By Carla Kolbe

Express Editor

NORTHVILLE - The Northville Central School District graduated 42 students Friday night before a packed house in the schools auditorium. Graduates filed in procession, after all least minute preparations were completed by Class of 2011 advisors Carla Williams and Wendy Sweet, to Pomp and Circumstance, performed by the Northville Junior and Senior High Bands under the direction of Jennifer Casey.

The evenings Mistress of Ceremonies was Madalyn Ryan, President of the NHS Student Council, who would lead with the Pledge of Allegiance and introductions of speakers.

A main consensus of the evenings messages were focused on family, friends, school and community. The close knit class of 42 know well of each other, and were each recognizable by name amongst their teachers and administration. The group of graduates were each individually acknowledged for their awards presented by NCS Secondary Principal Michael Healey.

Salutatorian Garrett Michalek, would speak first, noting that parents and friends were what gave the graduates the courage to persevere.

“Due to their influence, we were not only able to survive in school, but thrive” said Michalek. Paralleling growing up in Northville with his first walk across the Northville Bridge with his summer recreation group to the beach. Crossing the bridge as a child was fearsome, but with the help of friends they would traverse it unscathed. Michalek thanked Northville for teaching them about the world and themselves.

“I am glad I was here” he said.

Michalek would later receive an Army ROTC Scholarship to attend Clarkson University presented by guest Lieutenant Colonel Ross, among other awards.

Valedictorian Jessica Hassen would compare her years of learning to the ride of a roller coaster with new and exciting challenges over every hill.

“Parents, teachers,friends and so many others have laid the tracks that we have followed to our places here today” said Hassen.

Reminding her classmates to always enjoy life’s ride, Hasson said “Always persevere. Don’t be afraid to take chances because you never know what will await you just over the next hill.”

History teacher Joe Trimarchi would speak on behalf of the class. Trimarchi would touch on the impact a nation of millions of citizens have made and will continue to make on the future of this great country. Pointing out that the Northville students on stage have already completed their first task of citizenship by graduating, and they now have the responsibility of reinventing the United States and carrying it through the next century.

Superintendent Kathy Dougherty and Northville Central School Board President Lynne Paul would present the Northville graduating class of 2011 with their diplomas. After presenting the graduating class to the audience, the graduates would switch over the tassels on their caps for brief moment, before tossing them into the air.