DALTON, Mass. — Members of the class of 2021 cannot be blamed for lamenting the athletic competitions, productions, parties and — yes — classes that they missed over the last 15 months.

 

But Wahconah Class President and salutatorian Shaun Thornton had a different message for his fellow graduates on Saturday afternoon.

 

"The circumstances of our senior year were far from ideal, this is true," Thornton said. "But is often too easy to narrowly focus on the things you don't have and, in doing so, overlook all that you do have.

 

"As we look back on our time here at Wahconah, my greatest wish is that we don't become discouraged by but we missed but instead appreciate what we had. We attended dances, pep rallies, field trips, sporting events, talent shows, Appolonian performances and senior assemblies. We read novels, wrote essays, solved problems, studied languages, played music, created art. We formed friendships.

 

"A single year does not define a high school experience unless you let it. So don't."

 

For the second straight year, Wahconah moved its graduation exercises out of the gym and onto the football field. The school's 60th graduation saw 130 seniors receive diplomas in front of friends and family, beneath a clear blue sky and in the shadow of the new high school that will greet Wahconah's class of 2025 in September.

 

As the class of 2021 said goodbye to their teachers and friends, it was not lost on them that they also were saying goodbye to the building they called home for the last four years.

 

"We have spent the last four years as a group, building bonds and creating a community that will forever have a place in our memory," valedictorian Aiden Trager said. "Wahconah will always be the place where we grew up, the school where we learned be adults. And although we may not recognize the new school as our home, we can appreciate that we made an impact on Wahconah's history.

 

"We can take pride that we were an example of leadership this year, that we kept traditions alive through the most unruly of times and that the students who remain will follow in the footsteps that we have left."

 

The ceremony included a performance of the song "Have It All" pre-recorded by the Wahconah choir, and acknowledgements by Principal Aaron Robb of the numerous volunteers who put together and coordinated the outdoor event.

 

Robb, a father of adolescents himself, also acknowledged the people in the back who had the backs of the graduates.

 

"Graduation is not really for our graduates, it's for their families, too," Robb said. "It certainly provides closure for you, but for your families, it's the fulfilment of a dream. As a parent, I'd remind the graduates that when they were born — within days, hours, even minutes of their birth — their parents envisioned their children celebrating two important milestones in their life: graduation and marriage.

 

"At some point in time, the parents of the class of 2021 literally dreamed about what is happening now before their very eyes. And here we are making that happen."

 

As that dream unfolded, Robb noted that many parents are also fearful about sending their children off into a nightmarish world of division and acrimony.

 

To help them navigate that fractured world, Robb offered three pieces of advice: find peace within themselves, find and accept love in their lives and push themselves to create joy.

 

"Note that I said the word 'create,' " Robb said. "Joy is something you can actually make for yourself. It's created by searching for and embracing the silver linings in life.

 

"This pandemic has taught us many things. But one thing I noticed was how some people, in the midst of despair in the last year and a half, amplified the positives and still found joy in aspects of their lives while others chose to amplify the negatives and embrace misery."

 

Trager reminded his classmates of the joy that they have created together.

 

"We spent an entire year of our young lives daydreaming about the greatness that is to come, but, for just a moment, let's appreciate where we are now and how far we've come," Trager said. "We are leaving school for the final time together, finally without masks on and with a unique perspective about life.

 

"If there's anything to thank quarantine for, it's that, for many, it was the first time we looked at ourselves and the world around and realized what was truly important to us. Whether it be family, friends, or whatever else you missed the most, take this moment to realize that we have a second chance to better ourselves. Let's allow ourselves to learn from this experience and not take anything for granted. Because, as we've experienced, life can change suddenly and without warning."

 

The list of awards and scholarships can be found here. Wahconah Regional High School's class of 2021:

 

Chloe Bell Accardi *

Kelly Kristina Anderson *

Sadie Marie Anderson *

Zachary John Archambault

Nicholas Louis Astore *

Cody Christopher Atwood 

Alexis Rose Ayotte 

Jaedyn Elizabeth Barnaby

Karly Angelina Bazonski 

Lauren Broderick Bean

Shane Matthew Bernardo 

Aiden Gregory Betit *

Ashton Mikael Bird 

Hannah Catherine Bowlby 

Gabriel Michael Bray 

Emma Kathleen Brosnan 

Connor William Burt 

Evan Michael Bynack 

Grace Olivia Caccaviello *

Gabrielle Marie Cancilla 

Kya Lynn Candilore 

Carina Lynn Caporale 

Emma Lucinda Carkhuff *

Anna Michelle Casella 

Eleana Fay Casey *

Abigail Caroline Clayton *

Cameron Alexander Combs 

Scarlet Jane Connell 

Sawyer Quinn Cornwell-L'Hote 

Jillian Rae Cote *

Nathaniel Mattey Coyne 

Haley Anne Crosier 

Bryce Montgomery Denault 

Eric Lee Dewey 

Madison Rose DiPietro 

Meghan Xiao Ju Doane *

Jake William Emerson 

Joshua David Fletcher 

Bethany Rose Fontaine 

Cameron Gage Forward

Noelle Catherine Furlong *

Cameron Patrick Paul Fusini 

Quinn Morgan Gallagher 

Maria Louise Gamberoni *

Olivia Helen Gazzillo 

Christopher Shane Golembeski 

Kayla Maria Goyette 

Sage Lynn Guiel *

Shayne Michael Haley *

Austin Thomas Hart 

Ethan Riley Hayes 

Madison Leigh Hurlburt *

Jessica Ranae Jones 

Ty Marshall Jordan 

Donovan Cronnell Keegan *

Griffin Daniel Keifer 

Colby Hunter Kirchner 

Benjamin Lee Klose *

Joscelynn Elizabeth Korzeniowski 

Kassidy Jayde Krejmas *

Ernest Remi Lampron *

John Joseph Lavoie 

Kaleb Lawrence LePage 

Caitlyn Ann Lusignan 

Hanna Jean Lusignan 

Colin Richardson Mackie

Patience Faith MacPherson *

Shea Louis MacPherson 

Brian Anthony Mange-Rock 

Morgan Lynn Marauszwski*

Sophia Terese Ruth Marquis

Anthony Carmen Marra

Isaac Christopher Marszalek 

Trey Matthew Massaro 

Mckenna Ray Mathers 

Maggie Elizabeth Mazzeo*

Nicole Patricia Mazzeo 

Caleb Ray McCasland 

Sadie Mattis McConnell 

Laci Alexandra Melle 

Joshua Michael Munn 

Braelyn Elizabeth Nelson 

Ethan William Nesbit 

Macy Marie Nesbit 

Logan Hunter Newsome 

Richard James Nolli 

Aisha Elizabeth O'Boyle*

Kaylee Michele O'Bryan*

Ashley Rose O'Connell 

Kaitlyn Grace Olds 

Luc Alan Ouellet 

Austin Reed Ovletrea 

Anil Utku Ozdemir 

Vienne Clare Peltier*

Emily Rose Perault 

Noah Andrew Perault*

Emily Noel Pires 

Arianna Kassandra Poirier 

Brock Anthony Prett 

Callum John Prett 

Matthew Robert Quinto 

Lay Victor Manuel Ramos 

Connor David Rarick 

Jonathan Michael Render

Amiah Beth Renderer 

Natalie Rae Robert 

Caitlin Rose Ronayne*

Cameron Mason Rudd 

Anthony James Safford Anthony James

Monica Christine De Miranda Santos

Faith Victoria Savery*

Hunter James Schweizer 

Jacob Francis Selva 

Sydney Ann Smith 

Paxton Rose Strout 

Kaeli Lynn Talora 

Timothy Michael-Antonio Therrien*

Shaun David Thornton*

Aiden Pierce Trager*

Julia Dianne Trager*

Alexis Raegan VanBramer 

Giovanna Cavalcanti Vianna*

Kaelynn Brigitte Walsh 

Casey Anthony Wassilie 

Xavier Lucia Wellington*

Danielle Rita Whitaker 

Michelle Jiatao White 

Michelle Jean Williams*

Daniel Clayton Wilson*

Nicole Elaine Wing

 

*National Honor Society