Diana Phrasier
SEYMOUR – They survived a global pandemic, so a little rain wasn’t about to dampen the spirits of Seymour High School’s Class of 2023 on Friday (June 9) during the school’s 137th annual commencement.
Spotty rain quickly led to blue skies for the 135 seniors who received their diplomas during their graduation ceremony held at DeBarber Field.
Decked out in Wildcat blue caps and gowns and some sporting gold honor chords around their necks, the seniors paraded into the center of the field. Proud moms, dads, friends and others packed the bleachers, snapping pictures, holding bouquets of flowers and balloons and cheering on the graduates.
Some of the seniors were accompanied onto the field by kindergarten students from Bungay School, called KinderCats. They were part of a program where SHS students were paired up with the little kids to help foster strong community ties and serve as role models. The SHS graduates were also joined on the field by members of SHS’ Class of 1973, who were celebrating their 50th anniversary of graduating as SHS Wildcats.
Class President Caden Drezek told his fellow graduates that if they could survive the COVID-19 pandemic- which hit during the second half of their freshman year- they’re pretty much prepared to do anything they set their minds to in life.
“When we embarked on this educational adventure, we knew it would be filled with ups and downs,” Drezek said. “Our journey as the class of 2023 was not without its share of unprecedented challenges. We found ourselves in the midst of a global pandemic that shook the very foundations of our educational system. We were suddenly thrown into the uncharted territory of remote learning, separated physically but bound together in spirit. Yet, we adapted and overcame. We embraced technology, virtual classrooms and online collaboration. We turned isolation into innovation, and we emerged stronger than ever before.”
Drezek was quick to thank all the families, friends and teachers who helped the graduates navigate the unchartered territory.
“They stood by our side, providing guidance, encouragement and a shoulder to lean on when the weight of our responsibilities felt overwhelming,” Drezek said. “Their unwavering support has been the fuel that propelled us forward, and today, we celebrate their contributions to our success.”
As the grads get ready to make their mark on the world, Class Valedictorian Duncan Plude advised all to remain grounded and not get caught up in an ever-evolving world of technology, proliferation of social media and rush to succeed as early as possible.
“Instead of worrying about how the world will change us, we should focus on how we can change the world,” Plude said.
Plude closed his speech with a quote he thought was fitting from Chicago Bulls’ great Michael Jordan, who sported the #23 on his jersey.
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” To the Seymour High School Class of 2023: Make it happen.”
A piece of advice from Class Salutatorian Madison Jarvis came from inspiration via comedian Jim Carey.
“If there is one piece of advice that I can leave you with tonight it’s that, in the wise words of Jim Carey, ‘You can fail at doing what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance of doing what you love.’”
Jarvis encouraged her classmates to “Take risks, live your life to the fullest and enjoy every moment.”
The well-wishes and words of wisdom continued throughout the ceremony from various other speakers, including this year’s Distinguished Alumnus, Cynthia Chernecky, Class of ’73, as well as from Board of Education Chairman Chris Champagne, Superintendent of Schools Susan Compton and First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis.
“You are the architects of your own destiny,” Champagne told the graduates.
The following list of graduates was provided by the school district:
Duncan Plude
Madison Jarvis
Sparsh Koyambreth
Devin Cronin
JohnDouglass
Sara Prodan
Lilly Galietta
Jonathan David
Tyler Lang
Jacqueline Okula
Peyton Dauphinais
Justin Zwolinski
Michael Casanova
Louis Zhu
Justin Acosta-Rivera
Ethan Adams
Shaida Aguilar
Rahid Ahmed
Roy Almanzar
Andrew Baker
David Ballaro
Thomas Ballaro
Kaelyn Batterton
Haley Bennett
Jasmine Bohlin
Carter Brenning
Alina Britto
Abigail Bruder
Lily Bunosso
Lauren Burton
Sabrina Bystryk
Brett Calabrese
Engjel Canka
Willow Cappa
Michael Carbajal
Deandre Cassells
Wilmer Castillo-Franco
Aaron Chiappetta
Kaylee Cochran
Ashleigh Coddington
Aidan Costello
Alyssa Criscuolo
Nathan DaCruz
John DeBarber
Anthony Dedaj
Kayleigh Dimas
Sibe Doci
Kevin Dong
Miranda Dorais
Caden Drezek
Krystiana Dukes
Jillian Earley
Connor Edo
Liliana Falcone
Sofia Farmer
Talia Fauci
Meghan Fetzko
Ayianna Fitzgerald
Andrew Frasca
Colin Frey
Leotrim Gashi
John Golebieski
Lauren Golebieski
Kieran Gonzalez
Mia Gramolini
Camille Grandy
John Halligan
Lily Hamilton
MasonJohnson
Ardi Kalici
Reagan Kalish
Jayant Kasturi
CassandraKatrenya
Meagan Keeffe
Skylar Kinsella
Elijah Lanzieri
Austin Lapointe
Gianna Lia
Natalia Lizak
Griffin Loock
Juman Lpizra
Julian MacDowell
George Major
Zachary Manson
Clauvy Mars
Nicholas Massie
Sergio Mayen
William McKiernan
David Messer
Mia Mojica
Johanny Morales
Justin Mylen
Avery Neumann
Matthew Newkirk
Xavier Nieves
Edward Nook
Katrine O’Leary
Julia Olson
EllaOpotzner
Kyle Orlando
Jayla Ortiz
Maxwell Osgood
Troy Pernaselci
Diana Phrasier
NicholasPujos
Maya Pulgarin
Evelyn Rafferty
Kiara Ramos
Michaela Randall
Harry Rhett IV
Peter Rosemberg
MatthewRotondo
Kailey Roxo
Christiana Sansone
Jacob. Santaella
Ella Santanelli
Charles Savary
Alina Shakhnovskaia
Christian Sheehan
Artem Sindiashkin
Jakob Siudryga
Andrew Smith
Ari-anna Smith
Carissa Smith
Hudson Sousa Santos
Zachary Swain
Mercede Ter
KatherineTomasheski
Ava Tomlinson
Sophia Velleco
Andy Venditti
Michael Vetro
Daniel Villanueva
Ashley White
Connor White
Shaylee Wilczak
Alesia Xhelilaj
