There were tears of joy, cheers and applause, and some moments of quiet reflection as Holyoke High School’s Opportunity Academy Class of 2025 graduated on Friday, June 13, 2025 during an emotional ceremony held in the Holyoke War Memorial.
Some of Opportunity Academy’s 86 graduating students previously participated in the HHS Dean Campus graduation on May 29 or the HHS North graduation on May 30. OA seniors are offered the choice of which ceremonies to participate in, selecting the experiences that are most meaningful to them.
Among this year’s Opportunity Academy graduates, 15 have completed their Adult Basic Education programs to earn their high school diplomas.
Principal Phelipe Johnson welcomed those assembled and then introduced student speakers Michelle Adams-Darrah, Carolynn Herr, and Amiya Cruz who offered encouragement and shared fond memories at the opening of the program. Their remarks were followed by words of support and affirmation from HPS Superintendent Anthony Soto, School Committee Vice Chair Dr. Yadilette Rivera Colón, and Holyoke Mayor Joshua A. Garcia.
School staff shared stories of growth and accomplishments as each graduate prepared to receive their diploma. Each touching tribute reflected the students’ individual journeys that led them to and through Opportunity Academy as well as the strengths they will carry with them on into the future.
OA offers a set of alternative high school pathways that allow students to continue or restart on a pathway to a diploma if they are not succeeding in a more traditional high school setting. Students can earn high school credits, prepare to pass the MCAS, and graduate with a Holyoke Public Schools diploma or a state-granted diploma through one of three pathways:
HPS Success Center is a project- and competency-based program for high school and adult learners to complete their diplomas at their own pace with a primary person system
Gateway to College is offered to HPS students on the Holyoke Community College campus to earn a high school diploma and college credits at the same time.
LightHouse offers a collaborative learning environment in partnership with Opportunity Academy, which serves a small number of students each year who thrive better in this setting compared to a traditional classroom.