AMHERST — As members of the 2024 class graduate from Amherst Regional High School, they will likely face adversity and be pushed to their limits in the years ahead.

But Class President Neil Cunniffe, speaking during Friday’s graduation ceremony, told his classmates that they will also be given endless opportunities, and they only need to remember the two things that every person can control: attitude and effort.

“Keep the mindset that you will overcome, believe in yourself even if no one else does, be the change you wish to see in the world,” Cunniffe said.

Cunniffe reflected on how the 215 members of the class have been through a lot together, from the pandemic remote learning to fires being set in the school building to bathrooms being locked, and even the adoption of a block schedule. “Definitely some classes shouldn’t be 80 minutes,” he said.

“There is only one ARHS Class of 2024,” Cunniffe said. “I’m so proud of how far everyone has come. I know we’re all destined for greatness.”

The graduation ceremony marked a return to the Bromery Center for the Arts at the University of Massachusetts, where the graduates were seated on the stage facing a full auditorium, even in the overhanging balconies, and offered applause to their families for reaching this point. There were also performances by the high school Chorale and Hurricane Singers and the Wind Ensemble.

Cunniffe talked after the four valedictorians, Noa Chambers, Cristina Hayes-Mendez, Miguel Pinero Jacome and Korinna Spirko, reflecting on what it has meant to go to Amherst Regional.

Pinero Jacome began with a “once upon a time” fairy tale about how the students had come from the depths of Amherst Woods to the hills of Shutesbury, and everywhere in between, and sprinkling in references to classrooms being portals to different worlds and sports events taking place in enchanted arenas, prompting Hayes-Mendez to crack, “you mean our track, where we haven’t had a track meet in years?”

The valedictorians then got serious about their experience, with each day starting in the parking lot, crossing a rainbow crosswalk into the building and moving through the various halls.

“We celebrate our accomplishments in the last 12 years, knowing that we will always be Amherst Hurricanes, but our work is not done,” Chambers said. “The future that we hope for is the one we will work for.”

Michael Thompson, a chemistry teacher, was chosen to give the commencement address. Thompson said that the class holds a special place in his heart, indicated by his willingness to make the address. He observed he met the students during remote learning in fall 2020 and then last spring joined the class in a walk to the middle school to support trans students there.

Upon returning to the high school, “I thought to myself: this is what it’s like to be part of a true community,” Thompson said.

Thompson offered three words of wisdom: to work hard, be kind and be humble. “I think these three simple rules will put you in the best position to be happy and successful human beings,” Thompson said.

High School Principal Talib Sadiq was named to the position when the graduates were ninth graders, as they were in remote learning, one of the challenges for what he called a talented group of students.

“Another reason you’re special is the resilience you’ve shown,” Sadiq said

Like others who spoke, Sadiq mentioned the loss of classmate Anna Burns, who died from a cardiac event during a cross country meet in fall 2022. Sadiq referenced Burns’ fiercely competitive spirit, love for nature and passion for activism. The school is now awarding an annual scholarship in Burns’ name for the first time.

Before people entered the auditorium, many gathered in the lobby, holding flowers, balloons and even large head cutouts of some of the graduates.

On the plaza outside the center before graduation, Zola Higham of Amherst said she appreciated her time at the high school. Higham is heading to Bentley University to study finance.

“It’s been a great experience, both the ups and the downs,” Higham said. “I think it’s a great school and I’ve made great bonds, including with many teachers”

Raye Hegarty of Northampton said she plans to be at Temple University to study media production in the fall.

“It’s a nice community we have at ARHS,” Hegarty said, pointing to students being able to explore a wide array of electives “Overall, it was a great experience.”

Graduates

Usland Aburto Salazar, Madeline Esther Acker, Emani Ann Adams, Abby Trow Addison, Spencer George Airoldi, Sonia Melady Aldrich, Stanley Alejandro Alfaro Leiva, Jackson Crittenden Aller-Cohen, Samanta Ivette Alvarado Leiva, Yasmine Daniela Alvarado Moreno, Jazmine Ann Marie Alvarado-Machuca, Marcielo Divino Aquino, Ivorie Lynn Arguin, Mia Elizabeth Arrastia, Noorullah Azimi

Harriet Diane Barber-Just, Jackson William Barber-Just, Stephanie Marie Barton, Liza May Beigel, Julian Donald Bellak, Lucia Eliza Farrand Bernardin, Roman Alann Ondreas Berry, Thea Lucy Binzen, Johann Cha Bishop, Gwyneth Adriana Kapua Mae’Ole Kuikaua Blount, Madalyn Lola Borowiec, Cyrus Caetano Bouton Donovan, Sarah Nicole Moss Brau, Cassius Abraham Burton, Darius Lee Cage, Alexander James Cain

McKenna Mills Cambo, Julian Beekman Camera, Brenden Keith Camphor, Ruben Abdiel Candelaria de Jesus, Owen Michael Candito, Jaden Mikhail Caraballo, Forrest Sasseville Carvalho, Beatriz Tereza Cazho Garcia, Noa Jane Chambers, Owen Hewen Chen, Rita Rosenberg Child, Gabriela Sofia Cintron Martinez, Juliet Stasia Chase Coleman, Abigail Cornelia Como, Cedar Magdalena Conrad, Ranell Jermaine Conyers Jr., Celma Almeida Correia, Brooklyn Marie Court, Jill Hallock Crosby, Higinio Gabriel Cruz, Irvin Ernesto Cruz Pineda, Annabel Piper Culbreth-Loomis, Neil Patrick Cunniffe

Layla Irma DaSilva-Askew, Talia Elodie Davis, West Paul Davis, Nipuni Tharindra Dayarathne, Inigo Ezra de los Reyes, Talvin Gupta Dhingra, Jameson Daniel Dion, Zachary Nichols Dixon, Kyla Jaleh Dorrie-Burgoyne, Monica Elisa Duran Constanza, Julia Anastasia Edgerly, Nathan Grant Ekstein, Sahar Sheila Elkalai, Connor Gordon Erickson, Benjamin Michael Clapis Feeney, Rob Forto Feldman, Emily Lumei Feldstein, Francisco Javier Fernandez Ramirez, Skyler Clayton Ferro, Sage Francesca Fiander

Rowan Walker Foehl, Mattias Benjamin Foster, Brodee Durand Fournier, Alexander Howard Franz, Kianna-Marie Latisha Fuller, Sarah Elizabeth Gahagan, Jesus Daniel Gerena, Levi Walter Gibson, Jordyn Rose Asante Goodhind, Joshua Paul Furahi Goodhind, Gabriel Roka Gould, Jovahny Nathaniel Govan, Gabriel Jose Guzman Guaregua, Kai Andrew Gonzalez Hafner, Levi Daniel Hahn, Lu Hantzos, Pieter Charles DeBoer Hartman, Galen Fisher HawkOwl, Cristina Maria Hayes-Mendez, Raye Feng Tong Hegarty, Soren Thomas Heim, Zola Rose Higham, Matthew Hockman

Sofia Kelley Holden, Joseph Maccioli Hood, Daniela Thamar Huerta Adrian, Julian Robert Hynes, Lauren Anabelle Ifill, Zane Zubin Irani, Kaethe Gates Jackson, Rutesh Charan Jaswal, Lauren Ann Joy, Emerson Marie Joyce, Nik Kaplan, Sophie Mirelle Kawall, Callie Ruth Keene, Vladimir Jacob Kenney, Noel Crescendo Kenny, Despina Kevrekidis, Cara Rose Kingston, Shannon Elizabeth Klaes, Ari L. Klopfer, Mikayla Sadie Kochan, Piper Elizabeth Kraus-Fabel, Genevieve Grace Lagrant, Caroline Helen Lambert-Mergendahl, William Ernest Larson, Ivy Lau, Andrew Keith Leutz

Sophie Isabel Lindsey, Sonisai Marie Loeung Rinehart, Elias Jenson Lundquist, Magdalene Amber Marcus, Dayana Camila Martinez, Aidan Michael Martin-Weinbaum, Hayden Daniel McIntire, Bridget Caroline McMurrer, Samuel Andres Medina, Rabi David Mednicoff-Misra, Franklin Elizeo Menjivar-Henriquez, Rocco Valentino Moschella, Megan Clara Nicolaou, Annabel Rose Ogden, Diego Alexander Paredes, Katelyn Grace Jeschke Patton, Elliot Dennis Phifer

David nmn Piñero Jacome, Miguel nmn Piñero Jacome, Anwyn Antrasalia Hawthorn Pooser, Jason Steven Ramirez Zavala, Sophia Rau, Haydn Mary Reilly Hogan, Henry Augustus Rennard, Ryder Ellis Rietkerk, Aletheia Byron Riley, Niko Elijah Ringkauf, Finnic John Robertson, Ethan Joseph Robreño, Ashley Nicole Rodriguez Duran, Jayden Noah Rosenbloom, Claire Alexandra Ross, Aryeh Leib Rubinstein, Elijah Tam Rubinstein, Amrita Rose Leviton Rutter, Talia Maybel Sadiq, Aryanna Sampath, Emil Foley Schein, Kevin Gil Schrader

Tyler Schwartz, Evan Michael Scott, Alexandria Isabel Scott-Allen, Jeba Shalin, Rose Adele Todd Shear, Abdullah Khan Sherwani, Tarakayn Tegegn Shultz, Daniel Strunk Sitze, Francesca Pasin Sloan, A’nayah Lynette Smith, Renan Senay Solak, Monica Som, Korinna Blakely Spirko, Patrick Allen Staudenmayer, Nora Lillian Steinberg, Ada Brigit Stekl, Brandon James Stewart, Liam Allen Stewart, Nova Fane Story, Pearl Renner Strong, Declan Thomas Sullivan-Flynn, Autumn Tizita Tarbox

Elijah William Taylor, Remi Oluwatope Seyi Teluwo, Shae Katherine Thomas-Paquin, Lucy Berlin Thompson, Tychon Tkachenko Coggeshall-Burr, Cooper John Turner, Jazzell Izabelle Turner, Michael Angelo Valentin, Delia Frances van Giessen, Jocelyn Paola Vargas, Maia Marie Velez, Marcella Charis Vogel, Ethan Idris Vulcain-Sowkey, Spencer Ray Waite, Kaya Helena Walker, Jesse Emerson Adler Warren, LC Wilson, Taikoda David Wilson, Kyle Joseph Yanko, Phoebe Ann Young, Jennifer Belinda Yunga Caizan, Ava Marriott Zimmerman