Photo: Noah LeClaire-Conway

North Kingstown High School’s 104th graduation ceremony was held Saturday at the University of Rhode Island’s Ryan Center. Three hundred and fifty seven seniors received diplomas, with many going to college and many others choosing the workforce and the military over academia.

Salutatorian Allison Dungey will attend Brown University this fall where she’ll major in applied mathematics and economics. Upon graduation she hopes to be an actuary.  

“I’ve always loved math and it’s been a subject that has come easy to me,” she said.

Throughout high school, Dungey has been involved in student government, National Honor Society and pier tutoring. She’s played the violin for the past eight years and participated in this year’s musical “The Whiz.” Dungey said high school helped her become a more outgoing person.

“This has been such a big growing period for me. When I first started I was on the shy side and struggled with public speaking. But over the years the teachers and students have helped me,” she said.

Dungey has been thinking about what her speech would be about for the last few months, but didn’t start writing until last week.

“I’m scared to death standing at this podium and I’ve been dreading this for months, because what could I possibly pass along to this eccentric and vocal group that would attract your attention. But we all need to celebrate and reflect this moment,” Dungey said Saturday.

She urged her classmates to never be afraid to set sail and to look “due North” for safety.

As founder of the Cool Moose party, Robert Healey has worn many hats including a former town councilman, a lawyer, a wine merchant, a Web publisher and former candidate for governor. As this year’s commencement speaker he urged the graduating class to just “stay cool.”

“When I’m asked to make these speeches, I tend to reconsider my life and what wisdom can I give. But my motto of staying cool is the answer. By using the letters in that phrase I hope to be able to have some impact on your life,” he said.

He urges the students to serve. Find a cause in their life and it serve it with a passion and to never serve it mindlessly.

“Think. It doesn’t cost you money and knowledge is an asset that can weather any financial storm. You can be stripped of everything but not your knowledge,” said Healey.

Valedictorian Grace Palmer will accompany Dungey to Brown University where she plans to major in history.

She’s the vice president for the National Honor Society, student liaison for the PTSO and is in the orchestra.

“I’m intrigued by all of you and am awed by your talents and skills,” Palmer said to her fellow graduates. “We’ve challenged each other to be better. It’s the people that make up our community and the students that make up the NK Skippers.”

Palmer also asked everyone for a moment of silence for Zachary Bechtold, a classmate who recently passed away and would have graduated Saturday.

The same memories were echoed among the classmates. They’re going to miss their friends, teachers and the fun times.

“I’m going to miss seeing the same people everyday and all the laughs we shared,” said Tara Reid, who’s attending Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y., where she’ll major in business.   

Healey gives the students one last suggestion before setting off into the real world.

“Live out your dreams and be something. It’s your turn to run the operation we call society. Don’t screw it up more than what we’ve had.”