IMAGE GALLERY: Norton High School 2012 Graduation

With 179 seniors graduating Friday evening, the Class of 2012 is the largest in Norton High School’s history.

In addition to the class size, Norton High principal Raymond Dewar noted that the Class of 2012 has many other achievements, such as the best MCAS scores in the school’s history. They have also taken the most AP exams and with 95 percent of the class going on to post-secondary education, they are the class with the highest percentage in Norton High history of students going on to higher education.

The commencement ceremony took place at Comcast Center in Mansfield. Elizabeth LaVerghetta was named class valedictorian while Kady Ferguson was salutatorian. While Ferguson spoke about overcoming stress through prioritization, LaVerghetta intertwined life as a high school student with fantasy literature comparing her journey with the likes of Bilbo Baggins and Harry Potter.

“We need to learn what in our lives matter to us, and those things come first,” Ferguson advised. “Everything else can wait.”

“Having completing our senior year, we leave the safety of our Shire for the adventure that awaits us as we begin our own quest,” said LaVerghetta.

Just as the school and faculty the seniors have known for the past four years will grow, so will the graduates as they move forward in life. Norton High School is undergoing a facelift, superintendent Dr. Patricia Ansay will be retiring and Dewar ends his 10 years as principal in Norton to take the helm of Quabbin Regional High School in Barre. But as Class President David Aranjo reminded his classmates, some things will remain the same.

“Although the appearance of Norton High School may change, the memories, hopes, dreams and friendships that create the atmosphere of Norton High School are eternal,” Aranjo said. “You can take down a building and put something new in its place. But underneath the surface lie the remnants of the past that bring us to where we are today. Just as Norton High School changes we will expand, grow, break down a few walls and build what is to become of our futures.”

Members of the Class of 2012 weren’t the only ones to receive their diploma Friday. Raymond Bedard served in the military and missed his own graduation in 1971. Now a local firefighter and paramedic, Bedard was handed an honorary diploma by superintendent Dr. Patricia Ansay.

Tune in Monday to see the complete list of graduates.