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By Ethan Lee
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
On Monday, June 6, Needham High School graduated over 400 seniors on a gorgeously sunny day.
Opening remarks were made by vice-principal Aaron Sicotte and principal Dr. Joseph Barnes. Both emphasized the significance of the accomplishments of the Class of 2016, as well as the talent and potential gathered together on Memorial Field.
Looking back on the four years the seniors (and now graduates) had attended the high school, it was not hard to understand Mr. Sicotte’s and Dr. Barnes’ high praise. After all, the class had experienced athletic successes, musical awards, academic feats, and new renovations.
Musical performances were given by the Needham High Symphonic Band and Chorus, who played the National Anthem and “Bridge Over Troubled Water”.
Awards for Academic Excellence and for Service were given to Dianne Lee and Jeremy Sutherland, respectively.
Student speakers Zachary Kaplan and Sonya Raja continued the event with speeches reflecting both on their times and memories at NHS and their thoughts and goals for the future.
Superintendent Dr. Daniel Gutekanst ended the opening ceremonies with his own speech in which he explained, “Education is meaningless.” It is meaningless, he said, unless it is utilized for the right reasons and good causes after it is achieved.
As the day wound down, seniors received their diplomas after a long wait. With joy and relief, they celebrated the final moments of their high school careers. After a fantastic graduation day, the NHS Class of 2016 embarks on its next adventures–as adults.
