First senior moment at KIPP Lynn

LYNN – KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate High School held the first commencement in its history Thursday evening at City Hall Auditorium.It was the first group of student from KIPP, a free, open-enrollment charter school, to go from grades 5 through 12. Seventy-four students received diplomas and the crowd of parents, friends and other guests cheered as loudly as they could for all of them.The speeches also received thunderous applause, cheers and a few tears as well.Valedictorian Anaidys Uribe spoke of KIPP?s origins, which included the Blood Building in downtown Lynn and portable classrooms on the property of the Holy Family Church, that preceded the school?s present location in the Highlands.?As a founding class, we?ve been experimented on as guinea pigs from moving locations to changing demerit systems and dress code,” Uribe said.She also said the Class of 2015 overcame the initial struggles and opposition within the community and surrounding schools.Josh Zoia, KIPP Academy Lynn founder (the middle school), gave the keynote address. Zoia, who traveled from New York, wore a “One day you?ll thank me, but today is not your day” T-shirt.?That?s what today is all about,” Zoia said to applause. “You guys have done way more for all of us than we can do for you as the first graduating high school class.”Zoia spoke on five “KIPPisms,” as he called them: be nice, work hard, have self-control, be honest, and have fun. He shouted out the first phrase in the word, such as “Be…?” and students, including Uribe, answered the next word in the phrase.?That?s why she?s valedictorian,” Zoia joked. “When we were first organized, we weren?t welcomed. But we were nice. Now, we have a great relationship with people in the city.”School operations director Jennifer Startek spoke for Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, who was unable to be present, on the inaugural class graduating.?As the inaugural class graduating from KIPP, you have much to celebrate tonight,” Kennedy wrote. “You are the pioneers of the KIPP network in Massachusetts. You believed in what the school offered and because of your hard work, your commitment to longer school days and years and your dual focus on academic and character development, you are taking that final step in your high school journey and receiving your diplomas this evening.”Ricky D?Oleo, the student speaker elected by the class, added humor to the celebration. When he stumbled over words or lost his place, he said, “No, OK, OK,” or “I just lost where I was,” but quickly laughed it off.He began by saying he promised himself he wouldn?t cry, but he teared up.?As the first graduating class of KIPP Academy Lynn Collegiate, we now leave the biggest imprint in the school that will be used to inspire the many generations ahead,” D?Oleo said. “Tonight we?re making history.”D?Oleo described how Zoia helped to make KIPP exist when Zoia bombarded parents from barbershops to carnivals in search of those who would become part of KIPP in 2004.There was a senior slideshow mid-ceremony to the tunes of “Forever Young” by Alphaville; Cyndi Lauper?s “Time After Time” and “See You Again” by Wiz Khalifa featuring Charlie Puth.The slideshow showed funny moments from freshmen to senior year; college acceptances; and students attending sports events, Roller World, prom and luau. The words “We made it!” and “Congratulations 2015” were broadcast across the screen.Students giggled, reminisced and cheered for their favorite throwback pictures.