Warwick Grads 2021

Celebrating CLASS OF 2021 A SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT FROM THE

Warwick Beacon June 2021

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Thursday, June 24, 2021

Warwick Beacon

Spotlights on Graduates

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he Aldrich Mansion was the site of graduation ceremonies for Toll Gate, Pilgrim and Hendricken High Schools last week. The city schools held ceremonies during the day Wednesday, which was covered in last Thursday's Beacon. Hendricken celebrated graduation Friday night, as pictured here. The list of graduates from the three schools, speeches and photos from the ceremonies are included in this section. Congratulations to the Class of 2021.

CAPTURING THE MOMENT: Friends and family snap shots of the graduates as they file to their APPLAUDING THE CLASS: In his remarks Principal Mark DeCiccio paused to congratulate the seats and commencement of the ceremony. graduates.

SNACK BEFORE GRADUATION: Darlene Ward and Scott Abraham found the back of their pickup the perfect place for a light repast as they wait for Patrick Ward to receive his diploma.

TAKING IN THE CEREMONY: Father Robert Marciano, school president and Auxiliary Bishop of Providence, the Most Reverend Robert C. Evans

IN TUNE OF A GRADUATION: Marcia Beagan brought along lights to be sure she could read the score to a musical interlude during the ceremony. Here she makes certain everything was working before nightfall.

Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

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Justice Flaherty urges Hendricken grads to be ‘generous of spirit’

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By ARDEN BASTIA and JOHN HOWELL

rancis X. Flaherty a member of the Bishop Hendricken High School Class of 1964, former Warwick Mayor and a recently retired Rhode Island Supreme Court Associate Justice returned to his alma mater Friday night to become the school’s first guest graduation speaker.

The graduation ceremony beginning at 8:30 p.m. was held on the grounds of the Aldrich Mansion overlooking Narragansett Bay. As was done for a first time last year because of the pandemic, large screens provided up close views of the stage to those sitting in or outside cars parked facing the water with the Mount Hope Bridge with its necklace of lights in the distance. This graduation, thankfully, was far more relaxed as students and their families weren’t wearing masks and gathered in groups to celebrate.

Flaherty reminded graduates “every member of this great class is here tonight because someone cared enough about him to send him to Bishop Hendricken High School. Someone was willing to pay a hefty tuition to give you this opportunity, which you have used to your great advantage.”

Flaherty urged the graduates to “Be kind to people.

Keep in mind that it costs nothing to be kind and generous of spirit to each individual you encounter.

In the end, it will be you who will profit from each act of consideration or kindness that you perform, large or small.”

Work hard, loyalty, and not being afraid to fail were among his other words of advice.

“Every person at this ceremony is proud of you and has the utmost conviction that you are ready for any challenge that comes your way-whether that be in furthering your education, in the military, or in the workplace,” he said. “Do whatever you do with ardor, passion, and zeal.”

Sharing the words of St. Ignatius Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit Order, Flaherty encouraged graduates to “Go and set the world on fire.”

The Class of 2021’s valedictorian, Sean Miranda, addressed his peers during the ceremony. In his speech, one tinged with nostalgia, Miranda shared anecdotes and stories about his time at Hendricken.

The Honorable Francis X. Flaherty

He was also faced some unexpected competition when shortly after starting his speech an automobile alarm sounded. Usually, the intermittent honking of an alarm dies in a minute or less.

That wasn’t the case Friday night.

It didn’t stop Miranda.

He talked about freshman football practices in the cold to taking exams in Sister Carol Anne’s class, Miranda said “the little things” are his fondest memories, “memories that shouldn’t stick as much as the bigger events, but do.”

“These little moments, tucked in between the stresses of the day, are what made these past four years so special. They were constant reminders that this school is a brotherhood, a family, a place where everyone has your back. Even as simple as a fist bump in the hallway or a smile from a friend, these little things show that nothing was too small to truly care about, and that mentality seeps its way into the entire community,” he said.

Miranda reflected on faculty that impacted him, including Thomas Morey, Sister Carol Anne, Mrs. Leslie Meehan, and Nick Tavares, and Coach Mike Quigley.

“Hendricken is a school that prides itself on doing the big things right. Just look at this class,” he said, reflecting on the class’ accomplishments, like state championships, athletic titles, acceptances to top colleges and universities, and talent that is “nothing short of exceptional”.

“Yet each of these massive accomplishments starts with the small ones. They start with the little memories, the building blocks that create this environment. This class, and Hendricken, has excelled because we have paid attention to these things,” said Miranda.

The graduation was a bittersweet experience for

Vincent F. Mancuso, Dean of Academics who delivered the school welcome and served as master of ceremonies. Mancuso who started working at Hendricken 27 years ago is leaving to become assistant superintendent of schools for the Diocese of Fall River.

The focus of the evening with lights reaching high in the sky was on the graduates and the moment when they stood to be recognized individually with their diplomas. Diplomas and awards were presented by the Most Reverend Robert Evans, Auxiliary Bishop of Providence; Father Robert Marciano, president of Hendricken; Mark DeCiccio, principal and Father Brian Moris, chaplain.

“Tonight we leave our nest and find out what else life holds in store for us,” said the Class of 2021’s salutatorian, Sean Jacob Alcordo, who also addressed his classmates at the graduation ceremony last Friday. “What doesn’t matter from these past four years weren’t things like whether or not you tied your tie correctly on your first day, or that one acronym that you learned for biology, or even if you forgot some textbook to bring to school. I mean, unless you wanted to be up here and give your own speech to the rest of the class, your grades did not mean as much as you probably thought they did. What did matter were the experiences you had throughout high school, whether it’s tearing your underwear during a theater production (which I did), or going out with friends after a football game.”

Like Miranda, Alcordo reflected on the impact the Hendricken community had on him, reminiscing on memories from freshman orientation to extracurriculars.

Alcordo also brought up the topic of mental health during his speech.

“Being at an all guys school, mental health is often something that gets passed over, and sometimes even scoffed at. You may have been told by someone who may have had good intentions to ‘toughen up’ or ‘not to be soft’. I want you all to get that idea out of your head,” he said. “The fact is, you really don’t know what people are going through around you, whether or not they may be going through some really hard times.”

Alcordo encouraged his classmates to “have a talk with someone who may be under a lot of pressure, normalize checking in on someone’s mental health, and to anyone who may go and trivialize someone’s struggles, please reconsider doing so.”

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

PHOTO-OP: Hendricken seniors line up for a group shot prior to the start of commencement Friday evening at 8:30 on the ground of the Aldrich Mansion.

PROCESSION: With former school president John Jackson carrying his class flag, members of the Hendricken Class of 2021 file in front of family and friends to their seat overlooking Narragansett Bay.

Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

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Bishop Hendricken Class of 2021 Valedictorian

SEAN MIRANDA

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ood evening. Thank you to Bishop Evans, Father Marciano, Principal DeCiccio, Father Morris, and all other distinguished guests who are joining us for this special occasion. Most importantly, thank you to the amazing teachers and faculty who have guided us for the last four years, and deepest thanks to all the parents and families who have made the sacrifices to send us to Hendricken and are celebrating with us tonight.

Lastly, but definitely not least, IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Valedictorian Sean D. Miranda is welcomed to the podium by Vincent thank you to God for His bless- Mancuso, dean of academics. Mancusco is leaving the school after 27 years of service to become assistant superintendent of school for the Diocese of Fall River. ings that He has endowed upon this class, and may He continue to guide us as we venture out into the world. It is an honor to be speaking here tonight, and I am excited to be looking back on my four years here with all of you.

My Hendricken experience started the same way nearly one-third of this class’ did, out on the freshman football field. Now, to say I played freshman football would be an overstatement, I more so practiced it. There was one such practice, in the days creeping up towards winter, and it was probably the coldest one of the year. At that time, Coach Quigley ran the backup offensive line, and he was bundled up with no less than seven layers, prepared for the frozen tundra. All my foolish freshman self had was a sleeveless shirt under the pads, and as the center, I kept fumbling the snap because of the cold. Coach Quigley had enough, and I finally conceded to him that I could not grip the ball. He looked at me dead in the eyes, and slowly, begrudgingly, one hand at a time, pulled his gloves off and said, “Wear these for now.” I was shocked, and it lasted until the next play call, when, I once again received a look from Coach. He called it out, and I’ll never forget it, his now bare hands and all, “Coyote Right 42, give me back my gloves you communist.”

I have never been more terrified, nor have I laughed so hard in my life.

Coach Quigley letting me borrow his gloves may seem like such a small thing, but it meant the world to me. When people ask what makes Hendricken great, it is the culmination of these small moments that create one brotherhood, one much bigger, intertwined community. It was at those same freshman football practices where the scout team offensive line would make CoachManning’s ears bleed with our pre-Thanksgiving Christmas carols. We may not have been very good at football, but we were definitely worse at singing. The little things like that are some of my fondest memories, memories that shouldn’t stick as much as the bigger events, but do.

The same goes for the academic side of school. To the teachers who went the extra mile to put this class in the best possible positions to succeed, thank you. Thank you to Mr. Morey, who I asked for help nearly every day before school sophomore year, and he always gave it. To Sister Carol Anne, through her class I learned more lessons than just chemistry, but about life. [One of Sister’s specials was giving back-to-back tests on different subjects on back-to-back days. It is an interesting life lesson to be sitting directly in front of her, taking the second of the two tests, watching out of the corner of my eye as she fills up the first one with red marks.] Thank you for that, for instilling the virtue of focusing on the present, but doing it in your own way. To Mrs. Meehan, and the homeroom of 505, in a year where we had to eat lunch with our homeroom every day, I’m glad it was this one. To Mr. Tavares, who always let me stop by his class and bother him during free period, whether it was for a quick chat or to air our longwinded grievances about PC basketball. These little moments, tucked in between the stresses of the day, are what made these past four years so special. They were the constant reminders that this school is a brotherhood, a family, a place where everyone has your back. Even as simple as a fist bump in the hallway or a smile from a friend, these little things show that nothing was too small to truly care about, and that mentality seeps it way into the entire community.

Hendricken is a school that prides itself in doing the big things right.

Just look at this class. We’ve won countless state championships, have students going to the best colleges and universities in the country, have athletes going on to the next level to compete for top D-I and D-III schools.

We have a theatre program that wins every award in the book, a band that does the same, and artists who are nothing short of exceptional. Yet, each of these massive accomplishments start with the small ones. They start with the little memories, the building blocks that create this environment.

This class, and Hendricken, has excelled because we have paid attention to these little things. As we are all going out into the world, remember that no moment is too small to care about, no memory too short to cherish. Keep on taking pride in everything that you do, just like these last four years, and embrace it with the same passion. It has been an honor to have been your classmate for these past four years, and congratulations guys, we made it.

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Bishop Hendricken Class of 202 Salutatorian

SEAN JACOB ALCORDO

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ADDRESSING CLASSMATES: Class Salutatorian Sean Jacob Alcordo delivers his remarks.

ood evening to everyone here at such a historic event for our class, whether in person or watching virtually tonight, to guests, friends, teachers, mentors, administrators, parents, and to my mom and dad in the crowd. I’d like to especially thank everyone that I’ve been blessed to get to know over the past four years, even the people that came into Hendricken after classes were oer to play Just Dance in the theatre.

Tonight, we leave our nest and find out what else life holds in store for us, because despite what it may have seemed to be, High School was not our entire life. What doesn’t matter from these past four years weren’t things like whether or not you tied your tie correctly on your first day, or that one acronym that you learned for biology, or even if you forgot some textbook to school. I mean, unless you wanted to be up here and give your own speech to the rest of the class, your grades did not mean as much as you probably thought they did. What did matter were the experiences you had throughout High School. Whether it’s tearing your underwear during a theatre production (which I did), going out with your friends after a football game, or watching the third window be broken during your European History class.

I remember my first day at Hendricken, during the Taking Flight orientation with the freshmen and eighth graders. I came in a little late, so I sat down next to a certain eighth grader that fateful day. I remember him being quite confused at the fact that I had two parts to my first name, and in fact that same student is here tonight, and I’m sure he remembers that moment just as much as I did.

When I came into Hendricken, I often heard advice to “try new things” and to “get out of your comfort zone.” Anyone who knows me will probably know I took that advice to heart, and I don’t regret it a single bit. The majority of my most fond memories all come from the extracurriculars I have taken. I’ve been stuck at school until 7PM more times than I can count, and sometimes I’ll even be the last one to leave the school entirely. I hope that those of you who coasted through High School won’t do the same in college, that you truly take the plunge and find things that you truly enjoy.

However, I want to bring something up that often goes overlooked in High School: Mental Health. Being at an all guys school, mental health is often something that gets passed over, and sometimes even scoffed at.

You may have been told by some who may have had good intentions to “toughen up”, or “not to be soft”. I want you all to get that idea out of your head. It is normal to not be okay, as many remember that presentation that was given a year or two ago.That was not just something to laugh at, or to pass off as an excuse to not have to go into your classes that day. The fact is that you really don’t know what people are going through aroundyou, whether or not they may be going through some really hard times. While it is hard to look for the signs if they are trying to hide it, if you do notice any signs then you should not ignore it,you should go and help out that person that is struggling to get through the day. Go have a talkwith someone who may be under a lot of pressure. Normalize checking in on someone’s mental health. And to anyone who may go and trivialize someone’s struggles, please reconsider doing so, imagine what you would want someone to say to you if you were going through a hard time. I don’t want to bore everyone by having this speech go on for forever, so I’ll leave you all with a quote from one of my favorite musicals, Dear Evan Hansen. It goes as follows: “No one should stick it out or have any doubt that it matters that they are here.” I hope that throughout the rest of your lives that you make sure that the people you love around you feel like they matter, and that they will do the same for you.

Thank you.

Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

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Bishop Hendricken Class of 2021

TOP TEN

Hendricken’s Class of 2021 top ten soars

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By ARDEN BASTIA

he Bishop Hendricken High School Class of 2021 “has shown without these students are going to really high-powered schools,” he added.

Deciccio said he “felt really close to this class” and wishes all graduates “the a doubt the utmost perseverance this year, and they’ve done it as Hendricken men do-with class, character, and integrity. They made the best out of very best of luck. I’m confident that their graduation is just one of the many every situation possible, and really persevered,” said principal Mark DeCiccio. successes they will have in their life.”

“The top 10 specifically are a really amazing group academically. Some of

1. Sean Miranda “Since walking through the doors freshman year, I wanted to be a part of the Hendricken tradition of excellence,” said Sean Miranda, the Bishop Hendricken Class of 2021 valedictorian.

Miranda’s classroom achievements earned him the Harvard Book Award, as well as membership to the National Honor Society and Rhode Island Honor Society. He was also the recipient of the bronze medal for general excellence his first year, and the gold medal for general excellence in his second and third years.

school career. He was a peer minister, a peer mentor, and a writing coach at the Hawks Writing Center.

Miranda noted that his high school successes are due to parents, coaches, and friends.

“I would like to thank my parents, who have been ever-supporting and sacrificed to let me go to Hendricken,” he said. “And Coach Hanson has been instrumental in teaching me to work my hardest, both in and out of the pool.”

He described his four years as “an amazing environment filled with friends, peers, teachHe also found time to take part in sports, as ers, and coaches all striving for their best and he was part of the freshman football team, the encouraging those around them.” captain of the varsity swim team, and the president of the Hendricken Frisbee club. Leader- Miranda will be attending the University of ship was also a large part of Miranda’s high Notre Dame in the fall, his major undeclared.

2. Sean Jacob Alcordo Ranking second in his class is Sean Jacob Al- His achievements in and out of the classroom cordo, who spent his years at Hendricken ex- earned him the RISEF Best in Fair award, the ploring different interests and activities.

FTC Robotics INSPIRE award, and an 89 percent in the American Mathematics CompetiAlcordo said he’s “motivated to excel through tion. a desire to learn, not just in the classroom, but through the arts, athletics, or whatever crazy Alcordo says he’ll remember, “the times spent thing I want to learn at a given time.” in Mr. (Jeremy) Graney, Mr. (Thomas) Morey, and Sister Carol Anne’s classrooms along with And he did excel in and out of the classroom. the multitude of events in theater.”

He was part of the Hendricken band and chorus, as well as a tech manager for theater productions. Alcordo also took part in programming and robotics, where he was team captain and head programmer, peer mentoring, show choir, show choir band, acapella group, board game design, French club, photography club, gymnastics, and jazz band.

He also said that friends including Adriel, Timothy, Domenic, and Joseph contributed to his enjoyment of high school.

Alcordo is looking forward to furthering his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute double majoring in games and simulation arts and computer science.

3. James Laboissonniere Tied for the Class of 2021’s essayist rank is James Laboissonniere, who “wanted to make the most of the incredible opportunity I had been granted by Bishop Hendricken and work to make sure [my family] wouldn’t have to face difficulties in the future.”

of the MFG Scholars Program Scholarship, the Bishop Hendricken Dianne O’Reilly Scholarship, and the Brown Book Award, as well as a silver medal on the National Spanish Exam.

“I’ll remember how much I’ve grown,” said Laboissonniere, reflecting on his time as a During his time at Hendricken, he was in- Hawk. “In freshman year, I wasn’t very convolved in the sports management club, Cyber fident or outgoing. I’m proud to say that has Patriot, student ambassadors club, peer minis- changed.” try, and a member of both the JV and varsity track and field teams.

Laboissonnier noted that faculty like “Mr. (Billy) Burdier, who guided me through the He was also the voice of the Hawks athletic college application as the first four-year colprogram, as he announced games and events lege student in my family, and Coach Sheelike the 50th Homecoming Game, which close han Coach Gomes, and Mr.(Christian) Kabbas to 2,000 people attended. who helped me in my role as public address announcer.”

His classroom achievements earned him membership to the National Honor Society, Nation- He will be continuing his education at Bosal English Honor Society, National Spanish ton College in the fall, studying biology on Honor Society, and the Mu Alpha Theta Hon- the pre-med track. Laboissonniere received a or Society. Laboissonniere is also the recipient prestigious BC Student Scholarship.

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Bishop Hendricken Class of 2021

TOP TEN

4. Christopher Relyea Also tied for this year’s essayist rank is Christopher Relyea, who says he’s been “anticipating my education beyond high school-I wanted to be ready for college in every way I could.”

And he did just that, with a high school experience full of academics and involvement.

Music is a big part of Relyea’s life. Relyea played the French horn in the Hendricken concert band, as well as drums and piano in the jazz band, and is a member of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. His musical talents have earned him the 3rd French horn in All-National Honors Ensembles Symphony Orchestra.

French club.

“My parents were incredible sources of help and guidance throughout my entire time in high school,” he said. “Some of the most inspiring teachers I had were Mr. Morey for geometry and trigonometry, Mr. (Joseph) Theroux for every year of French, and Mr. (Mark) Colozzi, our band director.”

Relyea’s academic efforts earned him membership to the US Presidential Scholars Program and the National Honor Society. He was also a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship.

Relyea says he’ll remember the Hendricken community the most. “I will remember the people I met-both the friends I’ve made for During his time at Hendricken, Relyea was life and the teachers who have impacted me also part of the Academic Decathlon team and inspired me in ways I can’t begin to thank where he helped his team win their 11th con- them for.” secutive state title, and earned a gold medal in the essay category, and bronze medals in the Relyea is looking forward to continuing his music and speech categories. He also served education at Boston University to study comas both president and vice president for the puter science and French horn performance.

5. Ryan Galamaga Tied for sixth in his class is Ryan Galamaga, who says he will always remember “the community and brotherhood at Hendricken. Everyone was always willing to help out whether it be studying for a test or setting up for an event after school.”

Galamaga’s classroom successes earned him a gold medal and two silver medals on the National Spanish Exam, and second place in Rhode Island’s DECA Principles of Finance.

“My teachers and friends have contributed most to my success and enjoyment of high During his high school years, Galamaga was school,” he said. “My teachers were always part of the JV and varsity soccer teams, the helpful and made my classes more enjoyable. vice president of finance in the DECA club, a member of the chess team, and a member of My friends encouraged me to try new things the unified basketball team. and get involved.”

Community was a large part of Galamaga’s Galamaga plans to attend the University of time at Hendricken, as he was a peer mentor, Notre Dame to study finance. peer minister, and a peer tutor.

“My dream of eventually attending the UniHe also had the opportunity to be part of the versity of Notre Dame since my first day at Bishop Hendricken Leadership Academy.

Hendricken often motivated me to continue working hard,” he said.

6. Cory Goldstein Also tied for sixth in his class is Cory Gold- Johnston, as well as the Dean of Students, Mr. stein, who focused on making the most of his (Vincent) Mancuso” had the biggest impact years at Hendricken. on his time at Hendricken.

Goldstein’s high school resume is full of rigorous academics, leadership, and sports. He was a member of the varsity soccer, varsity golf, and varsity track teams. While on the soccer team, he earned the JV Unsung Hero Award.

Goldstein was also part of the Bishop Hendricken Leadership Academy, DECA, the vice president of the student ambassadors club, and a writing center coach.

He said “my friends, my four-year soccer coach and senior physics teacher, Mr. (William)

Goldstein’s hard work in the classroom paid off, as he is the recipient of the University of Virginia Jefferson Book Award, and a twotime National Spanish Exam silver medallist.

Goldstein has plans to study economics and political science at Villanova University in the fall, and says “being surrounded by extremely intelligent peers that pushed me to work harder than ever in displaying my abilities” will forever inspire him.

CONGRATULATIONS HENDRICKN CLASS OF ‘21

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Thursday, June 24, 2021

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Bishop Hendricken Class of 2021

TOP TEN 7. Walter Kretzer Another student tied for sixth in his class is Walter Kretzer, who has learned over his four years at Hendricken that collaboration is key, since “no one person sent themselves to the moon”.

He also won an award for best set design in the Rhode Island State Drama Festival.

“These people have shown me who I want to become, and handed me the tool to do just that,” said Kretzer, naming faculty members Kretzer was part of several clubs and organi- that helped him throughout his years. “Siszations including holding the position of team ter Carol Anne, who knocked me down and captain on the Academic Decathlon, where picked me up. Then did it again. Then again. he helped his team win their 11th consecu- Mr. Morey, who struck just the right balance of tive state title and he earned the gold medal work and play, Mr. Theroux, who loves every for science and the bronze medal in math at second of what he does.” the National competition. He was also the head builder of the robotics club, and earned He says he’ll remember, “finding the people a state championship title, the treasurer of the that have made my life fun,” most about Henstudent ambassadors club, a member of the dricken. varsity sailing team, head of sound for the school’s theater productions, and a member of Kretzer will be attending Michigan State Unithe math team. versity to study chemical engineering.

8. Noah Sullivan Rounding out the four-way tie for sixth in his membership to the National Honor Society class is Noah Sullivan. and the Rhode Island Honor Society. He is also the recipient of the Captain Matthew J. August During his time at Hendricken, Sullivan was ’93 Memorial Book Award, the Bro. Kevin J. part of the varsity baseball team and indoor Kiernan Social Studies Award, and the U.S. track team. He was also part of the ambassa- Senator Claiborne Pell medal. dors club, and the president of the mock trial club.

Sullivan says he’ll remember “all the great people” the most, like friends and teammates.

“I was motivated to succeed by the desire Sullivan noted teachers like Mr. Mancuso, Mr. to make the decision to come to Hendricken Graney, and Sister Carol Anne Murray had worth it,” he said. “I was motivated to be- a big impact on him during his four years at come involved in as much as I could outside Hendricken. the classroom, and inside the classroom, I was motivated to succeed due to the dedication of Sullivan will be attending the College of the my teachers.”

Holy Cross to study history and political science.

Sullivan’s academic achievements earned him

9. Michael “Mac” Cullen Ninth in his class is Michael “Mac” Cullen, Cullen says he’ll remember his successes, “eswho filled his years at Hendricken with clubs, pecially in the midst of a global pandemic.” sports, and leadership.

His classroom achievements earned him memCullen was the founder and team captain of bership to the National Honor Society, Nationthe Bishop Hendricken CyberPatriot, where al English Honor Society, the Mu Alpha Theta he helped his team earn first place in a com- Honor Society, and the Spanish Honor Society. petition that presents students with computer systems that must be defended against cyber Cullen also earned first prize in the Rhode Isattacks. land Science Fair for his project, “Time of Day and the Propagation of HF Signals.”

He was also the founder and president of the amateur radio club, he co-president of the Outside of Hendricken, Cullen is an accommock trial team, and the vice president of his plished Boy Scout in Troop 3 Newport, earnjunior and senior class. ing his Eagle Scout badge. He also holds his FAA Private Pilot License.

Cullen even found time to participate in the rugby team and take part in the Bishop “I thank my parents for instilling in me a Hendricken Leadership Academy where he strong love of learning, and inspiring me to earned the 2020 Rhode Island Civic Leader- always do my best,” he said. Cullen will be atship Award. tending the United States Naval Academy to study quantitative economics.

WAY TO GO HAWKS!

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Bishop Hendricken Class of 2021

TOP TEN 10. Dylan Brunner

Tied for 10th in his class is Dylan Brunner.

During his time at Hendricken, Brunner was a member of the Academic Decathlon team, where he placed first in his division, cinched a clean sweep of the Scholastic Division, and helped his team earn their 11th consecutive state title and continue on to nationals to represent the state.

He says the friends he made along the way will forever stand out among his high school memories.

“Everything I’ve done in high school has been for my enjoyment and my motivation has never changed,” said Brunner, who will be attending Lehigh University in the fall to study electrical engineering.

Brunner was also part of the cross-country team, the mock trial club, and was the vice president of the philosophy club.

10. Michael Ochoa Tied for 10th is Michael Ochoa, who wasted an informed free thinker, morally to become a compassionate man determined to do good, no time during his four years at Hendricken. and spiritually become closer to my God demOchoa had a busy schedule with involvement onstrated to me that I could and should do in leadership and organizations, as he was sec- more to be better.” retary of the ambassadors club, executive peer mentor, vice president and president of the Ochoa noted that he could not have achieved French club, a member of model legislature, his successes without the help of teachers and Arts Academy chorus leader, Hawks Writing faculty, like “Mr. Healy, for giving me the opportunity to attend Hendricken, Mr. Jackson Center tutor, and an academic support tutor. and Mrs. Solomon for helping my family, Mr. Outside the classroom, Ochoa donated his Burdier and Mr. Alexander for begin admired time to his community, working as a Sunday mentors, and Mr. Theroux for being the best school teacher, soup kitchen volunteer, and teacher from whom I have ever had the honor of receiving an education.” election campaign intern.

“I will never forget the way Hendricken Ochoa will be attending Brown University in showed me that I, along with every single one the fall to study international and public afof my brothers, am called for more,” he said, fairs, with hopes of becoming a U.S. diplomat. reflecting on his high school experience. “The way I was pushed intellectually to become

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Thursday, June 24, 2021 11

Bishop Hendricken Class of 2021 Sean Jacob Alcordo 1,2 *** Samuel Alicea, lll Brayden Allen 2 * Kaden Allen 2 * Tyler Amato 1,2 * Andres Andujar * Richard Angeli, III 1,2 *** Matthew Antonelli 2 * Jack Aylesworth 1,2 *** Jaiden Batista Joseph Beaulieu 1,2 ** Raymond Beaumier 1,2 Riley Benjamin 1,2 * Nicholas Bittner 2 * Isaac Bolduc Luke Bowater Jack Brennan 1,2 ** Joseph Bruen Dylan Brunner 1,2 *** Cole Calabro, Jr 2 * Luke Caldwell 1,2 ** Christopher Cambio, Jr 2 * Jeffrey Cares, Jr 2 William Carr Ryan Carruolo Declan Caster 2 ** Alex Cavaco Andrew Cavanagh 1,2 * Ethan Clark Aaron Cleofas 1,2 ** Nathan Clift 1,2 * Anthony Commendatore Mason Contardo 2 * Nathan Coppola Brian Cosgrove 2 * Alexander Coutcher 1,2 ** Henry Cruz Luigi Cubellotti Michael Cullen 1,2 *** Samuel Cunha 2 Matthew Davenport 1,2 ** Owen Dean 2 * Justin DeBalsi Michael Dicomitis Noah Dogon 2 ** Jack Drohen Joseph Dunn Jordan Dupuis Ryan Dyer 2 ** Brady Easton Joseph Egan 2 ** Hezekiah Emmanuel 1,2 * Isaiah Emmanuel 2 * Eithan Emond John Fay Yun Feng 1 Shyne Fernandes Aaron Figueiredo 1,2 * Nicholas Fine 1,2 *** Aidan Flanagan 1,2 *** + John Fogarty 1,2 ** Michael Foncellino 2 * Christopher Forte 2 * Cameron Forte 2 * Bryan Foster Michael Fox Ethan Futrell Ryan Galamaga 1,2 *** Milan Gil Maximilian Gilman 1,2 * Harrison Giuliano

Joseph Godin, Jr Cory Goldstein 1,2 *** James Greenhalgh, III Chase Greenlaw Harrison Grimes 2 * Jonathan Hannon Stephen Hauser, Jr 2 *** Garrison Hayes 1,2 *** Malik Hill Thomas Holmes 2 * Cameron Hughes 2 ** Silvio Iacuone 1,2 ** Noah Ialongo 1,2 *** Anthony Iamarone Raymond Jorgensen 2 * Robert Joseph Tyler Keaney 1,2 *** Arion Kennedy 1,2 ** Kojo King, Jr Richard King 2 * Christopher Kolb, Jr 2 Walter Kretzer 1,2 *** James Laboissonniere 1,2 *** Michael LaRoche Zachary Lavergne Aidan Lawrence 2 ** Brody Leikam Colin Lemieux Taiyu Li 1,2 * Tyler Linkevich 1,2 ** Christopher LoPresti 1,2 *** + Bryce Lukens 2 ** Neidelyn Lundy Timothy Machamer James Madden 2 ** Jacob Mahoney Patrick Major, Jr 2 * Christopher Manzo Matthew Maroney 1,2 ** Michael Marsella, Jr 1,2 *** Adam Marsh Ethan Masciarelli 1,2 *** Rupert McClary Dylan McClung Ryan McGrath 1,2 Cullen McGrew 1,2 ** Brady McNamara 1,2 ** Ryan McPherson 2 ** + Casey McQuesten 1,2 *** Tyson Mey Sean Miranda 1,2 *** + Owen Moran David Moretti 1,2 ** Jake Mullen 2 * Rocco Nardolillo William Nerone 2 Isaiah Nhar-Matko 1,2 * Alexander Nong Aiden Norman Michael Ochoa 1,2 *** Jason Onye Aidan Padien Zachary Padula 2 Zachary Palermo ** Nathan Palumbo Jack Pearson Jack Pedro 1,2 ** Alex Pennacchini Justin Perez 2 * Liam Pimentel Evan Posy

Matthew Potvin 1,2 ** Xavier Quezada 1,2 * Benjamin Rao 1,2 ** Dylan Rego Daniel Reichardt 1,2 * Thomas Reichardt 1,2 ** Nathan Reid 1,2 ** Christopher Relyea 1,2 *** + Miguel Reyes Dawson Reynolds Evan Reynolds 1,2 ** Daniel Riccio Daniel Rice, III 1,2 * Aidan Robinson Thomas Robinson Richard Robitaille, III Sean Ryan 1,2 ** Justin Ryone Emmanuel Salako John Santos 1,2 * Benjamin Sayles Robert Schattle 1,2 *** BryanSciamacco 1,2 * Thomas Scorpio, IV 1,2 *** Andrew Senecal 2 David Shah Connor Sheldon 2 Ryan Shurtleff D'ante Silva Angus Single Colin Smith 1,2 * Jonathan Smith Proseth Sokha Artiom Sorokin 2 ** David Steets 1,2 ** William Stuart 1,2 ** + Noah Sullivan 1,2 *** + Thomas Sullivan Jake Sweeney Abraham Tardiff 2 * Benjamin Thompson Owen Tierney 1,2 * Amuchin Timbo Anthony Tinaro 1,2 ** Michael Torti, Jr Ian Turner 2 ** Malcolm Verdi 1,2 * Antonio Vincent Kevin Walker Myles Walsh Kenny Wang 1,2 * Patrick Ward 1,2 * CharlesJ ason Washington Robert White, Jr 2 ** Zachary Wiczek 1,2 *** Dion Wilson 1,2 Aiden Wine Spencer Wood 1,2 *** Ethan York 1,2 * Aidan Zabbo 2 * Colby Zelano 1, 2 *** Liam Zizza 2 * key: 1 National Honor Society 2 Rhode Island Honor Society *** Summa Cu Laude ** Magna Cum Laude * Cum Laude + Seal of Biliteracy

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

PERFECT CONDITIONS: With a view of Narragansett Bay and the Aldrich Mansion as a backdrop, Toll Gate graduates listen to speeches in anticipation of receiving their diplomas.

Class of 21 in the sun

S

By ARDEN BASTIA

taying true to their Warwick roots, students from Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools celebrated their academic achievements with an outdoor graduation at the Aldrich Mansion

yesterday.

Students from the class of 2021 were among the last to walk the halls of Aldrich Junior High School, and had the opportunity to end their Warwick academic careers at another Aldrich location.

Postponed from Tuesday, Pilgrim and Toll Gate grads had all the traditional graduation pomp and circumstance under a warm, blue sky with a sparkling backdrop of Narragansett Bay. In attendance were special guests Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi, school committee members Judy Cobden, Nathan Cornell and David Testa, Superintendent Lynn Dambruch, and Assistant Superintendent William McCaffrey.

Toll Gate faculty, including Darlene Netcoh, Toll Gate English teacher and Warwick Teachers Union President, arrived at 7:30 Wednesday morning to set up decorations, like a large lawn sign that read “Congratulations” and balloons billowing along the long driveway to the lawn.

Toll Gate students were the first to graduate. Toll Gate Principal Candace Calouri addressed students and families spread out on the fields. With picnic blankets and lawn chairs, big screens and stages, the event looked more like an outdoor music festival than a graduation.

“As the saying goes, what a difference a year makes,” said Calouri. “I would like to concentrate on the positives of the past year. We were able to come back to in-person learning. You had the opportunity to spend more time with your family, whether you wanted to or not. You were able to participate in sports. Most of all, you needed to take responsibility for yourself and were supported by those who care about your success, family, teachers, counselors, and administration.”

Calouri reminded students that they “could have chosen between bitter and better” and is proud of Toll Gate students who “made the best out of a difficult situation.”

“Simply, be good people. Be considerate people.

Be responsible people. Be loving people. Be good to others,” said Calouri. “I promise you, if you do these things it will come back to you tenfold. You have made me very proud to be your principal for the past four years.”

Toll Gate Class of 2021 Valedictorian Jessica Joubert addressed her peers.

“Nothing is guaranteed and we can’t take anything for granted,” she said. “Even the most everyday parts of our lives are important.”

To Joubert, her class will forever be defined by

their “resilience as a class and community” as students “gracefully paved the ways to solutions.”

“We’ve grown taller, well, some of us, but more importantly, we’ve grown stronger, smarter, and better,” said Joubert.

Nathan Cornell, a graduate of Toll Gate, addressed students on Wednesday via a prerecorded message, reminding them to “try new things, travel, seek new challenges, and plot your own course.”

“Do not confuse opinion and fact,” said Cornell in his virtual address. “You are your own person.”

In his virtual address to graduates, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi acknowledged the unconventional year students endured.

“In recent years, I’ve heard misguided people criticize your generation, calling you soft, weak, the participation trophy kids,” he said. “I say to them, what do you think now? While a pandemic brought this country to its knees, you stood strong.”

“It’s your world now,” Picozzi encouraged students. “Change it. Shape it. Make it all that it should be.”

Toll Gate Class of 2021 President Sara Rhodes presented the Class of 2022 President William Beagan with the class gift: an outdoor projector and screen for future events.

Family members marveled at the unique ceremony, and according Rob Mouritsen, father of Toll Gate student Max Mouritsen, “Graduation should never go back to CCRI. This is the best location.”

Rob says his son’s plans for post graduation are “to take over the world.”

“It’s been a tough year, but they made it through.

They’ve made the most of it, and now they’re moving on,” shared Jean Davoren, grandmother to Toll Gate student Cassie Cirella and former student Gianna Cirella, who died from sepsis in 2017. “Cassie made the most of it, and came out stronger.”

Cassie is looking forward to studying medicine at Coastal Carolina University in the fall.

After a rapid set change, blue and red were replaced with black and white as Pilgrim students and families descended upon the Aldrich Mansion grounds for the afternoon’s ceremony.

Say ‘thank you’ reminds Habershaw In his speech to students, families, and faculty, Pilgrim principal Gerald Habershaw reminded students to “thank your parents…especially this year as we experienced distance learning, many parents became tutors and teachers to help you succeed in school.They are a major reason why you achieved this goal this afternoon.”

Habershaw reflected on the “most bizarre” school year, one he said he hadn’t seen in his 16 years of being a school administrator.

“I always take pride in getting to know every student in the school and building positive relationships with them over a four year period,” he said.

“Since the lockdown last March, I feel that I lost

a space in time where I could not build those relationships with our students as I normally do. At senior prom, I saw some students for the first time since last March.”

Despite the challenges of the year, Habershaw reflected on what the school could do, like sidewalk chalk in the parking lot, corn-cornhole tournaments during spirit week, and an outdoor prom under the stars.

“I would like to thank this group of seniors,” said Habershaw, as he shared a few words about Michael Batalon, the “great teacher, coach, friend, and colleague” who passed in late May. “When I returned to my office on the Monday morning after his services, I had a message from a woman who attended the funeral. She felt compelled to contact me to let me know how impressed she was with our students who attended the services…I am extremely proud of the students in the Pilgrim High School Class of 2021. You have overcome tremendous adversity to get to this point.”

The class essayist, Olivia Doyle, had the chance to address her peers yesterday.

“We don’t grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges, and I think this is the perfect quote for the Pilgrim High School Class of 2021,” she said.

Doyle acknowledged that while things may not have been easy for this class, between school consolidations and the pandemic, “we are ready for whatever the next chapter throws at us. We are a group of determined, strong, and successful individuals that can overcome any obstacle.”

“We are all proud of every single one of you,” said Kyle Adams, clerk of the School Committee. Adams, who graduated from Pilgrim in 2010, shared words of wisdom to the current students.

“Encourage yourself with the achievements you have already made, as what you were able to do this year has not been done in over a century. As you move on from your high school days, don’t forget the relationships you made, all the experiences both good and bad, and how you proved yourself in hard times.”

“It’s an emotional day,” said Pilgrim parent Karen Ramsden, who’s daughter, Lydia, graduated yesterday. “This is a beautiful location, it’s something different and new.”

Lydia is planning on continuing her education at Springfield College in the fall.

Superintendent Lynn Dambruch shared her words of wisdom with graduates via a virtual address.

“Through it all, I believe that while overcoming these hurdles that seemed insurmountable, you became strong and resilient adults,” she said. “You persevered and learned one of life’s most challenging lesson: to look for a silver lining in even the darkest storms.”

ANXIOUS TO CAPTURE THE MOMENT: Family and friends vie for the best shot as Toll Gate students as Principal Candace Caluori leads the procession to open commencement ceremonies.

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Thursday, June 24, 2021 13

TOP OF THE CLASS: From left Pilgrim grads Olivia Doyle, essayist, Haley Gonnella, salutatorian, Charlotte Frost, valedictorian, and Lars Mangold, Class of 2021 President, celebrate a day of accomplishments. (Warwick Beacon photos)

WAITING FOR HIS DIPLOMA: Pilgrim student Anthony King listens in to Mayor Frank Picozzi’s virtual address as he waits for his turn to cross the stage. (Warwick Beacon photo)

GOING OVER IT AGAIN: Toll Gate Valedictorian rehearses her speech while waiting for commencement to begin beside her is Tara Monastesse.

SENIOR YEAR LIKE NO OTHER: Graduating Pilgrim High School senior Faith Adams sits with classmates during Wednesday’s celebration at the Aldrich Mansion.

READY TO GO: Pilgrim students, lead by Principal Gerald Habershaw, and Assistant Principals Cheri Guerravand Bruce Fairbanks, line up before the procession down the hill of the Aldrich Mansion on Wednesday.vThe Class of 2021 had an unconventional graduation to cap off an unconventional year.

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Pilgrim High School Class of 2021

I

PRINCIPALS REMARKS

would like to welcome family and friends to the 2021 commencement ceremonies of Pilgrim High School. I first want to recognize our distinguished guest: Superintendent of Schools, Ms. Lynn Dambruch. Assistant Superintendent, Mr. Bill McCaffrey I can honestly speak for my fellow Principals in Warwick as we look forward to our new era in leadership with Ms. Dambruch and Mr. McCaffrey.

The future of our school system looks bright.

I welcome our Mayor Frank Picozzi. This is an exciting time for our city with Mayor Picozzi leading the way.

I want to recognize our school committee members: Karen Bachus, Judy Cobden, Nathan Cornell, David Testa and Kyle Adams.

There needs to be many thank you (s) today, but I want to first give thanks to the wonderful faculty members at Pilgrim High School. I would like all faculty members who are here today to stand up and be recognized. I would also like to recognize our Assistant Principals, Mrs. Bernardi, Mr. Fairbanks, and Dr. Guerra.

Students, make sure you thank your parents at some point today. Especially this year aswe experienced distance learning, many parents became tutors and teachers to help you succeed in school.

They are a major reason why you achieved this goal this afternoon.

Superintendent, Mayor, families, and friends, I am extremely proud as Principal to bestow upon this community the graduating Class of 2021from Pilgrim High School.

Let’s give them a round of applause.

Today, we honor an ouTstanding group of graduates from Pilgrim High School. This is my 31st year working in the Warwick School System. The past year and a half has been the most bizarre experience of my life. I know it was difficult on our students and their parents. Being a high school Principal for the past 16 years, I always take pride in getting to know every student in the school and building positive relationships with them over a four year period. Since the lockdown last March, I feel that I lost a space in time where I could not build those relationships with our students as I normally do. At senior prom, I saw some students for the first time since last March because they stayed with distance learning. We all lost something during this time. We were fortunate to have a shortened version of a sports schedule, but we missed out on concerts, plays, and other after

school clubs and activities. As a school, we did everything possible to make the second half of the school year a fun experience for our seniors. We had sidewalk chalk, a cornhole tournament, and spirit week. How about your senior prom? Was that a blast or what?

We did learn some lessons from our experiences over the past year and a half. I believe we have learned there is no replacement for in person learning. I hope we developed a deeper appreciation for our teachers and having to report to a school building everyday.

For me personally, the biggest lesson I learned is I absolutely hated being a virtual Principal.

I know this may not have been the way you wanted your high school experience to go, but you have to persevere. You cannot let the past year and half interrupt your goals and dreams. You have to keep moving forward to accomplish what you set out to do. We cannot dwell on the past. We can only look forward to the future.

To our graduates moving forward, you have two questions to answer; “What do you want to do for the rest of your life?” and “What path do you need to take to get there?”

Some of you are going to college. Some are going into the military and some our going to work.

Eventually, you will all have to get jobs someday.

Most people have to work for at least 35 years of their adult life. Make sure you find a job you enjoy waking up to everyday.

In closing, I would like to thank this group of seniors. As many of you know, we lost a great teacher, coach, friend and colleague with the recent passing of Mr. Batalon. When I returned to my office on the Monday morning after his services, I had a message from a women who attended the funeral. She felt compelled to contact me to let me know how impressed she was with our students who attended the services. She complimented our students behavior, class, and maturity as we paid our respects to a great man. As a Principal whenever someone from the community compliments my students, I always feel like a proud papa. I am extremely proud of the students in the Pilgrim High School Class of 2021. You have overcome tremendous adversity to get to this point. It was my distinct pleasure to get to know each and every one of you. Congratulations to all of you and I wish you good luck and good fortune in your future endeav-

Principal Gerald J. Habershaw M. Ed ors. Thank you.

Essayist: It is my distinct pleasure to introduce to you our Essayist from the Pilgrim High School Class of 2021, Olivia Doyle. The class essayist is the third ranked student in the class.

Normally, I would introduce the essayist at honor’s night and they would make their speech then.

We did not have speeches at our honor’s this year as we followed a different format. We will have our top three students speak today at graduation.

To prove how old I am, I have known Olivia Doyle’s father, Tom, since he was a kid when I worked for the Warwick Recreation Department as a college student. When I was a teacher at Pilgrim in the 1990’s, he was a Pilgrim student. I know Olivia comes from a loving and supportive family. At Pilgrim, Olivia challenged herself academically by taking our high level honors, AP, and EEP classes and her grades were obviously outstanding. She has attained National Honor Society, RI Honor Society. She has received the RI College Alumni Book Award, and the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award. She plans on attending RI College on a full Presendential Scholarship.

Olivia, I want to thank you for being such a great person and great student at Pilgrim High School. I am proud to introduce to you our essayist, Olivia Doyle.

Congratulations Pilgrim Class of 2021

Warwick Beacon

Pilgrim High School Class of 2021 Valedictorian

CHARLOTTE FROST

G

ood afternoon friends and family, faculty and staff, administrators and other honored guests. And good afternoon to the class of 2021. Congratulations to everyone here today who is graduating, and to those of you who helped our fellow graduates get to this point. Through my high school career I have learned so much.

Sure if I’m standing where I am today I learned and could apply things relating to calculus, genetics, and rhetorical analysis, but more importantly I learned a valuable takeaway about change that I’d like to share with you today as we move into the next chapter of our lives. A lot of times college and new beginnings are seen as an opportunity to change and start over because few people know who you are or have preconceived expectations for you.

While this may be the case, I have learned that this does not

exclusively apply to new beginnings, it can happen at any time. Change is natural, change should be the expected, change is inevitable and should be embraced and celebrated, not avoided or hidden.

Don’t ever let yourself be put in a box by some ones expectations. Nobody can tell where you’ve been and nobody can tell you where you’re going. As you move forward your story is entirely your own. People will try to tell you what you can and cannot do, what you can and cannot think, who you can and cannot be because of preconceived expectations. But the truth is, at any time in your life you have the power and the right to believe, say, be, wear, do, and love whatever and whoever you please, because the expectations of others measure nowhere close to the importance of the pursuit of happiness and self realization.

Because ultimately that is all that matters. Do what makes you happy. Do what feels fulfilling. Be your most true and authentic self. i apologize for crude language, but to paraphrase from the wise words of Kendrick Lamar himself, “f you and all your expectations.” Patriots, we made it, and I’m infinitely proud of all of you. Do great things in the pursuit of happiness, and do them for yourself. Thank you.

Thursday, June 24, 2021 15

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Pilgrim High School Class of 2021 Essayist

OLIVIA DOYLE “W

e don’t grow when things are easy, we grow when we face challenges.”

I think this is the perfect quote for the Pilgrim High School class of 2021. We have gone through many changes while navigating our way through elementary, middle, and high school. If you spent your entire journey in Warwick Public Schools, you faced school closures and many consecutive “first days” at new schools. If you moved into Warwick in the middle of your school years, you have felt the nerves of starting somewhere new. What did we do? We overcame these obstacles, became stronger, and moved on.

When we reached the point in our high school career where we could celebrate all of the junior and senior traditions, Covid struck and changed the plan for us. We had to get used to a “new normal” that came with terms like social distancing, mask mandate, distance learning, and quarantine. We lost loved ones due to the pandemic, watched the world come to a stop, witnessed our teachers learn new ways to teach while at the same time they were teaching us. We also saw the class of 2020 unable to end the year normally. What did we do? We overcame the obstacles that the pandemic threw at us. We found ways to celebrate and socialize safely. We tackled distance learning, something that has never been done before. Long are the days our parents can say how tough they had it growing up. We have lived, and overcame, a global pandemic.

Has everything been easy for us during our 12 years of school? Not at all. However, as the graduating class of 2021, we are ready for whatever the next chapter throws at us. We are a group of determined, strong, and successful individuals who can overcome any obstacle. How do I know?

Because our school career over the years has brought us change, struggle, and growth, and we have succeeded!

Our paths have all brought us to this moment. Be proud. You have done great things under some strange circumstances.

Congratulations Pilgrim Class of 2021! Thank you to all of the adults who have helped us along the way. We appreciate you more than you know.

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Pilgrim High School Class of 2021

TOP TEN

Pilgrim’s top 10 shine in leadership, academics

By ARDEN BASTIA

T

hese kids really had a tough go of it with everything that’s happened.

They lost a lot, but it’s all about perseverance,” said Pilgrim High School Principal Gerald Habershaw about the Class of 2021.

Pilgrim’s Class of 2021 is full of innovative spirit, leadership, academic rigor, adaptability, and talent, exemplified in this year’s top 10 students.

The roughly 300 students in the class faced an unconventional end to high

school, but as Habershaw called it, “a tremendous learning experience.”

Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, Habershaw said Pilgrim faculty and staff is “make up” for the time lost, by hosting a senior prom, graduation, and other events like sports games to bring students together.

“We have some very talented kids,” said Habershaw. “They’re all going to do well.”

1. Charlotte Frost As a biotechnology pathway student, Frost has a passion for science. She mixed her academic passions with extracurriculars and was not only the president of the school’s environmental club, but also the co-captain of the Science Olympiad. But Frost’s involvement didn’t stop there. She was also the liberal leader of the Rhode Island Model Legislature and a member of the photography club.

Frost says she will, “fondly look back on all the time spent and memories made with my Science Olympiad team.”

“Through Science Olympiad, I established relationships that will last long past high school, and learned much more about myself than I ever imagined,” said Frost. “Science Olympiad introduced me to my coach and mentor, Dr. Caroline Savery, who helped me realize that I would be able to thrive in STEM.”

Honor Society. She was also the recipient of the President’s Education Award, the Outstanding Student in Biology Award, the American Mathematical Society Award for Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics, the RI Model Legislation Advisor’s Award, the Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, the Claiborne Pell Award for Excellence in U.S. History, the Skills USA Silver Medal in Biotechnology, the Middlebury College Book Award for Italian, and was the winner of the Taylor Mali National Poetry Competition.

Frost acknowledges teachers Nisa SanGiovanni, Alison Wallace, Rose Lancelotta, Jeffrey Lawton, Caroline Savery, Christine Zielinski, Samuel Ashley, Beth Osterman, and Vicki Venditelli as mentors.

“So many of my teachers over the past four years enabled me to thrive in and enjoy my classes,” said Frost. “Pilgrim is home to a great Her time in the Science Olympiad earned Frost amount of teachers who never fail to motivate The Class of 2021’s valedictorian, Charlotte Frost, really did it all during her four years at the gold medal in Ornithology, the silver med- and advocate for their students.” al in water quality, the silver medal in circuits, Pilgrim. and the gold medal in experimental design.

Frost is looking forward to attending the University of Rhode Island to double major in Frost’s high school resume exudes leadership, Frost’s academic achievements earned her biological sciences and medical laboratory scirigorous academics, and numerous awards. membership to the National Honor Society, ence.

Rhode Island Honor Society, and the Italian

2. Haley C. Gonnella For Haley Gonnella, who ranked second in arship, an award given to an incoming first her class, her time at Pilgrim was about mak- year student who has been nominated by their ing the most of her four years. high school.

Gonnella was an active member of many student organizations, including math league, unified volleyball, unified basketball, environmental club, and Best Buddies, Gonnella was also the freshman class president during her time on the class’ executive committee, and held the title of Science Olympiad captain for two years.

During her time on the Science Olympiad team, Gonnella earned gold medals in ornithology, experimental design, and rocks and minerals. She also earned a silver medal and a bronze medal in ornithology.

Gonnella says she had “endless support” from friends and family, as well as from Science Olympiad coach Dr. Caroline Savery, and sciGonnella says she’ll remember her involve- ence teachers like Meredith Bizragane. ment with clubs and sports the most, but credits the science department with helping her She says her motivation to excel came from find her true passions for learning. her parents, who “always encouraged me” and from the drive “to want to allow my fuGonnella’s classroom achievements earned ture self any opportunity I desire.” her membership to the National Honor Society, Rhode Island Honor Society, and Italian Gonnella will be attending Rensselaer PolyHonor Society. She also received awards for technic Institute to study physics. She one day her academics, including the Excellence in Sci- wants to obtain a degree in astrophysics. ence Award and the Rensselaer Medal Schol-

Awesome Job PILGRIM Class of 2021

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Pilgrim High School Class of 2021

TOP TEN 3. Olivia Doyal

For Olivia Doyle, who ranked third in her class, the Pilgrim High School Unified Program was a big influence. Doyle spent much of her time involved with Unified Sports, playing basketball and volleyball. These programs, she says, “Helped me decide to go into education. Playing Unified Sports helped me build confidence in myself and showed me how much full all students can have learning and playing sports together.”

of several awards, including the RIC Alumni Book Award, the Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Book Award, and the RIC Presidential Scholarship.

“My family guided my success,” said Doyle.

“Many of my family members are in the education field and stressed the importance of getting the most out of my education. I would especially like to thank my teachers from elementary through high school who always believed in me.”

But Doyle’s extracurricular involvement didn’t end there. She was also a member of the Best Buddies organization, as well as an “I wanted to work hard so I could open as accomplished singer in Pilgrim’s Chorus and many doors as possible for my college educaChorale. tion,” she said.

Doyle not only excelled outside of the class- And she certainly has. Doyle will be attendroom, but her academic efforts earned her ing Rhode Island College in the fall to study membership to the Italian Honors Society, education.

Rhode Island Honors Society, and the National Honors Society. Doyle was also the recipient

4. Teagan McNamara Fourth in Pilgrim’s Class of 2021 is Teagan namic planet, and code busters categories, McNamara. McNamara, who says she’s had helping the Pilgrim Science Olympiad team her future planned since she was six years old, place third in the state. knows what it’s like to be dedicated.

McNamara was also part of Pilgrim’s student “I have always worked hard to achieve my chorale, where she earned the National Chogoals,” she said. rale Award for her performances.

And she sure did achieve at Pilgrim.

“My friends have supported me throughout my journey and provided me with experiencMcNamara’s classroom efforts earned her the es I will never forget,” she said. “I am grateful Outstanding Junior in Spanish Award, the to have had teachers as wonderful as the ones Outstanding Senior in Spanish Award, and here to guide me in the direction of success.” the Middlebury Book Award.

McNamara will continue her successes, atIn addition to a rigorous academic schedule, tending the University of New Haven in the McNamara also took part in extracurriculars fall to study forensic sciences with a concenincluding the drama club, where she acted in tration in biology. She is enrolled in the dual the ensemble and worked as part of the tech degree program, and looks to earn a Master’s crew, and the Science Olympiad, where she in cellular and molecular biology. placed in the forensics, sounds of music, dy-

5. Ella Centracchio of the varsity girl’s lacrosse team. Her athleticism earned her a spot on the Division 1 All Academic Team in soccer, the First Team All Division and All City Teams in hockey, the All City Team in lacrosse, and was a nominee for the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Athlete of the Year. She was also the recipient of the Hobey Baker Character Award, which is presented annually to a high school hockey player who is nominated by their coach based on integrity, teamwork, commitment, community leadership, and sportsmanship.

“When reflecting on my time in high school, I will remember the people I connected with the most: whether that be the friends I have made, my favorite teachers, or any other member of the Pilgrim community,” she said. “I will also fondly look back on my positive experiences in high school athletics and other social activities and events.”

the Frederick Douglass & Susan B. Anthony Award, and the Harvard Book Award.

She was also a member of the Class of 2021 Executive Board, where she served as the class secretary and social media representative.

Centracchio acknowledged her parents, “my greatest examples of hard work and success,” for their support, as well as her teachers, “all of whom have pushed me to my full academic potential by providing challenging material as well as guidance that feels personal.”

She pointed out science teacher Meredith Bizragane and soccer coach Tom Flanders as being two faculty members that contributed to her success at Pilgrim.

“My parents created an environment where good grades were not explicitly required, but encouraged and rewarded,” she said. “Thus, Centracchio’s classroom efforts earned her my motivation to excel in school and other Elle Centracchio, who ranked fifth in her class, membership to the National Honors Society, activities is largely internal. When I comes to didn’t waste a moment while at Pilgrim. Her National Foreign Language Honor Society, my academics, I appreciate and strive for a job high school resume is replete with academics, and the Rhode Island Honors Society. well done.” sports, and clubs.

Her other accolades and awards include the Centracchio will be attending the University Centracchio played on not only the varsity Outstanding Student in Italian Award, the of Connecticut in the fall to study communicagirl’s soccer team, but was the captain of the Outstanding Students in English Award, tions. varsity girl’s ice hockey team, and the captain the Susan Kullberg Memorial Scholarship,

once a patriot… Always a patriot!

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Pilgrim High School Class of 2021

TOP TEN

6. Jenna Gustafson stay focused, and manage my time in high school, I would excel not only in high school, but also in my future. I have to have a bright, successful future, and I think my achievements in high school will help immensely,” she said.

Jenna Gustafson, who ranks sixth in her class, says she’s always been motivated by her own future.

“I knew that if I figured out how to work hard,

tic League Athlete of the Month.

“The things I will remember most about my high school years are the amazing friendships I made and the memories I have with them,” she said. “I have hundreds of memories with my friends from tennis matches, Friday night If Gustafson’s strong high school resume is football games, my junior year English class, any indication, she’ll have a bright future, in- and many more.” deed.

Gustafson’s hard work in the classroom paid During her time at Pilgrim, Gustafson was a off. She earned membership to the National member of the Class of 2021 Executive Com- Honors Society, Rhode Island Honors Society, mittee where she held the position of event and Foreign Language Honors Society. She planner and then class vice president. She also is also the recipient of the Wellesley College dedicated much of her time to sports, playing Book Award and the Picerne Family Scholaron the varsity basketball team, varsity lacrosse ship. team, and varsity tennis team, including the Academic All-State and First All-State tennis Gustafson says her friends, coaches, and parteams. Gustafson also played on the unified ents helped her succeed at Pilgrim. “All of volleyball team. these people have pushed me to exceed my limits, supported me, and contributed to my Her athletic leadership earned her the title overall happiness these four years.” of tennis captain, and was named the Warwick Beacon’s Girls Tennis Player of the Year She is continuing her education by attendin 2017, 2018, and 2019. Gustafson was also ing Stonehill College to study actuarial mathnominated for the Rhode Island Interscholas- ematics.

7. Jocelynn Bechtel Ranked seventh in her class, Jocelynn Bechtel time on the girl’s track and field team, and perwas motivated and inspired by teachers at Pil- formed as a member of the women’s chorus. grim.

In additional to faculty, Bechtel says her par“All of my teachers have helped me and moti- ents contributed to her overall success in high vated me to do well not only academically but school. overall as a person,” she said.

Her academic achievements earned her memBechtel pointed out science teachers like Dr. bership to the National Honors Society and Caroline Savery, Richard Marrese, and Mer- Rhode Island Honors Society. She was also the edith Bizragane, as having a large impact on recipient of the Presidential Scholarship and her learning at Pilgrim. the Wave Credit Union Scholarship.

While at Pilgrim, Bechtel took part in the Science Olympiad where she received gold and silver medals in anatomy, physiology, and experimental design, threw hammer during her

Bechtel shared that the senior prom was a big highlight and an event she “really enjoyed”.

Bechtel will be attending the University of Rhode Island in the fall to study kinesiology.

8. Abigail Hang For Abigail Hang, who ranked eighth in her Solo and Ensemble Medal of Excellence. class, music made up much of her time at Pilgrim.

Hang’s classroom achievements earned her membership to the National Honor Society as Hang played violin in the Rhode Island Music well as the Brown University Book Award.

Education Association’s All-State Senior Orchestra, and the Philharmonic Youth Reperto- “My wonderful friends and teachers made ry Orchestra. She shared her talents by teach- education fun and interesting for me,” she ing violin lessons at Bedrossian Music. said, sharing that she will “always remember the great friends I’ve made and the trials I’ve “My audition and participation in the All- overcome throughout my high school years State and the Philharmonic Repertory Youth because they helped me to become the person Orchestra motivated me to excel because it I am today.” helped me get out of my comfort zone and try new things,” she said.

Hang will be attending the University of Rhode Island in the fall to study biological sciHang’s musical talents earned her both the ences.

way to go pilgrim patriots!

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Pilgrim High School Class of 2021

TOP TEN 9. Lars Mangold

Ninth-ranked Lars Mangold says his motivation stems from passion.

hos, Bill Millette and Paul Kennedy had the biggest impact during his time at Pilgrim.

“I’ve always had a passion for my work and He also acknowledged his parents, family for many of the subjects I’ve studied, my fa- (“Especially my brother JT”), and friend for vorites being science and history,” he said. “immeasurable” help and support.

Mangold’s passion certainly fueled his time at Pilgrim, where he was a member of the wrestling team, the cross-country team, and the environmental club. Mangold also served as the Class of 2021’s Vice President and President.

Mangold says he’ll remember “a lot of great times” from Pilgrim, but what sticks out the most is “meeting some of my good friends and developing my passion for writing.”

Mangold will attend the Community College Mangold’s academic achievements earned of Rhode Island for two years in the fall for him the Social Studies Award and the Civic his general education requirements and EMT Leadership Award. license, and then plans to transfer to the University of Rhode Island for biomedical engiWhile he says all his teachers were “fantastic”, neering.

Mangold pointed out that Alger, Michael Xiar-

10. Phakeo Arounerangsy Rounding out Pilgrim’s top 10 is Phakeo ors Society, Rhode Island Honors Society, and Arounerangsy. the Xerox Award for Innovation and Information Technology.

He may have kept a light social schedule, but Arounerangsy’s hard work in the classroom Arounerangsy cited his family and friends are certainly paid off. biggest motivators and contributors to his success at Pilgrim.

Arounerangsy says his favorite and most memorable class was physics, taught by Rich- “My family placed expectations on me and I ard Marrese. Arounerangsy says he’ll remem- wanted to live up to them,” he said. ber “the work and the challenges”.

Arounerangy is planning on attending the Arounerangsy’s classroom achievements University of Rhode Island in the fall to study earned him membership to the National Hon- computer science.

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Pilgrim High School Class of 2021 Gabriela Lucianni Abad* Faith Christine Adamo Kobi Michael Almeida Hayley Marie Alves* Dennis James Amore Jr. Emma-Rose T. Andrade Damian Austin Andrade Michelle Antelo* Maria-Trinidad Castillo Appollonio* Isaiah Kai Matthew Aquino Ray-Antony Aristy Phakeo Matthew Arounerangsy+* Cole Ryan Baptista*& Finton Albert Barnett Anastasia Juliette Barrolle Raye-Anna Sheryll Beauchaine Cassandra Lorraine Beaune*# Jocelynn Rose Bechtel+*% Elizabeth Marie Benoit Daniel Patrick Bergeron+*$ Carina Anne Bidon Alexis Renee Bigbie Tatyana Marie Boiano+*# James Earl Bond Adam Machado Borges Haelly Marie Botelho+*=/ Tyler Richard Bouressa Codee Boylan Damia Star Branca Jamie Lee Breault* David William Brennan, Jr.* Nicholas Richard Brewer Christian Michael Brown+* Lily Marie Brown= Crystal Mari Burgos*/ Kelsey Lee Burr+*# Tristan Wolf Bustillos-Hawk Jamal Miguel Frank Cacchiotti Adrien Louis Camacho Natalia Hope Camara Katherine Elizabeth Canning*= Devyn James Capuano Aiden Philip Caruso*& Colin Patrick Cassady* Ella Marie Centracchio+*#= Kylie Jade Chaplin Samih Will Charpentier Bethany Rose Cicerone+* Alexia Moon Clark Samuel James Clements*& Jaalam Nikolas Clifford Skyla Marie Contarino+*=/ James Welles Cook, Jr.+*/= Emma Rose Corcoran+*=/ Cameron Michael Costanza Jessica Rose Crosby Madison Nicole D’Amato+*= Maddison Leigh Dailey*/ Zachary David DaSilva Michael Peter Davis Raymond Edmund Davis= Trinity Aprilynn Davis Julian Vincent DeFoe Jr. Emmanuelle Kaye Degos+*X= Alec Armondo Dello Iacono*#= Isabella Maria De Melo*/ Daniel Joseph DeRobbio* Rosemarie Diaz*/ Kayla Elaine Diedrich Breanna Elizabeth Diel Harry James Dolan* Bethany Aurelia Dooner*= Justin Aideon Dorsey Alexandria Michelle Doughty* Hayley Donna Dowding Olivia Grace Doyle+*#= Casey Elise Duclos* Jordan Alexis Eddy+*=/ Madeline Espinosa/ Anthony Joseph Fassel Christopher William Follett Gregory James Fontaine & Ethan Thomas Foster Matthew Raymond Foust Paulo Alexando Frias Jr. Jared Thomas Fritsche Charlotte Richelle Frost+*=#% Alexia Lee Gaspar Matthew Donald Gibeau*=

Nicholas Richard Gionti Aaron Joseph Gluchacki, Jr.*= Haley Carolynne Gonnella+*#% Zachary David Goodman Micajah Alexis Gore Julia Abigail Greco+*= Cameron Michael Grilli= Jenna Corinne Gustafson+*=/ Gabriel Anthony Haley*/ Jeweliana-Lee Yvonne Hall Payton Jean Hamilton Abigail Gao Youa Hang+*= Kathryn Ann Harrison= Alexia Lynn Hays Daniel He+*/= Madison Marie Hemond+*/= Ashley Nicole Hogan+*=% Madeline Grace Hopkins+* Timothy James Hourihan*= Julie Louise Ide* Joseph Russell Izzi Micheal William Jencks*/ Daniel Gage Johnson Peter Kenneth Kay* Jaden Kevin Kelley Rachel Faith Kiernan*/= Anthony King Kendra Noel Kirby+*/ Graham Thomas Klyberg* Autumn Elizabeth Koles Hailey Ryan Konicki Warren David Laquerre Emma Grace Laurenzo Hannah Elizabeth Lee Lukas Dylan Longtin Amber Franchesca Lopes+*/ Damian Lance Lopes Casey Jordan Lucia*= Isabella Lupien Matthew Scott Lynch+*# Lars Oskar Mangold+*= Makenzie Rose Manning+*=/ Emma Grace Marie Maroni*/= Abbigail Lineke Marsh*X Brianna Charlotte Martin Caleb James Martin & Willian John Martin= Eric Michael Martins+*/= Isabella Margaret Martira Joshua Thomas Mason*& Troy Joseph Santos Masse Ava Joy McCann+*/ Sofia Rose McCann+*/ Ivy Lynn McCormick+*/= Ella Lynn McCusker*= Gabrielle Marie McGowan Gracie Lee McGrath* Hayden Keenan McKay & Teagan Mary Nicole McNamara+*/ Alysia Mariah Medeiros* Kayla Elizabeth Moore*/ Nathanael Joel Moore*$ William Emery Morissette= Feliciana Urania Mota*= Hailey Jean Mulcahy Ayden Michael Mulhall* Jaydah Devine Nardolillo Jacob Elijah Neal Mark John Neves+* Sean Kelly Noel/ Sarah Rose Nunez+*/= Emily Rachel O’Donnell* John Francis Hazard O’Donnell Breanna Orozco Cincere Richard Ortiz/ Olivia Grace Paquet*= Chase William Pariseau* Joshua Dennis Pereira Jaylin Marcelina Pillier*/ Michael Pizzarelli Jr. John Joseph Plunkett James Joseph Powers & Timothy James Powers, Jr. John Joseph Procaccini Janessa Ann Prout Asani Sallay Prum Mackenzie Anne Puckett Benjamin Joseph Quell+*=% Joshua Shawn Quell*

Nathan Taylor Walker Rainey+*X= Megan Sage Raleigh Lydia Elizabeth Ramsden+*=/ Jared James Reminder+* Shane Michael Renfree* Alana Marie Resendes+*=/ Ashley Nichol Ring* Shelby Lynn Ritchie+*= Nestor Joel Rivera Kenneth Paul Rix, Jr.+*#= Allison Marie Rodrigues+@* Ashley Lynn Rodrigues Raul Andrez-Rosario-Duran Damilah Ahrionah Ross Brianna Lynn Rowan*= Jessica Leann Russell Richard Joseph Ryan Ryan James Sanita Destinee Ivelisse Santiago Robert Kellner Schmitt*/ Samantha Jayne Sheehan=% Mia Raelyn Sherman*X Jacob Tyler Silva & Mekenze Silva+*=/ Annabelle June Sisson+*X Jared Joseph Smith Cameron Thomas Soares*& Leeah Marie Sorel Joshua Ian Speel* Gabriel Evan Spieler*# Tayla Alyssa Stenmark Abbie Levia Stewart* Grace Marie Lambert St. Germain+*/ Audriana Denise Stiles*= Faye Catherine Strain* Aidan Michael Sullivan James Aaron Sundvall Erika Malia Swenson William Mitchel Swicki+* Devyn Omari Tabor Joshua Paul Talbot+*= Justin Michael Talbot+*= Bethany Ann Tarasenko+*/ Taylor Jean Tarvis & Arianna Jade Teixeira Jayla Marie Toolin* Elijah Joel Trochez Christina Marie Tyson= Tori Ann Upham Chantel Alexia van Heyningen+* Saribel Olivia Vargas*/= Aidan Jacob Viveiros Trinity Rose Volpe+*X William Vongsena*=& Mary Elizabeth Wajda* Kaitlyn Elizabeth Waring+*% Bobby Earl Warren Megan Mackenzie Waters Alexander Conner Watts Matthew James Weeden Tyriek Tayshawn Weeks* Jayden Gabriel Weichtmann+*=# Jalyn Salanna Wellington+* Brooke Kylie Whiteside= Christopher James Whitney Jayni Monique Williams* Sona Marie Wolf Gao Lee Yang

* - Rhode Island Honor Society + - National Honor Society @ - Career Center = - Senior Project with Distinction # - Italian Honor Society X - French Honor Society / - Spanish Honor Society & - CTE $ - Art Pathway % - STEM Pathway

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Warwick Beacon

Toll Gate High School Valedictorian

Jessica Joubert

F

ellow graduates: Take a moment to consider the events and decisions that brought us all here today. Remember that nothing is guaranteed, and that nothing should ever be taken for granted. The uncertainty of the last year was a harsh reminder that even the most everyday parts of our lives are worth more than we can ever know. Appreciate this landmark in your life actively and with determination.

I’d like to take some time to congratulate the outstanding tenacity our community displayed this year, and to offer sincere thanks to everyone who helped along the way. We are defined by our resilience as a class and community. Each one of your diplomas is a testament to your ability to persevere and overcome.

In the wake of challenges, we gracefully paved our way with solutions. When connectivity problems struck, we were patient. When technology had a learning curve, wewere understanding. When we saw that someone with their camera on was clearly making themselves an omelette instead of taking notes, we did our best to keep focused.

When isolation became an epidemic, we discovered ways to reconnect. We let video and voice calls suffice in order to keep our loved ones safe. We organized online spirit days, parties, and meetings, and, when we came back to school, our celebrations were more enthusiastic than ever before.

At the end of a long year, we got to laugh and make memories together again.

On behalf of myself and the class, I’d like to thank the teachers and administrators who have guided us all here. On my own behalf, I’d like to thank my loving family, my supportive friends, and a few teachers who inspired me to always keep going.

1. I want to thank Mrs. Franco, whose wholehearted support helped me through trying times, and whose unconditional positive regard has made teachers and leaders out of so many students.

2. I want to thank Mrs. Cutting, without whom I would never have discovered or learned chemistry.

Her classes changed my life fundamentally for the better by giving me the confidence and clarity I needed to choose a career for myself.

3. I want to thank Mr. Reed for the lessons his band taught me about preparedness, accountability, and collaboration. That being said, I will not thank him for the outdated memes in his unit studies, which I’m sure will live on to torture future students.

4. Finally, I want to thank Mr. Politelli for his immeasurable and invaluable service to my class and to Toll Gate High School. For those of you who don’t know, this year was Mr. Politelli’s last year teaching at Toll Gate, as he will be retiring this summer. Toll Gate will lose his incredible teaching and his infamous mustache, but his dedication to history and education lives on in the minds and hearts of his students.

The adventure of growing up is punctuated by this ceremony, but follows us for the rest of our lives. We’ve grown taller--(well, most of us)--but, more importantly, we’ve all grown stronger, smarter, and better. I have had the pleasure of developing so many interests, abilities, and attitudes at Toll Gate High School, and the pleasure of finding the most genuine, dedicated, kind, and talented people in my classmates.

Going forward and moving on is a daunting prospect. We are always continuing into a future that can never be known. But, for better or for worse, our destination is always ahead of us. Choose to move forward with pride and certainty, and revel in the knowledge that the present is a gift.

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Toll Gate High School Class of 2021

TOP TENS Toll Gate’s top 10 rise above this year’s challenges

By ARDEN BASTIA

T

oll Gate High School’s Class of 2021 hasn’t had the most traditional senior year, but has managed to rise above the challenges.

This is especially true for the class’ top ten students.

According to principal Candace Calouri, “The students and their ability to adapt and be resilient is a testament to families, themselves, and support from their teachers, counselors, and administrators.”

Toll Gate’s Class of 2021 is made up of 244 students, and filled with talent, leadership, strength, and intelligence.

“I’m proud of all my kiddos,” said Calouri. “We realize it’s been difficult for everyone, but tried to make things as ‘normal’ as we could under the circumstances.”

Calouri says it “wasn’t an easy process,” returning to in-person learning, but both teachers and students were happy and grateful to have returned to the classroom to round out this school year.

“The students’ willingness and eagerness shows that Toll Gate is providing them with a safe and supportive place that they want to be in,” said Calouri.

Toll Gate seniors recently celebrated the end of the school year with prom at Quidnessett Country Club, and graduation is planned for June 15 at 3 p.m. at the Aldrich Mansion.

“The students had a blast,” said Calouri. “It was so great to stand back and watch them be all together again.”

Calouri hopes students remember the “strong foundations” given to them by teachers and faculty before the pandemic, “to help them get through this next portion”.

“Any lessons you may have learned this past year, try to find the positive,” said Calouri as parting advice to graduating seniors. “You can choose to be better, or you can chose to be bitter. I would like them to be better.”

1. Jessica Joubert talents, Joubert was also a member of the Student Council, the math team, National Honor Society, and Modern World Language Honor Society. In her senior year, she was the Vice President of concert band, jazz band, and jazz combo, as well as the Vice President of the TGHS chapter of National Honor Society and class secretary for three consecutive years.

excellence from Toll Gate in calculus, English, and chemistry.

“I think I’ll remember the time I spent with my friends, in school and outside of school, the most,” said Joubert. “I met a lot of really amazing people though the music program at Toll Gate and built some really strong friendships with my classmates. Looking back on Joubert credits her success to her parents, who my time in high school, the strongest memogave her encouragement and support. ries are my memories of celebrating and making it through all of my toughest classes with “I wouldn’t have been able to do well in school my friends by my side.” if it weren’t for the help of my parents,” she said. “They always checked up on me and let She recognized her teachers, particularly Mr. me know that, as long as I was trying my best, Wayne Politelli, as “outstanding and always they were proud of me. Every ride to school [taking] the time to answer my questions thorthey gave me, every concert they attended, oughly and thoughtfully.” and every notebook they got me made all the difference.”

“As I got older, I realized that the only way of measuring my potential was giving school Joubert’s successes didn’t go unnoticed, as she my all. Since then, I’ve been driven to learn earned a variety of awards and scholarships, everything I can and use my knowledge to do Jessica Joubert earned the number one spot, like the Rhode Island Scholar Leader Award, meaningful work,” she said. and the title of class valedictorian. During her Toll Gate Director’s Choice Award for jazz time at Toll Gate, Joubert stayed dedicated band, the AP Scholar Award, Principal’s Lead- Joubert is looking forward to continuing her and focus, taking part in activities like con- ership Award, the Mary R. Politelli Scholar- education at the University of Rhode Island, cert band, honors band, orchestra, jazz band ship, and the Gianna Cirella Memorial Schol- studying chemical engineering. and jazz combo. In addition to her musical arship. Joubert also received recognitions of

2. Meghan Merrow Meghan Merrow’s achievements, both in and out of the classroom, earned her the salutatorian spot in Toll Gate’s class of 2021.

membership to the National Honor Society, Rhode Island Honor Society, and Italian Honor Society. She also received awards in physics and Italian, even placing second in the state on the Italian language exam as a sophomore, as well as earning the National History Day Merit Award.

During her four years, Merrow took part in both sports and clubs. She was the captain of both the field hockey and basketball teams, and played on the softball team during her first two years. In her junior year, she was the “Over my high school years, my friends, fampresident of Students Against Destructive De- ily, coaches, and teachers have all contributed cisions (S.A.D.D.). to my success,” she said. “My achievements would not have been possible without these Sports, a big part of Merrow’s high school ca- mentors.” reer, will be something she remembers most.

The encouragement from those around her “School events, such as pep rallies and foot- motivated Merrow during high school, and ball games with my friends are something I’ll she plans to pursue a degree in engineering remember the most because the energy and from the University of Colorado Boulder. atmosphere of the Toll Gate student section is unmatched,” she said.

But Merrow isn’t just a star on the field or court. Her academic achievements earned her

Congratulations

TOLL GATE CLASS OF 2021

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Toll Gate High School Class of 2021

TOP TENS 3. Cassidy Pepin Toll Gate’s number three is Cassidy Pepin.

Pepin spent her time at Toll Gate involved with the Best Buddies Club and Students Against Destructive Decisions (S.A.D.D.). Pepin has dedicated much of her time to her dance studio, Let’s Dance, where she both taught and took classes, performing on the competitive team.

and the connections with my teachers.”

“The biggest highlight of my time at Toll Gate would be the pep rallies at the end of spirit week,” she said. “Those are definitely my favorite memories.”

Pepin acknowledges her “parents, friends, and teachers” for contributing to her successes and motivating her along the way.

Pepin’s academic efforts didn’t go unnoticed.

She was recognized for her talents with the French Language Achievement Award and Pepin was motivated to excel at Toll Gate by the Outstanding Achievement in Composition her “desire to fulfill my future plans, includAward. ing going to college and becoming a pharmacist.” She will be attending the University of Pepin loved her French classes the most, and Connecticut in the fall to study pharmacy. she says it’s “because of the friendships I made

4. Olivia DeGaetano It was pedal to the metal for Olivia DeGaeta- driving my brother Jack to school in the mornno, who ranked number four in her class. ing,” she said. “I must attribute my enjoyment of high school to my amazing friends. I would DeGaetano spent all four years at Toll Gate not have had so much fun in school without involved with the Best Buddies organization, them. I am also grateful to my family for supand taking the leadership role of president. porting my endeavors.”

She was a member of the Student Council, a member of the Student Civic Action Coalition, DeGaetano was recognized for her dedicaand the president of the TGHS chapter of Na- tion to Toll Gate as the school’s Student of the tional Honors Society.

Month.

DeGaetano’s passion for learning and comBut her involvement doesn’t stop there. De- mitment to hard work will continue, as she Gaetano also took part in Bishop Hendricken attends Northeastern University in the fall to Show Choir as a vocalist and dancer. study behavioral neuroscience.

She says she’ll “always cherish” her time at Toll Gate.

“I worked hard so that I could further my education in a great location and institution,” she said. “I am always looking ahead to the next “I will remember spending time with my step.” friends, meeting my favorite teachers, and

5. Sara Rhodes Leadership was the focus of Sara Rhodes’ high Rhodes’ efforts in the classroom earned her school career, as she ranked fifth in her class.

High Honors, membership to the National Honor Society and Italian Honor Society, as Rhodes has held the position of class presi- well as the AP Scholar with Distinction Award. dent since her sophomore year, along with being the treasurer of Students Against Destruc- For Rhodes, her friends have become her famtion Decision (S.A.D.D.) and a member of the ily. “My closest friends are a group of eight seBest Buddies organization. Her leadership niors that have stuck by each other throughout roles extend into sports, where Rhodes held all of high school. We do everything together the position of captain on both the varsity la- and support one another like family.” crosse and varsity field hockey teams. Rhodes also achieved First Team All-Division in field Rhodes will be attending the University of hockey.

Connecticut to study manufacturing management and engineering.

“I will remember all of the fun times Toll Gate has brought me,” she said. “From sports Rhodes says her motivation came from her games to spirit weeks to pep rallies, it felt like “desire to be the first in my family to attend a there was rarely a dull moment. If there was four-year college and the first to earn a college one, my friends could always brighten it.” degree. I wanted to make my younger self proud, as well as my parents.”

ONCE A TITAN, ALWAYS A TITAN!

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Toll Gate High School Class of 2021

TOP TENS 6. Jessica Joyce Jessica Joyce, ranked sixth in her class, said she challenged herself during her time at Toll Gate, but ultimately “enjoyed the ride.”

also received the President’s Education Award in Outstanding Academic Excellence, Outstanding Achievement in English Language Arts Award, and Outstanding Academics in While at Toll Gate, she was the secretary of the Spanish Award.

National Honor Society, as well as a member of the drama club, and yearbook club. In her Joyce thanked her parents for their “continued freshman and sophomore year, Joyce was also support and guidance to always think ahead”. part of the cheerleading team.

In the fall, she will be attending the Communi“Some of the most memorable experiences at ty College of Rhode Island, taking advantage Toll Gate would have to be performing in the of the RI Promise Scholarship, and then plans school plays and cheering on the sidelines at to transfer to the University of Rhode Island football games,” she said. via the JAA (Joint Admissions Agreement) Program where she will major in business adJoyce named Mr. Timothy Hayes, a social stud- ministration with a concentration in finance. ies teacher, as one teacher who contributed most to her success. “I always looked forward “I’m always thinking about the decisions and to going to his classes and his teaching ethics.” choices I make today that my older self will thank me for. I always have a backup plan. If Joyce’s efforts did not go unnoticed, as she Plan A doesn’t work, Netflix here I come,” she earned membership to the National Honor said, joking that a new movie could always Society, Spanish Honor Society, Rhode Island use her talents.

Honor Society, and the high honor roll. She

7. Haylay Hindle For Hayley Hindle, ranked seventh in her softball team. Hindle, an AP scholar, was recclass, her time at Toll Gate was all about the ognized for her academic achievements by friendships she’s made. earning membership to the National Honor Society, National Italian Honor Society, Rhode “What I’ll remember most about my high Island Honor Society, Academic High Honor school years is my friendships that I have Roll, and National History Day finalist. made along the way,” she said, adding that the friendships she’s made “will last a lifetime Hindle found motivation in the support of her and have given me memories I will never for- “parents, teachers, coaches, and classmates,” get.” she said. “They have pushed me to be the best I can be and always give 100 percent all the She credits her friends for contributing to her time.” success and enjoyment of high school, and acknowledged science teachers like Mrs. Jes- Hindle is looking forward to continuing her sica Greenberg and Mrs. Kate Washington for studies at Quinnipiac University for the 4+3 steering her towards the biomedical pathway athletic training and doctor of physical theraprogram and attributed to her love of science. py program.

Hindle stayed busy both in and out of the classroom. She was a member of the varsity

8. Joshua Paiva Joshua Paiva, ranked eighth in his class, kept busy during the past four years. Paiva was not only the captain for the men’s varsity soccer team, but for the men’s indoor and outdoor track teams as well.

Paiva says he’ll remember the “relationships I built with many individuals within the Toll Gate soccer program, which is where I devoted most of my time to. I created so many incredible memories and I’ll always be grateful for the opportunities that were given to me by Coach Kenney and Coach Higgins.”

“Personally, I’m an individual who is driven to be the best version of themselves in all areas of life,” said Paiva, when asked what motivates him to excel. “I’m very driven by results and the overall satisfaction of accomplishment, whether it be with small tasks or much larger projects.”

Paiva, who is originally from Narragansett, said his friends, family and teachers contributed most to his success, especially as he made the transition to a new school district. He cited social studies teacher Mr. Michael Kozusko and special educator Mr. Ken Genereux as In addition to his sports career, Paiva received having “the greatest impact” on his time at recognition for his academics, with member- Toll Gate. ship in the Spanish Honor Society, National Honor Society, and Rhode Island Honor Soci- Paiva is looking forward to attending the Uniety. He also played on the 2020 Second Team versity of Rhode Island to study kinesiology All-Division, Academic Division, and All- with a focus in physical therapy.

State soccer teams, as well as the All-City track and field team.

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Toll Gate High School Class of 2021

TOP TENS 9. Sage Pierce Sage Pierce, ranked ninth in her class, found secretary. Her academic dedication earned inspiration from friends and faculty during her membership to the National Honor Sociher four years at Toll Gate. ety, Rhode Island Honor Society, and Spanish Honor Society, while her passion and talent “I’ll remember all the people I have met at Toll for art earned her the Outstanding Art StuGate, whether that be faculty or friends, and dent Award. how much they influenced me,” she said, adding that teachers, like math teacher Mr. Keith Pierce said she’s motivated by her “own deRandall, and social studies teachers Mr. Mi- sire to succeed and to make those who have chael Solito and Mr. Tim Hayes made learning helped me proud.” engaging and fun.

Pierce plans on attending Albertus Magnus Pierce was involved in the Best Buddies or- College to pursue art therapy. ganization, where she held the position of

10. Amanda Penney Amanda Penney rounds out Toll Gate’s top students by ranking tenth in her class. Penney never had a dull moment, as she took part in two sports, several clubs, and rigorous academics.

Penney says much of her success in high school “came directly from my peers and teachers, like Ms. Willis and Mr. Kennedy. They not only coached me in softball, but taught and advised me throughout high school.”

Penney also attributes her success to her parents, who she says, “taught me to work hard and never give up even when there were so many things on my plate.”

Penney keeps one eye on the future, and said her goals give her the motivation to excel.

“When I finish my academic career, I want to be able to help people so I knew I needed to work hard in high school in order to be able to gain that edge for college,” she said. “Overall, I knew it would all pay off one day as I enter the medical field and see my dreams reach fruition.”

Penney was the varsity softball captain, as well as a member of the varsity tennis team.

Her athletic skills didn’t go unnoticed, as she achieved Third Team All-State, First Team All Penney will be attending Emmanuel ColDivision, and All City Team for softball. Pen- lege, studying biology with a concentration in ney was also a member of the Varsity Athletes health sciences.

Above Substance Abuse club, the vice president of the Best Buddies organization, and a Toll Gate Student Ambassador.

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Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

Toll Gate High School Class of 2021 x Christine A. Adeyefa XnsD Livia K. Adler-Maranhao Hannah Rose Albrecht Cain Alves Rosiany Alves Veiga Tyler John Amore Erica Marie Armstrong x Dylan Aunchman Nika Vargas Awid Taylor M. Bandarra Cassidy Marie Barker Dylan Barker x David C. Barry c Jaydin Cramer Beecher William J. Benevides Hannah Rose Bennett c Kaylee Elizabeth Bergstrom c Kayleigh Deborah Blackburn Sawyer Nicholas Bonenfant xz Sophia Grace Boutin c Lucas Luna Bradley x McKenzie Brady Kyle Brodeur x Logan Kenden Brown Abigail Mary Brynes Allison Buker x Dylan Burr c Evan Burr x Felicity Roth Butts Jlyssa Santos Cabral Sabrina Koren Calci Cassius Camp Andrew Carlson xcC Daniel Mederios Carvalho Tyler Takai Tahi Chilvers xNi Cassandra Cirella x Victoria Elizabeth Cole Anna Crothers Jordan Caesar Cruz xNz Mollie Brynn Cunningham Nicholas Paul DaCosta Colin Matthew Davenport xNz Olivia Katherine DeGaetano xNs+ Gianna Jade DelMonico x Marie Elizabeth Del Vicario Brenden Robert Demers xNs Madison Nicole DeSousa c Mitchell Steven Roy Dixon x Samantha Anne Dorsey Kylee Ann Duffy Sean Patrick Dunphy c Jacob Thomas Egan cvC Kristina M. Ellinwood x Christopher Noel Estrada Devin Michael Farrell cC Jakob Lübker Krusborg Faundal xc Kate Elizabeth Ferns + Michael Daponte Ferraria xNs Hope Flaherty c Madison Maria Fortes Emily Foss xNi Lauren Elizabeth Fracassa x Zachary Fulford Talia Lee Gallucci x Angelis Arelis Garcia x Colton Franz George x Sebastian Davila Glushchenko Mitchell B. Grady xc Alyson Pearl Greene Timothy Gregson c Caylee Ann Grover Haylee Haney-Richard xNs Liam Hart c Emma Kimberly Hartman Mackenzie Grace Hiatt xNiD Hayley Hindle Trevor Holdridge

Isabella Jade Houle c Anne Howell c Kaylie Howland-Melvin xNs Abigail Ming Ignagni Jael N. Johnson xNs Jessica Lynne Joubert xs Brandon A. Joyce xNs Jessica M. Joyce z Sasha N. Juarez xNs Gabrielle Lauren Kalian xNz Kaci Kanterman Matthew Harvey Kay xN Julia Seyhan Kaya cC Jacob Arthur Kelley Austin Kenyon cC Joanna Nicolas Kimball xcC Jacob Clayton Knorr x Catelyn Kuncio Brandon Joseph Lajoie c Chace LaPierre xNs Samantha Rose Larrivee Damaia M. Laspee x Madison Elizabeth Leach xNzD Aidan Xander LeBlanc xNs Jasmyn R. Lee xNs Kelsie Morgan Lefebvre-Halsband Madison Judith Leslie Zachary Raymond Levasseur xNi Christopher Brian Levin xN Madison Lodge x+ Amelia M. Lombard Francisco M. Lopez Ryan Loranger c Jaida Marie Lury Emma Lynch c Jared Maio Cody Marot c Adriana Martin x Minerva V. Martinez Calogero Emillio Matteo Martra Noah J. Mathews-Rotondo Jack Connor Maybaum Kirsten Lynn McCalligett x Meaghan McCamish cC Meaghan McCormick Evan S. McGrath xNs Ella Grace McNally Korin Medeiros x Riley Joseph Medeiros xNs Alex A. Mehta x Brooke Ann Menard cC Devon Michael Mendez xs+ Madison Lynn Mercurio xNi Meghan E. Merrow c Shilah Miller Matthew Modeen Morthy Molina Zamora xNs Tara Monastesse c Sean Robert Mongeau Jack Moran Chloe E. Moreau x Caitlyn Morel c Deanna Marie Morin Alex Motaco xNz Destiny Moua Maxwell Mouritsen cC Alyson Moynihan Ethan Shay Mullins c Alejandro Jose Nazario Ethan Peter Nicoletti Asyiah Marie Njie Alicyn V. Noel xNz Madison H. Nolan xNs Daniel O’Hara xcC Faith A. Ogden John Stephen Olink Kayla Elizabeth Oliveira

Justin A. Ortiz c Kayla Rose Pacheco Kylie Elizabeth Pacheco c Victoria Leigh Paglio xNs Joshua Jair Paiva c Jeffrey Parisi x Greyson Pasquina Ethan Joseph Paul xNsD Amanda Penney xNz Cassidy Pepin x Edward Alexander Perez xc Chloe D. Pickup xNs Sage Pierce c Alexandria Marie Plunkett xNs+ Jaiden Porter xNzD Bethany A. Prendergast Janaiya Prestly Connor Preuit Mynor Rafael-Tirado xs James F. Reid xNz Camille Rose Remillard Dylan S. Rey xNi Sara Ann Ventura Rhodes Lucas Allan Rich xs Julianna A. Roa xc Dylan Roberts xNz Shannon Marie Roberts Jossse Jemiel Rodriguez Jacob Rosati Joseph Rosati Anthony Michael Rossi Dominic Ruiz x+ Brendan Russo x Giulianna Andrea Sachero-Gomez Liza G. Sammartino Samantha Josephine Saulnier c Sydney Olivia Saulnier xs Max Savaria GRADUATES c Gabriel Zander Schmit Matteo A. Sciarra x Cloe’ Elizabeth Simmons x Abriana Skipworth c John M. Sloan c Amber Nicole Smith c Jacob Elliott Sock x Jairon Robert Soto x Jenna Stahlbush x Alexandra Staples Allen Jarek Teran cC Nuteng Thao Annelise Tillett c Matthew S. Tracy x Angelina Tran c Ashton Traverse xNs Jillian U. Walsh Ashley Jade Westberg c Lexi Bo Wiech c Kole Wilner Brianna M. Wischnowsky Arrianna L. Yepes GRADUATES N - National Honor Society x - Rhode Island Honor Society z - French Honor Society s - Spanish Honor Society I - Italian Honor Society c - Warwick Area Career & Technical Center C - Skills USA Winner D - Senior Project – Passed with Distinction + - Running Start Students

Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021 29

30

Warwick Beacon

Thursday, June 24, 2021

To the Class of 2021 No other in history,

Has even had to face, The challenges You’ve so successfully overcome.

With drive and determination, You will someday Lead our nation, But before you get down to it, Let’s celebrate

And have a little fun!

Congratulations Graduates!

From your friends & neighbors at

greenwoodcu.org 401-739-4600 Doing what’s right...for you!

2669 Post Road, Warwick