AUGUSTA — Cony High School English teacher Tom Wells said the class of 2014 gave him a gift so valuable he can never pay it back.

“That gift is hope,” Wells told graduates, noting that after 37 years of teaching, in the last few years tragic world events and what he sensed was a growing “me first” attitude had made him question whether school was still a place where good things happened. “You brought me back. Something happened since the class of 2014 arrived four years ago. You made me a believer again.”

Wells said a sign should be put up at Cony, inspired by the sign that greets visitors to Maine by saying, “Welcome to Maine: the way life should be.” The new sign would say, instead: “Cony, welcome to the class of 2014, the way a class should be.”

He said class members’ traits of looking out for each other, understanding the importance of hard work and having a sense of community, the ability to overcome obstacles, a sense of humor and a desire to give back “will make the class of 2014 one of the most successful in Cony history, and accomplish great things. And the greatest thing is making a difference.”

Graduate speakers said they, too, have seen a positive change at Cony in their class’s four years there. They said that was true especially this year, when the football team won the state championship, and when the class SAT scores, based on tests they took last year as juniors, were up significantly from those of the previous year’s class, enough so they helped improve Cony’s grade from the state Department of Education from a C to a B.

“We’ve exceeded expectations, from killing the 2013 SAT scores to winning some scooter races,” graduate and speaker Alexis Dostie said, referring to annual scooter races between classes at Cony. “Our class has put pride back in our school.”

Dostie said the football championship game was especially memorable not because of the victory in that sport itself, but because much of the city of Augusta, and nearly the entire class, went to Orono for the game, making it the best example of the class coming together, she said.

Graduate Riley Hopkins, first honor essayist, said the class embraces the individuality of its members, which allows each to shine in whatever his or her special talent might be. He said teacher and coach Shawn Totman leads by example, in that he’s “quirky, goofy and absolutely incredible. He’s never afraid to be himself. That’s why we love him. I like to view life as one big performance. High school is the warm-up. All we can do now is whip out the jazz hands, because it’s show time!”

Rayna Knight, second honor essayist, urged graduates to pursue what makes them happy in life.

“I can’t wish for you all to have a good life,” she said. “Because you have to go after that yourselves.”

Principal Kimberly Silsby, whose own son, Nathan, graduated with the class, said she has spent many nights with fellow parents and guardians of class members at ballgames, concerts and other student activities.

“We did it,” she said. “We led our children from infancy to elementary school to middle school to high school and, finally, to today. Our students are transitioning into adulthood. As hard as it is, it is time for them to leave our homes and create their own lives.”

Before entering the Augusta Civic Center auditorium for the ceremony, graduates gathered, in their red and white caps and gowns, in a side room, snapping photos and chatting. They clapped in unison before lining up to march into the auditorium.

Graduate Lelia Belanger said before the ceremony she was excited and nervous. Later, the saxophone player would join the concert band to perform “Fanfare Hayabusa,” by Satoshi Yagisawa, before returning to sit with her fellow graduates.

Graduate John Bennett said what makes Cony special is everyone is so close to each other, and it provides a good education. He said his whole family was there Sunday for his graduation.

Keith Edwards — 621-5647

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Twitter: @kedwardskj