Today, we celebrate the achievements of each member of the Class of 2010. We have all worked hard to reach this day and deserve to celebrate. However, we are not wholly responsible for who we have become, and we should also use this day to recognize the influential people in our lives.

Our teachers at Tower Hill have been extremely important and this day is as much a celebration of them as it is a celebration of us. Teachers are some of the most selfless and devoted people in our lives. They are dedicated to enlightening us and fostering a passion for continued learning. We are fortunate to have such wonderful teachers at Tower Hill: Teachers like Dr. Hickey, whose bad dancing on the first day of school we can never forget, or Senora Caimi, who terrified us on our first day of Spanish in 9th grade, although we later found out she wasn’t so scary. And who can forget Mrs. Bailey saying, “Not is not a verb, not is always an adverb” or Mr. Hughes calling us “goobers.” The teachers at Tower Hill care about more than our book knowledge; they care about us as whole people and want to see us grow and prosper. To all of our teachers, thank you for the effort you have put into our development and for always being there to support us along the way.

We have also been pushed to succeed by people outside of school. Speaking for my class, I believe I can accurately say that we have all been embarrassed or annoyed by our parents at some time. Joanna Kelly probably best exemplifies this. At the 8th grade moving up day dance, Mr. Kelly offered to pay Juwan if he would ask Joanna to dance. Juwan made $20 that night. When after prom invitations were given out to Seniors in March, Mr. Kelly dressed up as a detective and kidnapped Gaby. I thought Joanna was going to die of embarrassment then! However, I know I would not be the person I am today without my family and I’m sure Joanna wouldn’t be either. Our families nurture and support us, hold us close when we are down, and celebrate, with great enthusiasm, our success. Our families keep us grounded, bring meaning to our lives, and most importantly, love us unconditionally. To all of the family members here today to celebrate our success, thank you. We are lucky to have you in our lives.

Beyond family, friends and mentors have influenced our development. While writing college application essays or interviewing at different schools, the question of who has been an influential person in your life always seems to come up. For me, some of the most important people have been close family friends. I have learned much from the wisdom of one of them. She is my former neighbor and has always been like a third grandmother to me. In her words, “Enjoy each new day as you have lots of time to grow up, learn, and discover.” Don’t forget this, class of 2010. Although we have developed much over the past eighteen years, we still have far to go.

In addition to our close friends and family, our peers have been undeniably influential. Although we may complain that we have spent most of our lives with the same 48 people, this small group certainly has its benefits. Because of such a tight-knit community, we have developed extremely close friendships. How many people will we meet in the future that will know our middle names, both our parents’ names, and the ages of our siblings? Our peers are like a family. We are always there to support each other on good days or difficult days. We have helped each other get through the tough times and encouraged one another to be the best we could be. We are truly blessed to have these friends and should never forget the significant role people at Tower Hill have played in our lives.

One of my favorite memories is of Marvin, who will always greet you with a huge smile and remember your name. He personifies the kind community we have at Tower Hill. Another one of my favorite memories is Field Day. Joanna, Emily, and Kendall always won the dashes and it was a miracle when any other girl placed in the top three. And then there was the time when Pokemon cards and Crazy Bones were banned at recess. Everyone was really upset. Then, on the 4th grade trip to Williamsburg, almost half our class got sick from the food. On our trip to Sandy Hill, Monica and Koko got swept away in their canoe and had to be rescued by Dr. Clay. They never made it to the beach with the rest of us. And on our overnight trip to Cape Henlopen, we gathered around a camp fire and listened to the teachers telling scary stories while Mrs. Pepper silently snuck up behind us and scared us all to death. And who can forget 9th grade history class with Mr. Bagley when students’ books were tossed out the window, or being terrified of Ms. Thompson’s chemistry class in 10th grade? All of these memories culminate with the intense Mario kart games this year and playing mini golf outside the Senior Homeroom. These are just a few of the special memories I have of Tower Hill, and I am sure that all of you could think of many more.

In closing, however, I would like to recall one of my most vivid memories, 9/11. September 11th, 2001 was my very first day as a new student at Tower Hill. We were starting 4th grade that day. At such a young age, I barely understood what was going on, but Tower Hill did a very good job of keeping us informed without making students too scared. They did not shelter us from the news, but rather, they told us what was happening and kept us as calm as possible. For me, that day is a great example of the nature of Tower Hill. Everyone was very supportive of one another and we truly came together as a community. I have found this to be true of every day at Tower Hill. Tower Hill is a supportive, caring community and I will truly miss it, as I am sure all of my peers will too. Thank you.

 Man, I never thought this day would come. Okay, that’s one cliché down. When we were freshmen I could never picture ourselves participating in Graduation. I couldn’t envision us dressed in white, looking so fresh and so clean. What I did see was Genesis and Kendall arguing every day in Mr. Bagley’s history class freshman year. However, June 5, 2010, seemed like it would never come. But at last and when I say at last, I sure do mean it. Because there were times this year when we all felt we were walking towards a mountain. We could see it, but it never appeared to get any closer. To be honest, I think we had that feeling almost every day this year.

 Man, I never thought this day would come. Okay, that’s one cliché down. When we were freshmen I could never picture ourselves participating in Graduation. I couldn’t envision us dressed in white, looking so fresh and so clean. What I did see was Genesis and Kendall arguing every day in Mr. Bagley’s history class freshman year. However, June 5, 2010, seemed like it would never come. But at last and when I say at last, I sure do mean it. Because there were times this year when we all felt we were walking towards a mountain. We could see it, but it never appeared to get any closer. To be honest, I think we had that feeling almost every day this year.

I must commend my classmates though, for we all have made it. Over land, seas, and skies, papers, tests, and web assigns. We are finally here, 48 strong. Yes, there was a time when we had the largest class in the school with roughly 60 students. However, one by one, and even a few by two, people left us. They thought they were so cool because they were going to their cute little schools. But that’s okay, because they missed out. They missed out on great moments like when Will stuffed a whole chair in Lucy’s locker. They weren’t here for Mario Kart wars that went down every day. Or how the senior boys always made a mess in the homeroom. We are young, wild, and like Kanye West in 2004, we don’t care what people say. In other words, we just may be America’s worst nightmare. But then again, any class with three Kreshtools and two Dedhias would be a nightmare for anyone. Every moment is some kind of heated argument.

But don’t get me wrong, ladies and gentlemen. We do have some bright spots, mostly among the girls. Not all of us are wild animals terrorizing Tower Hill. Some of us are soft, sweet, quiet creatures. For instance, Claire, who I don’t think spent more than 5 minutes in the homeroom per week. I love Claire, but I’m just saying, it would have been nice to play Halo with Claire once in a while. Secondly there’s Brian Felzer, whom I wouldn’t necessarily call sweet, but every time one walked in he and Khaalid were sleeping on the couches.

When asked by my peers to speak I initially did not know what I would say. I learned that a few sincere words of wisdom and from the heart are the way to go. So to my classmates, I wish you all the best of luck. It’s a crazy world out there, and our parents are just crazy enough to let us experience it on our own. So don’t blow it. On a more positive note, have the time of your lives. We will never get back the time we spent together in high school, and the next four years will be the same way. Turn up the fun meter, within reason of course. I know you all can’t wait to dive into the exciting thrills of college. Neither can I. I’m pretty sure that most of you have been in college since second semester began, maybe some sooner. But I ask you to take these last few months here at home and cherish them. For the sake of your mothers don’t be in such a rush to leave. Look at them, understand them, feel what they are feeling. Let them hold their little baby, as they once did when you were young, because no matter how intelligent, or stupid we become, we will always be the same to them.

To the parents, thank you for the countless sacrifices you have made to put us through a phenomenal school with magnificent opportunities. Although we don’t always show our appreciation the way you’d like, we certainly are grateful . I do believe that enrolling each of us in Tower Hill was the greatest thing you could have done. Personally, I would like to thank my own mother for putting me through Tower Hill. However, I certainly did not feel this way every day, but having been through it all, I finally understand that there is quite some value that goes comes with our high tuition. The small classes, the rigorous course load, and the top-notch facilities are all important factors, but the intangibles about Tower Hill are what made the difference. These include the highly committed teachers, the strong sense of tradition, and the tightly knit community that makes each Hiller feel like family. That is what we are ladies and gentlemen, one big family. Each individual under this tent is connected to the numerous successful Tower Hill alums saving the world or delivering pizzas. This graduation class is just as significant as those previous and those to come.

Lastly, I just want to say that I love you all. The years we spent together, the trouble we caused, and the state championships we won will never fade in my memories. I’ll carry each of you with me in life, and there’s no doubt in my mind you’ll do the same. In the words of Jay-Z, the self-professed greatest writer of the 21st Century, “Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the 8th wonder of the world, the graduation of the century. It is timeless. Thanks for coming out tonight. You could have been anywhere in the world, but you’re here with us. We appreciate that.”

Thank you.

Although I graduated from high school 44 years ago today, I remember it like it was yesterday. Now my graduation ceremony was far different from yours. The 48 of you processed onto this beautiful, idyllic campus by virtue of the day that you began your studies at Tower Hill. Conversely, there were 485 graduates in my class and we processed into a stark, fairly unattractive football stadium by virtue of our grade point average. We were led into the arena by our valedictorian – I had no idea who he was! Next in line was our salutatorian – never laid eyes on her before! The National Honor Society followed – they very well could have been students from another high school as far as I was concerned! – and on and on it went until I took my rightful seat in the very last row. But I don’t want anyone to feel sorry for me – you see I was there with all of my friends! – the rest of the first line of our Western Mass championship hockey team and 9 of the 11 of us who started on defense for our undefeated football team all occupied the last two rows. We could have had a team meeting!

Well, it was a long wait - 483 names had to be called before they got to me - and so, as I began to look around the stadium, I noticed my family sitting a short distance away - and then - on that sunny, warm day in June - I saw something I rarely saw in my lifetime – a tear was running down my father’s cheek!

Now this may not seem unusual for a graduation ceremony – indeed, I’m quite certain there will be many tears shed this evening – if not in the first hour of my speech certainly by the end of the second – but my father – a highly decorated WWII vet, a factory worker, and a union steward was not anemotional man and I can tell you, with a great deal of certainty, that the only tears shed in my house growing up were those of my siblings and me when we did something wrong and heard my mother shout the 6 haunting words that shook our very core – WAIT UNTIL YOUR FATHER GETS HOME!

I must say that I was not only surprised but also touched by this public display of emotion. Could it be, I asked myself, that I actually did something that made him proud? Well that thought was short-lived for it wasn’t long before I learned that it was not pride but relief that brought my father to tears. He was relieved that after 5 years, the city of Chicopee, Massachusetts finally decided to let someone else occupy my

desk.

Now I know what the eager young minds over here are thinking! – Mr. Dietrich just made a mistake – we ALL know that high school is 4 years long and not 5 ----well, eager young minds, I have 3 words for you ---NOT FOR EVERYONE!

Have you ever watched a movie or seen an episode of your favorite TV show that so moved and entertained you that you watched it over and over and over again? – well that’s the way I felt about the 10th grade – 2 of the best years of my life!

When Gaby extended the classes invitation to share some thoughts with you this afternoon, I was truly excited - but I must confess that I also experienced several moments of anxiety and, well, terror. Now it may seem odd that someone who has been speaking in front of students and parents for over 34 years might experience these feelings but – you see - I was in the audience for last year’s graduation ceremony and recall, with fond memories, the speech that Mr. Atkins delivered. It was inspiring, humorous, and eloquent. On many occasions, I lept to my feet to applaud his words of wisdom and, especially, his uncanny ability to rap!

Since plagiarism is the highest form of flattery, I thought I might try to replicate his effort. I’m here to tell you, unequivocally, that, after several tries – I’ve come to the realization that I CAN’T RAP! I’ve tried it and it just doesn’t work. I’ve tried listening to Snoop Dog – Ice T – and 50 Cent – but got nowhere. Eminem & Big Lurch weren’t any better. Bone Thugs & Harmony almost got me there - but Bow Wow and Coo Coo Girl only served to reinforce my rapping inadequacies. Indeed, the only people who seemed to think that my efforts were worth listening to were the people who pulled up next to me at red lights while I was rehearsing - Rarely have I witnessed such laughter at 6:30 AM!...and so, there will be no rapping – not tonight – not tomorrow night – never – well – what the hell – so much for NEVER:

I’m sorry to disappoint

Cuz it just ain’t cool

But if I tried to rap

I’d just be the fool

I ain’t got the beat

And that is so clear

But I gave it a shot

In spite of my fear

Now whoever agrees

To this gig next year

You don’t have to worry

You don’t have to fear

It’s a piece of cake

Following Hugh and Don

Hugh’s got the beat

And Don will be Gone

So have fun and listen

To this piece of advice

Just tune in to Lurch

And the T that is Ice

But if you don’t mind

I’ll stick to Bobby D

Joannie Baez,

Peter, Paul and Mary

So good bye for now

My rapping friend

Cuz this little ditty

Is about to End

I want to speak to you today about courage. I’ve always tried to

distinguish between courage and heroism. While heroism might be putting your life in danger to save another, courage, it seems to me, is that and more – it is living ones life with purpose and conviction…

In our lifetime, we have witnessed extraordinary examples of courage…

There is, of course, the courage of those who served their country in times of danger - from the jungles and minefields of Vietnam to the IED laden streets of Iraq and Afghanistan - these brave men and women exhibited and continue to exhibit courage every day of their lives.

And who will ever forget the horrific images of the thousands of Americans fleeing the smoke filled streets of New York City on that fateful day in September, 2001. Yet the image that I will always remember from that day was not of people fleeing but, rather, of the hundreds who were rushing TOWARD the burning ruble we knew as the World Trade Center. These were men and women who put their own safety aside in an effort to help people they did not even know – THESE WERE MEN AND WOMEN OF COURAGE!

But - you know - courage does not have to take on such magnificent and global forms. There are shining examples of courage around us everyday. I see people who have exhibited tremendous acts of courage sitting right in front of me – teachers who could have chosen far more lucrative professions yet chose to dedicate their lives to providing the tools necessary for the success of the young people graduating tonight…

Before she died, my mother gave me a framed picture of a young blonde haired boy standing on a cliff overlooking his favorite beach. I think the boy reminded her of me because his hair was all messed up and his pants were half way down to his knees – but it is the words printed on that picture that epitomize, for me, the courage and dedication of this faculty. It goes something like this:

“A hundred years from now it will not matter what my bank account was, the sort of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove – but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.”

And while courage can be a collective quality, there are always individual acts that go well beyond the norm. As I look out at my colleagues tonight, I see two shining examples of women who exhibited extraordinary courage – Mrs. Matsanka and Mrs. Shorey. Both of these exceptional teachers had the courage to look cancer straight in the eye and shout “YOU MAY TRY TO DESTROY MY BODY - BUT YOU WILL NEVER DESTROY MY SPIRIT!” You are both an inspiration to us all!!

And I am not the only one to recognize the courage of members of this faculty. The 48 of you did so when you chose to dedicate your yearbook to two truly outstanding and courageous teachers – Mr. Martz and Mr. Pierson. That they could put aside their own pain over the years and concentrate on helping you achieve all that you were capable of achieving is a reflection of both their strength of character and their dedication. You could not have chosen two more worthy recipients.

Now what about our seniors? – have they demonstrated acts of courage? Indeed they have. When I look amongst you I’m reminded of the courage it took for Logan – at the age of 13 – to leave the comfort of her home to attend school in Scotland – and the courage of her parents to let her do so.

And I see the courage that Katie exhibits every time she reports for duty at the Longwood Fire Company and boards their ambulance ready to assist someone in need.

Yes, my friends, I see courage every day. The courage that it took for Trip and Blaise and Preston to venture into inner-city Baltimore to share some time with homeless veteran’s who were residents of an alcohol and drug rehab center.

And what about Gaby who spent part of last summer in South Africa with an organization that provides services to HIV infected people – and Ben Keller who helped to build a central meeting facility for a village in the Dominican Republic.

No - courage is not the province of the few – just look at Joanna who started and presided over the Tower Hill Abolitionists whose mission it is to raise awareness of child sex trafficking - and Jenni who has ventured into downtown Wilmington to serve meals to the homeless at the Saturday Morning Mission – it is truly the gift of the many – the gift that Jordan provided the children that she worked with each of the past four summers at the Center for Blind and Visually Impaired Children in Wisconsin – and the gift that so many of you give in support of the efforts of the DFRC.

But acts of courage do not have to be quite so profound. Indeed, it takes courage to say to a person who is telling a joke or making a statement that is sexist, racist, homophobic, or anti-semitic that you don’t appreciate that kind of humor – that it is hurtful – and that you would appreciate it if they would refrain from using it in your presence - or to say “NO” –to the person who offers you a drink at a party on a Friday night because you are driving and the people in your car are depending on you. Yes, my friends, we see examples of courage all around us – every day. The courage to admit that you have made a mistake – to take responsibility for your actions - it is what makes us special – it is what makes us the school that we are!

Over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that most graduation speeches are immediately forgettable – some even before the graduates have exited their receiving line. And some are memorable for all the wrong reasons – like ever so many rungs on a ladder that has no end - But I have discovered, in my analysis of graduation speeches, that those that are the most effective have one thing in common – A STRONG CONCLUSION!

And so I went to my computer and googled - “EPIC CONCLUSIONS TO GRADUATION SPEECHES.” – What appeared on my screen was something I had not expected. There weren’t words of inspiration nor snippets of advice – in fact, there weren’t any words at all. What appeared on my screen was this 8 X 10 glossy of – you guessed it – MR. ATKINS.

Well this may not be epic but it will be brief…

I have two wishes for you –

My first wish is for you to take the courage of your convictions that you have nurtured during your time at Tower Hill with you as you head into the next phase of your lives.

Have the courage to be adventurous when those around you have settled for the status quo – Have the courage to stand up for those who don’t enjoy the privileges that you have enjoyed – Find that shelter, that soup kitchen, that campus activist group, and have the courage to get involved – to make a difference.

Do not assume that your classes will provide you with all that is worthy of learning. Mark Twain once said that “a man who carries a cat by the tail learns something he can learn in no other way” - I think he was right – explore your world – take risks – understand that the power of knowledge has no limits – expand your schemas – know that to fail is also to learn.

My second wish for you is far simpler – BE HAPPY – BE KIND – BE GOOD – LAUGH OFTEN AND LOVE EVEN MORE – and, finally, in the words of the Great Prophet - the Earl of Existentialism - the Vicar of Virtue – the King of Karma - yes – I am, of course - speaking of Mr. Robinson ---my friends –FOLLOW YOUR BLISS!!

Thanks and God Bless You…

• Gale Flynn - 4 years
• Matthew Hayes - 3 years
• Marti Hutchison - 15 years
• Susan Kelly - 2 years
• Patty Marshall - 41 years
• George Martz - 27 years
• Duran Perkins - 2 years
• John Pierson - 40 years
• Rhonda Rombach - 5 years
• Jackie Rossi - 28 years
• Richard White - 6 years
• David Wright - 2 years

• John Pierson - 42 years (Faculty)
• William Young - 16 years (Former Faculty)

• Mr. Patrick M. Ashley and Mrs. Ann B. Ashley
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Bolling III
• Dr. Robert M. Dressler and Dr. Susan Szabo
• Mr. and Mrs. Esteban A. Ferrer
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward S. Friedman
• Mr. and Mrs. Homer E. Graham III
• Drs. Mian and Ambereen Jan
• Dr. and Mrs. G. William Keller
• Dr. and Mrs. Daniel R. Kreshtool
• Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey M. du P. Nielsen
• Mr. and Mrs. William V. Nutting
• Mr. and Mrs. Michael F. Schubert
• Mr. Frank J. Singles and Ms. Christine Sheehy
• Mr. and Mrs. Lance L. Weaver

• Leigh Thompson

• The English Department

• Gretchen Lacey

• Veronica Elise Everest
• Caroline Elizabeth Holliday
• Andrew Scott Kreshtool
• Evan Samuel Kreshtool
• Michael Bernard Kreshtool 

• Molly Alexandra Rosen
• Certificate of Honor - Alexis Anne Saunders

• Benjamin George Keller
• Emily Rebecca Schuckert

• Qiwei Claire Xue
• Certificate of Honor - Jordan Meloy Bills        

• Caroline Elizabeth Holliday
• Emily Rebecca Schuckert
• Certificate of Honor - Monica Joy Wilson

• Joanna Gerard Kelly
• Monica Joy Wilson

• Andrew Flectcher Singles
• Certificate of Honor - Jordan Meloy Bills

• Qiwei Claire Xue

• Jordan Meloy Bills
• Gabrielle Corey Dressler

• Remy Elizabeth Denner
• Certificates of Honor - Molly Alexandra Rosen, Katherine Ramsay Applegate

• Boy –  Demetrius Jayvonne Murray 
• Girl –  Caroline Elizabeth Holliday
• Certificates of Honor - Katherine Ramsay Applegate, Emily Rebecca Schuckert

• Patrick Barlow Ashley

• Service: Monica Joy Wilson   
• Scholarship: Qiwei Claire Xue