Bishop Stang graduates look back on 'fingerprints' left during their four years

On Thursday, June 4, 122 students walked the stage to receive their high school diploma at Bishop Stang High School while their family and friends cheered them on.

“It’s not always the loudest actions that have the greatest impact, it’s the everyday moments that remind us that we don’t have to do life alone,” said valedictorian Lauren Kippe, “We leave behind tens of thousands of fingerprints that, while difficult to notice, will have a lasting impact on our Bishop Stang family.”

A number of speakers stood in front of the students to encourage them to not only look back with love on their high school years, but to bring the love and faith they learned into their futures. 

President Jim Benson started off by telling the story of a young filmmaker who traveled to Martha’s Vineyard. He faced many challenges, such as the machine that was a main character couldn’t hold up to the salt water and having to use locals as the cast.

However, Steven Spielberg continued and his movie “Jaws” became the first blockbuster. 

“I share this story with you to ask you a question, what will you do when something you strongly believe in … when someone says ‘You can’t,’” said Benson, “Will you acquiesce, or will you double down on the values you learn from your family and loved ones who are surrounding you this evening?”

He encouraged that while they have crossed one finish line, they are on their way to a bigger and more important race, and should bring the lessons they learned with them on their journeys. 

Salutatorian Caroline Hopkins talked about what makes Bishop Stang special are not the big moments, but the small ones; hitting snooze before heading out, or sneaking Chippis and coffees into class. 

“We showed up for each other, that’s what made this class special,” said Hopkins, “Not a single moment but the way we carry each other through all of them.”

She added, “Stang didn’t just prepare us for college or careers, it prepared us for life. It gave us a foundation built on faith, discipline and community. And no matter where we go from here, that foundation goes with us.”

Kippe themed her speech around the Judy Blume quote, “Our fingerprints don’t fade from the lives we touched.” The seniors left both literal and metaphorical fingerprints over Stang; the literal ones will fade but the memories of sliding down mountains and laughing at the lunch tables won’t. 

“After we walk across the stage, we are given the opportunity to forge our own path. Those fingerprints will remain with us, shaping who we are and who we will become,” said Kippe, “And as we pave these paths, we will have the opportunity to choose the kind of impact we have on others.”

She added, “We can choose to carry forward the same compassion and encouragement that we have received over these past years.”

She thanked her parents and friends, tearing up when she thanked her twin sister Molly. 

“It’s not always the loudest actions that have the greatest impact, it’s the everyday moments that remind us that we don’t have to do life alone,” said Kippe, “I know I would not be standing here today without the people who left those kinds of fingerprints on my own life.”

Three students sang “Landslide,” looking back on growing up and moving on. This included a graduate, Emmy Palumbo, and her friends Lucas Brum and Savannah Bettencourt. 

The commencement speaker was Michael O’Brien, who graduated Bishop Stang in 1981 and worked at the school as a coach, history teacher and athletic director for years before moving to Florida. 

O’Brien’s speech centered on “Spartan for life.” He reminisced on meeting people at Stang who are still in his life; high school friends, teachers turned friends, teachers he taught beside and coaches he had.

“Stay in touch with your teachers, I promise they’ll become your friends as adults and you’ll stay in touch for your lives. Stay in touch with your friends because they love you and they went through the same battles as you did. Stay in touch with this great institution and you give back to it when you can,” said O’Brien. 

The superintendent of schools for the Fall River Diocese, Daniel Roy spoke to the students after they received their diplomas and flipped their tassels. 

Roy asked that rather than look to the future, focus on savoring the moment of their graduation. Religion teaches them to look into the beauty of God’s creations, such as thinking about their accomplishments. 

“I want to encourage you to savor this moment, simply by stopping and noticing this day, all that led to, all that it contains, and who joins you,” he said. 

Roy asked that they continue to do this, put away the screens and think about the moment, about what they can do to serve. 

The last speech was given by the Fall River bishop Edgar Moreira da Cunha. His speech had two parts; a happy life is based in a positive attitude for self and others, and keeping humanity in a technological world. 

He said that people do not need to choose between technology and humanity, but rather using technology in a way that undermines humanity or in a way that retains it.

“Let us use these unprecedented tools of technology to build a future that champions empathy, creativity and equality,” said Cunha, “The future isn’t written for us. It is waiting to be built by us.”

Cunha stated humanity must learn to “dance in the rain,” rather than waiting for the storm to pass. 

The day ended with the seniors marching through a tunnel of faculty and staff, before joining in the Circle of Friend Cap Toss to finish their graduation. 

“Spartan graduates, the world needs you to double down on all of the above, to be determined, to be bold, to keep moving forward even in the worst of times,” said Benson, “Your determination to do good will make our communities, our country and world a better place.”