dave Roberts, you’ve made it to first base,” he said.

But, Reardon warned, “Wandering aimlessly down the base path will have you out of the game and on the bench.”

Salutatorian Tabetha Xavier became a human yearbook, and dished out a series of “most likely” titles.

She dubbed graduate Ian Ward, “most likely to be on ‘Saturday Night Live.’”

Josh Smith, said Xavier, is, “most likely to try and obtain world domination,” while Adah Murray was pegged as “most likely to be a politician.”

“I’m sorry,” Xavier told Murray.

Xavier said each of her classmates has earned a “most likely” title.

And together, Xavier told her peers, the Class of 2006 is “most likely to change the world through the quirks that make you unique.”