Wahconah Class of 2026 Told to Embrace the Future
The school's rock band Blood Type Blue performs 'On Our Own.' More photos will be posted later.
DALTON, Mass. — Wahconah Regional High School's class of 2026 reflected on their time as the first to have four years in the new building, and how they have become compassionate and caring leaders.
Families, friends, and faculty gathered in the high school gym on Sunday to celebrate the 107 graduates' accomplishments.
Class President Alexandra Rougeau recognized her classmates for their hard work and the life lessons learned that may go unnoticed.
"Regardless, if you have received the formal recognition for your achievements, I want you to know the silent battles that you fought are not meaningless, because the most important work you do is not the work that is recognized, but rather the work that is done when no one is watching," she said. "Although this may seem demeaning, it is an important life lesson, because it humbles you, challenges you, and teaches you the work ethic to stay disciplined, but ultimately it will drastically help you navigate the world you now face at hand."
Rougeau thanked for electing her class president and left them with one last piece of advice.
"Although the future may sound scary and uncertain, instead of fearing it, embrace it," she said. "As it is known, these years have flown by, so will college, and the next, and who knows where you will be 10 years from now. So, embrace the moment, live with intention, and I truly believe we will each accomplish great things in our own right."
Salutatorian Sophie Alsmaan reflected on their time as the first class to spend four years in the new high school and spoke on on the importance of change.
"Change can be terrifying, but it also can be freeing. It can connect you with people you may have never met, and/or have grown with. And we are here today as living proof that we have made it here together, and that we can conquer absolutely any challenge life throws at us, because conquering those future challenges requires more than just showing up every single day. It requires a shift in how we look at our own journeys," she said. "It requires us to continue writing our own stories, while remembering the people standing by us, from the family sitting before us today, to the friends graduating beside us."
She shared with her class the important life lesson she learned and how important their voices are and that they must use them.
"During my time here, I learned many lessons, but the one that I want to share with you today is this: your voice, your determination, and your passions are powerful. There is power in the work that we do, there is power in the places that we come from, and there is power in the voices we use to serve ourselves, each other, and our community," she said.
"The world outside of this building is chaotic and constantly changing, but our job going forward is to take on and seize any opportunity or challenge the universe throws at us, even if it shows itself in the most unexpected ways, that is what our voices, our future truly means."
Valedictorian Haze Brown told of their first day entering the building -- and falling on their face in front of everyone.
"I quite literally fell my way into high school, but you know what, starting from the floor meant everything was up from there," they said.
Brown said the class of 2026 is comprised of compassionate and kind leaders while sharing another story on how they were able to admit fault and clean up after a squishy NeeDoh toy mess.
"That's just one of the things that makes me proud of my classmates, their ability to admit fault and grow from it is something that can only be self-taught. It's hard to do. The growth in every single person behind me over these past few years has been exponential," they said. "I was told we would start to find ourselves in high school, but seeing it happen in real time was special. People I thought would never change came out of their shells, gained confidence, and proved themselves in more areas than I can name.
"It took some of the trials and errors mentioned, but I can confidently say that the class of 2026 has become young adults capable of taking control of their own lives."
Brown told the class to never give up, always be humble and take their time with the rest of their lives moving forward.
Superintendent Michael Henault reflected on his time growing up in the Berkshires and how this community made him, and the graduates, into who they are today.
"This community has shaped who you are. It's become part of your identity. It's woven into the way you think, the way you'll care for others in this room, the way you expect people to show up when you need them, the way you'll face challenges, the way you will move through the world long after today," he said. "And because of that, you will carry this community with you into every future endeavor, for better and for worse."
Principal Serena Shorter reflected on her first year as the "new kid" and how compassionate everyone was in welcoming her. She quoted Maya Angelou on how people will never forget how you made them feel.
"This year, you demonstrated just how deeply you understand that truth. You made me feel welcomed, valued, and instantly a part of Wahconah, and for that you will always be remembered," she said. "As you move forward don't just look for how you can fit into a new space and a new routine. Look for how you can lift others up and focus on leaving people and places better, kinder, and brighter than you found them. You've already shown that you possess the empathy, the leadership, and the brilliance to do just that."
Graduate Dominic Mastrogiovanni sang the national anthem, the school's rock band Blood Type Blue performed "On My Own" from "Teen Beach Movie," and School Committee Chair Richard Peters and Henault presented the diplomas with help from class advisers Maura Arroyo-Santos and John Murphy.
Wahconah Class of 2026
Scholarships and Awards
^National Honor Society
*National Business Honor Society
Thane Adams ^
Natalie Aldrich ^
Sophie Alsmaan ^
Hannah Avalle
Isabelle Baker ^
Benjamin Barry ^
Eloise Bates
Madeline Beatty ^
Rebecca Broderick ^
Rose Broderick ^
Emma Brokenik ^
Haze Brown ^
Riley Brown
Kaidan Buzzella
Cooper Calvert ^
Nicolle Camelo Romero
Stefany Cedeno Bolivar
Isabella Churt Hernandez
Brayden Clausen
Jocelyne Cole ^
Sadie Collins
Elizabeth Connor ^
Ethan Coughlin ^
Christopher Crocker
Darrick Croshier
Jackson Crow ^
Taea Cunagin ^
Ian Daley
Alannah Dargi
Jayden Delgado
Vincent Desrochers ^
Jocelyn Dowd
Anna Doyle
Jack Ducharme
Athan Dungey ^
Dawson Feeley
*National Business Honor Society
Natalie Aldrich ^
Sophie Alsmaan ^
Hannah Avalle
Isabelle Baker ^
Benjamin Barry ^
Eloise Bates
Madeline Beatty ^
Rebecca Broderick ^
Rose Broderick ^
Emma Brokenik ^
Haze Brown ^
Riley Brown
Kaidan Buzzella
Cooper Calvert ^
Nicolle Camelo Romero
Stefany Cedeno Bolivar
Isabella Churt Hernandez
Brayden Clausen
Jocelyne Cole ^
Sadie Collins
Elizabeth Connor ^
Ethan Coughlin ^
Christopher Crocker
Darrick Croshier
Jackson Crow ^
Taea Cunagin ^
Ian Daley
Alannah Dargi
Jayden Delgado
Vincent Desrochers ^
Jocelyn Dowd
Anna Doyle
Jack Ducharme
Athan Dungey ^
Dawson Feeley
Luke Ferguson ^
Charlotte Flanders ^
Lucas Fones
Brianna Frisbie
Skylar Gagliardi ^
Zayden Gale
Ryan Geoghan
Melaina Haczela ^
Aidan Hagmaier ^
Kacie Harte
Dawson Hitchcock
McKenzie Hover
Michael Hubby
Christopher Hyatt
Samuel Iovieno
Alexzander Isenhart
Emma Jacinto
Olivia Jarvie
Alexander Jerebtsov ^
Madison Judson
Carissa Kearin ^
Brodie Kelly-Smith ^
Braeden Killeen
Riley Kinzer ^
Robert LaBonte
Charlotte Flanders ^
Lucas Fones
Brianna Frisbie
Skylar Gagliardi ^
Zayden Gale
Ryan Geoghan
Melaina Haczela ^
Aidan Hagmaier ^
Kacie Harte
Dawson Hitchcock
McKenzie Hover
Michael Hubby
Christopher Hyatt
Samuel Iovieno
Alexzander Isenhart
Emma Jacinto
Olivia Jarvie
Alexander Jerebtsov ^
Madison Judson
Carissa Kearin ^
Brodie Kelly-Smith ^
Braeden Killeen
Riley Kinzer ^
Robert LaBonte
Rylynn Lamb
Lauren Lange ^
Ryyan Levernoch
Lorenzo Lewis ^
Natylee Martin
Everett Massini
Dominic Mastrogiovanni
Madison McCarthy
Samuel McLaughlin ^
Jason McNulty ^
Isabelle Merhar ^
McKenzie Morin
Aubrey Muddiman
Alexander Noyes ^
Kiaya O'Neil
Alexis Olds ^
Lucas Ostrander
Marissa Poirier
James Rabuse ^
Kayla Rando
Cole Rapkowicz
Jonah Rawson
Nolan Raymer ^
Jacob Reilly
Isabella Riechers
Alexandra Rougeau ^
Aiden Russell
Kiara Ryan
Ella Scalise ^
Vincent Sciola
Cindy Siguencia ^
Mariah Sinclair
Tanner Speth
Paetyn Tatro ^
Tora Thoresen
Owen Tucker ^
Katelyn Tynan
Caroline Vincelette
Jacoby Vincelette
Mia Viola ^*
Makayla Wadman
Abby Welch
Audrey Wildrick ^
Ryder Winters
Treyvon Wood
Brodie Ziemba
Lauren Lange ^
Ryyan Levernoch
Lorenzo Lewis ^
Natylee Martin
Everett Massini
Dominic Mastrogiovanni
Madison McCarthy
Samuel McLaughlin ^
Jason McNulty ^
Isabelle Merhar ^
McKenzie Morin
Aubrey Muddiman
Alexander Noyes ^
Kiaya O'Neil
Alexis Olds ^
Lucas Ostrander
Marissa Poirier
James Rabuse ^
Kayla Rando
Cole Rapkowicz
Jonah Rawson
Nolan Raymer ^
Jacob Reilly
Isabella Riechers
Alexandra Rougeau ^
Aiden Russell
Kiara Ryan
Ella Scalise ^
Vincent Sciola
Cindy Siguencia ^
Mariah Sinclair
Tanner Speth
Paetyn Tatro ^
Tora Thoresen
Owen Tucker ^
Katelyn Tynan
Caroline Vincelette
Jacoby Vincelette
Mia Viola ^*
Makayla Wadman
Abby Welch
Audrey Wildrick ^
Ryder Winters
Treyvon Wood
Brodie Ziemba
Tags: graduation 2026, WRHS,
