BY PAT FARNELLI

The Montrose Class of 2014 saw many changes over their last few years of high school but rose to meet those challenges.

In their last year of high school, the Montrose Class of 2014 saw numerous administrative changes, including a new superintendent, high school principal, junior high principal, dean of students, and assistant principal.

At graduation exercises held Saturday, Principal Mike Boccella, said that when considering the many changes the school would be making, he decided that this very compassionate, personable, caring class would handle the adjustments well and set the tone for the rest of the school.

“No doubt about it, what I’m about to do, to present this graduating class, is the highlight of my career,” he said.

Senior class president Nichole Lewis quoted her grandfather and former MASD superintendent, J. Rodger Lewis, saying that the decisions she would make in the next 20 years would determine the course of her life.

She reflected on the many changes this class has experienced since the “Choconut Coconuts” and the “Lathrop Street Freaks” merged into one class after years at separate elementary schools.

She called her classmates closely knit, compassionate and hardworking.
Myra Lattimore, valedictorian, said, “The greatest gift of my parents is that they did not give any restrictions on what I could attempt or achieve.” She also listed the achievements of her classmates, and said the only limits “are those we place upon ourselves.”

Salutatorian Samantha Bennici used the metaphor of a direct route being the fastest way to reach a destination. “Every person here has put on a lot of miles. Everyone has made a wrong turn…there might be road work, unexpected detours, accidents. But even setbacks cannot possibly block every route.”