‘Make kindness your priority’: Old Colony graduates its 50th class
The graduates of the class of 2026 throw their caps in the air at Old Colony's commencement Sunday, May 31. Photos by Grace Roche
Valedictorian Douglas Barrows gives a speech. 
Lyrics adorn some of the graduates' caps. 
Former Superintendent John Oliveira, left, speaks while current Superintendent Aaron Polansky looks on. 
Graduates listen to the commencement speeches. 
Students embrace and celebrate after the ceremony. 
Graduates pose for a picture after receiving their diplomas. 
Class President Leah Hollenbeck speaks to her classmates. 
Graduates sit on the Old Colony field. 
Rows of graduates wait for their names to be called. 
A student leaves the stage, diploma in hand. 
Graduates look on during the ceremony.
The graduates of the class of 2026 throw their caps in the air at Old Colony's commencement Sunday, May 31. Photos by Grace Roche
Valedictorian Douglas Barrows gives a speech.
Lyrics adorn some of the graduates' caps.
Former Superintendent John Oliveira, left, speaks while current Superintendent Aaron Polansky looks on.
Graduates listen to the commencement speeches.
Students embrace and celebrate after the ceremony.
Graduates pose for a picture after receiving their diplomas.
Class President Leah Hollenbeck speaks to her classmates.
Graduates sit on the Old Colony field.
Rows of graduates wait for their names to be called.
A student leaves the stage, diploma in hand.
Graduates look on during the ceremony.
ROCHESTER — A day after torrential downpour caused Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School to reschedule its commencement ceremony, faculty, friends and family celebrated the class of 2026 on Sunday, May 31.
The school’s first superintendent, John Oliveira, spoke at the graduation in celebration of the school’s 50th anniversary. The 97-year-old urged the 129 graduating students to choose the “quiet power” of kindness in a noisy, fast-paced world.
“I have lived nearly one century of history, and I'm still seeing changes in technology that I never thought possible, but I have yet to see a substitute for the simple but powerful standard of kindness,” Oliveira said.
He told the graduates how they treated people will be remembered far longer than what they accomplish in their lives.
Current superintendent Aaron Polansky’s remarks to the students echoed Oliviera’s. He said their character is defined by their “grit, work ethic, and willingness to persevere through challenges,” not just a grade on their transcript.
Even when it’s difficult, he encouraged them to always take the high road and treat others with dignity.
“My hope for you is that you find what you love, and just as importantly, you learn to love what you find on your way,” he said. “One of the greatest lessons a vocational education can teach is that your skills are not just a pathway to a career, they are a means of serving others.”
Valedictorian Douglas Barrows and class President Leah Hollenbeck both spoke about how far their class has come since freshman year.
Barrows said he still remembers the confusion of trying to find classes during the first weeks of high school, and now looks back with appreciation on all of the opportunities the school offered him and his classmates.
“Looking at this class, all I can see are bright people who have taken their first steps on their path to success,” Barrows said.
Hollenbeck said she’s seen her classmates make it through early mornings, endless assemblies, and “an abundance of snow days” to get to graduation. They’ve grown from nervous freshmen, she said, to adults ready for their next steps.
“Now we're the ones in charge of making major life decisions about our careers, finances, and futures,” she said. “Talk about a massive promotion.”
