ANSONIA – Caleb Joseph, Oskar Serrano and Isaiah Santiago are each heading different places after they graduate.
Isaiah plans to work at Griffin Hospital. Oskar is heading to Porter & Chester Technical Institute in Bridgeport. And Caleb will study computer science at Gateway Community College, before planning to transfer to Southern Connecticut State University to round out his degree.
How were they all feeling about graduation?
“Nervous,” they each said with a laugh, half an hour before the culmination of their academic careers in Ansonia.
The trio were among 158 graduates who took to a newly turfed Nolan Field Saturday morning (June 13) to mark the graduation of the Ansonia High School Class of 2026.
Family members came with balloons and cameras, lining the bleachers and fieldside fences. Cheers rang out as Ansonia High School Principal Paul Giansanti listed off a series of academic and athletic accomplishments achieved by the class.
More than 100 students attended college-level courses throughout high school, Giansanti said, earning more than 930 college credits. In addition, class members earned acceptances to 92 colleges, spanning the country from Florida to Maine.
The class also produced a number of all-state athletes and championship-winning teams, including the girls’ cheerleading team, who won state and regional championships in 2025 and 2026. And tonight, the boys’ baseball team will play for the Class M state championship for the first time in 30 years.
Valedictorian Benjamin Brejwo took to the podium to offer his classmates a simple piece of advice: carpe diem. Latin for “seize the day.”
Benjamin said he learned the mantra from an Instagram reel, which included footage from Robin Williams’ famous performance in “Dead Poets Society.”
“The idea behind it is simple, yet powerful: Life moves quickly, and the future is never guaranteed. So don’t wait. Don’t hesitate. Don’t hold back. Make the most of the moment you’re in, because once it’s gone, it’s gone forever,” Benjamin said.
He said the time to start reaching for your goals is now.
“I hope we all choose courage to overcome fear. I hope we take chances, even when they scare us. I hope we live boldly, love deeply and refuse to let fear write our stories. Because regret doesn’t come from failing. Regret comes from not trying,” Benjamin said.
Click here for bios of Ansonia High School’s top ten students.
Speakers at the ceremony also included Giansanti, Superintendent of Schools Joseph DiBacco and Ansonia Mayor Frank Tyszka. Members of the school’s chorus led performances of the national anthem and the school song, “Lavender.”
Tyszka told students to remember their upbringing as they move forward into the next chapter of their lives.
“Remember where you come from. Ansonia is a city built on hard work and heart. Whether you stay here, return here, or carry its blessings with you across the world, this community will always be part of your story,” Tyszka said.
Before diplomas were handed out, Giansanti stopped to recognize students who received over 60 different awards, scholarships, and prizes.
See below for a list of graduates from the Ansonia High School Class of 2026.
Ansonia High School Graduates
Jorge Enrique Aguilar
Weston Shea Ahearn
Mofiyinfoluwa A. Akingbehin
Brianna M. Alicea
Amier J. Allen
Juan F. Altamirano
Jessica Kaya Apanowicz
Ryan Alexis Arauco
Lisbeth J. Arevalo
Quincent J. Armstrong
Jeacary C. Augustin
Daniel P. Ayala
Alishba Baig
Krista L. Baldospino
Josiah Bandoo
Kailey Berrio-Grathwohl
Juliana Bolarinho
Ke’mirah N. Bradley
Benjamin William Brejwo
Rebecca Brown
Kayleigh Pheona Allison Browne
Addison K. Brunetti
Brittanya Burke
Zaniya J. Bush
Maria Camoira
Paola R. Capeles
Joseph Carotenuto
Iker Fabrizio Castro Esteban
Christina A. Chatfield
Kiylet N. Coleman
Chris A. Collado
Aiden L. Collins
Jayda Lee Conquest
Kodentino Cooper
Nathan J. Cronan
Chelstyna M. Cruz
Cameron Cruz
Keon T. Dangerfield
Jacere Daniels
Rafael Davila IV
Alonna H. Davis
Zoe Noelle Dombroski
Illianna Savanni Dos Santos
Ilir Duka
Patrick Carl Dunleavy
Isaiah Nyzare Eaddy
Izon Maurice Eaddy
Presley Ekhator
Prince Ekhator
Benjamin J. Ekstrand
Giovanni E. Feliciano
Lucas D. Figueroa
Crishon T. Fogle
Dionnah Jinelly Fontan
Eris A. Frroku
Owen William Galbraith
Marien Angelica Garcia Castro
Nathanael Garcia
Victor M. Garcia
Callie Sage Geoghan
Alexander G. Georgis
Jayden Ghiggia
Dylan Gibson
Damonique O. Gilling
Derek Gonzaga-Cruz
Jisaias Gonzalez
Sindi Groballi
Kiy’mere R. Gruel
Daribel Guzman
Christopher Eric Hall
Abdalla T. Hanaif
Emmie Hernandez
Cassandra R. Hicks
Matthew A. Horjatschun
Keira A. Hovhannissian
Dakhyra A. Huggins
Jonathan Inoa
Gianna Jacabacci
Mikayla A. Jean
Chaz Marque Jett
Victoria F. Jimenez
Avery B. Johnson
Kymani Johnson
Caleb M. Joseph
Ana Kamolli
Amber R. Klein
Jahzari J. Lawson
Evander Leon Ayala
Tavon Long, Jr.
Christina F. Lovallo
Kristyana A. Lugo
Ariana Luna
Branden Paul MacDougall
Carmine Maisonet
Desire I. Martinez
Brianna Mastrantoni
Wyatt L. Mellone
Donovyn S. Michelin
Adrienne C. Mikita
Zyieke M. Miller
Nazaria Rose Mintz
Andrew J. Myers
Chloe Lynn Nedavaska
Tyrell R. Nichols, Jr.
Uriah J. Norman, Jr.
Chanel A. Nunez Rivera
Angeline Orellana
Zoey Madison Orellana
Jahnielys M. Padilla Sanchez
Alexa Maria Pagan
Jennifer Michele Palmer
Justine Palmer
John Pauta Granizo
Cassidy Pawlak
Jayvonni Perez
Micaella Pierre-Jean
Alexis J. Pizarro
Lucas Racchumi
Fabiola E. Ramos
Makayla Reckord
Airieonna Marie Richards
Kritzialis J. Robles
Issaiah Rodriguez
Myia D. Rodriguez
Benjamin R. Rivera
Jostin Rodriguez
Stiven Barrera
Jacob Ryan Romanowski
Aneshia Rose Rosario
Daniel Rotteck
Michael Henry Russell, Jr.
Briana Lynn San Martin
Gabriella Sanchez
Julianna Christina Sanchez
Isaiah Santiago
Peyton Santiago
Yandel D. Santiago
Anthony J. Sciaba
Tianna E. Scott
Oskar J. Serrano
Muhammad Shahab Ishaq
Carlos Shinaul, Jr.
Alexis Sierra
Janelis Millie Stewart
Faith E. Supple
J-Xavier Thompson
Dylan J. Tuttle
Aaliyah Underdue
Johnathan Valentin
Tyzhon Ward
Jayden D. Whittle
Aidan Vincent Wilczynski
Myzara’e Enve’e Williams
Giavanni E. T. Wilson
Joleen Jayla Xayasone
Analiese Jenneya Younger
Davion Zimmerman
Caleb A. Zygmunt