By Chris Paul
The Londonderry High School returned to the SNHU Arena on Friday night, June 10, for the Class of 2022 Graduation ceremony. This, after two years of having outdoors graduation celebrations due to the pandemic.
Graduates streamed in from behind the stage and LHS senior, Jason Cain began the ceremony by singing the National Anthemn.
Principal Jason Parent welcomed all those attending the school’s 43rd gradutation and recognized some of the classes academic acheivements as well as many of the support to other classes.
“Seniors this year have been leaders and role models, they have been respectful and compassionate, and they have been inspirational and charismatic,” Parent said.
The principal finished with, “Your willingness to learn and grow, has resulted in the fantastic people seated before us this evening. Everything you have accomplished has created the stories, connections, and bonds that will always tie you together and hopefully have a lasting impact for the next generation of Lancers. We wish you nothing but the best in your future. Our school & our town will always be watching, and always be rooting for you.”
The school’s Valedictorian, Annabella Wu, then addressed her classmates, starting by thanking her parents for their support and sacrifice, the school administration and a quote by Charles Dickens, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness.”
She followed by saying, “Dickens could not have provided a better description of the high school experience.”
Wu shared what her class has had to endure through the pandemic and how they have matured greatly through their four years. She also explained how she has struggled through some mental heath issues over the course of the year and found that many of her fellow students were going through similar issues.
She urged graduates to stay connected despite heading in different directions, “You are all unstoppable and I’m so excited to see your futures unfold.”
The 2022 Class president, Matthew Misiaszek then addresses the crowd.
He thanked his family, friends and the administration for their efforts over the past four years.
He said, “As I gaze into this crowd, I don’t see faces of worries or dismay, I see smiles of opportunity and that smile of opportunity is what makes this class so special.”
He mentioned that COVID had taken away formative years of our lives and completely changed the structure of the high school, but the class of 2022 revived the spirit of the school in their senior year.
Misiaszek invited his class officers onto the stage where they presented the class gift. They will be helping to fund the high school cafeteria renovation of adding high-top and round tables showcasing Lancer pride.
Lauren Ponto, Colby Lynch and Paige Boyon performed “The Climb” -“How they Remember You” – “You’ll Always Find Your Way Back Home” – and “Home” to lead into the presentation of diplomas.
After being presented with their diplomas, Class Advisors Cara Bound and Anna Corrao, officially declared the class to be graduates with the ceremonial moving of their tassels from right to left.