SOUTH HADLEY — When asked about the unique qualities of the South Hadley class of 2025, most graduates highlighted the diversity of interests and achievements among their peers.

“We’re not all athletes or all music kids,” Molly O’Donnell said. “There’s a good blend of everybody”

Among the chords and orange stole, students wore National Honors Society medals. Some received a vocational certificate along with their diploma. Others had their achievements displayed on their diplomas, marked by a seal of biliteracy or concentration in STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math.

Yet many of the students’ achievements were achieved outside of their academic pursuits.

Kye Methot, Jayden McMains and Brent Johnson plan to continue their landscaping businesses, which began from working together under a different landscape architect.

Briana Munoz Dias looks forward to starting a family at the end of summer, bringing her favorite memories of rowdy Friday night football games with her.

Best friends Caitlin Dean and Cianna Gurek worked hard to rekindle their community after remote learning during the pandemic caused drifts in their friendships.

Truly, the 126 students who proudly stood on the stage of Mount Holyoke’s Richard Glenn Gettell Amphitheater on Friday evening had each earned more than a diploma to their name.

“People are more than just test grades or how well they know how to find the velocity of an object in free fall before it hits the ground,” salutatorian Abigail Gelinas said. “Most of the things from school that will stick with me forever are the lessons that I’ve learned from the people surrounding me and the fun-filled memories that go along with them.”

Not every moment of high school was cherished, especially at the end.

Valedictorian Nora Matzen admitted to slogging through the last three months, excited to speak at graduation solely for its representation of high school’s conclusion. But as she crept closer to the finish line, the meaning of this chapter’s end finally sunk in.

“There’s nothing wrong with being excited about the future,” Matzen said, “but try to remember everyone and everything that got you to this moment right now, because just like all the other experiences we’ve had in high school, it’ll soon be over, and you may miss it more than you think.”

If Mazten left her class with wisdom on savoring the moment, then senior class President Michael Beauchemin advised his peers on the most memorable ways to spend those moments: put down the smartphone, and enjoy.

“We don’t want to be 89 years old and regret not spending more time with our parents or grandparents or friends because we were too busy watching TikToks or Instagram reels,” he said. “Don’t succumb to the algorithm. Life’s algorithm is so much more rewarding.”

Beauchemin urged his peers to face the moment, which will be a more fulfilling path than bury their faces in their phones.

South Hadley High School Principal Elizabeth Wood witnessed this year’s senior class exhibit the resilience and hope needed to get through even the worst times.

“As we celebrate this milestone, I am filled with optimism, because I know that you the class of 2025, are stepping into the world armed with creativity, compassion and the courage to make a difference,” Wood said.

Student Council President Jack Harrison advised his classmates to that they must step into the next phase of their lives at their own pace. Harrison is always last. Last to leave the school, last to finish lunch and last to speak at his high school graduation. But being last, he said, does not equate to failure. Sometimes people need extra time to walk their own path, stay behind to listen to others or offer someone assistance. It’s not about speed, it’s about persistence.

“There’s no right way to move forward,” Harrison said, “There’s just forward, and we’re all headed there in our own ways, at our own speed. Now the big question is, let’s see how long it takes for you to leave Mount Holyoke College tonight.”

2025 Graduates:

Anna Grace Agudelo, Olivia Alicea, Tristian Antunes, Tahalia Noela Asarese, Ava Rose Asselin, Dylan Aubrey, Quintin Avalo, Anthony Bara, Oliver Barcome-Laflamme, Daijanae Barnett, Michael Beauchemin, Damon James Bernier, Amaiyah Birriel, Chase Blais, Matthew Blaser, Mia LeeAnn Boivin, Ethan Michael Bombard, Anna Boryczka, Laura Maria Brown, Alex Brumer, Sophia Louise Butler, Karli Anna Carmody, Lillianys Castro Reyes, Jack Chagnon, Taylor Cigal, Carlos David, Caitlin Dean, Tyler Denison, Billy Escobar Descant, Acelya Dinc, Quinton Duquette, Alyssa Mary Dusseault, Margaret Mary Evans, Arianna Faulkner, Ismeal Freytes Colon, Michael Garand, Anahi Milena Garcia, Abigail Grace Gelinas, Xavier Golden, McKenzie Rose Granger, Jynx Gray, Jeremy Alan Greenberg, Brayden Grochowalski, Cianna Gurek, Averey James Haber, Alex Haesaert, Connor Hall, Greyson Lynn Harris, John Harrison, Julius Hebenth, Jorrelle Henry, Chloe Rachel Hough, Aliviah Lynne Houle, Kayla Jarry, Ashley Annette Jazab, Brent Johnson, Madison Brianna Kappenman, Jackson Keller, Logan Tyler Khazraj, Sevilla Leslie Kinney, Autumn Kirby, Payatt Moki Kovacs, Anya Reade Laguilles, Isaiah Landers, Miller Henry LaRochelle, Oliver Lawson, Aurora Lee, Gabrielle Angelina Lentes, Brandon Akani León, Jayden Leporati, Emma Carole Levreault, Riley Lewinski, Raquel Losty, Jack Morrissey Loughrey, Aydan Lugo, Alannah Kathleen Mackay, Peyton Marion, Nehemiah Marrin, Nora Clementine Matzen, Shaye Maziarz, Katherine McArdle, Rowan McCarthy, Jayden McMains, Kye William Methot, Asher Montgomery, Briana Itzel Munoz Dias, Brady Murphy, Kaylee Ann Murray, Izabelle Alexis Neddeau, Aubrey Nicholls, Keira Nicholls, Molly Helen O’Donnell, Jayden Ostrowski-Cabey, Robert Papalardo, Alyssa Rahea Parker, Brady Sherpa Pijar, Saffron Elizabeth Ratkiewicz, Milani Rivers, Arianna Elizabeth Rodriguez Melendez, Taylor Stephen Rogers, Natalie Roe, Alyssa Sophia Roy, Joesph Sabourin, Dhyalma “Dee” Samira Santiago, Yarianiz Nicole Santiago, Joanna Michelle Saravia, Isabella Charlize Schaeffer, Isabelle Scott, Hadasa Sexton-Acosta, Jack Shields, Cooper Skibel, Maddison Joy Soderbaum, Morgan Marie Sprague, Yanna Stefoglo, Faith Alana Sullivan, Karissa Constance Tkacz, Katherine Grace Tucker, Abigail Vann, Camilla Walczak, Veronica Peyton Wall, Ryan Wartel, Margaret Watkins, Jameson Bilotta Webber, Cole Ryan Whalley, Adaline Woods, Maheen Zafar, Gabriel Zarate