West Hartford’s Hall High School held its ‘drive-in graduation’ in front of an audience of well over 300 families on Wednesday night. 

By Dexter McCann and Melanie Grados. Photos by Hunter Marotto and Ronni Newton

It was an evening full of excitement and joy as Hall’s Class of 2020 celebrated with an in-person graduation at the Farmington Polo Grounds on Thursday. 

Upon arriving at the Farmington Polo Grounds, students were greeted by Hall faculty and staff as they parked facing a pop-up stage and big screen TV that displayed the commencement. Graduates and their loved ones listened to the ceremony over the air on 94.5 radio. Additionally, the ceremony was telecast via live stream on whctv.org, Comcast Cable Channel 5, Frontier TV Channel 6098. The ceremony will be rebroadcast on Comcast Cable Channel 96 and available on YouTube. 

Despite the unorthodox circumstances surrounding graduation, many Hall students seemed genuinely grateful to be able to celebrate their graduation in-person.

“I think it [the graduation] was really well planned, and I definitely like this idea more than an online or virtual graduation,” said Jenna Surowiec, a member of the graduating class.

“It shows how much the staff and teachers really care about us,” she added.

“Graduation is definitely unusual this way, but I’m excited that we were able to celebrate in a way that was fitting for the current situation,” added Brett Berman, another member of the Class of 2020.

The ceremony began the pledge of allegiance led by Hall senior and student association board member, Isabella Galm. Following Galm, the audience enjoyed a virtual version of the National Anthem by the Hall Choraliers with musical accompaniment. 

Following the national anthem, Hall principal Daniel Zittoun offered some brief but powerful opening remarks. 

Zittoun began by acknowledging that reality is often out of our control, and that COVID-19 and its fallout was not due to any bad choices, but was unavoidable. He did, however, note that the challenges surrounding the virus would help to prepare the graduates for an unpredictable world. 

“You may not realize it now, but the lessons you learned and the challenges you overcame will serve you well down the road.”

“The reality is that some of those challenges might have looked bigger had you not gone through this experience,” he added. 

Zittoun then went on to share a personal story from his childhood, recalling a middle school trip to Washington D.C. that was cancelled. Years after that cancellation, he and two other friends from school made the trek to the nation’s capital to make up for the trip that never was. 

That trip was even better than Zittoun could have imagined, but it was neither the monuments nor the museums that made it special. Rather, it was the people he traveled with that made the trip something to remember, and, to that point, he urged Hall’s Class of 2020 to keep in touch with the classmates they journeyed through high school with. 

“Focus on the experiences you did have, because those can never be taken from you, and create your own experiences with friends when it is safe to do so,” concluded Zittoun.

Tom Moore, superintendent of West Hartford Public Schools, was next to speak, and he referenced his favorite artist, Bruce Springsteen, when reflecting on the class of 2020.

“The great American artist and poet Bruce Springsteen talks about one central idea as he’s gone through life … we’re all just broken pieces, and we spend our life trying to find the people whose broken pieces fit with our broken pieces and make us whole.”

Moore continued by elaborating on how the Class of 2020 fit together as a whole. 

“The class of 2020 isn’t 400 disparate memories and disparate brains. It’s one, with a lot of different pieces that have come together.” 

Moore concluded with one final piece of advice: “You’ll be independent only when you depend on each other, just as you have the past four years.”

Next to speak was Mark Zydanowicz, Board of Education Representative and father of Jenna Zydanowicz, a graduate in the Hall class of 2020 and member of the state champion girls cross country team. 

Zydanowicz remarked on the accolades Hall had earned during the 2019-2020 school year, including a “gold medal” from the U.S. News, which is awarded to high schools ranked in the top 5% nationwide. 

“You must know that it’s our school system that gets recognized and our students are the real winners.” he added. 

Zydanowicz took the time to reflect on some of the people, events, and clubs that were especially important to the class of 2020, including Pops and Jazz, the Black Box, the Blue Reign, and also a number of teachers and staff members. 

Those people and memories helped make Hall an outstanding place for this class to grow, according to Zydanowicz. 

“You’ve been given one of the best educations available and now have the foundation to excel in your next steps in life.” 

“Know you’ve came from one of the very best, ” Zydanowicz added. 

Following Zydanowicz, Hall senior Lily Perry addressed the Class of 2020 as the student speaker. 

Perry took to acknowledging how the class was celebrating a far from typical graduation but amongst all of the uncertainties, this was a moment of celebration. 

“We are able to briefly put aside the chaos of our world to reflect on all that we have done. We celebrate the wins and losses, the adversities and the perseverance, but most importantly, the growth we have all undergone through our time at Hall High School.” 

She continued on by noting how the class has had the unique opportunity to “be something bigger than ourselves throughout this time and become thankful for the normalcy we had taken for granted.” 

She finished her by sharing her appreciation for the “simplicities that made up a daily routine for four years” and encouraging her fellow classmates to make some history of their own. 

Following Perry was Dr. Lara White, the faculty speaker for the evening. 

White began her speech with passion as she shared her love for the graduating class. She reminisced on the difficult and confusing week leading to the final day of classes on Friday, March 13, 2020. 

“Many of you had worked so hard for so long, putting in hours, skipping time with your friends and family for practices, rehearsals, studying, preparing for events or moments that simply seemed to vanish.” 

White continued by sharing her personal story as a way to show the class “you can be more resilient and powerful than you thought, setbacks and disappointments can be your best teachers, that extraordinary people will show up in your life to help you achieve your goals and in the end, if you believe in your potential, no circumstances can keep you from what you were meant to be. 

“I share my story today to let you know that you are not alone, but in fact, you are on the edge of a life less ordinary,” she added. 

White concluded her speech by ensuring the Class of 2020 that throughout their struggles, they will never be alone. 

“You are not alone. We are here by your side, and we will continue to coach you, cheer you on, and recognize your accomplishments.” 

Principal Daniel Zittoun announced the presentation of diplomas. Students and families watched as the names and photographs of the graduates were displayed on the TV screen, cheering for their friends and family. 

The ceremony concluded with the charge to the class, led by senior student association board member, Ella Novitsky. She shared some heartwarming memories and encouraging words with the class before officially concluding the ceremony. 

As Novitzky finished speaking, the graduates exited their cars, turned their tassels, and tossed their caps in the air, celebrating a tumultuous, unusual, but ultimately gratifying senior year.

Names of graduates are listed below.

 

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Hall High School Class of 2020:

David	Abrams-Hochman
Samantha	Acosta
Nicole	Adomeit
Anish	Aitha
Justin	Albee
Nadia	Alsubai
Luke	Alvarez
Iure	Alves De Oliveira
Delnaz	Amroliwalla
Noah	Angell
Matthew	Antoine
Madison	Arroyo
Eva Joy	Astrachan
Bridget	Aube
Olivia	Ayers
Abigail	Azia
Nadav	Azran
Julian	Baker
Diego	Ballesteros
Gared	Bard
Brandon	Barnett
Michael	Barnett
Leo	Barrieau
Matthew	Barrows
Hanna	Ben-Naim
Dilon	Bent
Brett	Berman
Olivia	Birbara
Lillian	Black
Todor	Bliznakov
Olivia	Bonee
Alexandra	Bradley
Zoe	Bradley
Alanna	Brown
Owen	Brudz
Caitlyn	Bucari
Maximus	Bunker
Spencer	Burke
Caroline	Burkhard
Caleb	Burr
Emma	Campbell
Nathan	Campbell
Nicholas	Campbell
Alexander	Carducci
Jameson	Carnes
Nathan	Caron
David	Cass
Thomas	Cass
Emily	Castineiras
Anna	Cates
Riina	Cayford
Joshua	Chachques
Jayden	Chan
Octavio	Chan
Corina	Chang
Benny	Chen
Darren	Chen
Marian	Chen
Michael	Cherny
Natasha	Chicerchia
Alicia	Chiu
Christopher	Cho
Jilian	Chow
Samuel	Church
Marisa	Ciafone
Julia	Cianflone
Gabriela	Ciccomascolo
Flavio	Clermont
Ethan	Clewes
Lauren	Cook
Angelica	Coronado
Mia	Coronado
Andrew	Coronel
Justus	Coulter
Edward	Coursey
Allie	Crawford
Emily	Cubbage
Bridget	Daly
Kwaku	Danso-Dapaah
Daniel	Davidson
Emily	Davis
Trevor	Dease
Julian	DeCampos
Jacob	Del Coro
Thomas	DeMichele
Olivia	Deslauriers
Mia Edith	Devin
Prasun	Dhakal
Jimena	Diaz Del Castillo
Christian	Diaz
Hannah	Dinowitz
Korey	Dinowitz
Hibo	Dirir
Isabella	Dorian
Mia	Downey
Ava	Duprey
Lillian	Dupuis
Emily	Duzy
Ethel	Dvoskin
Ibrahim	Elamin
Garrett	Elliott
Britt	Emerick
Sophie	Ennis
Karina	Estremera
Korin	Ezell
Noel	Fagan
William	Fallon
Zimeng	Fan
Samantha	Farber
Nina	Faynshtayn
Bianca	Feiner
Thomas	Fernandez-Wolff
Calvin	Feulner
Allison	Finman
Matthew	Fitzsimonds
Carlos	Florez
William	Fox
Emma	Friedman
Jacob	Friedman
Emma	Frombach
Riley	Gallagher
Isabella	Galm
Facundo	Garcia
Jay	Garcia
Jack	Gaumer
Jake	Genero
Katherine	George
Jonah	Gershon
Samuel	Giangreco
Sophia	Gianoulis
Grace	Gillis
Matthew	Goldfarb
Elizabeth	Gomez
Aarik	Googe-Rochester
Jackson	Grady
Ashley	Granquist
Marley	Green
Lily	Guberman
Abigail	Gunraj
Alvaro	Gutierrez-Martinez
Kiet	Ha
Alexei	Habermehl
Naib	Habibi
Luke	Hache
Jayce	Hamilton
Max	Hanke
Adam	Hanlon
Paige	Haymond
Alexander	Heath
Michelle	Hernandez
Daniel	Herz
Amy	Hidalgo
Arden	Hill
Le Mai Khanh	Ho
Desmond	Hoffman
Siyi	Hong
Anne	Horton
Ryan	Howe
Juliana	Hu
Jade	Hunter
Noah	Hurt
Joseph	Hussey
Nicolas	Iaiennaro
Beatrice	Innocent-Peralte
Maya	Irizarry-Lambright
Victoria	Israel
Leah	Jackson
Braylin	Javier Taveras
Rachael	Jopeck
Max	Kalsner Kershen
Heba	Karkar
Lucia	Katz
Gregory	Katzman
Matthew	Keller
Fernando	Kerrigan-Mock
Afrah	Khalil
Silme	Khan
Bill	Khang
Dylan	Kindle
Rose	Kitz
Mira	Klein
Liam	Knapp
Bridget	Knox
Aoife	Kootsookos
Collin	Kozak
Emily	Kruczek
Katherine	Kruczek
Tom	Kuriakose
Madeline	Lachut
Ella	Lage
Duojie	Langgang
Zachary	LaPolla
June	Laub
Julianna	Le
Alyson	Liew
Victor	Lima
Dillon	Lindberg
Maya	Lis
Evan	Lombardo
Joshua	Lou
Michael	Luna
David	Lyons
Julia	Madonick
Lauren	Mahler
Samuel	Makarewicz
Layla	Malhas
Margaret	Mantz
Harrison	Margolis
Justin	Market-Maestre
Zachary	Martin
Spencer	Martindale
Jessica	Mason
Seth	Maxwell
Patrick	McGann
Jackson	McMullon
Angel	Medina
Michael	Medved
Cole	Mertes
Fabiana	Mesia
Nathan	Miller
Aislinn	Mitchell
John	Mitrano
Samah	Mohamedzein
Mira	Mohler
Margaret	Mohring
Edward	Monnes
Zachary	Moran
Julia	Mouta
Leo	Mulready
William	Murkette
Jackson	Muskrat
Yafet	Mussie
Ruth	Nawy
Pierce	Newman
Desmond	Nigol-Mason
Coby	Noll
Chloe	Nordyke
Ella	Novitsky
Carlos	Nunez
Leah	O’Brien
Seamus	O’Connell
Emmanuel	Obisesan
Olivia	Oken
Dinaka	Onoh
Andrea	Orlich
Sierra	Ortolaza
Randy	Peguero
Justina	Pelletier
Lily	Perry
Tomas	Persano
Brian	Pervere Jr
Ethan	Pervere
Zachary	Peterson
Peter	Piao
Mia	Picciolo
Joshua	Pinsky
Harris	Plotkin
Jared	Propis
Paolo	Quispe
Nicoleena	Radujko
Suvekshya	Rai
Tali	Raichelson
Ashay	Ralli
Brennen	Ravenberg
Kyle	Rice
Katelyn	Richard
Cameron	Riley
Laila	Rivas
Angel	Rivera Sanchez
Kathleen	Romero
Lia	Rosenbloom
Zoe	Rossomando
Autumn	Rowland
Noe	Ruelas
Caroline	Rutstein
Gabriel	Salomons
Salena	Santos
Amrita	Sapkota
Elena	Schaumburger
Natalie	Schaumburger
Bryce	Schieding
Lillian	Schulman
Robert	Schunder
Matthew	Schwab
Jonathan	Schwartz
Alexander	Searls
Jillian	Selig
Nicole	Selig
Aishwarya	Shaji
Erin	Shannon
Joseph	Shuey
Aeva	Silverman
Matthew	Silverman
Hailey	Singer
Surya	Singh
Timothy	Sink
Darina	Sitkowski
Christina	Sitton
Connor	Skarzynski
Timothy	Smith Jr
Joseph	Snider
Zachary	Sobel-Pressman
Nathalie	Sookhoo
Amandah	Sosa
Daniel	Stein
Riley	Steinberg
Holly	Stern
Liam	Stone
Zackary	Storms
Abdullah	Suliman
Jenna	Surowiec
Lauren	Sussler
Nicholas	Tannenbaum
Oidinai	Tashmuhamedov
Ian	Taylor
Bikram	Thakur
Anaja	Thomas
Crystal	Thomas
Brady	Tober
Emma	Tomb
Jacob	Torres
Amelia	Tripp
Ava	True
Jeffrey	Tulier II
Ean	Tyler
Hugh	Tyrell
Luke	Udell
Matthew	Verrengia
Miguel	Villanueva
Paul	Wada
Angelina	Wagner
Milena	Wagner
Jamali	Walker
Joshua	Walters
Koran	Warren
Deante	Watson
Sylvia	Weinstock
Andrew	Weiss
Mackenzie	Wells
Lillian	West
Cecilia	Wheeler
Meredith	Wickless
Beau	Williams
Elvionnae	Willis-Card
Liam	Wilson
Mahalia	Wilson
Benjamin	Winkelman
Brandon	Wolmer
Mason	Woods
Bryce	Yamamoto
Gordon	Yang
Jeremy	Zetoff
Ruyi	Zhong
Riley	Zimmerman
Ryan	Zimmerman
Jenna	Zydanowicz