GRADUATION CEREMONY – SATURDAY, JUNE 4, 2011
REMARKS OF THE HEADMASTER, FREDERICK WEISSBACH 

GREETINGS 

Distinguished Guests, Colleagues, Parents, and Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles, Brothers and Sisters, Friends, Alumni, Former Colleagues, Underclassmen, FLI College Students, and Seniors – it is my pleasure to welcome you to the 2011 graduation exercises of Franklin Academy.

On this happy occasion, which marks the conclusion of Franklin Academy’s eighth anniversary year, we are delighted to see such a huge crowd that has turned out to honor our distinguished class of 25 seniors (17 young men and 8 young women) – and to acknowledge the success of all of our students.

I want to thank each of you for joining us for this celebration of accomplishments and possibilities. As you know, the mission of our school is to provide students with Nonverbal Learning Differences and Asperger’s Syndrome the academic and social skills to become life-long learners, to pursue college and career goals, and to enjoy fulfilling lives. Today’s graduation is an important milestone on the personal journey toward the realization of this hopeful vision.

In the midst of this happy celebration resides a small kernel of sadness for in a few short hours this version of the Franklin Academy family, which began nine months ago, will come to an end. Looking back to September, we remember that many of us were strangers and we had yet to learn each other’s first name. Now, we are close friends, and it is not an exaggeration to say these are our children, these are our parents. We have lived intensely as family and together we have learned many of those important lessons that will serve us well as we move off in many different directions after today. This is especially true for our oldest students.

Seniors, you have come through the crucible of experience to prepare mind, body, spirit and character in anticipation of the next set of challenges that loom large in your lives. You have persevered and prospered during your time at Franklin Academy, and your positive impact on our young school has been immeasurable. Now, as we savor with you this graduation day, the faculty and I urge you to pursue your passions. Indeed, our greatest wish is that each of you will live a full and satisfying life, realizing your dreams and matching potential with achievement.

While you deserve most of the credit for your success, let us not forget your parents – there at every step to support and encourage you on your journey through childhood to this special moment – yes, the earning of a Franklin Academy diploma, but more importantly, the beginning of adulthood. Truly, your education has been a partnership, and some of your most important collaborators have been those wonderful teachers in and out of the classroom who have helped to shape you as a student and as a cherished member of our school family.

FACULTY SPEECH 

Let us now recognize a talented mentor who has been selected by the Franklin seniors to speak at their graduation. Melissa Clifford, please come to the podium to share a Learning Specialist’s perspective about our year together. (Click on the link below for a copy of Melissa’s speech.)

The Lyness Family before the Senior Dinner	Breanna Florio receives her Senior Appreciation Award

BOOK AWARDS AND CERTIFICATES

It is time to recognize able students throughout the school who have demonstrated significant academic achievement, exhibited tremendous personal growth, or contributed mightily to the life of the Franklin community. Students, as I call out your names, please come forward to receive a book award and certificate from Dr. Tom Hays. We will recognize both Upper Level students in eleventh and twelfth grades and Lower Level students in ninth and tenth grades.

Humanities

Our first award is named for the world’s first true historian – Thucydides – an Athenian of the fifth century BC – who fought in and wrote about the Peloponnesian War.  Unlike anyone before him, Thucydides gathered all available evidence about an event, decided what he thought was the truth, and then shaped his written presentation to emphasize that truth. 

The Thucydides History Award is given to an upper and lower level student for best project on a non-fiction topic.  This project may be a written paper, presentation, or demonstration on a topic of historical importance that connects historical events to our current lives. 

2011 Winners	Upper:	Jason Hellinger
	Lower:	James Ruben

The next award is named for history’s quintessential renaissance man – Leonardo daVinci – artist, inventor, and scientist.  His desire to paint people and objects realistically was bold and fresh.  The range of topics that came under his inquiry was staggering.  He took the startling approach of actually observing and asking deceptively simple scientific questions.  And, he had the brains and bravado to break new ground, creating new machines for a new world.

The DaVinci Creativity Award is given to an upper and lower level student for demonstrations of creativity.  These demonstrations of creativity might include works of creative writing, drawing, sculpting, or acting and should incorporate elements of unusual combinations and imagination.   

2011 Winners	Upper:	Wells Bristol
	Lower:	Isabelle Rousseau

It is hard to control certain administrators	Full service Headmaster

The next award is named for Maya Angelou, perhaps America's most visible black female writer and poet who is best known for her series of six books which focus on her childhood and early adulthood experiences. The first and most highly acclaimed of these works, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, was published in 1969, focuses on the first seventeen years of her life, brought her international recognition, and was nominated for a National Book Award.

At Franklin Academy, the Maya Angelou Literature Award is given to a student who has demonstrated a strong relationship to literature throughout his or her time at Franklin Academy. This individual is clearly impacted by the books he or she reads, is able to compare one text to another, to read a work of fiction or non-fiction and to make connections to the larger community, to draw parallels to his or her own life, and to better understand the human condition as a result. This student’s love of reading and of responding to literature on many levels is an inspiration to others, and clearly enriches the community in which he or she lives.

Science

Our next award is named for the most famous woman of physics – Madam Marie Curie, winner of two Nobel prizes in Science. She was responsible for opening up the science of radioactivity, and her radium was a key to a basic change in our understanding of matter and energy.

The Marie Curie Precision Award is given to an upper and lower level student for accuracy and rigor of measurement. This award goes to the student who consistently and accurately follows laboratory and field protocols, presents valid and reliable data, and produces data that is easily explained and understood.

2011 Winners

Upper:

Patricia Fox

Our second award in Science is named after Galileo. As a professor of astronomy at the University of Pisa in Italy, Galileo was required to teach the accepted theory of his time that the sun and all the planets revolved around the Earth. He was then exposed to a new theory, advanced by Copernicus, that the Earth and other planets revolved around the sun. Galileo built his own telescope and discovered that Copernicus was right. While the Church then convicted him of heresy, Galileo is rightly hailed as the father of modern mathematical and experimental physics.

The Galileo Science Award is given to upper and lower level students for their advocacy of scientific issues. In receiving this award, the student must demonstrate an excellent knowledge of science, possess the ability to present scientific findings in coherent fashion, and be able to explain the relevance of those findings as they relate to society.

Isabelle Rousseau receives the DaVinci Creativity Award	Roosevelt Service Award Winners

Individual & Community
The first award under the category of Individual and Community is named in honor of this country’s 39th president - Jimmy Carter. As president, he aspired to make Government "competent and compassionate." However, his greatest accomplishments have occurred since leaving office as he has invested decades of untiring effort in pursuit of peaceful solutions to international conflicts around the world. Carter was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002.

The Carter Mediation Award goes to an upper or lower level student who has best demonstrated both in and out of class the ability to address conflict. This student has learned the art of negotiation and is able to resolve disputes he has with others as well as to help others resolve their conflicts.

2011 Winner

Upper:

Peter DeFelippo

Our second I & C Award is named for one of the world’s great moral and political leaders - Nelson Mandela - who was jailed for 27 years because of his lifelong dedication to the fight against racial oppression in South Africa. Revered everywhere as a vital force in the fight for human rights and racial equality, Mandela secured his freedom from prison, was elected president of his country, and received the Nobel Peace Prize.

The Mandela Award is given to an upper or lower level student who has made the greatest personal strides in taking what has been learned in Individual & Community class and applying these lessons to their everyday life. In receiving the Mandela award, this student has challenged his or her personal comfort zones in and outside the classroom. The student has gained social confidence, respect, and improved social relationships.

2011 Winner

Upper:

Avi Satlow

Our third Individual and Community Award is the Eleanor Roosevelt Service Award, named for the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945.  An important advocate for civil rights and the status of working women, a delegate to the United Nations, an internationally prominent author, speaker, and politician, Eleanor Roosevelt was declared "First Lady of the World" by President Truman in tribute to her human rights achievements, and she is considered one of the most admired people of the 20th century. 

Awarded to a Franklin Academy student who demonstrates a zeal for positively affecting the lives of others through service to our school and the surrounding community, the Roosevelt Service Award exemplifies a commitment to active citizenship, positive change, tolerance and understanding, to improving the lives of others, and making our community a better place to live and to learn.  Serving as an ambassador for Franklin Academy and a role model for peers, a Roosevelt winner embraces hard work to achieve a vision or meet a goal and truly understands the meaning of Roosevelt’s words: “It is not fair to ask others what you are unwilling to do yourself.”  This year our Roosevelt Service Award goes to the members of Franklin Academy’s incredibly proactive and results-oriented Recycling Committee. Will the following students please come forward:

2011 Winners:

Emily Barlow, Hunter Fabian, Megan Freeman, Cameron Horack, Dan Lowell, Arthur Levine, and Avi Satlow

Teddy Vance receives a Founders Award	David Whitley and Ashley Richard -- Phoenix Award Winners

Mathematics
In the category of mathematics, the Euler Creativity Award (pronounced “oiler”) is given to upper and lower level students for their advanced mathematical abilities. In receiving this award the student must demonstrate a strong understanding of mathematical processes and the justification of these processes. Much like Leonhard Euler, the 18th century mathematician, the recipient sees connections across disciplines and is able to find unique solutions by integrating visual and algebraic concepts.

The Gauss Calculation Award is given to an upper and lower level student for their careful problem solving abilities in mathematics. In receiving this award the student must demonstrate a strong understanding of mathematical processes and the ability to accurately apply these understandings in finding solutions to mathematical problems. Much like Carl Friedrich Gauss, “The Prince of Mathematics,” a German mathematician and scientist who contributed significantly to many fields, our Franklin recipients are meticulous and methodical in mathematical calculations as they diligently seek accurate results.

The next two awards recognize outstanding seniors. 

The first award is the Headmaster’s Excellence Award. It is given to that senior who has embraced the highest standards of academic performance and community leadership and who conscientiously and reliably meets every commitment across campus. The Headmaster and administration acknowledge that Andy Penfield is the worthy recipient of this award.

The second award is the Headmaster’s Perseverance Award.  It is given to that senior who demonstrates persistence, determination, and resolve throughout his or her time at Franklin Academy.  The Headmaster and administration acknowledge that Ben Cook and Bronwyn Scharsu are worthy recipients of this award. 

The Franklin Founders Award was initially given to those seniors who were part of the school’s first year of operation and has subsequently been awarded to seniors who have attended Franklin Academy through all four years of high school.  Our 2010 recipients of the Franklin Founders Award are: Ben Cook, Breanna Florio, Arthur Levine, Conor Otero, Nick Tomanelli, Teddy Vance, Kate Weinstein, and David Whitley.

Odysseus, also known as Ulysses in the Latin language, is the main hero in Homer's epic poem, the Odyssey, and plays a key role in Homer's Iliad. Odysseus is renowned for his guile and resourcefulness, and is most famous for the ten eventful years it took him to return home after the Trojan War. The Odyssey Award is given to that student, who, during an “Ulysses-like” journey through the years at Franklin Academy has been transformed academically, socially, and emotionally, and has demonstrated the most growth among peers. This year’s recipients of the Odyssey Award is:

Franklin Academy’s highest recognition is the Phoenix Award, given to a student for his or her ability to relate to the world.  Like the mythical sacred firebird that rises resurrected from its ashes, the recipient of this award has benefited from his or her mistakes, overcoming life’s obstacles and adversity by applying lessons learned to lead a thoughtful life.  In receiving this award the student must exemplify service to the community beyond the classroom, providing a role model for younger students, a friend to peers, and an inspiration to adults.  Franklin Academy’s eighth Phoenix Award goes to two students, one a FLI college student and the second a Franklin senior. Will these two students come up to the podium to receive your award.

Bennett Jace Cook	Patricia Rose Fox

Franklin Learning Institute Certificates:

Now, we want to recognize those students who have participated in the Franklin Learning Institute, and have satisfactorily completed the requirements prescribed by the faculty for the First Year College Program. Will the following students please come forward to receive your certificate:

Danielle Epstein, Daniel Abraham Foster, Lauren Ellen Perry, Ashley Anne Richard, and Cord Schlobohm

SENIOR SPEECH

A highlight of any graduation is that moment when we hear from one member of the senior class who has been chosen by classmates to provide perspectives on the road that has been traveled together this year and the many different paths of life that beckon before us. It is my distinct pleasure to invite David Whitley to the podium for the Senior Speech. (Click on the link below for a copy of David’s speech.)

A Standing Ovation for our Graduates	The Recessional begins

DIPLOMAS

We are about to turn our attention to the real business of this Saturday morning – the awarding of diplomas to Franklin Academy’s eighth class of graduating seniors. Before I begin, however, there are just a few announcements. Following this ceremony, our seniors will stand in a receiving line at the top of the sidewalk to greet you and receive your best wishes. Then, everyone is welcome to join us for a luncheon buffet. If there are any questions about departure from campus this afternoon, please see team leadership, Tom Hays, or Mary Murphy.

Speaking of Summer Sojourn, our first session runs from June 29 to July 12, and there are still a couple of slots remaining for these first two weeks. The second session runs from July 13 to July 26, and there are a few more slots than first session if your son or daughter is interested in attending these second two weeks.

Please know that we are working diligently to prepare for the 2011-12 school year. Faculty hiring is almost done. Work will begin this Monday on moving a 9,000 square foot modular classroom building to campus where it will stand at the end of our field behind this tent. Construction of the hike, bike, and running trail, affectionately referred to as the Murphy Highway, is approximately 65% complete. On Saturday, August 27, the next group of FLI students report to campus for registration and all students on Teams A, B, and C return on Sunday, August 28. Away we go!

Seniors, the big moment has now arrived. As I call out your names individually, please come forward to receive your diploma from Mary Murphy. Family and friends – you may applaud vigorously and take plenty of photographs as each senior comes forward.

THE CLASS OF 2011

Jonathan Thomas Carney Anthony Richard Carpeneti Meredith Marks Collins Bennett Jace Cook N. Peter DeFelippo Breanna Rose Florio Patricia Rose Fox Jason R. Hellinger Douglas Howley Melyssa Brooke Kaplan Patricia Maria Lefker Arthur Theodore Levine II John Alexander Lyness Conor Knowles Otero James William Otto Andrew Bronson Penfield Kyler Davis Rolston Timothy Tan Saban Bronwyn Elizabeth Scharsu Evan Cameron Strauss Danielle Anais Therrien Nicholas M. Tomanelli Edward Rodman Vance Kate Weinstein David Jonathan Whitley GRADUATING SENIORS

Kyler Rolston is ambushed

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is my pleasure to present to you the 25 graduates of Franklin Academy, class of 2011!!!! 

The Weinsteins came dressed to be noticed	Arthur Levine, class of 2011, and Caitlin Anders, class of 2010