Schools
Video: Maine West Graduates Class of 2011
More than 500 Maine West graduates, their families and school faculty gathered in the high school's football stadium for the 2011 commencement ceremony Sunday.
The Maine West High School class of 2011 was ushered into the school’s football stadium Sunday for the commencement ceremony while the Maine West Symphonic Band played the right-of-passage “Pomp and Circumstance” under blazing sunshine.
Speeches were made, reflections were shared and advice was given. In the end, the graduates filed up to the stage to receive diplomas and pose for photos. Afterwards the celebration continued with family and friends.
Among the graduates was Linda Balzano’s daughter Ashley Baumhardt, her first child to graduate high school.
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“It’s emotional; it’s the first one,” Balzano said.
Balzano said she was very proud of her daughter, and it was good for her and the other graduates to experience the graduation process. Not all of the graduates chose to participate in the ceremony, which was unfortunate, Balzano said.
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“It’s an achievement for all their four years,” Balzano said. “[The graduates can see] this is what my four years represented.”
Maine High School District 207 only allows for partial identification of students.
