Family and friends cheer from the car for graduate Tychala Edwards as the Ella T. Grasso Technical High School Class of 2020 receive their diplomas in a drive-thru style graduation ceremony Friday.
Groton — A parade of vehicles, with adornments from a giant graduation cap to streamers, drove up the hill to the front of Ella T. Grasso Technical High School on Friday in a celebratory ceremony for the Class of 2020.
As each family arrived, the graduate left the car and walked to the front to receive a diploma cover and pose for a photo. Teachers and staff cheered, applauded and waved bubble wands to congratulate the graduates, as “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” played over the speakers.
New London Fire Fighters Pipes and Drums played as the graduates drove around the school to pick up their diploma and proceeded to the next stop to take another photo. The commencement ceremony was livestreamed on Facebook.
Jeremi Baez-Negron, who received his certification in the automotive collision repair and refinishing trade and plans to continue working in that field, said it felt “unreal” to be graduating. “So many hardships and accomplishments I had to go through, but I mean I made it, and that’s just all that matters,” he said.
Dale Drake, who started working at B & D Autobody, said it’s exciting to graduate after completing all the distance learning necessitated by the coronavirus pandemic. “I’m happy that everyone managed to graduate during this difficult time,” he said. “It was an interesting time to graduate, not being able to enjoy the rest of the school year and everything, but I think we made the most out of it.”
In pre-recorded speeches, valedictorian Jared LaCross said he learned this year that “we never know what to expect” and “we need to be flexible and adaptive to succeed.”
“It is an understatement to say we have all faced big challenges in finishing this school year,” he said. “However, we have the power to overcome these challenges. If we did not, then you would not be standing where you are right now. Find the bright side of the situation and find a reason to pull through to the end, and you will. Charles F. Glassman once said, ‘Making the best of what we do have, instead of begrudging what we don’t, has a way of creating all that we’ll ever need.’”
LaCross said the graduates should not be afraid to take all the opportunities opening for them.
“No matter what curveballs get thrown at us in the near future, remember, you’ve already managed to turn a bad situation in your favor, so just keep doing that, again and again, and you’ll always come out on top,” he added.
Salutatorian Hannah Bagley said that in the past four years, the students made their time in each shop worthwhile, set the standards for the underclassmen, bonded as a class and juggled academic work while mastering a trade.
“As a result of the pandemic, we never got the chance to say goodbye and hug our favorite teachers, nor did we get to celebrate our accomplishments with our friends in a way that we would remember forever,” she added. “However, this should not discourage you from being ready to take on the fast-approaching future. We’re prepared and we’re ready. It is time to seize the moment and get ready for the start of the rest of our lives.”
Principal Patricia M. Feeney said the seniors began their year moving into the beautiful new school building, but then in March the world changed and so did their lives. “However, you were resilient and you persevered through all of what was happening and through distance learning and you have all been very successful, this in itself is a lifelong lesson,” she said.
“The challenge for the Class of 2020 is to go forth into this world with strength of purpose and with the conviction that you have the ability within your generation to change this world for the better,” she added.