‘Stay curious’ and embrace community: Northampton High’s Class of 2026 celebrates graduation

NORTHAMPTON — Two hundred and twenty-seven graduation caps flew through the air at Smith College’s John M. Greene Hall on Sunday afternoon after the Northampton High School Class of 2026 walked across the stage to receive their diplomas and close a chapter in their lives.

Following a performance of “The Star Spangled Banner” by the Northamptones, Principal Benjamin Taglieri addressed the crowd and read remarks from the graduates’ former middle and elementary school teachers reflecting on the graduates’ pivot to online learning during the COVID-19 pandemic when they were in middle school.

Going on to recall seeing the class interact with one another at prom and in the hallways, Taglieri described the uniqueness and importance of community and interaction. Though he noted that technological advancements might isolate the younger generation, the Class of 2026 made him hopeful for the next generation’s social skills.

“Technology presents us with both opportunities and challenges — technology can connect us, but it can also isolate us. It can expand our world, or it can shrink it. It can introduce us to new ideas, or it can surround us with only our own AI,” Taglieri said. “When I think about those concerns, I come back to the students sitting in front of us today. This class has grown up in a world that is already deeply shaped by technology. What I have observed is not a group of students retreating from one another, but quite the opposite. I’ve watched you build community, I’ve watched students support one another across different interests and activities and backgrounds. I’ve watched students engage with adults, contribute to their school, participate in the life of this community.”

The idea of community later re-emerged in the commencement ceremony, when Class Speaker Zara Usman discussed the power and importance of building a strong community. She reflected on her cousin’s death in a motorcycle crash during her sophomore year in high school and discussed how she leaned on her teachers and her school community during a time of grief.

“I found it hard to tell my close friends about how I was feeling, because most teens haven’t felt traumatic grief, it’s a stage that usually should come later in this period of my life. I heavily relied on my teachers — they took their time to talk to me during their prep periods and check on me in class,” Usman said. “It isn’t just the teachers, it’s the custodians, school nurses, counselors, office administration, and several others … the fact that they show up for any and every student is what makes our public schools so special. When we picture school, we think of it as an academic experience, but it’s more than that — we are preparing for the complexities of the future.”

Usman challenged what she described as the false belief that people must leave their communities to succeed, saying her experience has shown that is not necessarily true. Although she was moving 3,000 miles away for college, she said she hoped to build a new community while staying connected to home.

She also spoke to her upbringing in an immigrant family, which she described as a factor that fortified her belief in honoring, and showing up for, her community.

“Despite leaving Pakistan at 18 to reach the U.S. for college, my dad makes an effort to give back to his community on the other side of the world, whether that means being the helping hand of our family or staying up until 3 a.m. to work with a nonprofit at home, my dad has always put in the work,” she said. “He showed me the importance of helping other people, and I hope that as a class, we will choose to help each other when we can, even if it’s hard, even if it’s inconvenient, because that is what having a community means, choosing to show up.”

Between performances of Gulstav Holst’s “Jupiter” by the Northampton High School Wind Ensemble and “Seasons of Love,” sung by the Northampton High School Chamber Choir, graduates Alexa and Jordyn Rodrigue and Sadie Bertrand presented a performance of the Mary Gray Teacher of the Year Award to math teacher Jennifer Warren.

The graduates, poking fun at Warren’s short stature, presented her a stepping stool as a gift before stating that she was “one of the main reasons” why they will miss NHS.

Warren, standing especially tall atop her new platform, explained that she shared a first year with the Class of 2026 and was the first class she saw progress through all four years of high school. She congratulated the class and encouraged them to remain curious, compassionate individuals.

“You helped the school feel like home through your kindness, humor, passion and curiosity. You’ve inspired me as much as I hope I’ve inspired you; you ask thoughtful questions, challenge yourselves, support one another and continuously remind me why I love being a teacher,” Warren said. “Stay passionate — passionate about the things you care about. Stay curious, pull from your sense of wonder and legacy. The world will often encourage you to be practical, but don’t lose the things that make you excited to learn, create, and explore. No matter what path you’re taking after high school, stay true to yourself, and don’t be afraid to stay strange.”

Class of 2026

Ganna Mohamed Abdelhalim, Jonah Ray Abel-Waisman, Susannah Iris Abel-Zucker, Ruby Nell Aiken, Madison Marie Aimi-Starkoski, Gabrielle Alexa Akanhay, Phoenix Wayne Alley, Charles McGrath Ames, Arianna Nancy Bailey, Matthew Aaron Baird, Orion James Ballard, Willa Sophia Barman, Noela Mariam Basilwango, Sylvia Evelyn Rose Beckwith-Brown, Pranav Belur, Sadie Lauren Bertrand, Clara Anne Bloomenthal, Ethan Francis Bouley, Noah Alton Bradbury, Kaydence Mae Braman, Allyson Kathleen Brittain, Eliza Rei Brown,

Abimael Andrez Bruno, Marissa Elsie Bucs, Robinson Thomas Buhl, Leslie Araseli Buri Alvarez, River Bird Burnell-Wojtech, Luna Samara Burnell-Wojtech, Jasper William Cantor, Grace Lilla Caouette, Ellie Jane Chambers, Jasper George Coia, Isaiah Mateo Comerford-Hennessey, Sam Van Costin-Shaw, Ella Sophia Daillie, Liam Michael Daviau, Ainsley Mazarine Dawson, Kailanni Jaslene Dejesus, Jacoby Titus Demerath, Rudy Elias Di Giacomo, Joseph William Dieppa Lopez, Asher Andrew Dixon, Sasha Maria Dolan-Guzik,

Lazarus Zacaria Dominguez, Avery Quinn Drouin, Amelia Miko Spector Durbin, Parker Alton Durant-West, Crystal Marie Eichwald-Hoopes, Autumn Mabel Entin O’Neill, William Garrett Epstein, Olivia Sofia Evans, Ruby Agnes Ferrari, Jonathan Figueroa-Cruz Jr., Maddalena Maria Elisa Figueroa-Starr, Jasius-Cezar Flores, Jada True Ford, Haliyah Rose Friedmann-Kassis, Margaux Elizabeth Galvin, Chloe May Garcia-Schnitzer, Anari Sany Gary, Lorenzo Robin Gatrall, Ari Wren Gatrall, August Rexton Geha, Otto Ludwig Geis,

Zackary Dime Gonzalez, Kiran Elizabeth Goswami, Mya Abigail Elizabeth Grant, Naama Daya Greenwald, Salem Rowe Gregory, Mia Nicole Grimaldi, Riley James Gundersen, Nyx Robert Hagan, Jasper Wendell Haines, Zuki Bird Hammarlund, Talula McKinley Hard, Cairo Bella’Eva Harrell, Miren Ada Harrison-Millman, Jane Lydia Harrison-Millman, Paloma Sara Hatch, Hazelle Sultana Hawkins, Stuart Donovan Hawley, Ian James Hayes, Kaleb Eliot Hayhurst, Dani Hazan Shalfy, Philip Alexander Hewitt, Amanita Vivian Hidalgo,

Pellervo Ulrik Hinckley, Sophie Grace Hinkle, Penelope Rose Hobbs, Gabe Hodge, Ella Clementine Hoogendyk, Felicity Fay Horton, Angelise Jaslene Huertas, Kai Lyn Imperial-Jewett, Oren Samuel Jenkins, Cosmo Carmen Shine Johnson, Charlotte Elizabeth Johnson-Mersack, Mia Misch Jones, Adam Edward Jones-Monahan, Frank Kihoe Kim, Logan Matthew Kircsak, Ethan William Kircsak, Arlo Hershel Kline, Avery Marie Koloszyc, Jules Aislinn Korza, Caleb Lawrence Kositorg, Moussia Mushka Kravitsky,

Dashiell Thomas Spath Kruckemeyer, Saumya Eleni Kulp, Clare Sieghrist Kurtzman, Kira Leigh Lawrence-Riddell, Soph Anat Levin, Oliver Finn Levine, Taline Payton Lichocki, Olive Florence Little, Nadia Lowy Orzolek, Sadie Catherine Luttrell, Sean Logan MacKay, Adi Diego Francis Maiore, Kendal Simone Mangum, Anna Jinsoo Mansfield, Emmeline Sarah Marks, Michael Carlos Marrero, Gabriel Marrero Gonzalez, Maxwell Eddie Martin, Giada Joyce Mason, Talia May, Logan Earl Maynard, Isaac Jonathan McDonough,

Sophie Sewell Mechem, Yanziel Omil Medina Rivera, Amalya Uri Mendelowitz, Elias Jacob Meyers, Rinchen Monlam, Byron Nasaret Naula Guaraca, John Patrick Thomas Nields-Duffy, Hailey Christine Niles, Tate Jarrett Norsen, Xavier Thabiso Nteta, Liam Meckel O’Connor, Reed Meyer O’Connor, Willa Emilie Flora O’Donnell, Katerin Del Carmen Padilla Calero, Alexis Grace Caballero Pagan, Simone Panetti Pagar, Jyotica Kate Partan, Genesis Isabel Perez Valentin, Sarah Regan Philbrook, Zoë Zizi Dior Yvette Phillips Santiago,

Lucas Vincent Pisano, Dayami Pizha Buri, Randy Michael Pizha Loja, Lucinda Lin Platt, Isaiah Andrew Poe, Milan Ponsa, Rhys Walker Potter-Hewes, Imanni Monet Power-Greene, Marco Mariani Prall, Audrey Taraz Preer, Briana Candice Ramirez, Ariana Jailyne Ramirez, Junior Rocael Ramirez Guite, Jazzmariah Marry Ramos, Jonothan Bert Ratcliffe III, Harper Alden Rathaus, Fawn Cassidy Rattner-Weaver, Ryan James Raud-Mickle, Quinn Austin Resman, Julian Schlereth Remick, Andrea Giselle Rivas Lopez, Ethan Abram Rivera,

Olivia Grace Rivera, Roberto Luis Rivera Carattini, Jowell Manuel Rivera Rivera, Derek Francis Rivers, Zachary James Roberge-Page, Jordyn Brenna Rodrigue, Alexa Faith Rodrigue, Kobe Cassius Rodriguez, Jackson Lee Romanowski, Clara Antoinette Rondina, Ursa Mae Celestia Rossman, Elizabeth Alberda Rounds, Molly Helen Rowlett, Sophie Elizabeth Ruff, Damian Michal Sabach, Quinn Dylan Sacco, Jordan Maya Sage, Ferdinand Roy Schmalzer, Anja Rose Scholz, Tal Yitzhak Schulman, Clara Elizabeth Schumann-Hobbs,

Mattea Lily Segal, Harper Lula Sentenn, Charlotte Lony Shimpach, Quinn Joan Siang, Virginia Marie Sidoti, Cheyenne Mildred Smith, Sydney Daniel Smith, Alexavier Piset Soum Marrero, Thomas Dirk Stanley, Max Gelfman Stocker, Kadzuo Thomas Sugihara, Allison McGrath Sullivan, Shira Natania Sweet, Jack Kirby Tecu, Seiko Helen Kato Tejirian, Yuji Noah Kato Tejirian, Persephone Ferguson Thomas, Ansel Oden Turner, Zara Marguerite Usman, Teresa Jane Ventola, Summer Mina Will Ventura, Acer Arya Matsushita Verson,

Brady James Wheeler, Quintel Dequiezer Williams, Clay Wilson Abella, Jacob Matthew Wintle Galvagni, Adelaide Anne Wolf, Veralin Bernarda Wopereis, Jordan Elizabeth World, Griffin Erika Wozniak, Kayleigh Mei Ming Wu, Druelle Michael Yarborough, Milo James Young, Philip Jakob Zink.