Three Rivers Middle College graduates 31 students, in person
Norwich — As a small high school that only has juniors and seniors, and where some students graduate with an associate degree, Three Rivers Middle College Magnet High School is already unique among local high schools.
With a global pandemic thrown into this nontraditional education, a theme at the Class of 2021's graduation ceremony Tuesday morning was the importance of connection, friendship and support systems.
Olivia Koepp was home schooled before her junior year and had no idea what public school would be like but said she "thrived socially, spiritually and academically."
Koepp said the TRMC staff "is behind our driven mindset and our success in our college classes," her friends "have been a tremendous support system" and her church family and biological family were also there for her.
She is among the 31 graduates of the Class of 2021 and is a member of the "Court of Excellence," meaning she had a GPA of at least 3.5 and earned at least 30 college credits during high school. The other Court of Excellence members are Summer Beebe, Sam Curcuro, Alexis Davis, Hanna Hollenbeck, Emily Hritz and Mary Malloy.
Hritz also spoke at the graduation, saying that she didn't want to leave Montville for Three Rivers at first but "couldn't be more grateful of the opportunities I've been given" and created lifelong friendships. She said it was much easier to make friends here than at any other school.
Speaking in a video that math teacher CK Wong put together, social worker Beverly Carr advised students as they move on from Three Rivers to remember that connection is important, and to stay connected to those who are important to them.
In the video — before advice from teachers, and creative shots of students tossing graduation caps and donning gowns — students each offered one word to describe the past two years. Eventful. Interesting. Intensive. Insane.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Coast Guard Lt. Brandon Strickland presented graduate Miguel Flowers with an appointment to the Coast Guard Academy.
After the ceremony, Tiffany Gallagher said she struggled at her last school but had hope for her academic career when she started at Three Rivers. Then the pandemic hit. But she said the support system there was so great, she gained hope again.
Principal Brad Columbus said that throughout the challenges of the past year and a half, "the wolf pack stuck together," but if you look at the academic achievements of the class, you wouldn't think anything changed.
He said graduates earned 995 college credits — with the highest per-student average yet, at 32 credits — and four students earned associate degrees. With an opportunity to take Three Rivers Community College classes, students took courses such as Calculus 3, Anatomy and Physiology 2, and constitutional law.
Montville — Michele Gill Tycz, 76, a longtime Oakdale resident passed away June 14, 2021.
Born in Brighton, Mass., Nov. 15, 1944, she was the daughter of the late Frank and Loretta Frances (Mahoney) Gill, and the loving wife of Joseph Tycz.
Michele grew up in Brighton and after high school worked for a short time as a bookkeeper until her marriage to Joseph. She then became a full-time mom to her two boys. Once her sons began college Michele decided to pursue her love for art and earned two degrees in Art Therapy and Fine Art. She became a prolific portraitist who shared her skill and love of art to help others, which echoed her loving character.
In addition to her husband Joseph, she is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Tycz and Matthew Tycz; four grandchildren, Aleks, Benjamin, Caitlin, and Ella Tycz; brothers, Kevin and Steven Gill; and her nieces and nephews.
A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 19, at Our Lady of the Lakes Church. Burial will be at a later date. Calling hours will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, at the Woyasz & Son Funeral Home, 11 Jerome Road, Uncasville.
In lieu of flowers, donations in her memory may be made to St Vincent De Paul Place, 120 Cliff St, Norwich, CT 06360.