WESTMINSTER — “I bet a lot of you thought that with 14 graduates, this graduation ceremony couldn't take long,” said assistant director Eric Rhomberg about two hours into the Compass School's ninth graduation ceremony on June 4. More than 200 teachers, graduates, family, and friends all had a part in celebrating the graduates.
School Director Dr. Rick Gordon offered opening remarks about identity forming experiences, stating how important it is that a school provides the opportunities for every child, regardless of background or family circumstances, to expand their horizons and broaden their experiences in order to shape their own identity.
Gordon cited some of the students' formative experiences just this year that have impacted their lives, such as traveling to Haiti for Senior Project on a medical mission, leading all school meeting, producing a film, visiting a mosque, creating a comic book on string theory, organizing a group for Winter Term to address teen suicide, or serving on student Judiciary.
“Jumping off waterfalls in the Dominican Republic,” he explained, taught “a lesson in not overthinking life-recognizing that our challenges are often best overcome by just jumping in with both feet first.”
After an entertaining slide show of the graduates, 12th grade advisor Amir Flesher introduced the class “valedictorians” - allowing every graduate the chance to share their thoughts.
Ariel Temple led off with her story about losing her best friend to a brain tumor and facing a school that felt like prison before she came to Compass where she found people so caring and welcoming. Although only learning guitar one week ago, she sang “This Flower” for her classmates, proclaiming, “I have everything I need because of you.”
Maggie Bernhard followed on stage, joining in a trio to sing “these are the best times of your life.”
One student after another moved the audience to tears as they shared the challenges they had faced and overcome to get to this point.
Jake White, who came to Compass just for his senior year, captured the view expressed by so many of his classmates, explaining how difficult it was to leave his friends, but that “making the decision to come here is the best decision I have ever made for myself. It reignited my love of the academic. I will always hold a special place in my heart for the community of people who filled my senior year, not with the fear and cold distance of my former school, but instead with warmth and loving support unlike I have ever felt. Compass has helped me to become an intelligent, emotional, thoughtful, and independent person. I will strive to always remember that.”
An open sharing time offered audience members the chance for families and peers to share their thoughts in a way that tremendously heartfelt and personal.
Several guests expressed how they wish they had a school like Compass when they were in high school. Friends spoke of their pride and gratitude for individual graduates.
Tina Ramsey, the mother of graduating senior Josh, shared how when she was in graduate school, she had heard so much about how Compass that she had to explore it for her son and what a great fit it has been for him.
Marshall Glickman said that sending his daughter Lena to Compass “was truly one of the best decisions we ever made,” concluding that Compass is a model for how school should be.
And several siblings rose to speak appreciatively of how Compass had shone a light on the talents of their brother or sister.
Steve Holmes graciously received the Friends of Compass Award for his years as an intern, teacher, director of technology, founder of the filmmaking program, and board member.
Lena Glickman accepted the Vermont Scholar Award and Maggie Bernhard became the third recipient in the past six years of the Community Leadership Award.
Aaron Brooke deBock presented the senior gifts to the school - three murals adorning the outside of the building, and three benches the seniors built at the entry way.
The ceremony climaxed with the awarding of diplomas by Board President Matt Peake. The artistic handmade diplomas, created by Compass students, represent the distinctive qualities of each recipient.
The graduates first see these personalized diplomas when they come on stage - a truly special moment that recognizes their personal accomplishments and the unique gifts they take with them from their high school experience.