BUCKLAND — Thirty-seven graduation caps flew through the air Friday evening at Mohawk Trail Regional School’s Class of 2024 graduation ceremony.

Addressing her classmates, Valedictorian Kaylin Sumner recounted the trials, tribulations and joyful memories the class went through in 12 years of education. She noted the COVID-19 pandemic as a shared experience, and thanked her teachers and family for their support.

“Dances, parties, games, meets and matches, plays, musicals, class meetings, and every once in a while, going to class. Throughout all of these memories, both the good and the bad, we not only had each other, we had the support of the people here for us today,” Sumner said. “Thank you parents, guardians and family members for your help and support for our elementary and high school education journeys.”

Mohawk Trail Regional School District School Committee Chair Martha Thurber’s address was preceded by a charge to the graduates from former Mohawk Trail teacher Zachary Charette, who informed the students that adulthood will not provide them the happiness, knowledge and self-confidence that they might think it will, but that, through trial and error, they will overcome challenges and slowly gain a sense of security in life.

“Life, at times, may feel as though it’s filled with uncertainty and you may find that you’re constantly questioning yourself, or feel as though you should be further ahead in your career or personal life or your relationships than you are. This is completely normal,” Charette said. “It does, however, get easier as you continue to age and mature.”

Families and friends cheered as each graduate walked across the stage to receive his or her diploma and shake hands with Thurber, Principal Chris Buckland, Assistant Principal Paula Brault and Superintendent Sheryl Stanton.

At the end of the stage, the graduates posed for photos with their diplomas as Buckland read their post-graduation plans, bits of advice, and aspects of high school they will miss most.

Tears and smiles filled the room as the graduates turned their tassels, tossed their mortarboards and walked off the stage to the tune of Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration,” performed by the school band.

Graduates

Mohamed Abdelgawad, Mason Ashburn, Moshe Close, Shelby Collier, Madeline Cosentino, Grace Davenport, Weston denOuden, Maddison Donovan, Vincent Gauthier, Riley Giard, Jacob Gilbert, Sophia Goodnow, Ty Griswold, Lily Aaliyah Heaton, Antonio Hernandez, William Hillenbrand, Christian Kunesch, Jackson Lilienthal, Cassidy Marcel, Penelope McDonald-O’Neil, Sophia McNeil, Camila O’Shea, Robert Patenaude, Julia Pease, Rachel Pease, Aidan Pollack, John Richardson, Nathaniel Ruth, Gabrielle Ryder, Kennyel Segarra-Velez, Sebastian Seward, Emily Sisum, Eliandra Snape, Sidney Sookey, Kaylin Sumner, William VanVleet and Madison White.

Scholarships and Awards

Mohamed Abdelgawad: Arms Academy Fund Trust, Carl Nilman, Cowell Fund Award, REAM/Ethel Raymond Orcutt, Fred Wells, Mohawk Trail Music Association.

Moshe Close: Trustees of Arms Academy, Carl Nilman, Charles E. White.

Shelby Collier: Fred Wells, MTAA In Memory of Terri Scott Ferraguto, Philip C. Toy Memorial Scholarship, Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club.

Madeline Cosentino: Arms Academy Fund Trust, Barbara and Herbert Purington Scholarship, Carl Nilman, Colrain Community Church, Edgar Walter Martin II Memorial Scholarship, Shelburne Falls Kiwanis Club Memorial, Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club, Shelburne Falls Eagles Auxiliary Scholarship, Shelburne Falls Eagles Scholarship.

Grace Davenport: Arms Academy Fund Trust, Carl Nilman, Cowell Fund Award, The Raymond and Agnes Starkey Endowed Memorial Scholarship.

Weston denOuden: Adams Scholarship, Trustees of Arms Academy, Arms Academy Fund Trust, Bunker Martin Award, Carl Nilman, Charles E. White, Fred Wells.

Vincent Gauthier: Adams Scholarship, Arms Academy Fund Trust, Bobby Wells Award, Carl Nilman, Charlemont Lions Club, Doug Turner Memorial Scholarship, Fred Wells, The Ian Fletcher Lynch Spirit of the River Scholarship, Larry Rancourt Scholarship, MTAA In Memory of Samuel Howell Sylvester, Mohawk Trail Music Association, Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club.

Riley Giard: Trustees of Arms Academy, Arms Academy Fund Trust, Carl Nilman, Class of 1959 Scholarship, MTAA Award, Gordy Van Guilder Family Scholarship.

Sophia Goodnow: Adams Scholarship, Trustees of Arms Academy, Arms Academy Fund Trust, Carl Nilman, Colrain Community Church, The Deane Jones Memorial Award (Trinity Church), Fred Wells, John B. Temple Memorial Scholarship, MTAA Award, Mohawk District Education Association, Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club, Sue Atherton Endowed Scholarship Fund for Agriculture and Farming, Women of the Moose Chapter #316 Medical Field Scholarship, Shelburne Falls Eagles Scholarship.

Antonio Hernandez: Adams Scholarship.

Jackson Lilienthal: Trustees of Arms Academy, Carl Nilman.

Cassidy Marcel: Adams Scholarship.

Penelope McDonald-O’Neil: Kelly M. Broughan Memorial Scholarship.

Julia Pease: Arms Academy Fund Trust, Carl Nilman, Shelburne Falls Eagles Auxiliary Scholarship.

Rachel Pease: Adams Scholarship, Arms Academy Fund Trust, Ashfield Citizens Scholarship and Community Fund, Inc Fall Festival Fund and Van Valkenburg Scholarship Fund, Melah Murray Award, Carl Nilman, Chuck Miner Memorial Scholarship, The “Coach” Bob & Pat Hinds Scholarship Award, Fred Wells, Kiwanis Rolland Gifford Memorial Scholarship, MTAA Award, William C. Pollard Scholarship, Trustees of Sanderson Academy Scholarship, Shelburne Falls Area Woman’s Club Scholarship, Summer R. Steele Memorial Scholarship, Woman of the Moose Chapter #316 Medical Field Scholarship, Shelburne Falls Eagles Scholarship.

Aidan Pollack: Earl L. Valiton Memorial Scholarship.

Sebastian Seward: Adams Scholarship.

Emily Sisum: Adams Scholarship, Trustees of Arms Academy, Outstanding Female Athlete Award, Carl Nilman, Charles E. White, The “Coach” Bob & Pat Hinds Scholarship Award, Fred Wells, The Ian Fletcher Lynch Spirit of the River Scholarship, Kiwanis Key Club Scholarship, MTAA Award, Shelburne Falls Military Band Scholarship, Shelburne Falls Area Women’s Club.

Eliandra Snape: Trustees of Arms Academy, Charles E. White, Louise Vetterling Ellis From the Heart Award, Mohawk District Education Association.

Kaylin Sumner: Adams Scholarship, Trustees of Arms Academy, Arms Academy Fund Trust, The Team Award, Carl Nilman, Fred Wells, Heath Ladies Aid Scholarship, Helen E. Long Memorial Scholarship, MTAA Award.

William VanVleet: Adams Scholarship, Trustees of Arms Academy, Outstanding Male Athlete Award, Carl Nilman, Charles E. White, Kiwanis Allan Willis Memorial Scholarship, MTAA Award, Mohawk Trail Music Association Scholarship, William C. Pollard.