Backdropped by mountains and packed into auditoriums, they waited for one pivotal moment — when a high school diploma met each of their outstretched hands.
But that wasn’t it. The Class of 2016 shared their voices through spoken word, song, dance and, of course, creative mortarboard decor.
As graduates from 13 different Pioneer Valley schools celebrated the milestone, Gazette staff members stood by to capture the flavor of each graduation — some through video. The young adults have left a mark on their loved ones, their schools and their community.
Video edited by Sarah Crosby at scrosby@gazettenet.com.