By MAUREEN DOHERTY
NORTH READING — North Reading High School’s 68th graduating class and their guests enjoyed outdoor Commencement Exercises last Friday evening. Rain showers earlier in the day and the occasional roll of thunder heard in the distance under a bank of gray skies did not dampen the upbeat spirit of the occasion.
The Class of 2025 emerged from Jon Bernard Way and stepped onto the Arthur J. Kenney Athletic Field, led by Class Marshals Ava Collins and Benjamin Cooper, while the band enthusiastically played the traditional graduation march, “Pomp and Circumstance,” under the direction of Ben Owens.
As the graduates entered the field, the guests who were packed into the bleachers and lined up along the end zone erupted with cheers and applause for the 161 members of Hornet Nation whose achievements were numerous, both individually and as members of dozens of athletic and academic teams, clubs, bands, choruses and dramatics programs.
All rose for the singing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” by the NRHS Chorus and NOTEorious, and accompanied by the NRHS Band, which was co-directed by senior drum majors Nate Burt and Raffi Toby.
Later in the ceremony, the chorus and members of NOTEorious backed up a trio of NOTEorious seniors – Eulalia Agganis, Alivia Rowe and Vinny Costantino – who sang an a cappella version of “Bones” by Maren Morris, which was arranged for them by Director Allison Kane.
In his welcome address, after thanking the faculty and staff with whom he has worked for the past 15 years, Principal Anthony J. Loprete III, who will retire at the end of this month, offered his parting message to the Class of 2025. Retelling a story he had shared with the students of an educator “proving their ability and their capacity to educate,” he used a metaphor of this work by “likening it to holding a bird.”
“…I wish for you, an opportunity to be given a chance to be willing, if granted, to choose to hold that bird. Better yet, don’t wait to be asked if you want to hold the bird. Have the courage to trust in yourself, in those teachers that taught you, in your mentors and your coaches that prepared you, in your friends and family that shaped you, to seek out the bird, to offer yourself to this task.”
Loprete continued: “Don’t be afraid to take that bird, to hold it, to protect it, to nurture it, to be ultimately responsible for its welfare. This is really hard work, it may be work that is stressful at times, painful at times, lonely at times, and at times, so rewarding, so immensely gratifying, and so powerful that you realize it truly has no comparison. It has a value that cannot be measured and it explains to you why you are doing this work.”
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick C. Daly noted the significance of this commencement which marks the retirements of many longtime administrators and faculty, as in addition to Loprete, NRHS Athletic Director Dave Johnson, NRHS science teacher Catherine Francis and Little School Principal Christine Molle are among this year’s “class” of retirees.
“When I’m asked about what are some of the things that make North Reading a special place, I consider what makes us unique. The students, for sure, are not only high achievers and talented artists, performers, and athletes, but they are also good and kind people.
They hold doors for you. They say hello in the hallways. They serve their community and care about their school and town,” Daly said. He also cited the longevity of the staff, many of whom choose to stay for most if not all of their careers, which has a positive impact on the school culture.
Daly described the high school principal’s job as “the most challenging in K-12 education.” Of Lopete, he said: “His firm commitment to always do what is right, what is fair and consistent, has guided us through many challenging situations and to introduce so many new traditions and experiences for our students. He was there when we opened the doors to our new school building, became principal in 2014, was visible in the hallways, sometimes in a kilt, a Star Wars costume, or dressed as a boiler maker, but he was there to share that special bond with the students and staff and to make everyone proud to be a Hornet.”
To the Class of 2025, Daly said: “As you stand here tonight, and as you look back at your four years in high school, three years in middle school, and your days as a Bulldog, Hound Dog, or Labrador, remember those moments where you took the time to celebrate.
The art shows, the bows you took on stage, those senior nights on the athletic field, the pep rallies, grand marches, and the photos at field days, in the parking lots, and on your front steps on your first day of school. You’ve come a long way to be here tonight and to earn this honor, and no matter where life takes you, you will always be a member of our Hornet community and family.”
In her address to her classmates, honor essayist Sucheta Srikanth recalled with fondness that during high school she was able to develop her passion for writing by sharing the voices of her classmates through the school newspaper, the Buzz.
“To me, writing isn’t about perfection, but rather, the power of voice. I use my words to advocate for equality and representation and seek to uplift my peers by documenting their stories. To that point, you might be wondering why I’m not going to pursue a career in journalism. I am fascinated by the human mind, something I portray in my storytelling. So, if you know me, you know that I will be going on to study cognitive science, a major focused on psychology and data analytics,” Srikanth said.
While embracing the technology that is ever-present in our everyday lives, Srikanth also urged her classmates to protect their humanity.
“I believe that the inauthenticity of artificial intelligence comes from its lack of humanity. As someone who will be working in AI in the future, I hope to find a balance and ensure that people remain people, not datapoints. No matter how challenging it may seem, I beg of you to not lose your humanity, your creativity, or your passion. That is how we keep up with the robots that will inevitably take over the world, and that is how you use your voice,” she said.
Honor essayist Vanessa Steinmeyer opened her speech with a quote by Anaïs Nin that spoke to her and which she discovered while “doomscrolling” on a bus ride: “Oh, to be so alive. To be alive. I’m weeping and I’m laughing. It’s marvelous.”
“I think the reason this had such an impact on me is because of its relevance at this point in our lives. It stands as a lesson in accepting both the times weeping and laughing, embracing that the harsh duality of life is inevitable. But somewhere down the road—not literally, the bus ride wasn’t that long—it dawned on me that ‘opposites,’ like tears and joy, don’t have to be so separate after all.” she said.
“…What happens when we realize that rain will always turn to sun? That a mathematician can also be a poet? That a student can inspire a teacher? When we think of these things exclusively, we close the door on so many opportunities. I hope that none of us ever feel pressured to live life on a one-track train. Instead, be like a bus whose route is never the same,” Steinmeyer said.
Honor essayist Aakash Stewart spoke about his passion for STEM learning and the pride he felt in joining with others to facilitate the expansion of STEM programming opportunities at NRHS for current and future students.
“This growth period has been swift; in a single year both the school’s World of STEM club and school’s competitive robotics team have gone from ideas to full programs. Both have allowed many students to enter competitions they are interested in and hone their passions. These programs will make a massive impact on our school system in the coming years, but I want to focus on the contributions which led to their creation: these being individual action and cooperation,” Stewart said. It was the individual action of several students and teachers that enabled club members to facilitate “two projects to be presented at a state competition, and hopefully allows many future students to expand further,” he said.
“Reflecting on the past year, I have often benefited from programs spearheaded by other people. Next year, with most of you entering into new environments I hope we all will bear more responsibility for creating the change we want to see. No matter your focus or passion, it is vital to advocate for yourself and create your future. This is only possible by believing in our individual ability to impact our communities with diligence and action, along with harnessing communication and cooperation to fully realize our dreams and find our passions,” Stewart said.
Class essayist Isabelle Lazure focused her message on the life lessons that cannot be learned in the classroom. “We learned that failure isn’t the opposite of success, but rather the first step toward it. A bad grade, a lost game, a mistake in a performance, or a missed opportunity doesn’t define who we are, but rather shapes the way in which we respond and react. We now know that it’s okay to fall apart sometimes, even when it seems like we need to hold everything together, and that true growth comes from discomfort and setbacks, not from perfection,” Lazure said.
“…We can now recognize the inevitability of the passage of time, often unbearably slow and other times too fast to catch a breath, and have learned to organize our priorities…And maybe most importantly, we learned that kindness—real, intentional kindness—is one of the most powerful things we can offer one another,” Lazure said.
The senior members of the NRHS Band then joined their bandmates for a performance of “Fracas” by Randall Standbridge, directed by Ben Owens prior to the announcement of dozens of scholarships and awards by Loprete as the seniors stood to be recognized by their families and friends.
Assistant Principal BarriAnn Alonzo then stepped to the podium to announce the names of each graduate who accepted their diplomas from School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Friedman and were congratulated by Daly and Loprete.
The class officers, President Mahdi Queiri, Vice President Owen Phillips, Secretary Aidan Kennedy and Treasurer Badyr Ourdyl went to the podium to individually offer their thanks to the community that mentored and supported them and their classmates throughout their lives. A gift of a new podium will be donated to North Reading High School by the Class of 2025.
The class officers then directed their classmates to move the tassels on their caps signifying their transition from high school. In their final act as a class, they tossed their caps into the air in unison to celebrate their graduation and moving on to their next milestones. Moments later, their family members and friends joined them on the field to photograph the happy occasion.