The Rockville High School Class of 2025 received its diplomas Thursday evening and its 232 members are headed to college, the armed forces, trade school, work and the next chapter of their lives.
“You might be wondering, am I ready for what’s next,” Principal Jason Magao told the graduates. “Let me be the one to tell you. You are ready for the journey ahead. You are ready to create, innovate and dominate. Don’t’ let anything or anyone hold you back.”
He urged the graduates to be guided by three principles. Be honest, he said. Be respectful and remember that relationships matter.”
The graduates walk in for graduation.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph P. Macary told the graduates they are dynamic and resilient. They are ready to handle challenges, to continue learning and adapt – attributes that will serve them well through life, he said.
“Whichever career path you choose, I challenge you to take the knowledge and skills you learned from your teachers and the core beliefs you learned from you family, to go out into the world and pursue excellence,” Dr. Macary said.
The student speakers talked about the challenges of finding their way and the privileges of living in the United State that so many do not appreciate.
Superintendent Dr. Joseph P. Macary, left, and Rockville High School Principal Jason Magao lead administrators, the Board of Education and Town Council into graduation.
Valedictorian My-Ngoc Lai-Huyen talked about her grandparent’s emigration to the U.S. after the Vietnam War, and how they worked to build a life for their children and grandchildren. She became emotional as she talked about her father, who did everything he could to support her many interests, but also did not cause his highly motivated daughter who has been No. 1 in her class since freshman year to stress out over academics.
She also talked about her name, and those of her sisters, and how her family imprinted its American dream and heritage in their names. “My” translates to America and “ngoc” to jade. Her sisters are My-Ngan and My-Han. Ngan means wealth and Han means dreams. The names, she said, represented what their grandmother wanted for them in America, as well as a connection to their heritage.
Valedictorian My-Ngoc Lai-Huyen addresses her classmates.
“As we walk across this stage and into the next chapter of our lives, we carry more than just a diploma and four years of memories,” she said. “We carry our names. Each one is a story in progress, a legacy in the making. Our names may be given to us, but what we do with them is entirely ours. Whether your name echoes generations or stands alone as something completely new, own it. Live up to your dream of it. Shape it with purpose, strength and passion.”
Salutatorian Rijja Rohaan recalled how the class had begun its journey during the pandemic, wearing masks, practicing social distancing and perfecting how to smile with only their eyes. All of that has given way to a relatively normal existence for her classmates. Others around the world are not so lucky and face great challenges and incredible hardship.
“There are people across oceans and past our borders who are suffering in ways we can’t even imagine,” she said. “They are living in horrible conditions in war-town countries. They are starving and they are dying. I know school can sometimes seem like a burden, but we are privileged to have this right when in other countries, young people do not have that option.”
Most people in Vernon, Connecticut and the United States have access to clean running water, fresh food and roofs over their heads.
Salutatorian Rijja Rohaan speaks to classmates and the audience.
“These people need help. Your help,” Rohaan said. “Educate yourselves on the wars, genocides, and social justice issues. If you think that you don’t have any power, you’re wrong. We are the future and we can decide with our power.”
Class president Lorelei Hutchings talked about how her goals shifted through high school – from first wanting to be a veterinarian, then a wildlife biologist and then the music business. Only when she reached her senior year did she begin to image other opportunities.
“We all struggled with choices that would shape the rest of our lives,” she said. “We were led to believe that college was our only option, which is a valid choice. But many of us soon discovered that there was a world full of opportunity. The polished road they paved for us wasn’t as exciting as the one we could make ourselves. Enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps became my dream. I sighed a breath of relief. Finally, my future felt secure. I’d found a purpose.”
Rockville High School faculty at graduation.
The members of the Rockville High School Class of 2025 are: Faysal Afzal, Muhib Afzal, Darek Michael Albert, E’mya Brielle Allen, Kimathi Tetteh Amponsah-Tei, Jeffery Okyere Antwi, Abigail Grace Araujo, Madelyn April Arey, Andrew Martin Aubin, Amber Joan Avery, Hamza Aziz, Ashbah Babar, Brooklyn Alexa Bachand-Martin, Isabel Yvonne Baidy, Matthew Evan Bannon, Thomas Andrew Bannon, Mackenzie Baretta, Paige Mackenzie Basquiat, Matthew Joseph Baumberger, Devon William Belknap, Genesis Bernard Dominguez, Devin T. Binimelis, Marcus Francis Blomquist, Jillian May Boney, Noah Allen Botting, Patrick Benjamin Boya, Gabriella Celestina Braga, Jonathon Jayden Breer, Hailee Rose Bridge Parzych, Nehamyah Alique Briscoe,
Rockville High School history teacher and football coach Erick Knickerbooker pushes graduate Noah Melendez.
Lucas Scott Britney, Abigail Elise Brown, DeAnna Nashay Brown, Madison Elizabeth Bruce, Nathaniel Connor Bundy, Andrew Jason Carangelo, Charlee Noelle Carr, Sabrina Chen, Makayla Elizabeth Christian, Jacob Maxwell Christopher, Kyle Clark, Grace Colbert, Gabriel Antonio Colón, Amber Lynn Columbo, David Alan Cone, Jr.. Kevin James Conley, Mihailee Jamilah Constantopoulos, Nickole M. Contois, Aidon James Cortes, Quincy James Crawford, Gianna Marie Crish-Martin, Aiden Scott Custer, Najaire Santroy Dedricks, Jorge Luis DeLeon Vargas, Abbigail Rose Delude, Colby James Derosier, Alexia Star Diaz, Nathan Soares Duarte, Mufeed Ismail Dudha, Ella C. Durkee, Justin Dyment, Lily Rose Elwell, Mason Adam Emery, Nicholas Joseph Fabuien, Saydena Antoinette Fall, Morgyn Haylie Farina, Nathan D. Fauteux, Thomas William Fenner, Abigail Ann Fisher, MaKenzie Elizabeth Fox, Madison Marie Frank, Jazlenne Vannessa Shaila Frederick, Matthew E. Garcia, Idalyse Izabelle Gauthier, William Jay Gauthier, III, Anastasia Marie Gauvin, Veronika Gavrysh, Nathanial R. Gelinas, Madelyn Nora Geyer, Mariah Jade Gilbert, Dylan Leo Giroux, Peter Benjamin Glidden, Chayton Angelo Gonzalez, Jovani Gonzalez, Armani Elijah Gordon, Isabella Marie Grampetro, Syniah Shy-Ann Gratic, Hannah E. Griffin, Nicholas Samuel Groves, Alex Christopher Hahn, Stacey Ahmya Hardy, Grace Elizabeth Hart, Armaan Hayat, Makayla Sieanna Henry, Marcus Hernandez, Vincente Alejandro Hidalgo, Kayanna Maryella Hine, Liam Kenneth Hodson, Tyler Xavier Holder, Tucker James Hurlbut, Alicia Susan Marie Hurst, Lorelei Madison Hutchings, Camden Marie Huynh, Sydney Jane Ingraham, Jaden Jablonowski, Christopher D. Johnson, Samantha Elizabeth Johnson, Piper Sophia Jones, Jonathan Mukadi Kasamba, Kevin Michael Kelleher, Amaan Fatima Khan, Hania Khan, Rubait Khan, Genevieve M. Kimani, Tywain Carlton King, Benjamin Wyatt Krupienski, Kwasi Acheampong Kumah, Trinity Elizabeth LaBrecque, My-Ngoc Lai-Huyen, Sarah Rose Landry, Preston Paul Langlois, Emaleigh Paige Latulippe, Cameron LaValley, Athena Marria Lavigne, Gavin Joseph Lavigne, Sabreena Margaret-Marie LaVoie, Rylee Lydon, Joslyn Marie Lyons, Zak Matthew MacNulty, Cortney Bernice Maddox, Victoria Alize Madore, Andrew R. Manzanares, Ayden Kaleb Marinaro, Nathan C. Marth, Addison Aileen Martin, Mayamiko Martin, Aleksa Ilene Mason, Ryan Steven McAuliffe, Alexandra Sofia Means, Noah Elias Melendez, Giselle Beatriz Mendes, Maureen Mensah, Kyden Ryan Merlin, Connor James Michaelson, Hailey Briana Miller, Jillian Brooke Miller, Nicole Elena Mocofan, Teressa Enid Montañez, Gabriella Myette Montano, Sam Alexander Montgomery, Nicholas Joseph Moran, Katherine Eve Morey, Amir Daiyon Muhammad, Johan Mundakel, Ian Alexander Nevelos, Mah Noor, Melvin Phillip Odom, Cole Michael O’Neill, Emery James Ortiz, Maileani Michelle Ortiz, Onnalee Marjorie Ortiz, Tyler Ostrout, Mekhai Eric Ouellette, Emily Nicole Owens, Jacob Oppong Owusu, Leah Serwah Owusu, Johnel Joel Padilla, Victoria Eve Palin, Nathan Raymond Palmer, Emma Joanne Parnell, Elliott Brian Paugas, Kenneth Vontrell Perdue, Jr., Trey Douglas Perry, Deszjah Unique Pertillar, Aaron Joseph Phillips, Julia Geraldyne Pinard, Elijah L. Postell, Kayla Ruth Christie Pottinger, Atara Quick, Natalie Quinones, Brady Michael Ramsdell, Hayden Joseph Reel, Ava Irene Reid, Kevin James Reid, Christopher Andrew Rhoades, Penelope A. Ringrose, Cassidy Rose Riopelle, Amaiah Chanté Rivera, Tatiana Marie Rivera, Dionna Marie Robinson, Jaida L. Rodriguez, Jeshua E. Rodriguez, Rijja Rohaan, Charlotte Rumovicz, Sinai Analisé Salmon, Arianna Mia Sanchez, Yshiali Santiago, Yosuel Joel Santiago Rivera, Brooke Olivia Schnitzke, Cole Sessions, Nalberth Henrik Queiroz Silva, Brett Skidgel, Carley Skidgel, Emma Skidgel, Lucy Skidgel, Hunter Brody Sorrow, Alexis Linn Soucier, John R. Stein, Genevieve Svetlana Sticesen, Riley Stephen Summers, Adwoa Afriyie Tandoh, Nathaniel Robert Thomas, Maurice Matthew Tucker-Darity, Jr., Rachel Tulsie, Elaina Carolyn Turcotte, Aniyahlis Vazquez, Brianna K. Vazquez, Brooke Lissa Vazquez, Donte James Vereen-Ruffin, Tahir Vohra, Alexander Charles Walden, Faith Leighann Wendus, Paul John Westerberg, II, Liana Belle Wheelock-Bonet, Cameron Sterling Wilcox, Alana Williams, Solomon-Nasir Williams, Hailey Mary Willis, Matthew Porter Woodward, Deniz Zekeriya Yagtu, Karya M. Yagtu, Nolan Michael Yencho, Bennett August Zess.