Athol High School graduates honored for perseverance, academic achievements

ATHOL – Athol High School’s Class of 2026 celebrated perseverance, sacrifice, and new beginnings Friday evening as 99 graduates crossed O’Brien Field during the school’s 151st commencement ceremony.

Class President Elijah Etienne welcomed attendees and reflected on how the Class of 2026 had grown over the past four years – not only as students, but as people.

“Today is more than just a graduation,” Etienne said. “It is a closing of one chapter and an opening of another.”

He said classmates had faced challenges, created memories, learned lessons, and developed friendships that would continue into the next phase of their lives. Etienne also thanked parents, teachers, coaches, family members and friends for supporting the students throughout their journey.

“Success is not measured by how fast you get somewhere, but is measured by the effort, determination and perseverance you show along the way,” Etienne said.

Principal David King then offered remarks to the graduating class, focusing on resilience, character and the choices students will make in the years ahead.

“The beauty of this moment is that there is no single definition of success,” he said. “Success is not determined by the path you choose. It is determined by the person you become while walking that path.”

King said adversity, disappointment and failure are inevitable parts of life, but encouraged graduates to respond with resilience and compassion.

“Your future will not be defined by what happens to you,” he said. “It will be defined by how you respond to what happens to you.”

He also reminded graduates that the impact they have on others will matter more than awards, titles or accomplishments. King said people may not remember a person’s GPA or job title, but they will remember how they were treated.

Salutatorian Jaylynn Chapalonis delivered a speech centered on sacrifice, gratitude and the people who help make success possible. Reflecting on the past four years, she said success is often measured by awards, grades, and accomplishments, while the sacrifices behind those achievements frequently go unnoticed. She pointed to late nights spent studying and the challenge of balancing academics with sports, jobs, and extracurriculars.

In an emotional tone, Chapalonis reflected on the sacrifices made by her parents and older sister throughout her academic journey.

“Everything I have accomplished is because they never gave up on me,” she said.

Chapalonis said her sister encouraged her through difficult moments, reminding her that mistakes and setbacks did not define her. She also reflected on the sacrifices made by friends who supported her through some of the most challenging moments of high school.

“Success is built on the sacrifices of the people who love us,” she said.

Valedictorian Sarah Day was also recognized during the ceremony, but chose not to deliver a traditional speech. King told attendees that while Day could have shared her many accomplishments, she felt the focus should remain on celebrating the entire graduating class and enjoying the special evening with friends.

“Tonight, she has chosen to give us all the gift of time,” he said.

King announced that the Class of 2026 would graduate with $237,820 in scholarship support, more than double the $118,200 recognized during last year’s commencement ceremony. Of that total, William Caldwell of the Athol High School Scholarship Association announced that the organization awarded $206,870 in scholarships to graduating seniors.

Recipients were recognized individually, standing as their names were called.

King also explained the significance of the cords and stoles worn by graduates. Gold stoles identified honors students. Blue cords represented members of the National Honor Society Executive Board; teal cords were for the Best Buddies program; purple cords signified membership on the school’s Equity Team; green and navy cords represented participation in the Early College Academy; red and white cords recognized varsity athletic participation; and silver cords recognized Student Council.

Superintendent Matthew Ehrenworth then offered parting words to the graduating class. Drawing on responses from an annual survey completed by seniors, he said common themes included nostalgia, growing up, uncertainty, change and hope.

Ehrenworth highlighted one student’s survey response:

“This group has been through a lot, and we all made it, and that’s a big deal.”

He noted that the class had navigated politics, government shutdowns and a pandemic before reaching graduation.

Referencing the song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Ehrenworth acknowledged that the future can sometimes feel intimidating. He said the lyric, “Welcome to your life. There’s no turning back” should be viewed as a hopeful reminder, rather than a frightening one.

“There’s no turning back because you do not need to stay where you started,” he said. “Your future is now. And your entire world, whether you rule it or not, is right in front of you.”

Ehrenworth reminded graduates that they do not need to have everything figured out and encouraged them to embrace the opportunities and experiences that lie ahead.

“Enjoy it, appreciate each other, take chances, and be excited for what comes next because I have no doubt that it will be wonderful for all of you,” he said.