WALPOLE HIGH SCHOOL
June 2022
VOLUME XXv, ISSUE VI
NON PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO.8
WALPOLE, MA 02081
Walpole celebrates class of 2022’s graduation
The Walpole community came together for the first traditional graduation since 2019 By Sophia Brownsword News Editor
The official graduation ceremony for the class of 2022 was held on Sunday, June 6, and was the first traditional graduation that WHS has seen since 2019. The ceremony was not only a culmination of their past four years at high school, but a celebration of their accomplishments, perseverance and dedication to the community, particularly in the midst of the pandemic. Opening the ceremony was principal Stephen Imbusch, who welcomed all those offered up their time to be their in support of the graduates, followed by a singing of the national anthem by WHS chorus students. Senior class vice president Matt Byrnes presented the class gift to junior class president Stephen Bond. The seniors leave behind a donation for all clubs and activities at WHS. Following the class gift presentation, five commencement speakers were called up to present their speeches throughout the rest of the ceremony. Traditionally, WHS graduations have featured only two speakers; however, recent
Photos/ Isabelle O’Connell
Above: Class of 2022 students walk into Gradution on Turco field. Below: Senior class Vice President Matt Byrnes accepts diploma from William Buckley.
ceremonies have opted for multiple speakers to give a wider range of perspectives during the ceremony. This year, Scotty Cameron, Maggie Mahoney, Cole Donato, Colin Wilber and Erin Ledwith spoke to
the graduating class, and although all five speakers brought in different elements of their personalities and experiences, the speeches had a joint theme of unity in spite of individual differences.
Alongside speeches, academic awards and scholarships were given to many of this year’s graduating class. Students received awards such as department awards, the Tommy Quinn and 4 You I Will Fight scholarships, and Walpole Scholarship Foundation scholarships. During this time, Imbusch also recognized the late Hannah McClark, a member of the class of 2022 who died in 2020. Following the award distribution and final speech of the afternoon, the diploma ceremony began. Assistant principals Lee Tobey and Sean Powers called seniors to the stage to receive their diplomas from Assistant Superintendent William Hahn and School Committee Chairperson William Buckley, Jr. After each senior received their diploma, the ceremonial tassel flip was led by senior class president Cole Donato to commence the afternoon. The seniors will set out on differing paths; however, no matter what journey they take, the class of 2020 will take with them the memories they made, the friendships they fostered, and all of the lessons they learned from their past four years at WHS.
WHS Speech Team places 10th at Nationals
Stephen Bond and Bridget Ryan placed highest of any Walpole student in history By Grace Ryan News Editor
Over the years, the Walpole High School Speech and Debate Team has continued to make its presence known as they placed through local tournaments and individuals keep rising up the ranks. This year, four members of the speech and debate team worked their way up to nationals. Walpole has qualified for a national tournament the seven of the past eight years, but made history this year with their highest placing. The National Catholic Forensic League (NCFL) Grand National Tournament was held in Washington, D.C. on May 28 and May 29, where speech and debate teams from across the United States competed in ten total events. Seniors Sameera Manjrekar and Erin Ledwith qualified as a duo, as did juniors Bridget Ryan and Stephen
Bond. This Walpole group was the days, the duos competed multiple largest to qualify and attend a na- times in order to continue into the tional in-person tournament. next round. Mandjrekar and LedEach piece must with placed in the top 70 of a group be under ten minutes and students of over 150. Additionally, Bond and must act out a story or skit based Ryan placed 10th overall, which is on memorization. The duos have the highest any Walpole student has worked on these skits all year and placed at any national tournament! have continued to make them bet“Not only did Stephen ter and better based on judge and and Bridget rank 10th in the nacoach feedback. Both the duo tion, but they, as well as Erin Ledgroups that went to NCFL nation- with and Sameera Manjrekar, als competed in Duo Interpreta- had an amazing experience and tion, but their skits were unique. learned so much,” Murray said. “Stephen and Bridget’s Despite fierce competition, piece was about a breakup, which the team enjoyed their time in D.C. starts out like an exit interview, but including outside of the competition. then the audience realizes they are “We definitely had so much finding closure,” coach Emily Mur- fun and learned a lot through this ray said. “It’s a heartbreaking piece, experience. It was nice to have which moved me to tears. Erin and all of our work over the past year Sameera’s duo was comedic filled end at an experience like nationwith funny vignettes about what als, and the history we made not to do during a college interview. was just a bonus,” Bond said. Their performance is hilarious!” Ledwith will compete at Over the@WHSSEARCHLIGHT course of the two the National Speech and Debate
Photo/ Emily Murray
Ryan and Bond with their 10th place trophies.
Association (NSDA) national tournament the week of June 13 for Dramatic Interpretation. History continues to be made this year as Ledwith is only one of three Massachusetts students attending and is the first Walpole student in history to qualify for both the NSDA and NCFL national tournaments.