Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Graduates switch their tassels from the right to the left to signify graduation. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students march onto the field under a large American flag. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students march onto the field at the beginning of the ceremony. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students march onto the field at the beginning of the ceremony. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Valedictorian Jack Finnegan, 3rd L, fist bumps a fellow graduate as Honor Essayist Anna Benson, L, and Salutatorian Matheus Silva, 2nd L, look on. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students march onto the field at the beginning of the ceremony. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students march onto the field at the beginning of the ceremony. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Honor Essayist Anna Benson addresses the crowd. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Principal Michael Barile addresses the audience. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Honor Essayist Anna Benson addresses the crowd. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Salutatorian Matheus Silva crosses the stage. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Valedictorian Jack Finnegan, standing, fist bumps a fellow graduate. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Valedictorian Jack Finnegan gives his graduation speech. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. The VRHS Select Choir performs Still I Rise. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. The VRHS Select Choir performs Still I Rise. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class officers present the class gift consisting of charging stations for student Chromebooks. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Chairperson of the Valley Regional Board of Education Kate Sandmann speaks to the crowd. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Valedictorian Jack Finnegan receives his diploma. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Valedictorian Jack Finnegan receives his diploma. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Salutatorian Matheus Silva receives his diploma. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Class Valedictorian Jack Finnegan receives his diploma from Principal Michael Barile. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Honor Essayist Anna Benson receives her diploma. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Hanna and Sara Nagot cheer as Ryan Butler receives his diploma. Hanna is Ryan’s sister and Sara Ryan’s mother. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Di’Angelo Jean-Pierre walks across the stage after receiving his diploma. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students sing the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the ceremony include Honor Essayist Anna Benson, front L, Salutatorian Matheus Silva, and Valedictorian Jack Finnegan. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students sing the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the ceremony. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Students sing the Alma Mater at the conclusion of the ceremony. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Graduates toss their caps into the air in celebration. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Graduates toss their caps into the air in celebration. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Graduates toss their caps into the air in celebration. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Graduates march off the field including class Valedictorian Jack Finnegan, L. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Graduate Aiden Meyer receives the thumbs up from his mother Carol Bransfield as the graduates march off the field. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Aiden Meyer marches off the field with is fellow graduates. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Graduates march off the field a the conclusion of the ceremony. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier

Valley Regional High School of Chester, Deep River, and Essex held their seventy-second annual commencement exercise on June 13, 2023 in an outdoor ceremony at the school. Samuel Bourez marches off the field with his fellow graduates. Wesley Bunnell / Valley Courier