NORTHAMPTON – Gazing out into the crowd of hundreds of people who had crowded the football field at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, Michael Cahillane couldn’t help but reflect on the progress the school has made since his time there decades ago.

“This is awesome,” said Cahillane, who now chairs the board of trustees for the trade school. “I graduated from here in 1964, I had a little building out back that I went to school in. Now we’ve got a big building, and a lot of people.”

The class 2025 included 146 students in its graduating class, a 22-person increase from the previous year. Graduates came from across the western part of the state, from Northampton to North Adams, with 44 total cities and towns represented. Graduating students specialized in 15 different subjects such as plumbing, horticulture and cosmetology.

School salutatorian Owen Therrien, of North Adams, credited the school’s teaching staff for the success of the graduating class.

“You didn’t just teach subjects. You helped us build the foundation of our lives,” said Therrien, who studied criminal justice at Smith Voc and graduated with a 4.02 GPA while working as a police dispatcher. “They taught us how to be creative and how to approach challenges with resilience and solve problems that appear to have no solution.”

Therrien also urged his fellow classmates to continue to overcome future challenges with the same determination they did during their schooling.

“The unknown isn’t something to fear. Rather, it’s something to embrace,” Therrien said. “Let’s remember that success isn’t the perfect script. It’s about taking risks, making mistakes, and learning along the way.”

Following the presentation of diplomas, school valedictorian Beck Marks told the graduating class to be their own advocates for the change they wanted to see.

“If there’s anything I learned in shop, it’s that senseless complaining doesn’t solve anything,” said Marks, who like Therrien studied criminal justice. “You have the power to make change, whether that change is in regards to your career, your lifestyle, your community or even the world at large.”

Also providing a congratulatory reflection to the graduates was Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and Smith Voc Superintendent Andrew Linkenhoker.

“You have proven your grit and fortitude, like this beautiful new building behind us,” Sciarra told the graduates, referring to the school’s new horticulture building after the previous one burned down in 2022. “You have shown that you are not only ready to take on what the world has in store for you, but you are ready to be active and empowered participants in shaping our world.”

Linkenhoker also recognized the role that the students’ parents and caregivers played in shaping their child’s future.

“I can appreciate the journey you’ve been on for the past 18 years, the highs and the lows, the joys and the struggles,” Linkenhoker said. “You never wavered, and tonight is the night you should also be recognized.”

Graduates:

Amelie Michelle Acevedo Velez, Christopher David Alexander, Thomas Jeffery Allen, Vanessa Antil, Emma Kathleen Arcouette, Parker Roy Atkinson, Haileyanna Rae Bacon-Swartz, Jared Thomas Baer, Kayla Mae Bates, Talan John Beckman, Cody Matthew Beckwith, Acacia Janet Bednarczyk, Mark D Avid Benson, Savanah Lynne Blair, Gregory Lyndon Bodison Ii, Joseph Thomas Bonanno, Jackson Wilfred Bond, Jennifer Judy Buri Yunga, Heath Allen Brooks, Keith Barry Cable, Ty Stephen Chapdelaine, Jeremiah Jason Charbonneau, Chloe Joann Comerford Hennessey, Christopher James Maurice Connell, Caley Jacqueline Correia, Nevan Matthew Costigan, Dominic Phillip C Rochier, Brandon David Delosh, Abigail Hope Desrochers, Anisa Ramona Diaz, Brandon Luiz Diaz, Cole Perry Dunham, Evan Michael Dunham, Lyric Rose Edwards, Taylor M Emond, Wyatt William Evans, Madison Rose Faulconer, Simon Donovan Fawell, Giavanna Marie Fazio, Katelyn Rose Fedora, Collin David Flynn, Nyia-Marie Alexeia Forbes, Olivia Grace Fortier, Maren Joan Freedman, Kaleah Rose Gamache, Patrick John Gougeon, Hannah May Guertin, Oliver Joseph Hagen Watters, Henry Jenkins Harrison, Annaliese Olivia Haselkorn, Dewey Christopher Hathaway, Liliana Danielle Hathaway, Chad Allen Hockenberry, Logan Shattuck Hodges, Daniel James Hughes, Macayla Eve Jacque, Adam Edward Jaracz, Zaiah Isabel Kelley, Ethan John Kellogg, Cassidy Elizabeth King, Grace Francis Kokosa, Brayden Patrick Kukucka, Jaelyn Nicole Kulas, David Jozef Labarge, Joshua Peter Lamb Jr., Ryan Joseph Laprade, Jordan Joshua Larochelle, Miles Thomas Lashway, Maggie Jane Lauder, James Allen Lavallee Jr., Evan Martin Leary, Hayson Manuel Leyton Castellon, Bryan Josue Leyton Medrano, Justin Litchfield Jr., Johnathan David Loiko, John Kerry Loja-Granda, Amaryllis Lopez, Gianni Lee Luna, Haley-Ann Zoafia Lynch, John James Majewski, Savanna Renee Malo, Beck Miriam Marks, Jaiden Chad Marney, Sam Marie Martin, Aryanna Paige Medeiros, Reagan Louise Menard, Da’Jaun Antonio Merenda, Harland Scott Miller, Riley Jerry Miller, Patrick William Millin, Zachary Ethan Mitchell, Zachary Jordan Morrey, Silas Muzzy, Kierra Cherie Nadeau, Alex James Newton, Aidyn William Nugent, Anthony Harold O’Brien, Jordyn Bilesimo O’Brien, Madison Elizabeth O’Brien, Gloribel Joeliz Olivo, Jacob David Ouimette, Gabriella Anne Page, Liam Edward Papillon, Cassandra Joan Parker, Gabrielle Dawn Parrish, Saul Gavriel Perez, Jonathan Daniel Peters, Justin Tyler Porter, Kelltin William Poswiatoski, Somnang Thai Ren, Savannah Lynn Reipold, Jack Bryce Riley, Kayla Rose Rivera, Harrison George Roberts, Nicholas Edward Robinson, Caterina Sedon Ross-Perkins, Juliana Amaral Santos, Maggie Analee Sharpe, Jeremy Paul Simmons, Michael John Skubiszewski Jr., Matthew Raymond Small, Alexander Jaze Soto Jr., Caden Thomas Strickland, Aydan James Swan Kremensky, Makayla Hope Tatro, Sean Elliot Theroux, Owen Lawrence Therrien, Tristan Joshua Thibedau, Aiden Michael Tracy, Makayla Rose Trudell, Justin Valerio Lara, Brody Michael Webster, Isaac James Wehry, Conner Godfrey Weston, Avonna Rose Wickles, Caitlin Jean Willard, Brook Anne Wolcott, Reilley William Woofenden, Jorjia Jean Young, Lilian Cadance Young,

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.