Wilton-Lyndeborough salutatorian Jaryd Clark directing praise to the valedictorian of his senior class during his remarks at Friday’s graduation ceremony.

“I’ll always be thankful to Harry (Krug) for being a great academic rival, and an even better friend,” said Clark.

Clark also assured their teachers that their impact on them has not ended. 

“The lessons you taught us will go beyond the classroom,” he said. 

WLC handed diplomas to 40 graduates in the David K. Finch Gymnasium, where family and friends also heard from a former Florence Rideout Elementary School principal and said thank you to a retiring ELA teacher. 

WLC Principal Tom Ronning opened the evening with remarks in which he encouraged the graduates to “create the future you want to live in.” Class Secretary Kelsey Crouse reflected on the interactions of everyone over the years at Florence Rideout Elementary School, Lyndeborough Central School and finally at WLC. 

“Not all of us are close, but we’ve all impacted each other, even if only a little in some cases,” Crouse said.

Seniors Madison Clough, Calvin Indeglia, Zachary Levesque and Jonathon Crotty presented class gifts to school custodian Ann Bird, retiring ELA teacher Laura Bujak, Assistant Principal Katie Gosselin and Ronning, after which Krug spoke about the work ethic that helped drive him to this academic laurel. 

“My dad taught me to always do my best, even if it was pushing carts at Market Basket when I was 14,” said Krug, adding a salute to coach Dan Nelson, “who taught me to love soccer, and a lot more.” He also said that there was something special in where they were all from.

“The beauty of our small towns is that everyone is connected,” Krug said, concluding his remarks by urging his classmates be true to themselves via a quote from Steve Jobs. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Seniors conducted the rose ceremony which had each graduate find a person in the audience to whom they gave a rose and a hug. This was followed by remarks from Timothy O’Connell, former principal of Florence Rideout. O’Connell recalled how the first day of first grade for the graduating seniors was also his first day as principal. 

“You all sat criss-cross applesauce on the floor, and one of you was very upset that the banana in your lunch was touching the sandwich,” said O’Connell. “You didn’t know what you were doing, and honestly, at moment, neither did I.”

O’Connell also recalled how as part of a challenge to them to cumulatively read 1,000 books during the school year, the students were allowed to duct tape him to a wall in the school. 

“One of you asked ‘Can we leave him there overnight?’” he said.

He also noted how back then, they were wearing Ninja Turtle backpacks, and now, seated nearby, someone was wearing some very strong aftershave.

O’Connell encouraged the graduates to not shy away from change.

“Change is hard, but every time you’ve done it, you’ve become who you are,” he said.

He also noted that events will not stick to the script in life, so they should not expect them to, and that this will also make them more interesting people.

“The stories where everything goes exactly as planned are not the ones that people want to hear at dinner parties,” said O’Connell.

Following his remarks, graduates received their diplomas, and moved their tassels from the right side of their mortarboards to the left before several were tossed into the air. 

Asked how it felt to have graduated, Abram Peters had three words.

“I’m finally free,” he said.

Abrams will be working during a gap year.