AITE Celebrates the Class of 2011

(AITE)'s class of 2011 is the first graduating class to have spent all four of their high school years in the new building. As they gathered for commencement on Wednesday evening, students shared in four years of memories, friendships and hope for a bright future.

“We chose to come to AITE because we wanted a chance to recognize our true potential,” senior class president Brittany Flittner told her graduating class. “All of you are capable of going out into the world and doing something great.”

Flittner was joined by classmate Almas Ali to present the senior class gift — three hydrangeas to be planted on the grounds of the school symbolizing the continuing growth of the class.

Dr. Polly Rauh, president of the took the podium next, offering her own words of encouragement to the graduating class.

“We can give you two things, the first is your roots and the other is your wings — today you’re earning your wings,” Rauh said.

Laure Aubuchon, director of economic development for the City of Stamford represented Mayor Michael Pavia who was unable to be at AITE’s graduation this year.

“I want to share a statistic that I think will make your parents very happy,” Aubuchon said. “Those who are not graduating with technology degrees, there are seven or eight people for every job, those of you who graduate with technology degrees, there are five jobs for each of you.”

Following up their applause, Aubuchon had a simple request sure to please many of the families in the audience.

“I ask you very selfishly, please come back to Stamford, come back and be part of this great city once you graduate,” Aubuchon said.

Dr. Joshua Starr addressed the class of 2011, acknowledging that it will be and praising the accomplishments of the class.

Members of the class of 2011 were presented with several awards and scholarships from the Parent Teacher Student Organization, area colleges, local businesses and national organizations. As Principal Paul Gross took the podium, he reminded the class that this meant their time together was nearly over, they were close to their diplomas.

“Lets go down memory lane, but lets not go back too far. On September 4, 2007, you sat right there, I stood right here, you were entering ninth grade, you were unaware of what high school was about and I told you that AITE would challenge you,” Principal Paul Gross said. “Now I challenge you to look back and decide whether what I said was true and whether you made the most of it."

Gross continued to walk down memory lane with his graduating class — eliciting both laughs and applause from the group.

“The vast majority of you are not atypical teenagers — you spend a great deal of time texting, Facebooking, Tweeting, you occasionally tend to make very poor decisions, you live in the moment, you seek immediate gratification and attention… over the past few years you’ve found your way to , Bagel Shop, , you’ve hung out in parking lots, parked in the wrong parking lots, and you thought that writing a paper for high school meant cut and paste. On the other hand, here you are, you’re graduating,” Gross said.

Before the presentation of diplomas, Gross left the graduates with one final "Thought of the Day."

“Think of not where you will be, but who you will be,” Gross said.

It's a challenge that the students filling the front rows of the auditorium are ready to meet.