SWAMPSCOTT — The High School graduated 163 students during the 2025 commencement service on Friday evening.
Community members, parents and proud graduates all gathered at Blocksidge Field to celebrate the occasion before the event officially kicked off at 6 p.m. All day the weather seemed to tilt back and forth between rainy and sunny — but as the crowds began pouring into the bleachers, the clouds cracked open and the sun started shining.
After the students marched with pride in their procession, the Star-Spangled Banner was sung by Alexander Shilo, ’25.
Superintendent of Schools Pamela Angelakis rose to the microphone to greet the audience and begin the ceremony.
“Class of 2025, how much do you remember from when you were in first grade? My guess is not much. I remember it vividly, two weeks before Christmas, Dec. 10, 2013, to be exact — when the school committee decided to take a chance on someone to lead the district,” Angelakis said. “I had been in the district for 23 years, still, it was a gamble on their part, and as I prepare to leave Swampscott schools in a few weeks…I urge you to always be ready to capitalize on an opportunity, whether you pursue it or it finds you.
“That means being prepared, passionate, determined and confident. If you’re able to compartmentalize that everything happens for a reason, you’ll indeed be ready when the right opportunity presents itself. When we talk about capitalizing on opportunities, we have to acknowledge that failure is a possibility — but what’s important is your response to failure, not how you feel about it — but how you react.”
Angelakis continued, “When failure arrives, don’t spend too much time trying to figure out why, look and move forward, so you’ll get better results next time… It’s important to avoid conflating failure with regret; if you approach all aspects of life by feeling no regret at your effort, you’ll find it easy to be resilient where that trait is required.”
“Chart your own course, and have the flexibility to adjust on the fly,” Angelakis added. “I wish the class health and happiness as you embark on the next steps on your journey, and I’m honored to be graduating with you. No matter where life takes you, you’ll always be a part of the Big Blue.”
Carson Lau, treasurer and class of ’25, introduced guest speaker Michael Mastone, a Swampscott High School (SHS) faculty member.
“My time was not always marked by the warm jokes you hear today — meeting these guys was something, there’s no way to describe it. You were loud, bold, brash, disruptive and unapologetically lazy,” Mastone said. “You threw things at this faculty that we’ll never experience again; I truly don’t know how my stomach functions after how much Advil I’ve taken.
“All those headaches are why I’m so proud to be up here today. Some of you grew by learning to bite your tongue in the heat of the moment, some by balancing work and relaxation, some by finding love, some even grew by standing your ground and staying true to yourself when the world tried to change you.”
Mastone continued, recalling a moment where one student was given words of wisdom that inspired hope.
“I can’t help but look back at a simple conversation involving another student. Like a lot of us, she couldn’t figure out where she wanted to go to school. Mr. Ween offered guidance, I offered guidance, but the guidance got the same response: ‘What if? What if?’ No matter what assurance was offered, her result did not change,” Mastone said. “Then he offered a piece of wisdom that has not left my mind since. He assured her, ‘What ifs are not real, they do not exist.’
“At that moment, any feeling of anxiety that permeated the room was gone. Now, whether you believe in the existence of what-ifs or not, the lesson remains the same. Don’t let those two little words get in your way as you continue to grow… no matter which opportunities life throws at you, never forget how far you’ve come or let what ifs dictate your path,” Mastone added. “You are who you are, and there’s not a thing those words can do about it. Don’t be scared of uncertainty, embrace it.”
Class President Olivia Barletta then spoke, addressing the class and the accomplishments that brought them here today.
“For the record, I wish I didn’t have to follow him, so…,” Barletta joked. “I, like many of you, have spent 2,340 days at Swampscott Public Schools. That’s 14,040 hours… That’s no insignificant amount of time, so whether you loved your time here, or have been waiting for this occasion, let’s take a moment to appreciate the 1 mil moments that came before.”
“From that game-winning play, to that aced test, to the New York Times mini record, let that be what you take from high school. It’s no longer about the grades, friend groups, or projects — it’s about everything that happened in between.”
Barletta continued, “From here, our paths diverge — some going down the street, some going across the Atlantic, we’re walking into new environments where we can’t rely on the people we have for the last few years… It’s time for you to become the person you’ve always dreamed to be or never even met…We’re all transitioning in one way or another, it may get scary, but wherever you are, you’ll be growing.”
Valedictorian Liora Ragozin then gave the Valedictory Address.
“Recent studies have shown that a majority of young Americans are pessimistic about our future… I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to live in a world worse than today. I don’t want to say, it all went downhill after graduation… What the studies failed to see is that we control the future, we have the power to shape it. What do we want our lives, our nation to look like in a couple years?” Ragozin said.
“I challenge you today to begin articulating your vision. I picture a world with fresh air and clean oceans, a world in which people can realize their full potential – and a world where Swampscott crushes Marblehead on thanksgiving, and in all the sports,” Ragozin said. “Now some might think a world in which people have access to clean air and quality health care is impossible to achieve, but just as I know that someday, the big blue will conquer the magicians once and for all, I know the world of tomorrow will be a result of our actions today.”
Ragozin continued, “Together, we have the power to change the world… Repairing the world does not happen with the snap of your fingers, not by chance or overnight, the problems we face may seem so big that they’re unconquerable, so instead, start small and stick with it.
“One score, leads to one win, leads to playoffs and championship, which leads to domination. If you take away anything, ask yourself, ‘What’s the world I want to see?’ Not just for myself or family, but for our community, our country, our world. We are the leaders of tomorrow, and tomorrow is quickly approaching.’
After that, Principal Dennis Kohut was next to speak and present scholarships to some of the graduates.
“I stand before you today, proud, grateful and a bit sad, as it’s my final graduation ceremony as your principal… I want to take a second to reflect on all we’ve accomplished. Today’s a day of celebration, a day that marks the culmination of hard work and resilience,” Kohut said.
“I’ve seen your interest evolve, your goals change, and your characters take shape. I’ve seen moments of joy, struggle, and sheer panic when I announced the ‘Yonder program’.”
Kohut continued, “Together, we have helped this class reach today’s milestone, the Big Blue spirit is what makes Swampscott so special… You have truly been champions for one another, and that spirit will stay with you for the next chapter.”
“Accomplishments will be meaningless if you don’t take the time to enjoy them,” Kohut added. “These past four days, I started each day by encouraging you to be kind. You are not just graduating with a diploma, you’re graduating with an opportunity to shape your future — that future will be shaped by less of what you know and more by how you treat others.”
Kohut said the world needs leaders that “lead with empathy, courage and integrity, and I have no doubt that you will be among those leaders.”
The diplomas were presented by Director of Guidance Rachel Sturma, School Counselors Julie Mazzola and Julie O’Neil, Principal Kohut, Assistant Principal Colleen Finn, Superintendent Angelakis, and School Committee Chair Glenn Paster.
