Congratulations To Seymour High School's Class of 2024

SEYMOUR – Seymour High School’s Class of 2024 were just freshmen when the world was gripped by a global pandemic, having gone from virtual lessons via their Chromebooks to eventually returning to their classrooms, sans masks to hide their acne.

That’s how SHS’ Valedictorian Jillian Sullivan partially summed up the last four years of her journey during the school’s 137th annual commencement ceremony held Tuesday (June 11) at DeBarber Field.

“Over the past four years since then, we have not only managed to figure out what everyone’s face looks like without a mask, we have matured into young adults ready to move onto our next chapter,” she said.

Jillian will be attending Yale in the fall. She thanked her teachers and parents.

“Whilst my speech is coming to an end, our lives are just beginning,” Jillian said. ​“I want to leave you all with a quote from Gandhi, ​“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Class Salutatorian Jay Patel found some inspiration for his speech in the words of Master Oogway from the movie ​“Kung Fu Panda.” He urged his fellow grads not to stress.

“You are too concerned about what was and what will be,” Jay said. ​“There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.”

Jay will be at the University of Connecticut in the fall. 

“I know I wouldn’t be here giving a speech if it weren’t for my mother,” he said. ​“She dragged me out of my gaming phase; so now my PlayStation is rusting in my room. She would sit down with me when choosing my schedule every year and force me to take as many AP classes as my sanity could handle. She has taught me discipline and a good work ethic. And she has done all of this with minimal knowledge of how schools work here because she never went to school here in America.”

SHS Principal James Freund lauded the class for having many talents, from athletics to academics.

“Rise up and persist and do not let challenges defeat you,” Freund told the class.

SHS’ Class of 1975 alum Theresa Conroy, a Seymour selectperson and former state representative, was chosen as this year’s distinguished alumnus.

“Never stop learning; I completed my masters’ degree at 46 years old; be resilient, life will inevitably throw challenges your way,” Conroy said. ​“I might have lost an election or two, but I didn’t let those losses get me down. Be kind and empathetic. And pursue your passion. When you do what you love, it doesn’t feel like work.”

Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis advised the graduates to always be themselves.

“Embrace your individuality and be proud of who you are,” Drugonis said.

After all the names were read, SHS Class President Sophia Motyl led the graduates in a ceremonial turning of the tassels to signify the end of their 12-year educational journey.

Members of SHS’ Class of 1974 joined the graduates on the field, and were recognized for having graduated from SHS 50 years ago.

Here’s the list of 2024 graduates provided by the school:

Cassidy Abbott

Ayden Ames

Sean Antignani

Ramses Aquilina

Dylan Banks-Nettle

Ariela Basuljevic

Mason Benner

Eden Binkita

Evan Bredice

Jaimie Brickett

Kendra Brito

Keianna Brown

Talan Bunsie

Lexi Buono

Trevor Burns

Isaiah Caban

Kaylee Cabezas

Nathan Carbajal

Emerie Castro

Jessenya Correa

Yarelis Cumba

Nikol DaCruz

Nicholas Davis

Ardian Deljanin

Alexandria DeNigris

Raymond Deso

Olivia DeToto

Kyleigh Diaz

Taylor Downs

Kaya Dupee

Davaughn Durrant

Casey Elliott

Ethan Elliott

Jaquan Ellis

Elizabeth Eng

Patrick Engstrom

Kevin Faria

Paige Farrell

Riley Farrison

Leinz Fils

Aidan Franzese

Andrew Fusco

Anthony Garofalo-Tomasko

Jaden Garrison

Edvin Gjegjaj

Jeremiah Gonzalez

Robert Goodrich

Sana’a Goutier

Laura Grim

Kooper Harmeling

Peter Heintz

Sarah Hensley

Madeline Hink

Tasneem Jara

Zachary Jones

Marissa Kaman

Neal Kapadia

Mackenzie Katrenya

Jillian Keough

Tyler Kinnie

Abhishek Kolte

Kendra Koranteng-Jecty

Elmin Korenic

Alexa Lambert

Leo Lambert

Jacob Lebron

Timothy Lester

Lindsey Machnicz

George Mandell

Nicholas Manente

Avry Marcinczyk

Jainna Marcinczyk

Samuel Marquez

Emily Masotta

Isabella Matthews

Lena Maurer

Aidan McCluskey

Erik Menaj

Caden Miller

Steven Miudo Jr

Angel Morales

Nathan Morales

Sophia Motyl

Albert Musbek

Caleb Mutapcic

Joshua Nedd

Jessys Nieves Velazquez

Jesus Nieves Velazquez

Alexandra Nimons

Katherine Nintzel

Jonathan Norse

Dakota Nyilas

Dylon Ospina

Alexandrea Overkamp

Fiona Pasley

Jay Patel

Taylor Pepe

Indrit Peraj

Xavier Perez

Heily Quinones Najera

Alexander Ramos

Conor Recine

Nicolas Reveles

James Rich

Jovon Roldan

Michael Rossetti

Cecylia Rovinelli

Pavneet Sachdeva

Anna Schulte

Matthew Silva

Aidan Smith

Joseph Sokolovic

Ryan Solerti

Maisie Speer

Colin Stewart

Jillian Sullivan

Arber Syla

Connor Taverner

Noelle Taverner

Brandon Vargas

Nydia Vazquez

Marissa Vetro

John Vitelli

Lily Weitzler

Damian Williams

Aaron Witalis

Tyler Yacawych

Ah’Rayah Young