LYNN — Spirits were high Wednesday morning as Lynn Classical High School graduated 369 students during a commencement ceremony at Manning Field.
In her remarks, Principal Amy Dunn said she was grateful that the school was able to host a traditional ceremony after last year’s graduations were canceled due to COVID-19.
Dunn said the Class of 2021 will be remembered for the grit and determination they showed in completing their education while adjusting to remote learning, mask wearing and the rest of the challenges brought on by the pandemic.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler said the Class of 2021 was unlike past graduating classes, in terms of having a unique — and completely unexpected — senior year experience. Tutwiler commended the graduates for their resilience and for the additional effort it took for them to cap off a difficult final year of high school.
“I need you to embrace the idea that you are stronger because of your experience,” Tutwiler said. “In a very short period of time, under a great deal of stress and uncertainty, you learned how to learn and grow in a different way.”
Mayor Thomas M. McGee credited the graduates for their perseverance, saying that he was pleased to be able to attend their commencement. McGee congratulated the Class of 2021 for getting through the challenges brought on by the past year, adding that “no obstacle is too great for you to overcome.”
State Sen. Brendan Crighton (D-Lynn) praised the graduates for their dedication, saying he has a tremendous sense of gratitude toward this particular class.
For them, “the sky is the limit,” he said.
Salutatorian Sebastian Coste Reyes said his experience at Classical left him with lifelong friendships in a supportive atmosphere which provided him with a sense of community.
Coste Reyes thanked his mother for all of the sacrifices she made to ensure his success, noting that his gratitude also extended to other families who left their home countries in search of a better future for their children.
“You guys came here with nothing and gave us everything,” Coste Reyes said. “Your sacrifices have not been in vain and all of us being here today is proof of it.”
Coste Reyes then encouraged his fellow graduates to be optimistic and follow their aspirations.
Valedictorian Anthony Evelyn referred to graduation as a great milestone, acknowledging the strength and determination of his classmates.
“Needless to say, this year has tested all of us in many ways — (it’s) tested our patience, our resilience and our will,” Evelyn said. “Some of our classmates have been through more than the rest of us can imagine. Some lost their homes, their jobs, their businesses, their loved ones and some not knowing where their next meal would come from.”
Whether it was organizing rallies, starting conversations on social justice, distributing foods to those in need or taking care of their families, Evelyn said this class took action and worked to adapt to a new normal.
“These are some of the reasons why I can honestly say that I am proud to be a part of the Class of 2021,” Evelyn said. “We walked out of the school doors in March last year not knowing that many of us would never enter the building again.”
MBTA Transit Police Chief Kenneth Green, the day’s guest speaker and a 1978 Classical graduate, referred to the Class of 2021 as “illustrious.”
Green credited his success to the challenges he overcame while growing up in Lynn and encouraged the graduates to continue to persevere, much like they had throughout the pandemic.
“Be proud of the fact that you made it through this challenging time,” Green said. “You can and will achieve great things. You have already proven to be survivors.”
Green told the graduates to surround themselves with people who support their dreams, saying that whatever they do will inevitably include some mistakes. Whatever obstacles they are faced with in the future, Green urged the graduates to “never give up.”
Class President Jessica Reyes led her class in acknowledging and thanking seven retiring staff members: Frank DeLuca, Estelle Dill, Patty Frey, Angela Liakopoulos, Karen Picone, Catherine Rosenthal and Greg Washington.
