Bishop Stang High School sends off class of 2016
The graduates of Bishop Stang High School’s class of 2016 aren’t just excited about college—they’re excited about the rest of their lives.
Bishop Stang celebrated the 54th commencement ceremony on June 5. The two hours before the ceremony, students packed into classrooms to prepare their caps and gowns while spending their last hours together as classmates.
Though the friendships he built were the best part of high school, Mike Pelletier of Dartmouth is looking forward to one day starting a family, keeping in touch with those friends, and “making a life for myself,” he said
For Hunter Strangis “finding someone I’m happy with and living the dream,” is the next step after high school.
However, friends, sports, and studies weren’t all that colored the graduates’ time at Stang. The teachers and staff left a lasting impact on them as well.
“Mr. Voci is the funniest man alive,” Liz MacFarland said of the head of the math department.
“Mr. Egan was the best part of the school dances,” Strangis said. “He was just the heart and soul of it all.”
Though many students are pursuing higher learning in New England, many are ready to go far from home in pursuit of education and adventure.
“I’m excited for college to find something new,” said Elizabeth Lonergan, who will be going to school at the University of South Carolina.
“Some are going far off to Rhode Island,” someone added, laughing.
Eventually, it came time for the 154 graduates—boys in maroon and girls in gray—to line up and proceed to the gymnasium where hundreds of families and friends packed in to watch the ceremony. When valedictorian Jackson Markey took the stage, his younger brother’s voice rang above all the rest, proudly yelling, “That’s my brother!”
In his address, Markey reminded his fellow students and graduates that their time as Stang Spartans would shape all their future experiences, and to never let go of the lessons learned at Bishop Stang.
When the diplomas were all awarded, the tassels shifted left, and caps thrown in the air, all that remained was to say goodbye.
Students embraced each other on the football field, some happy and some tearful. However, no one left without the promise of staying in touch and being friends beyond high school.
