By Isabell Macrina
Hometown Weekly Staff
The Wellesley High School Commencement ceremony turned Hunnewell Field to a sea of red caps and gowns as over three hundred seniors entered amongst family, friends, and faculty alike. The commencement kicked off with the Wellesley High School Choral Ensembles and Senior Chorus giving a performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” followed by the national anthem and the ceremony began.
The welcome address was delivered by class officer Naomi Vella. She shares her experience as a cross country captain and going into a race without knowing the results. It is normal to be anxious about the future, but she quotes Amy from Louisa May Alcott’s novel “Little Women” in that “I am not afraid of storms, for I am learning how to sail my ship.” She encourages her classmates to go into situations open, not afraid, and explore rather than watch from the sidelines.
Class officer Sophia Pavano presented the class gift to Wellesley High School. Rather than physical items like in years past, their gift this year was a scholarship for Leaders in their sophomore or junior year in high school. The scholarship is for student who have a passion for leading, and the class chose this gift because it will support students directly for years to come.
The senior class speaker and fellow class officer Cameron Lynch followed with a speech referencing the hit television show “Ted Lasso.” In it, Lynch cites that the titular character Lasso is “one of the least chalant people” in reference to how teenagers are typically nonchalant. As opposed to people who don’t listen when asking the normal small talk questions, he does, and Lynch wants to bring that into his life. He said everyone should be more chalant, embracing what they love with enthusiasm regardless of judgement, calling your friends just to check in, and being true to yourself. Because everyone cares, and we should all start showing it. Even after losing the last page of his speech, he shared his passion with the students.
Principal Dr. Jamie Chisum gave his congratulations to the class and used his speech to honor not just the students, but the faculty members who were retiring at the end of the year. Tim Eagan, head of the language department, Andrea Holbrook, who work in tech support, Jill Lopato, a math teacher, Heidi Marquedant, a teacher in the Child Lab, Janet Sozio, both a student counselor and dance teacher, and David McCullough, an English teacher for 40 years with WHS and a speechmaker Dr. Chisum was grateful to go before.
McCullough alluded to the Wizard of Oz in his speech, encouraging caution when accepting a false reality and for people to continue thinking independently. People change people and that responsibility is one they all carry.
Dr. David Lussier, superintendent of schools, gave his congratulations to the class as not just superintendent, but a father to one of the graduating seniors. He encouraged the importance of faith, not just religious, but in humanity. Earlier this year the school lost two elementary school children and it rocked the community. In all of this, they stood together. The community mourned for them together, standing in support of the father and how much his kids brought light to the room. Faith in people was the only way to move forward.
Assistant principal Andrew Kelton recognized the co-valedictorians of the year, Stephanie Xia and Elaine Cheng. Sami Juma, another class officer, presented the Excellence in Teaching Award which students vote on, to honors 12th grade English teacher David Charlesworth, citing him as a great mentor who doesn’t just teach them to read, but write their own stories. Dr. Chisum presented the Annual Senior Cup, recognizing outstanding students nominated by faculty. This year went to two students; Jolie Chen, noted for her relationship with special needs students, volunteering with the Red Cross, and a captain of the cross country and track teams, and Cameron Lynch, who was not just a great student and athlete, but a gentleman and a leader.
Caps flew in the air to commemorate the end of their time at Wellesley High School, but the lessons they learned about community, compassion, and being chalant will follow the Class of 2026 to wherever they go next.
