Smith Vocational Principal Tracy F. Lyon said at graduation ceremonies “each of you have something unique to contribute.”
NORTHAMPTON - With whoops and cheers, 94 Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School students - boys clad in black and girls in gold gowns - received diplomas Wednesday night in a steamy John M. Greene Hall at Smith College.
Principal Tracy F. Lyon said “each of you have something unique to contribute.”
When Superintendent of Northampton Schools William Erickson recounted the student’s future plans - 25 percent to college and four to the military, that service drew a raucous cheer.
Graduate Daniel Blair wore an American flag on the back of his black gown because he said “I’m proud to be an American.”
“Our past years at Smith have been an adventure,” said class Salutatorian Bradley Buzzee, the class speaker. “I mean, where else can a student be learning trigonometry one minute, and the next learn the finer points of skinning a possum?
“One day we would be studying the Great Depression, the next we would be out on the construction site, or practicing at the hospital down the road. And that’s why we came here, isn’t’ it?,” Buzzee, of Westhampton, said.
“None of us want to be stuck at a desk 24/7 taking notes. It’s the trades, the shops here at Smith Vocational, that’s why we are all sitting here today. The shops are what helped give each of us an identity,” he said.
He praised teachers for all they’ve done.
“We are not the average high schoolers,” class Valedictorian Alani Maziarz of Belchertown told the crowd later.
“We can take our trade skills forward, go right into a career, or further our skills with education. Not many other high school students can say that during this economy,” she said.
She talked about all the community projects her classmates have been involved in, including working a Habitat for Humanity house, landscaping, manicures at the senior center.
“We are all talented individuals, and collectively we can make a difference in the world or in one person’s life,” she said.
She talked about her friendship with Pat Loncrini, who died of breast cancer at the age of 56. Loncrini taught her everything she knows about horses and always listened. She said she hoped that everyone had that kind of person in their lives.
“Cultivate that kind of relationship and when you are in a good place, be that person for someone else,” she said.