NORTHFIELD — Speakers motivated the 41 Pioneer Valley Regional School graduates Friday night by using Winston Churchill and Benjamin Franklin quotes.

Principal Matthew Sullivan kicked off the celebration by telling the graduates, who were dressed in black and white gowns with black and gold tassels, that he is impressed with what they have accomplished thus far, though they also have “so much to look forward to.” However, Sullivan said he wanted the Class of 2024 to take a moment to just focus on their graduation day as “today is a big day” and “a proud day.”

“Today is the culmination of 13-plus years of education, of experience of your life,” Sullivan said, then quoting Churchill. “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

During Salutatorian Griffin de Ruiter’s speech, he recalled his time at Pioneer as being a moment of growth for him.

“I came in as a naive, bright-eyed kid filled with curiosity and wonder,” he said. “And now I’m tired and old. How time flies. This place saw me grow up. ... In a way, I found myself here. I built strong connections with some great people and I became the young man you see standing in front of you now, for better or for worse.”

Maddax Wegiel, Pioneer’s valedictorian, thanked the school’s teachers “who have been caring, knowledgeable and ever, ever, ever, ever patient.”

“Helping us build sturdy foundations of knowledge and character and inspiring us to strive to achieve ... it is difficult to find the words to fully thank you,” Wegiel said. “Although without you, it would surely be impossible to find any words at all.”

Maddox went on to thank families who have “supported each of us” throughout not only their education but also their lives. Quoting Franklin, he added, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished.”

“I truly hope you all succeed,” Maddox added. “Whether your high school experience was overall positive or negative right now, I hope you succeed in finding success. I hope you succeed in finding what success means to you.”

This year’s commencement speech was given by Kathleen Malsch, an educator at Pioneer. During her speech, Malsch created a list called “the Top 10 ‘R’s” you can take with you for your life.” The list included the words respect, responsibility, roots, remember, resilience, recalculate, risk and return, reflect, retirement and relax. After each word, Malsch gave the students advice before moving on to the next one.

“Don’t be in such a hurry to grow up too fast,” Malsch told the graduating class. “Follow your passions in work and play. ... I hope you get to try new things and share that experience with others. Find what makes you happy and share it with others, or treasure the solitude if that’s what you crave in a crazy world. Take the time to enjoy the adventure.”

Graduates

Kelly Lynn Baird, Ethan Michael Boliski, Josiah Jaymeson Chapin, Julia Rose Cox, Hugh Michael Cyhowski, Griffin Aric de Ruiter, Corey Tyler Doran, Skye Alexandria Evans, Grace Valentine Fisher, Noah James Gamache, Kayla Jean Gauthier, Heath Joseph Gomez, Ellianna Goulston, Ryan Pearson Guertin, Cole Aden James Gunnison, Avery Lily Mielke Johnson, Ashley Dawn Kilburn, Erin Riley Killay, Brady Stephen Kratz, Caledonia Louise McKeon, Jaida Evangeline Menard, Roslynn Rose Moore, Fota Ndiaye, Carly Mae Norwood, Jamie Yeon Paquet, Cameron Richard Platek, Connor Thomas Platek, Hailey Mae Ring, Romello Cruz Rios, Sadie Christine Rowan, Nicholas Paul Shattuck, Raven Ayanna Singh, Alex Skye Soulia, Quintin Che Stacy, Michael Robert Stennes, Katelyn Marie Trenholm, Benjamin Flynn Walker, Aiden Marae Wall, Maddax Richard Wegiel, Joshua Thomas Wood and Abigail Leigh Wozniak.

Awards and Scholarships

Kelly Baird: Principal’s Award, Excellence in Advanced Nutrition, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Kathy Bonnett Memorial Award, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Ethan Boliski: Excellence in Advanced Nutrition, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Bernardston Veterans’ Organization Scholarship, Kathy Bonnett Memorial Award, Greenfield Lodge of Elks Scholarship: Duane A. Nelson, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship, Ethel F. Jackson Memorial Scholarship.

Josiah Chapin: John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science.

Julia Cox: John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science.

Hugh Cyhowski: Principal’s Award, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Owen Clarke Foundation Scholarship, Theodore Cronyn Award, Ethel F. Jackson Memorial Scholarship.

Griffin de Ruiter: Salutatorian, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Cathy Hawkins-Harrison Music Service Award in Band, Ethel F. Jackson Memorial Scholarship, Don Maynard Memorial Scholarship, Thaddeus M. Ostrowski Memorial Award, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Corey Doran: Outstanding Effort in Vocational Studies.

Grace Fisher: Grover/Barnes Award, Thomas J. Hurley Nurses’ Scholarship, Sarah Kemble Scholarship Award, Northfield Fire Dept. Floyd M. Dunnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Northfield Kiwanis Club Award, Mary Stuart Rogers Foundation Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Noah Gamache: Excellence in Personal Finance, Grover/Barnes Award, Abigail Stratton Award.

Kayla Gauthier: Owen Clarke Foundation Scholarship, Pioneer Valley Regional School Scholarship.

Heath Gomez: Excellence in AP Environmental Science, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Outstanding Effort in Yearbook, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Ellianna Goulston: Alice, Eric & Oscar Anderson Scholarship, Owen Clarke Foundation Scholarship, Evelyn G. Lawley Award.

Cole Gunnison: John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science.

Avery Johnson: John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Foundation for Educational Excellence & Greenfield Co-operative Bank Scholarship, Ethel F. Jackson Memorial Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Ashley Kilburn: Outstanding Effort in Ceramics.

Erin Killay: Excellence in English 12, Excellence in Advanced Nutrition, Warwick Community Scholarship.

Brady Kratz: John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science.

Caledonia McKeon: Grover/Barnes Award.

Roslynn Moore: Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Owen Clarke Foundation Scholarship, Gerald & Edward McGowan Memorial Award, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Fota Ndiaye: Owen Clarke Foundation Scholarship, Pioneer Valley Regional School Scholarship.

Carly Norwood: John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science.

Jamie Paquet: Excellence in Woodshop, Alice, Eric & Oscar Anderson Scholarship.

Hailey Ring: Excellence in Personal Finance, Excellence in Woodshop, Kathryn Bassett Memorial Award, Leonard Bruno Memorial Scholarship, Makenzie Goode Memorial Scholarship, Warwick Community Scholarship.

Romello Rios: Excellence in Personal Finance, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Stephen F. Balk Award, Northfield Kiwanis Club Award, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Sadie Rowan: Foundation for Educational Excellence: Robert S. Coy Art Award, Northfield Fire Dept. Floyd M. Dunnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Northfield Kiwanis Club Award, Abigail Stratton Award, Abigail Stratton Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship, Fred R. Whitcomb Scholarship.

Raven Singh: Excellence in Leadership for Student Council, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Outstanding Achievement in Chemistry, 2024 Eric Collins Memorial Award, Foundation for Educational Excellence & Richard Martin Theatre Award, PVRS Student Council Scholarship.

Alex Soul ia : Owen Clarke Foundation Award, Abigail Stratton Award.

Quintin Stacy: Excellence in Life Skills, Abigail Stratton Award.

Michael Stennes: Excellence in AP Literature & Composition, John A. Hogan Memorial Scholarship, PVRS National Honor Society Scholarship, Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts.

Katelyn Trenholm: Excellence in Personal Finance, George A. Warner Award, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Benjamin Walker: Owen Clarke Foundation Award, Lucy Wilder Memorial Humanitarian Award.

Aiden Wall: Excellence in Visual Art, Outstanding Effort in Yearbook, Kathy Bonnett Memorial Award.

Maddax Wegiel: Valedictorian, Excellence in Advanced Nutrition, Excellence in AP Environmental Science, Excellence in AP Calculus, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, L eonard Eastman Award, Philip Harrington Memorial Scholarship, Pioneer Valley Regional School Instrumental Music Award, Tyler Family Memorial Award, George A. Warner Fund Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Joshua Wood: Northfield Kiwanis Club Award, Jason Peters Memorial Scholarship, Pioneer Valley Regional School Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship.

Abigail Wozniak: Abigail Stratton Award.