Le Roy remembers Maddie Masters during 2021 graduation | Top Story | thedailynewsonline.com – The Daily News Online

LE ROY As the Class of 2021 at Le Roy Jr.-Sr. High School sat in chairs on the football field Saturday morning, one of its members was missing.

As valedictorian Andrew Loftus put it when he spoke during the graduation ceremony, the most important thing taken from the class had nothing to do with the coronavirus.

On Sept. 25 of our senior year, we suffered the tragic loss of our dear classmate Maddie Masters, Loftus said, referring to Madison Maddie Masters unexpected death last fall. On that day and in the time that followed, we came together as a class in ways that we never thought were possible.

The valedictorian said much can be learned from the way Maddie lived her life.

She was truly liked by everyone, constantly spreading kindness and positivity to those that surrounded her. Maddie made everyone feel welcomed. Regardless of where our journeys take us, I am sure that our entire class will always remember her and the great person that she was, he said.

WHEN HE ADDRESSED THE SENIORS, Jr.-Sr. High School Principal Tim McArdles message included Masters senior quote from rabbi and author Harold S. Kushner: Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are.

Who you are is special, and I am so proud of you. Our country needs your heart, your passion, and your talents on many levels. I urge you to always pay it forward and help others as you create the life of your dreams, McArdle said.

Earlier, he told the soon-to-be graduates, Your class is so diverse, so talented, and has so much potential to do amazing things, but you will be forever linked together in your hearts through how you overcame adversity, how you have supported each other, and how you had to grow up so quickly as you finished this journey together in Oatkan Knight Country.

The adversity also included the fallout from the pandemic, felt globally and in the Finger Lakes region.

As all of you know, the past couple years were not very easy. Thank goodness things are starting to return to normal, Loftus said. However, without all of the previously mentioned groups, including administrators, teachers, staff, and our parents and guardians, we would not have gotten through it. Words alone cannot properly describe the lengths that these groups went to in order to ensure our safety and well-being. So, at this time, I would like to ask the Class of 2021 to please rise and join me in giving these groups a well-deserved standing ovation for all of their hard work and bravery.

FACULTY SPEAKER ROBERT CURRIN admitted his interactions with Masters were limited.

She sat in my class a total of four times. Everything that I know about her, I have learned from you. I have heard your stories, Currin said. I have witnessed your pain, I have seen your lock screens, I have read your writings, and most importantly, I have watched you begin to heal ... together. I will not tell you what you are capable of in the future. I will instead remind you of all that you have already worked to overcome.

As we learned when we read Tuesdays With Morrie together to close out our year in English class, Death ends a life, not a relationship, Currin continued. You are tasked with spreading Maddies message of love and kindness and in doing so, you will protect and preserve her legacy and she will live on. It is our collective responsibility and one that we should meet each and every day with enthusiasm.

LOFTUS AND SALUTATORIAN ETHAN RIGGS both shared thanks for their families roles in getting them where they were Saturday.

I would certainly not be standing here today, giving this speech, without the unbelievable amount of support and guidance from my family, Loftus said. Whether it was my dad dragging me out of bed at 7 in the morning every day, my mom giving me three kisses for good luck before sporting events, or my sister constantly giving me advice, they were there every single step of the way. As Im sure is true of every graduate here today, I could continue to speak endlessly about the huge role that my family played in making me who I am.

Riggs talked about how his mother has the strongest conviction and perseverance of anyone I know.

With a loving heart and the utmost concern for my future and well-being. She is the one to turn to in times of distress and grief when all hope seems lost, he said. My dad, whose philosophical heart, mind, and soul is why this speech will undoubtedly be a little too deep and esoteric; who is the best to talk to about the mysteries of the world and society during the late hours of the night.

The salutatorian then spoke about his sister, Olivia, who he said was the most supportive and congenial sibling he could have asked for.

We just sort of get each other. We can recite scenes from movies back and forth to one another all day or just look at each other and know what the other is thinking or about to say, Riggs said. You have helped me through monumental points in my life and have accepted me as I am, no questions asked. Through social anxiety and introversion, you have pushed me to get out into the world and make amazing friends. These verses are from a song titled, If We Have Each Other by Alec Benjamin and I feel they perfectly encapture how I feel about us, Olivia.

Im thankful for my sister, even though sometimes we fight. When high school wasnt easy, shes the reason I survived, he said. I will be your brother and Ill hold your hand. You should know Ill be there for you.

When the worlds not perfect, when the worlds not kind, if we have each other, then well both be fine.

WAITING TO GET IN LINE with the rest of his class for the opening procession, Ethan Litolff told The Daily News that, though the past school year was different than normal, Le Roy decided to make it as good a year as it could have.

They tried to push out as much public activity as we could and tried to bring us together as a class, he said. We got to have a Homecoming and a prom. We got to go on senior trips. We got to do a white water rafting right at the end of the year. We had a Surprise Day where we went to Frontier Field (in Rochester). They did a lot for us and it was awesome.

Litolff said there wasnt much for the students to do in the fall.

Towards the end, thats when they got to be able to give us more, push out more events for us, he said. The first half was a little rough, but the second half was better.

The senior said he played soccer and the team made the best of the season last fall, though the season was cut short.

Litolff said he was excited to be moving on to Genesee Community College to study accounting.

I took a class in high school and I fell in love with it, so I decided to make that my career, he said.

The Le Roy Class of 2021 includes: Nathan E. Andrews, Zachary Baker, Alianna A. Baris, Mikala M. Barsaloux, Ethan Beswick, Keri Biggins, Joey Lee Brennan, Kelsey J. Brownell, James Burns, Joe Michael Caito, Landon Francesco Calabrese, Nicholas James Call, Delcina Raejean Cassidy, Paige Mckenzie Lynn Cleland, Amara G. Condidorio, Morgan Coniber, Jillian Curtis, Alexander James Michael Dalberth, Ellie Dambra, Kailie Alexis DeWald, Jack D. Duyssen, Connor Rhys Dziedzic, Jason Eck, Brenna Fenstermaker, Emily G. Flint, Cameron Greene, Bevan Griffis, Alexis MacKenzie Hellerman, Benjamin L. Herrick, Keaton Andrew Hobart, Delaney Alexandra Ingles, Taeler E. Irvin, Xandria H. Jackson, Ilene S. Jiacoma, Courtney Bernice Kacur, Quinn T. Kacur, Logan Edward Kazmierczak, Madeira Lynn Keister, Ian Christopher Kemp, Andrew Sean Kettle, Selena Kramer, Abby Lambert, Kylee LaPaglia, Aaron Todd Leone, Ethan Wayne Litolff, Jackson Clifford Locke, Andrew W. Loftus, Catherine Jean Long, Aaron A. Lowery, Bryn Luckey, Christopher Lee Luetticke-Archbell, Cody Lytle, Ezekiel MacIntyre, Madison Grace Masters, Nathan Lee Merle, Greta Miller, Nicholas Mitchell, Shawn C. Morabito, Bailey J. Morse, Robert DeWight Michael Myers, Jonathan David Napper, Hunter Navarra, Benjamin Oliver, Alex James Panepento, Hayley Papp, Melissa Park, Anthony Michael Porter, Matthew Glenn Raffel, Cole Rauscher, Luke J. Rider, Ethan Frederick Riggs, Kaiel Robinson, Matthew J. Roloson, Kenneth J. Saunders Jr., Andrew J. Schmidt, Chloe Collette Schnitter, Ashley J. Scripp, Logan Shirley, Jamie Victoria Staba, Sydney Steen, Jeffrey A. Stefani, Olivia Steffenella, Joelle Renee Stowell, Cole Sullivan, Brittany Symonds, Frederick Symonds III, Ian S. Terry, Jesse J. Thomas, Micholas Vallese, Felicity Ann Wieseltier, David Matthew Williams, Aspen L. Wise, Abbigail Grace Woodworth, Jayson Yauchzee.

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Le Roy remembers Maddie Masters during 2021 graduation | Top Story | thedailynewsonline.com - The Daily News Online