After the graduates’ processional into the auditorium, Pledge of Allegiance led by Principal Bob Woughter, alma mater song led by the seniors, welcome address by Superintendent Dan Mayberry, presentation of flowers, and Class of 2023 slide show by Anya Kazmierczak, the salutatorian — Marley Harmer — gave her speech.

–

Salutatorian

–

Valedictorian Sarah Tansey delivers her address at the 2023 Keene Central School graduation ceremony on Saturday. She discussed overcoming fear during her time at Keene Central. (Enterprise photo — Arthur Maiorella)

“This is the closing of a chapter that has shaped who we are as students, athletes, artists and most importantly, humans,” she said. “But it’s also the beginning of a new chapter, something bigger and much brighter.”

When Harmer first walked into Keene Central School, she was a shy 7-year-old girl.

“I had no idea what to expect. I mean, no one ever really does,” she said. “All I remember is my mom telling me that Keene was an amazing school sheltered by the mountains.”

When Harmer first walked into Ms. McCormick’s third-grade class, she didn’t know anybody. She was the youngest, the smallest and the quietest.

“But here at Keene, friends just fall into your lap,” she said. “Within a month after school began, Anya was coming over to my house for ‘Marley Mondays’ every week and Sarah, Aidan and I were playing our made-up game levels at recess every day. Each year, I was able to bond with someone different in my class.”

Graduate Abigail Smith receives her diploma from Board of Education President Jennifer Kazmierczak at the 2023 Keene Central School graduation ceremony on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Arthur Maiorella)

Before Harmer knew it, a decade had passed.

“That shy little girl now stands before you today, about to take on another new world. The only difference is, she is now stepping into the real world, no more shelter,” she said. “Although this time she isn’t afraid; she’s ready, prepared and excited to take on something new, something different.”

Harmer called her classmates her “forever family.”

“I would not be the person I am today without them,” she said. “Each and every one of them pushed me to be more than I ever thought I was capable of. In the classroom, on the stage, on the field and the court, I wanted to be the best I could be. With the encouragement and unspoken competition from my classmates, I achieved far greater things than I could’ve ever dreamed of.”

During her senior year, Harmer was able to help out in the kindergarten and third-grade classes. She offered her own experiences as a role model to the young students, but she also learned lessons from those students along the way.

A Keene Central School graduate’s cap is seen here during the commencement ceremony on Saturday. (Enterprise photo — Arthur Maiorella)

“They have shown me that being yourself is the best thing you can be,” she said. “They’ve shown me that perfection is impossible to achieve, but perfection is also nothing to stvrive for. … So for that, I would like to thank Amelia Hyman, Maple Judd, Charlie Page and Lincoln Popp for showing me that being yourself is how you achieve perfection; there is no other way.”

Harmer’s address was followed by valedictorian Sarah Tansey’s speech.

–

Valedictorian

–

Tansey had also been with her classmates since the third grade.

“I could not be more proud of every single one of you and am so glad to have been by your side watching you grow through the good and the bad times,” she said. “More importantly, I cannot wait to see what each of you wonderful, kind and smart individuals do in the future.”

Tansey thanked the Keene Central faculty and staff and all the senior families, including her own — her brother, father and mother.

“She is genuinely the person I call my best friend,” she said of her mom. “She has taught me confidence, hard work, kindness, patience, empathy and has never, ever, ever given up on me, even when I was face down on my carpet in a puddle of tears. I hate to admit it, but one of the most valuable lessons I have learned is that the parents are usually right.”

Tansey called attention to what she called “the basis of our learning” — fear.

“Fear can be a motivator, the big spider in the corner of the room, a lesson learned the hard way, a road block, a step towards an achievement, a goal, a looming assignment perhaps, but we need to remember that it is not the end,” she said. “Fear drives us to be our best, to try harder and to accomplish our goals. If we all stopped what we were doing because of the fear, we would be stuck in a constant state of peace. Although this sounds ideal, where would this get us? Where would we be without conflict or things that challenge our beliefs? This is how we learn, this is how we grow, this is how we achieve great things and experience the best of life.”

After going into detail about fear — including her own fear of getting a “terrible” roommate at college — Tansey left the audience with a piece of advice given by a waitress at the Bethany Beach Diner during their senior trip: “Protect yourself in all ways.”

“Protect yourself from the fear by facing it,” she said. “Protect yourself from the hard times by pursuing them with good intention. Protect yourself by being who you are.”

–

Diplomas, etc.

–

After the commencement speech by KCS special education teacher Sunny Beach, Principal Woughter presented awards and scholarships to the seniors and helped Board of Education President Jennifer Kazmierczak hand out diplomas.

Buysse, Harmer, Smith and Tansey were noted as members of the KCS Honor Society. Additionally, Smith was noted as a member of the National Technical Honor Society and a graduate of the Champlain Valley Educational Services CV-TEC program, where she earned the Skills USA Area III Scholarship and the Award of Excellence for her digital production and multimedia program.

“We’ve got a pretty unique class to celebrate,” salutatorian Harmer said at the end of her speech. “And my one last reminder: Don’t strive for perfection; strive to be you.”