LYNN — Principal Thomas Strangie describes the Lynn English High School Class of 2020 as a “good, solid group of kids” that cares about each other and their school.
The coronavirus has not only shut down schools for the remainder of the year and canceled traditional graduations, but it has impacted nearly every facet of American life over the past several months.
Strangie said the Class of 2020 seniors have not only been working toward graduation in the midst of the pandemic, but have been contributing to the community in different ways.
For example, he said some kids have been filling in at Market Basket for those who can’t go to work and others have been supporting their families financially.
“They’ve just been doing what needed to be done, showing that true bulldog spirit,” said Strangie, referencing the school’s mascot. “They’re just a good class. (They) had a lot of energy and definitely cared about each other and the school.
“I feel very bad that it ended the way it did. I feel they got robbed and they themselves have been feeling it.”
Since Lynn English seniors won’t get a chance to walk the stage until Aug. 1 during an outdoor ceremony at Manning Field, Strangie said the school has been trying to honor them in different ways this month.
On Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week, 130 seniors will come in each day to pick up their caps, gowns and diplomas. Earlier this month, Strangie said he ordered T-shirts for each graduating senior, which will also be handed out this week.
Each shirt has a picture of a bulldog wearing a mask on the front, while the back reads 2020, with toilet paper for zeros, and #Seniorskipday.
Superintendent Dr. Patrick Tutwiler has also authorized the funds for English to purchase lawn signs for seniors to pick up and place in their front yards. In addition, students will receive prom favors, in lieu of another major year-end event that had to be canceled, Strangie said.
“Hopefully they enjoy it,” said Strangie. “The senior class advisors have been working really hard. (We’re) hoping to have a nice three days to honor them because it’s been tough on all of us. It’s not the way we want to end.”
Strangie said graduations are a bittersweet time for seniors and staff. He said there’s a sense of happiness for the students, but there’s also sadness because “you’re losing people you’ve worked with and been close to.”
“They come in as nervous freshmen and by senior year, they’re very comfortable and they know they’re running the place and not afraid to speak up,” said Strangie. “You see them become young adults. They come in as basically kids and now at 17,18, 19, they’re adults and ready to go out into the world. It’s always great to see how they grow.”
When asked what some of the accomplishments and highlights were for the Class of 2020, Strangie provided this list:
- Strengthened Early College Partnership with North Shore Community College and Salem State University to offer more Early College classes and career pathways to students.
- 12 seniors earned the Koplik Certificate of Mastery with Distinction from the Massachusetts Department of Education – Andrew Jose Barraza, Tallia Nicole Dudley, Aaron William Dulong, Adnan Zarif Jalal, Syeeda Rahman, Adamma Tarynn Uzoma, Ackiara James Chhim, Sofia Veronica Fontan, Jaydon Michael Keomanivong, Kevin Miguel Loza Montiel, Chloe Penelope Nevers and Amani Janae Semper.
- 107 seniors earned the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship for scoring in the top 25% of the Lynn Public Schools on the MCAS
- Tallia Nicole Dudley was awarded a QuestBridge Scholarship, which covers her entire education at Tufts University.
- Dudley was awarded a Gates Scholarship, which redundantly covers her entire education at Tufts University but additionally provides access to a range of support services, including mentoring, leadership development, wellness, career guidance, internship and job opportunities, and more.
- Dudley was named one of 621 semifinalists in the 2020 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The semifinalists were selected from nearly 5,600 candidates expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in 2020. Ultimately, she was not selected as a finalist.
- Allen Gutierrez was awarded the Torch Scholarship, which covers his entire education at Northeastern University.
- Jenavier Tejada was awarded the Posse Scholarship, which covers about 90 percent of her education at Denison University.
- The boys basketball team was MIAA Division 1 co-champ due to pandemic, having been sole champion in 2019.
- The girls Basketball Team made the state tournament.
- The boys soccer team won the Northeastern Conference title for the first time since 1983.
- As of June 4, English seniors were awarded almost $1,000,000 in scholarship money to college, which does not include financial aid from the colleges or federal government.
- English students helped almost double the number of Lynn Public Schools students in 2020 who earned the Seal of Biliteracy, which is affixed to their transcripts and demonstrates proficiency in one or more languages to employers.
