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06/24/2022 12:00 AMBranford's town green wore Hornets Red on Wednesday, June 22, when 187 members of the Branford High School (BHS) Class of 2022 gathered to celebrate commencement and receive their diplomas at the Town Hall stage.
With some clouds still looming among the early evening's clearing skies, BHS Principal Lee Panagoulias greeted the crowd of parents, family, friends and community members packing rows of seats behind the seniors. Panagoulias also noted the day's stormy weather had presented a bit of challenge in making the final call to hold the event outdoors.
"I would be lying if I said I wasn't getting a little nervous around 2 or 3 o'clock today, but we made it here," said Panagoulias.
Members of the BHS Class of 2022 paraded onto the green from Main Street at 6:30 p.m. wearing red caps and gowns of the school color. In his welcoming comments Superintendent of Schools Hamlet Hernandez told them they have experienced life milestones and high school events the graduates will no doubt remember in the re-telling of stories among one another over the years.
"My 'remember-when-moment' about the Class of 2022 spans multiple years as you demonstrated incredible persistence and resilience since March of 2020. The pandemic altered the course of your high school experience, and it is up to you to determine what importance to place on it," said Hernandez. "Tom Brokaw wrote about the Greatest Generation, and as we speak, someone is writing about your generation. Give them something other than the pandemic to write about. Your talents have no limits, and your collective voices have the power to create unimaginable and powerful moments that collectively make society better. You have shown a level of grit that is not typically expected of people of your age."
The Class of 2022 also heard a congratulatory message from Board of Education chairman Peter Berdon. Berdon said while the diplomas they were about to receive may simply convey their name, the name of BHS and the date, the document represents "so much more."
"It's a culmination of your journey of your youth; stories of triumph and loss, joy and sadness, but most importantly, the story of how you have become and grown and developed into the person who will walk across this stage this evening," said Berdon, who also urged the seniors to "memorialize your story" in words, photos or other media, before the memory of graduation night recedes. He also reminded them to continue to carry on as life-long learners to help shape the world and leave it a better place.
In the tradition of the district, announcements from the stage revealed the names of the BHS Valedictorian, Salutatorian and Faculty Key Award recipient. Also, in following with past district commencement practices, the graduation program did not include a Valedictorian's speech. Panagoulias announced BHS Class of 2022 Valedictorian Sushant Kunwar and Salutatorian Veronica Smith. Kunwar and Smith were brought onto the stage to receive recognition for their achievements.
"Through hard work, perseverance and a love of learning, these two students have achieved the two highest GPA averages in our senior class," said Panagoulias.
Class of 2022 advisors Joceyln Vennero-Wheaton and Andres Wullaert presented the 2022 Faculty Key Award to Kunwar. Wullaert described the award as "...the highest recognition bestowed on a member of the graduating class."
"It is awarded to a graduate the faculty believes demonstrates personal growth over time, the high ideals of unselfish service to their school and community, concern for others and most important a love of learning," said Wullaert.
Vennero-Wheaton and Wullaert were also recognized and thanked for their support to the Class of 2022 with comments provided by BHS Class of 2022 vice president William Mollow and social chair Ava Cosgrove.
Panagoulias recognized 3 BHS retiring faculty and staff with honorary diplomas: Marian Montano (Guidance Department leader), Pamela Castro (Internship and Mentoring Coordinator) and Savas Synodi (Physical Education). Montano was escorted by senior Dylan Sachs; Castro by Guiliana Discher and Lauren Dombrowski and Synodi by his long-time compatriot and fellow physical education faculty member, Jake Palluzzi, with whom Synodi also served as Assistant Athletic Director for many years through 2020.
Smith, as class historian, introduced Class of '22 president Peyton Giordano for the Class President's Message to the graduates. Giordano asked the crowd to look to their left and right to help take in the moment of gathering on the green for a graduation ceremony for the first time in three years; and thanked those who had supported the Class of 2022 through their personal and student journey to this point.
To her fellow class members, Giordano said, "...every single person who walks across this stage today must recognize the accomplishments, determination and strength it took to get here. You did it and you deserve this day."
After reviewing memorable highlights and overcoming some uncertain times and challenges during their years as Branford public school students together, Giordano asked her classmates to go with confidence as they begin a new chapter with more unknowns ahead.
"Over the past 12 years we transformed ourselves into a version unrecognizable to our former selves. We have found our passions, our identity and have become a group of remarkable young adults," she said. "We are a class who's risen to the occasion time and time again and this strength and perseverance gives me confidence in saying that I know that the group that sits before me has the power to change the world for the better, and we will."
In addition to Giordano, Smith, Mollow and Cosgrove, 2022 Class Officers are secretary Aditya Rajpurohit and treasurer Sushant Kunwar. Rajpurohit and Kunwar introduced the commencement speaker, BHS U.S. AP History/History I and II Teacher and BHS Model Congress founder James Petela.
Petela, a BHS Class of 1981 alumnus, reflected on the importance of going out into the world, and then coming back to this community, bringing talents to further enrich Branford life. Petela noted that he returned to Branford to teach, as had his father, a WWII veteran who graduated from BHS in 1941.
Petela provided the graduates with three essential Notes, Reflections and Commentary (NRC) on what he termed "...you, family and life in Branford."
Petela evoked the wisdom of Socratic method and Einstein's exhortation to his students to "never lose a holy curiosity."
He urged the graduates to "...take time and make effort daily, weekly, to dig deep - - questioning yourself, examining your thoughts, emotions, motivations, longings, passions. Find some mentors, peers or elders to listen to and offer feedback, reality checks. Keep a journal. Watch Ted Talks. Meditate. Pray. Do a mandala. Hopefully the dividends you will reap from all this will be revelations and awareness of who you really are deep down and what your holy purpose, destiny will be. And then, apply the 'Petela FGGF' – Focus, Grinding and Game Facing to reach a level of excellence that will make you happy and satisfied and successful, and your parents proud and pleased; and the world a better place for making a difference with your talents, goodness and greatness, living a life of high endeavor."
Petela's final NRC encouraged the class to experience a wealth of diverse opportunities and people by traveling this country and the world, and to share their own gifts with others.
"Give them your Hornet best. But always, always come back to Branford, the greatest place on earth, where you are always welcome and loved," said Petela, emotion evident in his voice as he ticked off well-known areas and events in town, and the many contributions of its supportive community, businesses and organizations.
"Come back and learn more about our amazing, almost 400-year history, and maybe add to this history your talents and service, goodness, greatness and excellence; giving back and paying forward."
The ceremony's musical interludes included performances of Pomp and Circumstance and Jubilance by the BHS band, directed by Mallory Legman; and the National Anthem and Standy By Me performed by members of the BHS Choir, directed by Michael Martone Jr. The program also listed Student Council officers co-presidents Ava Cosgrove and Chloe Nixon, vice president Colin Shuff, treasurer Aidan Shamas, recording secretary Taylor Tracy and community outreach secretary Matthew Gaudioso.
The presentation of diplomas concluded the night's program; with Panagoulias, Berdon and Hernandez presenting diplomas to graduates. Student names were announced by the class officers; who were also the last to receive their diplomas.
Following the Turning of the Tassels; the BHS Class of 2022 celebrated with an enthusiastic tossing of caps into the air. Later that night, they gathered to celebrate with food, fun and plenty of entertainment at the parent-powered Project Graduation night-into-day substance free party held at BHS.