‘Hope, community and friendship’: Old Rochester class of 2024 graduates

MATTAPOISETT — The president of the class of 2024 at Old Rochester Regional High School encouraged fellow classmates to take a moment to appreciate the individuals that had made up their now-concluded high school experiences.

“Throughout every challenge we face, we have persevered together, unwavering in our commitment towards each other and our community,” Jaymison Gunschel said. “So as we go our separate ways in these next few months, may we take with us our foundation of hope, community and friendship.”

The remarks came during the Saturday, June 1 graduation ceremony for the 153 students of the class of 2024 at Old Rochester, which in a separate address, Principal Michael Devoll called the “true civic center of the Tri-Town.”

“Welcome to the best academics, athletics, fine arts and service to the community on the South Coast,” Devoll said to the ceremony’s audience seated on the sunny bleachers and grass of the school’s main athletic field. “The class of 2024 that sits before you all today represents excellence in all of those areas.”

It was 75 degrees with just a few wisps of clouds in an otherwise all-encompassing blue sky as the graduating seniors found their seats during the processional march.

Superintendent Michael Nelson said he spoke with current students in schools across the Old Rochester Regional school district to help with his speech and offer parting advice to the class of 2024.

That included a kindergartener at Center School who said she video chatted weekly to stay in touch with her grandparents, who were “really tired” and had moved to Florida. Nelson deciphered the message concerning the kindergartener’s retired grandparents as it applies to graduating seniors as “you may travel great distances, but remember to stick to your roots.”

“Although it’s hard to say goodbye, you are ready,” Nelson said. “We believe in you. We are proud of each and every one of you. And we have no doubt that your futures will be filled with an endless sense of hope and possibility.”

Class valedictorian Jacob Hadley encouraged fellow classmates to embrace challenges as “they heavily influence the people we become.”

Hadley also said to “never be afraid to show your enthusiasm for something” and to not let a “false stigma around expressing your passions and ambition extinguish your flame.”

“Doing anything out of pure intrinsic desire is not just an adequate reason for doing it, it is the best reason,” Hadley said. “Never be ashamed to try.”