ORANGE — Members of the Ralph C. Mahar Regional School’s Class of 2018 walked along the track on a sunny Friday afternoon, dressed in their blue caps and gowns, past family, friends and community members there to recognize their accomplishments.
Some students sported decorated caps bedazzled with glitter, candy and motivational sayings.
Speakers during the ceremony continuously called on the students to express their gratitude for those who’ve helped them along their educational journey.
“To your parents, I want to express our thanks for entrusting your most precious gift with us all these years. You should be extremely proud, for these graduates that sit before you are the result of love and dedication,” said Superintendent Tari Thomas.
She also thanked the faculty and staff throughout Orange’s schools for fostering a home for the graduating seniors all these years.
The graduating class was accepted into 45 colleges and universities across the country, including Clark University, Westfield State and Greenfield Community College, said Thomas. Around 80 percent of the class, 82 students, plan to continue onto post-secondary education. Thomas said 40 percent of the students will be studying at four-year colleges, 34 percent plan to attend two-year colleges and 6 percent will attend technical trade or career schools. Two or three students plan to enter the military and 15 percent will enter into the workforce.
Mayte Torres-Zelaya, vice president of the senior class, told her classmates to pursue their dreams despite any hardships they may face along the way. She also reminded the seniors to thank those who’ve helped them in working toward graduation.
“Tonight is also the night where we must reflect upon our own journey coming here, did we really make it this far on our own? The answer is no. There has been somebody who has walked beside you on this path to guide you, or even to catch you when you fall. We have been molded into who we are by those who have surrounded us,” she said.
Keynote speaker and Mahar teacher for the past nine years, Christopher Bailey shared his experience of growing alongside the Class of 2018.
“I’ve had the privilege of watching you grow more than any other class that I’ve taught. Tonight, I feel like a proud parent,” he said.
Quoting the words of journalist Hunter S. Thompson, Bailey read: “Every person is the sum total of their reactions to experience. As your experiences differ and multiply, you become a different person, and hence your perspective changes.”
For the seniors entering a new chapter, Bailey told them to allow themselves to gain new perspectives, but also take a break once and awhile on the way there.
“So take tonight, reflect on all the hard work and then tomorrow, do nothing — float. When you are ready to continue to
pursue again, your goals will be right where you left them,” he said.
Christopher Patrick Annear; Sarah Renee Augeri; Kathryn Elizabeth Avery; Ryan David Badgley; Kayla Virginia Baker-Lafrennie; Shayla Marie Bannon; Allannah Denise Barber; Emma Elizabeth Barrett; Cassandra Catherine Bates; Elysha Murray Bedard; Kyleigh Ann Berge; Hannah Elizabeth Birch; Javin Tyler Blanchard; Jonathan Michael Blattenberger; Morgan Noelle Blavackas; Peter Richard Boisvert; Ryan Mathew Bombard; Cameran James Merchant Boyd; Dawson Grazziano Brady; Scarlet Dawn Bridges; Skilah Meghan Britt; Brittney Erin Brown; Javier Burgos; Dylan James Cernoia; Nolan Jesus Chalas; Kayla Marie Cleveland; Connor William Clinkscale; Skyla May Connor; Gillian Patricia Cormier; Natasia Jewelle Cox; Kylie Morgan Crowley; Emily Ann Demers; Timothy Alan Demers; Ashley Elizabeth Denio; Victor Remusat Deoliveira; John Matthew DeWitt; Aidan Stanley DiDonato; Kellianne Elise Dodge; Ryan Thomas Donaldson; Sean Patrick Doyle; Michael Patrick Duffy; Richard Boniface Egan III; Abigail Rose Elbourn; Cole Brown Emery; Allison Taylor Erbeck; Kaitlyn Rose Fales; Tyler Michael Ferrazza; Daniel Alejandro Ferreira; Merrideth Danielle Fontaine-Ehlen; Brandon Scott Foshay; Joseph James Fries; Hugo Dillingham Frost; Shey-Anne Gadwah-Alonso; Quinn William Gervais; Elizabeth Hope Gilbert; Matthew Paul Grant; Brandon Johnson Green; Timothy Paul Griffin Jr.; Alexander Cosworth Gurganus; Nicole Katherine Hahn-McCauley; Evan Michael Hamlett; Aaron Reeves Hendry; Olivia Grace Hough; Parker Jeffrey Houghton; Olivia Rose Howes; Chayne River Hurlburt; Madison Rose Hurlburt; Emily Elizabeth Inman; Jeffrey Stephen Jasukonis; Haley Elizabeth Jean; Matthew Ryan Jenks; Lilac Rain Keenan; Kirsten Jahenna Ladeau; Cassidy Rose Layton; Madison Olivia Leary; McKenzie Jean LeBlanc; Stephen Earl Leger Jr.; Vanessa Kathryn Leh; Dana Marie Linnan; Ashley Christine Loseman; John Joseph Love Jr.; Brennan Joseph Mailloux; Tabitha Delight Manjourea; Adam Christopher Maselli; Connor Andrew McCarthy; Destiney Leigh Michelin; Lura Ashley Anne Misner; Seth Andrew Mitchell; Kyle Robert Monette; Sean Francis Mooney; Mckayla Skye O’Malley; Katelyn Rose Page; Emily Rose Paglia; Ava Catherine Paine; Matthew John Paluk; Treyton Hyde Pasakinskas; Alexis Dawn Patchen; Kailyn Louise Patria; Hannah Susan Paul; Samuel Christopher Paul; Timothy William Paul; Gwen J. L. Perkins; Kiara Marie Perry; Maeve Marie Powell; Alison Peiyi Ralls; Jeremy Ping-An Ralls; Taylor Emily Rameau; Kianna Rae Reilly; Owen Lee Rich; Andrew Louis Robertson; Grace Luowen Robichaud; Justyn Tyler Rockwood; Dylan Edward Romanowski; Jonalys Eneida Rosario; Samantha Leigh Rowe; Victoria Lee Ryan; Ushna Saeed; Josue Emil Salcedo; Isabel Taylor Salvatore; Corey Michael Sanderson; Erin Morgan Sandova; Anysmarie Santiago; Calista Serenity Sawin; Kathryn Jean Schatia; Alice Abade Schwanz; Nicholas Bradford Sharp; Ash Gabriel Tobias Shaw; Sebastian Nathaniel Wyatt Shaw; Samantha Nicole Shippell Stiles; Tricia Louise Sicard; Patrick Harold Sidilau; Emily Jean Sinclair; Sophia Ann Smith; Brionni Theresa Spinazzola; Hunter Matthew Stanley; Eric Richard Stone Jr.; Kaitlyn Nicole Susen; Leah Jean Swain; Kiah Marie Swan; Cecil Spencer Talbot; William Joseph Tattan; Mykela Heather-Marie Taylor; James Gardner Teele; Jacob Alan Temple; Mayte Torres-Zelaya; Laryssa Marie Truesdale; Sarah Esther Urbina; Laura Esther Urdaneta; Aileen Valerio; Matthew Scott Vieira; Jessica Ann Walker; Ella Joy Walsh; Rieley Joseph Wentworth; Russell James Wheeler; Arilyn Elizabeth White; Kyleigh Marie Williams; Ian Michael Winniwicz; Tyreece James Younger; Hannah Rose Zanni.