Students and parents expressed hope for the future, both for the graduates and for the tornado-damaged school.
SPRINGFIELD – Their graduation was delayed a week and their school was badly damaged by a tornado on June 1, but members of the Cathedral High School Class of 2011 and their parents on Friday spoke mostly of their joy and their hopes for a bright future.
“It’s a great feeling,” new graduate Joseph D. Gentile said, immediately after the ceremony at St. Michael’s Cathedral. “I feel bad for what happened to the school. But no one will ever forget the Class of 2011.”
Students and parents interviewed by The Republican expressed hope for the future, both for the graduates and for the school.
The school building is too damaged to reopen in the fall, but Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell said he is committed to reopening the school for September in some location.
“Of course we hope it will be rebuilt, better than it is, if possible,” Gentile said.
“It feels great to graduate,” said Peyton T. Fish. “I can’t wait to go to college.”
The delay and relocation of the graduation from Cathedral High School to St. Michael’s did not dim the ceremony, Fish said.
“We are such a strong class and great friends,” she said.
Her own town, Monson, was hit hard, Fish said, and the damage she saw at Cathedral after the tornado was “scary.”
The 127th annual commencement included remarks from graduates Dylan P. Griswold and Ryan R. Migeed.
Griswold urged students to “go out in the world and be leaders.”
Migeed said the students can succeed and will succeed. Their task is to make the world a better place for the future, he said.
“We dream to live and live for our dreams,” Migeed said. “The future is ours. We will come out of calamity bigger, brighter and more beautiful than anyone would have imagined.”
Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, speaking before the 111 graduates and their families and friends, said the community has shown strength and resiliency in the aftermath of the tornado.
“We will come back even stronger,” Sarno said. “The same thing for Cathedral High School.”
He described Cathedral as a school with a strong, rich tradition.
“I ask each of you to go out in the world and be leaders,” Sarno said.
Principal John Miller and Bishop McDonnell distributed the diplomas and congratulated the graduates.
Ann Marie Duffy, whose daughter Elizabeth was among the graduates, said the “Cathedral family has really pulled together” in the aftermath of the tornado, and hopes the school will be rebuilt.
She said she does not believe the tornado destruction took away from the graduation festivities.
Duffy, who is a 1976 graduate of Cathedral, has one child still attending the school and another who was a 2009 graduate.
Barbara Eufemia, whose son David graduated Friday, said she is just thankful that no one was injured at Cathedral during the late afternoon tornado.
“I am grateful we were able to continue with the graduation ceremony and festivities and the awards because of the generosity of St. Michael’s Cathedral and Elms College.” Elms provided space for students after Cathedral was struck by the tornado and closed for the year.
Parent James Asselin said the graduates are a “very special class at a special time.”
“The character they have shown over the last week has been extraordinary, Asselin said.
His son James was class valedictorian. The salutatorian was Czar Oliver Melaya Awat. Ninety-six percent of the class will attend college.