Tue, 06/05/2018 - 8:30am

KEVIN BURNHAM

Graduating seniors get first dibs on the banquet food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Guest speaker Lisa Arsenault, class of 1999 graduate. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Region Alumni Association President Lynn Martin introduces board members in attendance. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Banquet cooks, from left, Kristine Hepburn, Lisa Hallinan and Jeanne Tonon. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The seniors enter the gym at the Alumni Banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Jacob Wilson fills his plate. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Graduating seniors get first dibs on the banquet food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lillian Sherburne helps classmate ReAnna Heino get some rice. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Annie Bryer smiles for the camera. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

From left, Sydney Meader, JoAnna Shaw and Sam Burnham get their food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Alumni Association helper Martin Page hands out door prize raffle tickets to some senior boys. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Rev. Maria Hoecker and Lisa Arsenault. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Martin presents banquet cook Lisa Hallinan, left, with some flowers. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS Principal Dan Welch wishes the class of 2018 good luck. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Connor Demmons introduces himself to the banquet crowd. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Emma Pearce introduces herself to the banquet crowd. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Martin presents flowers to the oldest alumni, Lucille Machon, who is 101! KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Connie Wright, right, one of the oldest alumni in attendance. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Three members of the class of 1944, Robert Buck, Lynnette Page and Judy Nason. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Graduating seniors get first dibs on the banquet food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Guest speaker Lisa Arsenault, class of 1999 graduate. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Boothbay Region Alumni Association President Lynn Martin introduces board members in attendance. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Banquet cooks, from left, Kristine Hepburn, Lisa Hallinan and Jeanne Tonon. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

The seniors enter the gym at the Alumni Banquet. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Jacob Wilson fills his plate. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Graduating seniors get first dibs on the banquet food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lillian Sherburne helps classmate ReAnna Heino get some rice. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Annie Bryer smiles for the camera. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

From left, Sydney Meader, JoAnna Shaw and Sam Burnham get their food. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Alumni Association helper Martin Page hands out door prize raffle tickets to some senior boys. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Rev. Maria Hoecker and Lisa Arsenault. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Martin presents banquet cook Lisa Hallinan, left, with some flowers. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

BRHS Principal Dan Welch wishes the class of 2018 good luck. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Connor Demmons introduces himself to the banquet crowd. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Emma Pearce introduces herself to the banquet crowd. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Lynn Martin presents flowers to the oldest alumni, Lucille Machon, who is 101! KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Connie Wright, right, one of the oldest alumni in attendance. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Three members of the class of 1944, Robert Buck, Lynnette Page and Judy Nason. KEVIN BURNHAM/Boothbay Register

Alumni Banquet speaker Lisa Arsenault challenged the Boothbay Region High School class of 2018 to live like her favorite superhero.

“Dare to be Batman,” said Arsenault, salutatorian of the BRHS class of 1999 and a teacher at Boothbay Region Elementary School. “Be kind, be compassionate, be a symbol of hope, do good in the world.

“I hope you go out into the world and be a hero. A hero can be anyone as it begins in the heart.”

Arsenault, who is moving to England later this month and marrying an Englishman she met a few years ago while he was in the region, prefaced her challenge by telling the soon-to-be graduates, parents and alumni of how she came to like Batman and what he stood for.

“My brother Alex and cousin Mike would get together and watch the Batman movies, the Adam West TV series and act out scenes,” she said. “I even wore a Batman outfit to a friend’s bridal shower.”

Standing at the podium with her Batman lanyard which holds her school ID badge, Arsenault told the seniors there is too much violence in the world and that they can help change that trend.

She talked about her heroes, her Mom and Dad, and ended her speech by reading a poem she learned in her Aunt Donna Maxim’s class while at BRES entitled “The Summer Day” by Mary Oliver. The poem ends as follows: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life.”

Approximately 32 of the 54 graduating seniors attended the Banquet, held Sunday evening, June 3 at BRES and again led by Boothbay Region Alumni Association president Lynn Martin. After the seniors walked into the BRES gym to a standing ovation, the Rev. Maria Hoecker provided the invocation. As guests, the students got to eat first from the buffet table. The food was prepared and set out by Lisa Orne Hallinan, Jeanne Tonon and Kristine Hepburn. Parents provided desserts.

Martin thanked Hallinan and presented her with flowers for providing the great meal.

BRHS Principal Dan Welch congratulated the class of 2018 and wished them good luck during his brief speech. The class members in attendance then passed around the microphone, introduced themselves and told everyone what their future plans were.

Flowers were also presented to Lucille Machon, the oldest alumna/alumni at 101 years old – class of 1934. Three members of the class of 1944 were also introduced by Martin – Robert Buck, Lynnette Page and Judy Nason – as well as 98-year-old alumna Connie Wright, class of 1938.

Lorraine Hodgdon won the 50/50 raffle and donated the $91 back to the Association. Class members Jo Shaw and Elizabeth Ham won the door prize drawing – each received a beach towel with the words Boothbay Harbor on it.

After Rev. Hoecker’s benediction, Martin concluded the banquet with final thank you sentiments and by wishing the class of 2018 a great graduation week.