TURNERS FALLS — As the 31 members of Turner Falls High School’s Class of 2023 received their diplomas on Friday, thunderous cheers filled the gymnasium, a testament to the graduates’ four years of achievements and their communal impact.

Principal Christopher Barnes opened the ceremony by addressing the intimacy and significance of small schools. Barnes began by mentioning the student-given nicknames of teachers and staff as a fundamental example of the strong bonds that have formed at the school, and then listed the achievements this connection fosters.

“Our ability to know our students, to make connections and to respond to their needs is one of our greatest strengths at Turners Falls High School,” Barnes said, “and I believe the students know this.”

Barnes ended his speech by quoting Yoda from the “Star Wars” franchise, using the metaphor of The Force to illustrate the life-changing power of connections that Barnes hopes the graduates will continue to cultivate as they move onto a new life chapter.

“Every connection and every bit of positive energy you create will contribute to the force,” he said. “You will be a jedi and an agent of change.”

Both Class President Nikolas Martin and Valedictorian Madison LeBorgne recounted shared memories from a class trip to Paris and Rome, victories from a water balloon toss, and multiple years of musical chairs and senior sunrise.

Superintendent Brian Beck addressed graduates’ difficult journey through the pandemic. In spite of the abrupt change to remote classes for almost a year and a half of high school, Beck noted the graduates’ sense of community and school service, state and district athletic titles and Seal of Biliteracy awards.

“But what stands most out to me about the qualities and characteristics of this graduating class is both your individual and collective resilience,” Beck said. “You have all displayed at such a young age grit, determination and perseverance that you often see in the most amazing human beings.”

Great Falls Middle School and Turners Falls High School Librarian Tabby Martinelli called each graduate up to the stage to receive their diploma and a rose provided by the Gill-Montague Education Fund. Graduates then gave their flowers to a special person in attendance who helped them reach the momentous occasion.

Graduates

Logan Jacob Addison, Wesley Abraham Berdugo, Kordell Sha’mel Cannon, Morgan Elizabeth Dobias, Cloe Nevaeh Fulk, Madison Stephanie Gadreault, Luz Clarita Galvez-Perez, Mia Elizabeth Gonzalez, Makayla Madeliene Elizabeth Gray, Abbigail Elyse Holloway, Andrew James Janerico-Fisher, Jelani Francois Jean-Charles, Alexander Maximillian Johnson, Silas Hardwick Koyama, Madison Rae LeBorgne, Zachary Matthew Malcolm, Nikolas Joseph Martin, Brayden Mackin McCord, Abigail Makenzie Moore, Christopher John Morton, Jakob David Murray-Lavin, Stephanie Ann Peterson, Antonia Mckayla Prizio, Levin Alexander Caswell Prondecki, Adeline Shirley K. Riley, David Packard Stowe, Matyah Emerald-Lauraine Sutton, Tyler Nathan Tetreault, Brooke Ann Thayer, Corin Louis Wisnewski and Cadence Meira Wozniak.

Scholarships

Arthur E. Neipp Scholarship: Madison LeBorne; Bordeau Family Scholarship: Silas Koyama, Morgan Dobias; Edward Brown Memorial Scholarship: Brayden McCord; George Bush Scholarship: Levin Prondecki; Tobin Scholarship: Morgan Dobias; Gilmond Lamore Memorial Scholarship: Brayden McCord, Nikolas Martin; Mery O’Brien Memorial Scholarship: Brooke Thayer, Madison LeBorne, Abigail Holloway, Nikolas Martin: Molly Baxter Photography: Brooke Thayer; Greenfield Recorder Scholarship: NONE; Turners Falls High School Class of 1957 Bernard Plaza Scholarship: Madison LeBorne, Wesley Berdugo; Turners Falls High School Class of 1964 Scholarship: Cadance Wozniak, Silas Koyama; Harriot E. Tidd Memorial Scholarship: Nikolas Martin; H. Royer Collins Student Athlete Scholarship: Brayden McCord; Sara Kemble Scholarship: Brooke Thayer; Madeline J. Carlson Scholarship “In Memory of Marion Packard Carlson”: Morgan Dobias, Silas Koyama, Cadance Wozniak, Brooke Thayer, Nikolas Martin; Our Family Legacy Farm: Antonia Prizio; Jill Betters Scholarship/Burnett Scholarship: Brooke Thayer; Sandy Miner Scholarship: Nikolas Martin; Connie Sicard Scholarship: Nikolas Martin; Brian Bogusz Athletic Scholarship: Abbigail Holloway, Brayden McCord, Levin Prondecki, Brooke Thayer; Turners Falls Athletic Club Scholarships: Nikolas Martin, Brayden McCord; Turners Falls High School Alumni Scholarship: Brayden McCord; John and Abigail Adams Scholarship: Cloe Fulk, Mia Gonzalez, Madison LeBorgne, Brayden McCord, Levin Prondecki, David Stowe, Corin Wisnewski, Cadence Wozniak; Gill-Montague Education Association Scholarship (GMEA): Cloe Fulk; Montague Elks Lodge 2521: Nikolas Martin; Elks National Foundation, Most Valuable Student: Nikolas Martin; Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts Scholarship: Silas Koyama; Our Lady of Peace Scholarship: Brayden McCord; Nate Lucas Memorial Scholarship Fund: Nikolas Martin; Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation Scholarship: Morgan Dobias; 2023 Jane Lerner and Michael Bardsley ETP Scholarship: Morgan Dobias; Erving Teachers Association Scholarship: Brayden McCord; Partners in Education at Erving Scholarship: Brayden McCord.

Academic Awards

National Honor Society members: Cloe Fulk, Abbigail Holloway, Madison LeBorgne, Nikolas Martin, Brayden McCord, Levin Prondecki, David Stowe, Brooke Thayer and Cadence Wozniak.

Excellence in Art: Alex Johnson; Excellence in Film Art Direction: Adeline Riley; Excellence in Film Effects: Corin Wisniewski; Excellence in English: Abigail Moore; Class of 1947 English Award for Outstanding Effort: Antonia Prizio, Jelani Jean Charles; Excellence in French: Madison LeBorgne; Excellence in Latin: Abigail Moore; Excellence in Social Studies: Brayden McCord; Excellence in Physical Science: Abigail Moore; Excellence in MakerLab: Levin Prondecki; Design & Build: David Stowe; Excellence in Music: David Stowe; Graphic Arts: Wesley Berdugo; Excellence in Mathematics: Cloe Fulk; Excellence in Physical Education: Nikolas Martin; National School Development Council Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership: Madison LeBourgne, Cloe Fulk; American Citizenship Awards: Abbigail Holloway, Nikolas Martin, Brayden McCord, Antonia Prizio, Brooke Thayer; Massachusetts Association of Student Councils Commonwealth Award: Nikolas Martin, Madison LeBorgne, J.J. Charles; Ellen Wrightson Memorial Award: Nikolas Martin; Biliteracy Achievement for English and a Second Language: David Stowe (Spanish), Madison LeBorgne (French); Massachusetts Biliteracy Seal for English and a Second Language: Wesley Berdugo (Spanish); Scholastic Merit Award: Madison LeBorgne, Mia Gonzalez, Cloe Fulk, Brayden McCord, Abbigail Holloway; Salutatorian Award: Mia Gonzalez; Valedictorian Award: Madison LeBorgne; Innovation Career Pathway Designee for Healthcare and Social Assistance: Nikolas Martin.

Athletic Awards

Baseball: Levin Prondecki; Boys Basketball: Levin Prondecki; Girls Basketball: Morgan Dobias; Field Hockey: Cadence Wozniak; Football: Levin Prondecki; Girls Ice Hockey: Cadence Wozniak; Boys Soccer: Nikolas Martin; Softball: Morgan Dobias; Boys Swimming: Nikolas Martin; Girls Tennis: Stephanie Peterson; Boys Track & Field: David Stowe; Girls Volleyball: Abigail Holloway; Class of 1945 Joseph J. Sheff Memorial Award: Levin Prondecki; Marston Baseball Award: Levin Prondecki.

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