CARRABASSETT VALLEY — On Saturday, May 30, Carrabassett Valley Academy's graduating class of 2009 gathered with faculty, staff, family and friends for their commencement in the Richard Bell Chapel. Sitting with Sugarloaf Mountain in the background the 22 graduates were addressed by commencement speaker, Ken Woodard, former CVA teacher.

Intellectual and poignant, Woodard instructed the young graduates, "That ski racing and snowboarding require perfecting edge-to-edge transitions and your life will be filled with challenging transitions. Today is a milestone in your life. You've trained and studied in a very unique environment. You are prepared for whatever life has to bring. Take the lessons you've learned here to deal with the transitions that lie ahead."

Valedictorian Ben Morse, Salutatorian Makayla Brown, the class speaker, Will Harrison and faculty choice speaker, Dylan Darienzzo, also addressed the capacity commencement attendees.

In addition to receiving their diplomas, several CVA graduates and underclassmen received awards at the ceremony on Saturday. Morgan Casey received the Headmaster Award. Marshall LaCroix was the recipient of the David Holmes Most Improved Student Award, and Ben Morse was given the Benjamin Weisbein Award in memory of a former student. Benjamin Bisson received the Town of Carrabassett Valley Scholarship Award. Junior, Kelly Waddle, earned the CVA Alumni Award and Anne Rockwell was awarded the J. Keith Penninger Award in memory of a 1996 graduate.