Teary-eyed students say farewell to Four Rivers peers

  • Roberto Naranjo, a member of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016, and Susan Durkee, a student adviser, link arms after Naranjo received his diploma at the commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Annaleah Moon Ramseyer Gregoire, of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016, stands as she receives praise from one of her student advisers at the commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Allison Boswell, of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016, wipes tears away before embracing student adviser Susan Durkee after receiving praise from her at the commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Chester Leo Hardina-Blanchette of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016 reacts to a part of a speech given by classmate Kai DiLorenzo during their commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Chester Leo Hardina-Blanchette, of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016, stands as he receives praise from one of his student advisers at the commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Members of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016 applaud classmate Neva Newcombe after she delivered her speech at their commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Cheyanne Ennis, a member of the Four Rivers Charter School Class of 2016, wipes her eyes while delivering a speech at their commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Ceridwyn Carlton of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016, stands as she receives praise from one of her student advisers at the commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Four Rivers Charter Public School faculty applaud Amanda Zabawa, a member of the Class of 2016, after she delivered her speech at their commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Ceridwyn Carlton, a member of the Four Rivers Charter School Class of 2016, laughs while giving her speech at their commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Amanda Zabawa, a member of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016, receives a standing ovation after delivering her speech at their commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Neva Newcombe, of the Four Rivers Charter Public School Class of 2016, delivers a speech at their commencement Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

  • Susan Durkee, a student adviser at Four Rivers Charter Public School, exchanges a handshake with Kai DiLorenzo, a member of the Class of 2016, after receiving his diploma at their commencement, Saturday, June 4. Recorder Staff/Matt Burkhartt

Recorder Staff
Published: 6/4/2016 7:00:59 PM

SHELBY ASHLINE

Recorder Staff

TO PURCHASE HIGH-RESOLUTION PHOTOS, CLICK HERE

GREENFIELD — “I love each of my classmates like they were my siblings and my teachers like they were my parents,” said Amanda Zabawa.

Kai DeLorenzo called his 32 Four Rivers Charter Public School classmates his heroes, and Neva Newcombe called them her family.

“I miss you already,” said Cheyanne Ennis through muffled sobs. “I don’t want to say goodbye.”

Many teary-eyed student speakers stepped up to the podium outside Four Rivers Charter Public School Saturday to say goodbye to their friends in the Class of 2016.

Throughout the ceremony, the speakers emphasized the sense of community at Four Rivers.

The connection felt between the students was further explained by Ceridwyn Carlton when she said, “We’ve been through more than school together ... We picked each other up when we fell, and carried on.”

While the students have plans to attend college or join the workforce, Neva Newcombe asked that her classmates never forget the time they shared at Four Rivers and what it meant to them.

“This matters,” she said. “This place and the time I spent here matters to me.”

As for the future, Newcombe said she only has hope that her fellow graduates reach their goals and find happiness, while Carlton reminded her classmates to take care of themselves. Ennis, quoting the movie “Finding Nemo,” concluded her speech by telling the class to “keep swimming.”

Scholarships

Celia Bales: Adams Scholarship.

Aidan Belanger: Adams Scholarship, The Mary

Stuart Rogers Foundation Scholarship, Kiwanis Club of Greenfield Scholarship.

Aidan Braverman: Adams Scholarship.

Ceridwyn Carlton: Adams Scholarship.

Quinn Cusimano: Adams Scholarship.

Kai DeLorenzo: Adams Scholarship.

Sara DiPaolo: Kiwanis Club of Greenfield Scholarship, Adams Scholarship.

MatthewFreeman: Adams Scholarship.

Chester Hardina-Blanchette: Adams Scholarship.

Emory Ketch: Adams Scholarship.

Nicholas Koncz: Colrain Community Church

Scholarship, Adams Scholarship.

Kylie Kuhn: Adams Scholarship.

Sarah LaCoy: Adams Scholarship.

Doran McMillan: Plainfield Community Church, Adams Scholarship.

Robert Naranjo: Adams Scholarship.

Neva Newcombe: Adams Scholarship.

Kenneth Olchowski: Adams Scholarship.

Graduates

Nicholas Altimari, South Deerfield; Celia Bales, Gill; Aidan Belanger, Greenfield; Allison Boswell, Greenfield; Aidan Braverman, New Salem; Sophie Brown, South Deerfield; Ceridwyn Carlton, Turners Falls; Courtney Crafts, Greenfield; Quinn Cusimano, Shelburne Falls; Kai DeLorenzo, Shelburne Falls; Sara DiPaolo, Greenfield; Jacob Dwyer, Erving; Renna Earp, Shelburne Falls; Ella Elliott-Saakvitne, Florence; Cheyanne Ennis, Greenfield;

Matthew Freeman, Millers Falls; Jasmine Gomez, Greenfield; Annaleah Gregoire, Greenfield; Chester Hardina-Blanchette, Northampton and Shelburne Falls; Seamus Hawks, Greenfield; Emory Ketch, Turners Falls; Nicholas Koncz, Colrain; Kylie Kuhn, Greenfield; Sarah LaCoy, Montague; Erica McAnn, Northfield; Doran McMillan, Plainfield; Robert Naranjo, Montague; Neva Newcombe, Wendell; Tyber Oborne, Chesterfield; Kenneth Olchowski, Greenfield; Tessa Perry, Greenfield; Amanda Zabawa, Greenfield.


Jobs



Support Local Journalism

Subscribe to the Greenfield Recorder, keeping Franklin County informed since 1792.


Greenfield Recorder

14 Hope Street
Greenfield, MA 01302-1367
Phone: (413) 772-0261
 

 

Copyright © 2021 by Newspapers of Massachusetts, Inc.
Terms & Conditions - Privacy Policy