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MC 87th Commencement
MALDEN CATHOLIC 87TH COMMENCEMENT
The First Codivisional Graduation
On May 21, 2022, Malden Catholic High School celebrated the 87th Commencement ceremony which was the school’s first codivisional graduation including both the Boys and Girls Divisions. The Class of 2022 graduation was held on Donovan Field in Brother Gilbert Stadium with 194 MC graduates and over 800 family members, faculty, and staff in attendance.
The ceremony started with an invocation by MC Principal, Rose Maria Redman, and was followed with remarks by MC’s Girls Division valedictorian Lily Baglio of Peabody. Baglio’s address commented on the great success that has resulted from the school’s unique codivisional model. She also shared a letter written to her two siblings, Brooke and Luke, who will be joining MC’s Class of 2026, with tips regarding how to appreciate the lessons gleaned both inside and outside of the classroom and the school’s strong 90-year legacy. Malden Catholic Principal Rose Maria Redman along with Boys Division Leader Robert J. Bucchino ’71, Girls Division Leader Jeffrey P. Smith ’95 P’24 and Assistant Principal of Student Life James J. Grocki, delivered remarks about each candidate. MC President John K. Thornburg then followed with the conferral of diplomas.
Charles Dilman of Melrose, Malden Catholic Boys Division valedictorian, addressed the audience and commented on the tremendous value of MC’s academic programs and the spirit of connection he experienced over the past four years. According to Dilman, he is exceptionally well prepared to take on the world and its future challenges based on the education received at Malden Catholic during a period of unprecedented change.
VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH - CHARLES DILMAN ‘22
I am privileged to address you all today as the co-valedictorian at Malden Catholic’s 87th Commencement Ceremony.
First, to the Class of 2022, congratulations on arriving at this joyful moment! As all of you know, the past four years of our high school experience have been full of changes and bumps along the road. Chief of these has been the pandemic, whose swiftness and deadliness have upended our lives for the past two and a half years. There was also the addition of a whole new division of students for the first time in decades, and all the growing pains that came with it. So many amazing teachers have moved on or plan to move on or have been and will be replaced by new teachers who will continue to make our school the incredible place that it is. Changes like these will always be a part of life – well, hopefully not another pandemic any time soon! However, I know that after the turbulence of the past four years, we are well-equipped to face all these changes head-on, excited for what these transformations may bring. Just as Tony Felder said during his speech at the Gala, “You don’t want to end up as a person who had a dream and never accomplished it.” I hope that these four years of challenges and training have helped each of you to realize your dreams, whatever they may be. Whether you are heading off to college, serving our nation in the military, or entering the workforce, know that you have your class’s support in all the challenges you may face. I also hope that all these transitions have shown you that you have an amazing support system of people that really care about your success.
I would like to thank our teachers, especially the ones who have been here these past four years with us, for overcoming all the same challenges that our class had to face. From learning what in the world a Google Classroom is to being forced to teach 6 classes in a day, with two long blocks back-to-back, your willingness to change and adapt for the betterment of all the students here is remarkable. Sra. Crotty, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Endicott, Ms. Lee, Ms. Abbas, Mr. Cleary, Mr. Hickey and Mr. Murray, the list goes on of teachers who have turned the chore of going to class into something that we look forward to every day.
I would also like to thank our incredible staff that made sure that our school was clean, updated, and ready for 800 people every single day, especially with all the growth and renovation that has occurred during our time here. DJ, Sal, Chris, Jésus, John, and Miguel, you guys are awesome, and you never receive enough credit. Finally, I would like to thank my parents for all the support and sacrifices they have made for me to come here. I know the decision to send me to Malden Catholic four years ago was not an easy or cheap one, but I cannot be happier about the choice we made. Thank you for always being by my side, through all the long nights of studying and all our boring track meets and all the times I forgot something at home. I know that you will miss me so much in a few months when I head off far away to college but know that I will always love you (and, most importantly, I will occasionally come back).
I know that when many of us enrolled at Malden Catholic in our first year, we entered as individuals who became part of two, distinctly different divisions. This was most definitely the case for me, being the only student from my middle school. Nevertheless, I believe that despite how we entered, we now leave as one, united Malden Catholic. To quote our mantra for the past several years, we have been “United in Spirit, Intent on One Purpose” (Philippians 2:2). This unity does not just happen by chance. It comes from the work done by the administration, especially President Thornburg and Principal Redman.
It comes from sharing successes together, like the state championship of the Tony Felder-led boys’ basketball team or the countless wins by our Mock Trial team. It comes from shared events, like the awkward semi-formal or the less awkward prom. And it comes from the efforts of every single one of you, to create and form that brotherhood and sisterhood that is the hallmark of the Malden Catholic community. This unity causes us to transform from just any old boring Catholic school to something special. It lends itself to our fan section being the best in the state. It lends itself, too, to our numerous academic achievements and moments of growth. And this unity is the reason we gather here today, to mark the graduation of an incredible class of 2022. None of us attended MC in a vacuum; we all had shared experiences as a class that shaped our enjoyment of our four years at this school. I know I speak for the entire class when I say that we enjoyed our years here in and out of the classroom, so thank you to all of you for making our experience so incredible.
Thinking about the past four years, my mind returns to the anthem that has been drilled in our heads: “We Are MC” and what it truly means. What does it mean to be “MC”? The M might stand for Malden, but it also stands for the communities that each of us come from and our need to give back to those communities. The M represents the service due to the organizations around us that give back to people who desperately need it, organizations like Bread of Life, La Colaborativa and Mission of Deeds. Finally, I hope the M will signify to you a sense of home. Even as each one of us leaves Malden, and, for some of us, Massachusetts altogether, I hope that the school and the community continue to give you a sense of belonging in this huge world. The “C” in “MC” similarly may stand for Catholic, but, more generally, the letter symbolizes the principles instilled in us, uniquely part of Catholic education and developed by the numerous Theology teachers at this school. It means the five Xaverian values of Simplicity, Humility, Compassion, Trust and Zeal embodied daily by our own two Xaverian Brothers, Brother Daniel Cremin, and Brother Thomas Puccio. My hope is that we, as well-formed men and women, will carry these values for the rest of our lives, never losing sight of the C in MC. Thus, let the slogan “We are MC” screamed at pep rallies and posted throughout the school mean something more than a cliché. Let reflecting on the slogan remind you of the uniqueness of your four years not only at an incredible high school but also within a community of brothers and sisters… a school and a community that you will take with you no matter how far you go.
VALEDICTORIAN SPEECH - LILY BAGLIO ‘22
I am honored to address you today along with Charles Dilman as co-valedictorian at Malden Catholic’s 87th Commencement Ceremony.
To my fellow graduates from the Girls Division, thank you for joining me on this wildly unpredictable, but exhilarating journey throughout the past four years. To the Graduates of the Boys Division, although the pandemic threw a wrench into some of the plans that would have unified us more often, it is an honor to share today with you. Most of us, boys and girls included, came in freshman year to embark on a series of firsts. And together, we were part of the inaugural class of this codivisional model at Malden Catholic. The Malden Catholic community today and every day illustrate the family of support we have behind us. Thank you to everyone who made today possible, those in person and those not here with us. And on behalf of the Girls Division, thank you to Ms. Lisa Cenca, who four years ago, helped us realize our potential here at Malden Catholic.
To say I am grateful to be here today is an understatement. We have made it. We sit here today reminiscing about the familiar halls that we say goodbye to and the friendly faces that welcomed us every day. We are here to celebrate the extraordinary successes of an unforgettable four years.
Schedule Changes. Four of them. Mr. Smith learned how to crack a smile, occasionally. And there are plenty of memories that fill the halls. Nevertheless, we sit here today on this hot turf field celebrating the miraculous achievements of our class.
To the administration and Board of Trustees, who ensured us of the success that would result from this codivisional model: we all sit here today, prepared for our future endeavors, and agree that you were right. On behalf of the Class of 2022, I want to thank you for being there to hear all our ideas and aspirations, while doing your best to make them possible. We are so grateful for your attempts to preserve the normalcy of high school during the pandemic. Thank you for letting us attend school last year, even if it was in cohorts, to maintain the bonds with our MC family. We appreciate the deliberate attempts to allow spectators during our successful basketball, volleyball and football games. Your efforts will not be forgotten.
I would be remiss if I did not take the time today to thank our families and friends for the endless support, love and guidance that allowed us to be a part of MC. From rides to and from 99 Crystal St. more times than anyone can count to advise on course selection and friend drama, they have made us the people we are today. Mom and Dad, thank you for encouraging me to take the chance to come to Malden Catholic. For those who know me, risks are something I tend to avoid, but the decision to come to MC has made me rethink that mindset. Without the two of you, I would not be here today. The example of your work ethic encouraged me to embrace my potential and taught me how to attain my goals.
Finally, I have two other people that I need to thank. I am jealous that you get to start your journey next year. For those of you who do not know, my brother and sister will be entering Malden Catholic’s Class of 2026 starting in the fall. As I sat down to reflect on what I wanted to say today, I realized that all I wanted to do was give you a glimpse of what my brother and sister can look forward to.
Dear Brooke and Luke, I am now the old person who you two can make fun of when I say this but enjoy every moment of the next four years. It will fly by. I remember like it was yesterday walking into my first day of freshman year, wearing a uniform for the very first time, terrified of not finding my place here at MC. Little did I know that in time, a family would come to surround me each day that I walked into the building. Every morning, I was unsure what the day would bring, but I was confident that I would have my friends by my side. The bonds we made together at Malden Catholic will carry us throughout our lives. While we often shared nervous anxiety for an impending math test or a research paper due in the upcoming period, we also shared laughs when Mr. Smith would come in and scare Mr. Gregory or when someone was crying over something stupid (sidenote: that was usually me.). Brooke and Luke, I cannot wait for you to share this experience.
For four years now, you have sat in the crowd at basketball and football games, various arts and awards nights and maybe even listened to a few mock trials. And now, you are months away from beginning your journey. So don’t stay in the audience during your time here. Don’t be a spectator! Be an active participant in everything you do. The rest of the Class of 2022 and I have seen the good that has resulted from jumping in and getting involved. We have won Science Fairs, Basketball State Championships and Mock Trial State Championships. We have shined at DramaFest and Robotics Competitions, established Make-A-Wish and Spirit Clubs and created a community that embraces innovation. None of this would have occurred without the support of our teachers. Soon after entering MC, I noticed something remarkable about them: here, teachers treat us like real people, not just students in the classroom. Brooke and Luke, you have heard stories about Mr. Endicott, Ms. Lynch-Galvin, Mr. Gregory, Mr. Kissel, Ms. Lee and so many others over the course of four years here. So, lean on them because they are the best supporters anyone could ever ask for. Remember that they will teach you lessons inside and outside of the classroom and maybe you will not realize it until you are sitting here at graduation in May of 2026… but always be ready to accept those lessons when they come along. And lastly, be grateful for the family of distinguished Malden Catholic and Girls Catholic alumni that you will join in four short years. Never forget that you are here today because of an incredible tradition of Catholic education that goes back 90 years. I hope that will provide you with direction and inspiration whenever you need it.
Now, the two of you might not listen to me, but listen to the rest of the Class of 2022, as together we join this group of alumni in just a few short minutes when we say we will be here for you. Over the past four years, we have encountered countless alumni that give back to the 99 Crystal St family. Soon, we will join those who have created the place that we lovingly called school and home. Brooke and Luke, I cannot wait for you to join us in a few years. Trust me when I say I am sad to leave but know that I feel reassured that you two will be embarking on your Malden Catholic journey.
Brooke and Luke, this is the legacy that you have to look forward to. This is the legacy that the Class of 2022 has enjoyed over the past four years!
