Tears, joy, relief, and maybe just a touch of fearful anticipation: It all mingled together as Holyoke High School North’s Class of 2026 walked across the football field during their graduation ceremony on Friday, June 5.
And woven through it all, there was love.
“I love you all equally, and my heart is big enough for every one of you,” said Principal Lori McKenna as she addressed the graduating seniors. “Class of 2026, know that you are loved by me. One of the greatest parts of being a principal is that I get to know all of you. I get to watch your journey unfold from a unique perspective. I’ve seen you grow, learn, overcome challenges, inspire one another, inspire me, and work hard to become the best versions of yourselves. It has truly been a privilege to be part of your story.”
Among the 206 students recognized during the ceremony, 28 graduated with high honors and 46 with honors, 14 are members of the National Honor Society, eight have earned the Seal of Biliteracy, and 40 have already earned college credits as high school students who have participated in the Early College program. Additionally, 18 of North’s graduates received degrees after completing their coursework at Holyoke High School’s Opportunity Academy.
“In the words of Shakespeare, ‘It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves,’” said Valedictorian Samantha Rodriguez. “From now on, I’m keeping this statement in the back of my mind, as you all should, too. We are so strong as a class, and individually we are so much more. Each of us will go on to much bigger and better things and even achieve our dreams… I hope you all create the best version of yourself as we end our high school experience together.”
Salutatorian Ashanty Provost also focused on the future while reminiscing about who she and her classmates were as they progressed through high school. “As you walk off this stage and into the world, let yourself grow, let yourself develop, and let yourself become the type of person that you needed most in high school,” she said. “We need to grow, and become the change that our world desperately needs.”
Perseverance Speaker Zuheily M. Bermudez spoke eloquently about her own journey through high school, encouraging her classmates to keep on going—even when the going can feel impossibly hard, and the path is nothing at all like what you had planned.
“Today, I stand here proud,” she told those assembled, after giving birth to her daughter during her senior year of high school. “Graduating means more to me than just a diploma. It means proving to myself that I can overcome challenges. It means showing my child that no matter how hard life gets, you should never stop believing in yourself.”
The going was indeed hard, she said, but it was worth pushing through. “Many doubted me. Many thought I wouldn’t even make it this far,” she said, “but it sure does feel good to prove those people wrong. I get to walk this stage today knowing my daughter is up there in the stands watching me proudly. This wasn’t easy. It took every late night doing homework so I wouldn’t fall too far back in my classes, every stressful morning trying to make it to school, and every moment where I doubted myself, which taught me what perseverance meant.”
The high school music department supported the ceremony from beginning to end, with the band and orchestra performing the traditional graduation processional “Pomp and Circumstance,” the choir singing “Star Spangled Banner” and the Madrigal Choir singing “Slipping Through My Fingers.” The Holyoke High School Band and Choir came together at the end to perform the recessional “Hail! Holyoke High School.”
Opportunity Academy students, including those who walked at Dean and North, will graduate on Friday, June 12 in a ceremony that starts at 10 a.m. at the Holyoke War Memorial, 310 Appleton Street.
Graduation photos can be found here, with additional photos to be added in coming days.