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06/19/2023 07:20 AMOn the overcast evening of June 12, the Morgan class of 2023 gathered together for the last time. After one last round of “Pomp and Circumstance,” the class was officially declared high school graduates.
Before they could celebrate, the 150-plus-member class of 2023 and their families gathered on the football field behind the Morgan School to await the end of their high school career. While the rain came down hard in the hour before the ceremony, once the clock struck six, the rain stopped long enough for the graduation to go off without a hitch.
Speeches were made by Class President Seamus Staunton, Salutatorian Josue Abel Rodriguez, Valedictorian James Nguyen, Student Board of Education representatives Caroline King and Rodriguez and Board of Education Chairperson Erica Gelven.
In the speeches, one familiar refrain was repeated over and over again “We are Morgan. We are family”.
In his speech, Staunton reminded the class, “High school may be over, but the memories we’ve made will last a lifetime. So, let’s go out there and make even more memories; let’s take on the world and show everyone what we’re made of. Congratulations to the Class of 2023.”
Nguyen’s valedictorian speech reminded the class not to sweat the small stuff and to relax and enjoy the journey a bit.
“As my peers and I walked into Morgan each morning with either tears rolling down our faces or unbearably happy smiles, we could always rely on one another to slow down time just enough and ease our troubles,” Nguyen said at one point.
In their joint speech, Rodriguez and King spoke of the characteristics that defined the class and how they could bring those traits into the real world.
“From our time at Morgan, we have learned to characterize our class as resilient, authentic, and, most importantly, visionary. We yearn for change in the same manner we pursue success. For this reason, I’m beyond grateful to be part of this dynamic class. As I can rely on the fact that we will continue to bring about change to the world around us,” Rodriguez said.
“One thing that I believe the Class of 2023 understands is that it’s just as important to be a whole as it is to be an individual. To be just as loud for the people around you as you are for yourself. For as long as I can recall, we have been named the bubble class. Some other things we have been called are trouble, high achieving, and extremely competitive. But today, we are Morgan, and we are family,” King said
In her speech, Gelven spoke of how difficult it can be to say goodbye and instead told the class, “We’ll see you down the road.”
As the wind picked up and the sky remained threateningly dark, Superintendent of Schools Maryann O’Donnell and Principal Keri Hagness told the crowd they would be skipping their traditional speeches and, instead, to cheers from the audience, they would move ahead to the handing out of diplomas.
Finally, moments after Mikayla Zitzkat crossed the stage to receive her diploma, Staunton was called upon to fulfill his final duty as class president.
He congratulated the Class of 2023 and instructed the students to move their tassels to the other side of their caps. Then the evening sky was soon filled with raucous applause and flying caps.