By David Harry

Staff Writer

Rooted in recent events and with an eye to their futures, 278 members of the Scarborough High School Class of 2010 were awarded diplomas Sunday evening.

In commencement ceremonies held at the Cumberland County Civic Center, graduates and their families and friends were asked to treasure the memory of Steven Delano, who died in a May 8 accident and applauded the diploma earned by his best friend, Kevin Grondin.

Class President Naomi Abrams called the events of Sept. 11, 2001, and the accident that killed Delano touchstones in the lives of the graduating class. Delano, Grondin and their dates were headed to the Gorham High School prom.

“What has happened so far is real, and we do not know what will happen next,” she said. “Our class came together in a way I can’t describe.”

As Grodin, who finished his last semester in January, marched with close friends Kayla Cobb and Shelby Dahms, seniors wore pins of camouflage material in memo––ry of Delano, an avid outdoorsman.

Valedictorian Adam Saltz drew on his sophomore experiences taking advanced placement biology courses with seniors as he told classmates to consider a kind of lysogenic cycle and attach themselves to a passion when finding themselves.

“No matter what pressures you may face, you should never feel the need to satisfy anyone but yourself,” Saltz said. “Choose the lysogenic cycle, and take the extra time to evaluate your set of ideals and core values.”

Class Salutorian Katie Golojuch told the class to remember its times together even as they marched in pairs to the ceremony and received diplomas individually.

“We have recently experienced times of joy and times of grief,” she said. “It is important to note that we are graduating not as individuals, but instead as a class.”

English teacher Eric Klein delivered a faculty address with fond personal recollections of Delano and a charge to the class to embrace adversity.

“Insecurity and adversity are good. Nice games or easy games are not worthwhile,” Klein said. “Steve did not fear adversity or accept anything that was mediocre.”

The Scarborough High School Senior Choir led in the singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” and later sang “We Are the World.”

Grondin, 19, who was guided to center stage to receive his diploma by departing Principal Patricia Conant, said he continues to recover from accidents last month and June 7 when he collided with a tanker truck on Route 1 near the Scarborough Marsh.

Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219