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Hornets Swarm the Green for BHS 2017 Graduation

Wearing caps and gowns of Hornets Red, more than 250 members of the Branford High School (BHS) Class of 2017 swarmed the Branford green to receive their diplomas, during Commencement ceremonies on the Branford town green Friday, June 9.

Blue skies and sunshine graced the Town Hall stage on graduation night. The program included performances by the BHS band and choir followed by opening comments from Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez and a welcome from Board of Education Chair Michael Krause. Following school district protocol, the valedictorian and salutatorian were not named until graduation night. On June 9, BHS principal Lee Panagoulais, Jr., congratulated BHS Class of 2017 Valedictorian Kendra Libby and Salutatorian Ben Barton and announced the Faculty Key Award selectee, Carol Frye.

During his speech to the Class of 2017, Class President Ian Bergmann asked the pending grads to stand up and applaud for their families. He reminded his classmates of pivotal local, national, and global victories and tragedies they’ve witnessed during their years together.

“We must use what we have observed as ways to change the world. We are now the generation that’s being asked to change the world,” said Bergmann. “It’s our turn to make the world what we want. It’s our time to create a better world not just for us, but for the generations to follow.”

The Class of 2017 honored three retiring BHS educators including tech ed teacher John Niemiec, science teacher Roy Knickelbein, and music teacher Cathyann Roding, who was escorted to the stage by her daughter, Ashley, a member of the BHS Class of 2017.

Roding, who was selected to give the night’s keynote address, was also honored on June 5 at BHS during an alumni tribute performance that reunited leads of memorable spring musicals and members of past choir groups she directed during 32 years of leading the BHS Choral Music program.

Roding encouraged the Class of 2017 on June 9 and encouraged them to be themselves, follow their heart, and use their time on earth to do good things for others, using the example of her students taking their love of music to deliver performances which raised money for charitable causes.

“Be a point of light in the darkness,” said Roding. “Pay it forward...be the pebble, that when dropped into the water, starts the ripples of change.”