Members of Wiscasset Middle High School’s class of 2022 were treated to breakfast and an all-expense paid trip to Funtown Splashtown USA, Saturday –a gift from the alumni association. For the second year in a row, lingering concerns about the COVID pandemic caused the association to cancel its annual dinner banquet honoring the graduating class.

“We decided instead to offer them breakfast followed by the trip to Funtown,” Vickie Hersom, alumni president, said in her opening remarks in the school’s cafeteria. An appeal to the association’s membership raised about $7,500, added Hersom, enough to provide breakfast, bus transportation and park tickets along with $40 in expense money to each senior.

Helping organize the event was Deb Pooler, a member of Wiscasset High School class of ’71, and executive committee chair for the association. Pooler, who works at WMHS, called this year’s graduating class a close-knit group who have missed out on a lot over the last two years due to the pandemic. “I want to be sure you know we’re here this morning because we’re proud of each and every one of you,” she told the seniors.

Saturday’s menu included freshly made egg and sausage breakfast sandwiches, French toast, crispy bacon, fruit salad, donut holes, coffee and orange juice. Katie Reed Bryant, class of ’84, helped prepare the food, something she does every day for students because she runs the WMHS kitchen.

Chip Davison, class of ’80, and his sister Heather Davison Webster, ’87, said they were excited to be there and looking forward to graduation night. Davison’s grandson Gavin Loupe is among the graduates; he plans to work for his grandad’s construction business, Davison Construction of Wiscasset. Webster’s son Russell, another graduate, achieved high honors for the third quarter and had a leading role in this year’s one-act play.

Following the breakfast, each of the alumni members introduced themselves to the graduating class, wishing them success and urging them to aim high and not to give up on their goals and dreams. They also encouraged them to become active in the association, which has been going strong since 1901 and Hersom said is one of the few high school alumni organizations to meet annually.

Betty Applin class of ’70, told the seniors her mother Ruth Jones Applin, a 1935 graduate of the former Wiscasset Academy, never missed an alumni banquet. “She attended her last one in 2017 at the age of 100 years old,” she said.

Ben Rines Jr., a past alumni president, said he really enjoyed the breakfast and seeing some of his former classmates. “I thought this was a great beginning for what will become a new tradition,” he commented.

Principal Charles Lomonte said this year’s senior class was small in number, “but are very caring individuals,with big hearts.” Lomonte announced Latisha Wright and Garrett Cossette will be the class marshals, leading their peers in the opening and closing marches at graduation. Following breakfast, the seniors boarded a school bus bound for Saco and a day of fun.

Wiscasset Speedway, owned and operated by Richard and Vanessa Jordan, will once again host graduation outdoors at the track, 275 West Alna Road. Ceremonies start at 6 p.m. June 9, with a rain date of June 10.