LYNN– Friends and family of 578 Classical High School graduates celebrated on Manning Field June 6.
Some parents were particularly proud of their graduates, including Alissa Grullon, who said her son, Aiden Grullon, has received a full-ride to Salem State University.
“He is such a hard worker; he is graduating with high honors,” she said.
Kim Campo said she is “very proud” of her daughter Nicole Campo, and she “can’t wait to see where the world takes her.”
Principal Amy Dunn offered her celebratory remarks to the class of 2025, spotlighting a number of students who stood out in the senior class.
This included Abbie DeLeon Angle, who has enlisted in the Marines, and Gianni Elmudesi, who has enlisted in the Army Reserves.
She also highlighted Gabriel Martin, who earned a full scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, where he will “wow people with his piano skills.”
Dunn said an “astounding” 49 students have achieved a grade point average of 4.0 or higher. Twenty-one students earned the Seal of Biliteracy, including Rose Modesir for Haitian Creole.
She added that 26 students from the graduating class were part of the national honor society, and 101 seniors graduated with college credits through the Early College program partnership with North Shore Community College and Salem State University.
Two Posse Scholars, Ivan Contreras Fuentes and Joanna Rodriguez Mauricio, receive full-tuition scholarships to Bucknell and Union College, respectively, Dunn said.
Posse Scholars are students who show “extraordinary” leadership potential, receive full-tuition scholarships from Posse’s partner colleges and universities, according to the foundation’s website.
Valedictorian Diana Quach said it is important to have moments of reflection throughout a graduate’s life.
“Remember, you may not always notice in life how far you come because you are always raising the bar, so take a step back and reflect,” Quach said.
Salutatorian Savannah Tang reminded graduates to “keep pursuing the goals that matter to you. Never let anyone, not even yourself, tell you that you cannot do something. Believe in yourself, even when others don’t.”
Tang added, “Facing our fears is what will allow us to grow and accomplish things we could have never imagined, and when times get challenging, you know those who have supported you … no one has to fight those struggles alone.”
Mayor Jared Nicholson spoke to the class of 2025 about the importance of overcoming challenges after graduation, “That feeling (after overcoming a challenge) that is what it’s all about.”
He added, “It is not only so important to you and your futures, it’s important to our futures together as a community, as a city – that you know you have that ability, and that we know that together, we have that ability to build a better future that we all want. That we all deserve. That we can believe in. We’re counting on you to help us do that.”
Dr. Evonne Alvarez said that Classical graduates “represent the full promise of public education.”
State Sen. Brendan Crighton, class of ’01, said that by making it to graduation, students have already shown persistence, grit, and determination.
“No matter what your plans are, never forget what got you here, and apply those lessons to everything you do in life,” he said.
Attorney Nicole Bluefort, class of ’02, is a “thought leader” in her career, leading a women-led law firm with offices in Lynn, Boston’s Seaport, and Manchester, New Hampshire.
Her advice to students was to “allow yourself grace.” Bluefort said when she was graduating from high school, she thought success “looked like checking off boxes.”
She told graduates that it is OK not to follow the original plan after graduation and that it is important to “check in with yourself” and “allow yourself space to grow.”
