Their positvity carried them through, now it will carry them far

Spaulding High graduate Ethan Hunt fist-bumps SHS Principal Justin Roy after receiving his diploma during Friday's commencement. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - A singular theme of Spaulding High School's graduation ceremony Friday night was that despite the Class of 2021's withering yearlong tussle with a deadly pandemic, they pulled off a wildly successful senior year thanks to their positivity and perserverance.

"We kicked its butt," said Class President Brian Casey of the virus. "We turned a year to forget into one to remember."

As proof of the seniors' postivity, Casey pointed out that they had won the Spirit award three years in a row.

Jenna Loporcaro exults while sharing a moment with one of her senior class advisers after receiving her diploma on Friday.

The commencement was held outside at Hugo Bolin Field amid gray afternoon skies and coolish temps, but it was an appreciative and enthusiastic crowd, especially considering that last year's commencement was held drive-thru style in front of SHS.

Graduating seniors were allowed to drop their masks as they got their diploma, and then again as they posed for photos from family and friends gathered in a photo corral.

SHS Principal Justin Roy said if any class was going to have to go through an ordeal like what they faced this past year, the Class of '21 was the one that could take it in stride.

"Their positivity was amazing," he said.

Chester Seavey, class historian, showed the class was not only blessed with positivity but also generosity as he announced they were donating money to buy furniture for the Creteau Tech Center's personal learning space. Since underclassmen were unable to efficiently fund-raise during the year, they also donated $500 to the Class of 2022 and $300 each to the Class of 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Spaulding Class of 2021 President Brian Casey pumps up the crowd with a spirited speech in which he praised his fellow classmates for their positivity during the COVID pandemic.

Valedictorian Abigail Ward took to the podium to thank all of her teachers, ed tech and friends for making her time at Spaulding so special, and Salutatorian Jack McLaughlin urged his former classmates that going forward they should make sure they do what makes them happy, not others.

"Don't do something because someone else wants you to do it. Do it because it's right for you, because it make you happy," he said.

McLaughlin said he recently saw the gist of his message flashing across the Hervey's Tire Store on Union Street.

It read, 'Whether you think you can do it or you think you can't, you're right."