By Nicholas Brown
Staff Writer

Themes of endurance and self-confidence ran throughout the graduation ceremony for Manchester Memorial High School’s 2006 graduates, who ended the evening with a rousing sing-along with Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing.”

Sixty-three Auburn students graduated this year with their classmates at the Verizon Wireless Arena in Manchester on Tuesday, June 20.

Class Valedictorian Kellie Ann Whittemore suggested “there is no mold for the perfect Memorial graduate.”

Manchester Mayor Frank Guinta shared the story of Billy Mills, who shocked the world in the 1964 Tokyo Olympic games by winning the 1,000-meter race.

Guinta, borrowing from Thomas Edison, told graduates, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Graduates fielded more inspiration from Manchester schools Superintendent Michael Ludwell, who quoted Mahatma Ghandi.

“Be the change you wish to see in the world,” he said.

Ludwell urged graduates to “be the change” for the rest of their lives.