‘Have Hope, and Thank You’: Conard High School Celebrates Class of 2022
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Seniors open the letters found under their seats – thank you's from faculty and staff that Ramona Puchalski-Piretti arranged. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
West Hartford’s Conard High School held its 2022 commencement ceremony on the grounds of the school on June 14, 2022.
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
By Baylee Krulewitz. Photos by Ronni Newton
Sweaty and a bit weary from the sun, soon-to-be Conard grads reached under their chairs at the instruction of Ramona Puchalski-Piretti, the faculty member selected to give the address to the class.
There, each of the 363 students found a personalized letter from various Conard staff members, a special celebration for the Class of 2022. This sweet gift capped off a remarkable evening of joy and love for the seniors as they move on to whatever post-secondary life may bring them.
The National Anthem is translated into American Sign Language. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Senior members of Conard’s different choirs sang several songs throughout the evening, including the Conard Alma Mater, Alanis Morissette’s “You Learn,” and the National Anthem. The National Anthem was enhanced this year, as for the first time Conard had students translating the song into American Sign Language while the choir sang. This new development reflected the themes of inclusion and pride discussed in the speeches.
The first speaker was Quinn Moynihan, Conard’s class president. Moynihan highlighted the supreme perseverance of this graduating class, saying “More than half of our time in high school has been impacted by the ongoing pandemic. We’ve all had a unique experience, and we’ve gone through it together.”
Class President Quinn Moynihan. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
She reflected on this past year, grateful for the fact that students experienced at least some degree of normalcy.
Moynihan’s speech ended with a sincere congratulations to all the graduates and a message of praise for all that they’ve accomplished.
Next to speak was Jamahl Hines, Conard’s principal – his first graduation ceremony since getting this job, Hines delivered a speech peppered with personal connections and appreciation for the seniors.
Principal Jamahl Hines. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
He noted the importance of parents celebrating their childrens’ successes. “I practice what I preach,” he said. “I flew my mother, Ms. Haywoodene Hines, here from Rock Hill, South Carolina for this event ‘cause I need my momma here too!”
In an emotional message about uncertainty and growth, Hines recalled the times in the past when he sat on the Conard graduation stage, watching other people giving speeches and being thankful it wasn’t him. Now, he said, “Isn’t it funny how life responds when we make proclamations like that?”
He’s experienced many personal changes since he sat on that stage in the past. With racial tensions high and a pandemic throwing the world into unpredictability, Hines said he “felt emotionally paralyzed.” Yet, the class of 2022, with their passion, kind hearts, and activism propelled him back, leading Hines to a trust in courage, inspiration, and togetherness.
He ended his speech with a message of gratitude to the graduates: “Thank you for your humanity.”
Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Superintendent Tom Moore, speaking for the final time in that capacity as he prepares to depart for a job in the Chicago area, gave a brief but powerful speech about outlook. He started off by asking a simple question to the audience: “Are you someone who counts their blessings or tallies their slights?”
Moore declared that it’s important graduates surround themselves with optimists, with those who count their blessings. He instructed the class of 2022 to choose wisely, and to use their gifts.
Board of Education speaker Clare Taylor Neseralla. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Board of Education member Clare Neseralla commended the graduating generation, saying it’s one that “accepts the other, celebrates diversity, and not only believes in inclusion but puts it into action.” Resilience and problem-solving abilities are qualities that Neseralla applauded in this class – a group that includes the last of the students she taught at Duffy Elementary School.
Neseralla reminded the audience of a beloved tradition where seniors receive a letter written by their fifth grade selves, remarking just how much they’ve achieved since then. Finally, she urged graduates to use their voices, with an influential quote from her mother: “I hate it when I don’t get what I don’t ask for.”
Class commencement speakers featured two graduates who were selected by a committee.
Student speaker Agatha Stephany Dias Pinheiro. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Agatha Stephany Dias Pinheiro spoke about her early life living in Brazil, and then moving to America in 2010. She told of her Tio and his “quiet way of loving and caring for me.” Pinheiro then discussed her difficult move to America after her father’s death, with funny quips about the experience like “Even the food was scary; you all eat milk and cereal for breakfast – what a strange thing.”
Pinheiro’s eventual empowerment was a key part of the speech, but this empowerment only came after dark times: “I have had incredible moments of heartache that impacted my life a lot but I have chosen to allow them to only help me grow,” she said. She used this learning experience to tell the audience that personal wins often come from hardships, and the graduating class has dealt with plenty.
The audience erupted into cheers when Pinheiro announced: “Today I am going to be the first person in my whole family to go to college, as I believe many of you can relate. There have been a lot of firsts in my life.”
Then, she handed it off to Lily Kluskiewicz, the next student speaker.
Student speaker Lily Kluskiewicz. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
With a personal tale of of what she considered an unsatisfactory grade on a first grade report card (a “P”), Kluskiewicz emphasized a theme of not dwelling on what we cannot change. She instead recommends using past missteps or misjudgements to help improve character. While no one can “pick up a clock and magically turn back the time to study more, not argue, be more outgoing, or push yourself harder,” Kluskiewicz acknowledged that people can continue to blossom.
She ended with a simple question to the grads: “So, four years at Conard High School, what are you going to do with it?”
Faculty speaker Ramona Puchalski-Piretti. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
The final speaker was English teacher Puchalski-Piretti, who piloted the letters-under-the-seat idea. In her speech, she reinforced the idea that while graduates are moving on, their time at Conard is certainly fundamental, as her time teaching there has provided useful insight.
With that, she dove into six critical things people at Conard have taught her – urging members of the Class of 2022 to be enthusiastic, hold on to their childhood wonder, stay steadfast to one’s community, trade smiles, stand up for what’s right, and have hope. She related all these points back to the tight-knit Conard community, and the potential that each graduating senior has.
Puchalski-Piretti ended with an ask: “Conard Class of 2022: be good, be kind, be useful, be fearless.” This ask was a nod to the fact that these graduates are the future. They are the ones who will lead the world. They are, in Puchalski-Piretti’s words, “our embodiment of HOPE.”
To end the ceremony, the names were read, the diplomas were handed out, the tassels were flipped, and the caps were tossed. Conard’s class of 2022 has officially graduated, and they’re off to shake up the world.
A complete list of the Conard Class of 2022 can be found below the photos.
Congrats to the @ConardCHS Class of 2022!! #WestHartford #WeHa pic.twitter.com/Xl2gqRBPGf
— We-Ha.Com (@WeHartford) June 14, 2022
Principal Jamahl Hines and faculty speaker Ramona Puchalski-Piretti process onto the field. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Assistant Principal Lindsay Tringalli served as emcee. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Senior choir members. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Former Conard Principal, Julio Duarte, now the executive director of Human Resources for the district, pronounced the Class of 2022 graduated. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Principal Jamahl Hines with his mother (second from right), his daughter, and his wife. Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
Conard High School graduation. June 14, 2022. Photo credit: Ronni Newton
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Conard High School Class of 2022:
| Rasheed Rahmir Abdullateef |
| Lily M Agosta |
| Lucas C Agosta |
| Usman Ahmed |
| Daniel Gennaro Aliberti |
| Cameron Nicholas Almodovar |
| Jayden Luis Alvarez |
| Sebastian Alexander Antepaz |
| Emma Grace Aponte |
| Harrison James Arcand |
| Joy Callie Armstrong |
| Jude Glynn Ashworth |
| Caroline Grace Austin |
| Chandika Deveena Bachan |
| Beau Karaban Bacon |
| Hugh Bryce Baldwin |
| William Anthony Ball Jr |
| Erik J Baronian |
| Matthew Robert Bates |
| Grace Ann Beazoglou |
| Neil Haresh Beckles |
| Evan Jonathan Belabe |
| Leonne Benita |
| Rebecca Bereta Reis Gomes |
| Alexandra Kai Bernstein-Naples |
| Samantha Quinn Bernstein-Naples |
| Jazira Betts |
| Aashni Samir Bhatt |
| Chinmay Bhatt |
| Nicole Maria Bienasz |
| Dustin Rey Mayol Binalla |
| Henry Charles Bissonnette |
| Cheili Honorah Bond |
| Daequan Tyrell Boomer |
| Gabriela E Boucher |
| Grace Fernand Boulton |
| Abdul Marvin Boynes Jr |
| Madeline Grace Brennan |
| Sophia Pearl Brites |
| Bridget McCormick Bronsdon |
| Molly Elizabeth Brown |
| Owen Alexander Brown |
| Theodore Johanson Brown |
| Mia Katherine Burns |
| Aidan Josef Buyak |
| Kimberly Victoria Cabello |
| Maria Angela Capati |
| Alysha Kristal Caraballo |
| Christopher Cardona |
| Victoria Cardoso De Freitas |
| Maximillian J Carney |
| Josephine Wei Carreras |
| Alexander Rivera Castillo |
| Emily G Castillo |
| Ismael Amir Castillo |
| Nicholas Cristian Cernatescu |
| Jasmine Chanthavong |
| Andrew Patrick Chen |
| Eric Chen |
| Ethel Chen |
| Manuela Chiele Daumling |
| Natalie Val Chin |
| Lucas John Chmela |
| Trevon Lequan Collins |
| Jack Dennis Correia |
| Arelys Cosme |
| Jillian Rose da Costa Pinto |
| Jacqueline Thi Dam |
| Aaryan Naresh Daswani |
| Benjamin Staige Davis |
| Niyah Najei Davis |
| Jaydin Javier De Jesus |
| Shelby Noel Deep |
| Kaleb Dejesus |
| Elizabeth Matthews Delaney |
| Sybella Elizabeth DeMeo |
| Thomas Hayes DeMeo |
| Tyler Aaron Denault |
| Rachel Elizabeth Deren |
| Andrey Dermendzhiev |
| Julia Madeline Descy |
| Brian Joti Dhandili |
| Klara Aliqi Dhandili |
| Agatha Stephany Dias Pinheiro |
| Holly Jean Dillon |
| Walker Fredrick Disque |
| Margaret Ellen Dollar |
| Morgan Taylor Dorsey |
| Brian Christopher Fehl |
| Nona Marie Ferney |
| Francisco Pedro Ferreira |
| Daniel Ferreira Teixeira |
| Daniel Andres Ferrer |
| Kaleb Jarell Ferris |
| Katherine Marie Flaherty |
| Kathryn Rose Flowers |
| Grace Catherine Flynn |
| Joseph Flanagan Foley |
| Sara Madelyn Fritz |
| Joshua Robert Frost II |
| Daniel Joseph Gallagher |
| Sarah Catherine Gallagher |
| Nathan James Gallo |
| Havyn Gabrielle Ganci |
| Alessandro Gomin Gaudio |
| Lauren Nanami Gauvin |
| Natalie Jean Gavalis |
| Bridget Shannon Gearty |
| Dwayne Antonio Genus |
| Rebecca Catherine Gerard |
| Jacob Jay Gerrier |
| CC Elizabeth Gfeller |
| Clare Murphy Gillis |
| Abigail Barbara Gionfriddo |
| Kent Peterson Goerner |
| Andrei Baker Golli |
| Christina Puja Gomes |
| Anibell Rose Goncalves |
| John Anthony Gonzalez Molina |
| Brayden James Grainger |
| Lydia Canales Griffin |
| Kallie Lucinda Elena Guerraz |
| Bodhi Gurung |
| Jack Thomas Gustafson |
| Zachary David Haimes |
| Jalen Lebron Hamblin |
| Jonathan Gilbert Hanse |
| Ethan William Hardesty |
| Julian James Hart |
| Sophie A Hart |
| John Ivar Haslun |
| Katharine Rhodes Haslun |
| Warda M Hassan |
| Oliver Held |
| Sam James Heller |
| Brayden M Hendsey |
| Christopher David Hill |
| Dawson Dequan Hill |
| Julia Rose Hosek |
| Cameron Dewalt Hoskins |
| Neil Sager Hoskins |
| Jack Richard Hoye III |
| Jeffrey David Hubbard |
| Emma Elizabeth Hursey-Durant |
| Luke Thomas Hyland |
| Carlos Enrique Irula |
| Mikolas Ignas Jalinskas |
| Ava Elizabeth Jarvis |
| Melanie Javier |
| Jonathan Jimenez Jr |
| Akshat Juneja |
| Daniel Abraham Kamin |
| Zahava Kandel |
| Nicholas Andrew Kane |
| Gurleen Kaur |
| Jack Ryan Kennedy |
| Andrew John Killoran Jr |
| Kevin Ryan Kirklin |
| Lily Jane Kluskiewicz |
| Bruci Marcelle Knight |
| Samantha Carrie Kramer |
| William Winfield Kuhnly |
| Sophia Maria Kuoch |
| Andrea Olivier Laborde |
| Landon Reed Lagana |
| Peter Gilman Langevin |
| Emonie Fatimah Laurent |
| Cathy V Le |
| Kyle Tuandat Le |
| Lara Eduarda Lessa |
| Charles Mercer Lewis |
| Sally Lin |
| Andrea Flavia Loftus |
| Marina Angela Loftus |
| Israel Jacob Lopez |
| Annie Bymell Lopez-Lopez |
| Dez’Ray Aleidy Lugo |
| Sophia Joan Lynch |
| Xavier Joel Madera |
| Andrew David Maglio |
| Safal Mahat Chhetri |
| Jack David Majewski |
| Cristiandel Maldonado |
| Amelia Melania Mallach |
| Hannah Rae Mallinson |
| Maggie Elizabeth Mancini |
| Hannah Elliana Mark |
| Shirah Simcha Mark |
| Nicolas Javier Martin |
| Trinity C Martin |
| Janelle Maria Martinez |
| Maya Martinez |
| Steven Anthony Mascolo |
| Kaitlyn Helena Mayuri |
| Tyler Lee Pereira McCabe |
| Julia Beaudry McCue |
| William Freedman McPherson |
| Andrew James Messina |
| Taylon Cabral Miller |
| Nith Mony |
| Bridget Anneliese Mooney |
| Angelina Morales |
| Martin William Cooligan Moran |
| Adam Charles Morhardt |
| Allyson Ruth Morozuk |
| Gustavo Angel Moya Tavarez |
| Samara LoRae Moyer |
| Allison Lynn Moynihan |
| Anna Quinn Moynihan |
| John Joseph Mozonski |
| Cielo Mia Munoz |
| Lidyana Rose Nadeau |
| Syed Mohammad A Naqvi |
| Daniella Nascimento |
| Deven F Nastri |
| Samyukta Ramani Natarajan |
| Amelia F Neal |
| Darius Derek Negron |
| Leah Carolin Nelson |
| Mackenzie Lynne Neville |
| Brandon Nguyen |
| Cynthia Tam Nguyen |
| Duy Hao Nguyen |
| Juliette Elyse Nguyen |
| Kevin H Nguyen |
| Nam Hoai Nguyen |
| Ryan Nguyen |
| Anthony Jude Nicholson-Gauvin |
| Pamela Masiel Nolasco Serrano |
| Ryan Timothy Norcia |
| Charlize Ntiamoah-Larbi |
| Uzodinma Okechukuu Nwachuku |
| Griffin Andrew O’Connell |
| Taaliah Cecelia Ogountola |
| Sarah Christine O’Leary |
| Ibukunoluwa Esther Oluwasina |
| Jairilyn Cindy Ortiz |
| Lauren Elizabeth Palaia |
| Maya Prafulla Palanki |
| Michael Arthur Parizo |
| Mikel Raymond Parizo |
| Nyssa D Park |
| Casden Dean Parker |
| Krish Pritesh Kumar Patel |
| Krishna Raju Patel |
| Ava Seaver Patrissi |
| Griffin Thomas Paulus |
| Sophia Evelyn Pegolo |
| Thales Pereira Dos Santos |
| Maxmilian Gabriel Petropoulos |
| Maya Elizabeth Petterson |
| Evan Mcleod Sayers Phillips |
| Lila Helen Pierce |
| Isabella Clare Pincince |
| Katherine Elizabeth Powers |
| Peter William Priester |
| Kaitlyn Rose Puleo |
| Carly Anya Rabinovich |
| Connor Joseph Reardon |
| Nora Catherine Reardon |
| Christian G Requenes |
| Megan Catherine Richards |
| Ashley Marie Rivera |
| Elijah Emanuel Rivera |
| Emily Rivera |
| Joshua Alexandre Rivera |
| Ricardo Gabriel Rivera |
| Kevin Chandler Roach |
| Matthew Soo Bin Roach |
| Harrison Gray Roberts |
| Lowen Jaye Roberts |
| Isabel Grace Robertson |
| James Marin Robinson |
| Bailey Eliza Robson |
| Alex Rodriguez |
| Gustavo Rodriguez |
| Marvin Joel Romero Sanchez |
| Jocelyn Rosa |
| Samuel Luc Rosa |
| Alexander Quinn Rosenthal |
| Maximilian Simon Rothfarb |
| Aidan John Roy |
| Carlos Manuel Ruiz |
| Jake Thomas Samela |
| Matthew Trudell Sampt |
| Taylor M Santana |
| Emilia Lee Santiago |
| Rebecca Jensen Santos |
| Isabella Catherine Sardilli |
| Emma Sasonov |
| Helaine Elizabeth Sauter |
| Andrew Justin Savage |
| Connor Patrick Schulken |
| John Philip Schulz |
| James Thomas Scully |
| Kevin Brian Selph |
| Graydon Tyler Selstad |
| Aiden John Shaughnessy |
| Victoria Ann-Marie Shaw |
| Callum Elliot Sherry |
| Gavin Patrick Sherry |
| Kevin Andrew Shreenauth |
| Rijesh Shrestha |
| Alejandro Eliasib Sical |
| Beatrice Malena Sierra |
| Eliana Michal Singer |
| Molly Rose Singer |
| Margaret Adams Slap |
| Connor Francis Smith |
| Declan Harry Smith |
| Julius Ali Smith |
| Zigmond William Sokolowski Jr |
| Ethan Francisco Soler |
| Maria Sotomayor |
| Ellie Jackson Soucy |
| Mekhi David Spence |
| Emily Katherine Steadman |
| Grace Anne Sullivan |
| Mia Rose Sullivan |
| Alyson Veronica Sutliff |
| Harrison Michael Sweeney |
| Emma Sophia Sweeney |
| Ella Marie Tanis |
| Benjamin Daniel Tartaglia |
| Thomas Andrew Tarutin |
| Luisa Tavares Temponi |
| William Hampton Teed |
| Laila Temraoui |
| Elizabeth Mary Thibault |
| Vivian Dorothea Thompson |
| Chanel Maylina Thorpe |
| Ethan Tirado |
| Ellie Foy Toland |
| William Peter Tonkinson |
| William Eric Tousignant |
| Eli Patrick Towey |
| Loc My Tran |
| Tia Gia Trang |
| Madison Concetta Valdez |
| Abner Abdiel Vega |
| Ella Noga Veiner |
| Ralph Richard Velasco |
| Eziah Daniel Velazquez |
| Rohan Venkatesh |
| Emma Antoinette Vernile |
| Xavier Vesci-Williams |
| David Richard Virgo |
| Jordan Joseph Virola |
| Jason Thomas Vitelli |
| Phuong Nghi Vo |
| Luke Henry Wadsworth |
| William Joseph Walsh |
| Michael Gehrig Weiss |
| John Henry Wenz |
| Ryan Daniel West |
| Kaili Jayne Whitmer |
| Allison Helen Wilcox |
| Cecilia Louise Williams |
| Kimberly Faith Williams |
| Zoe Marie Wojciechowski |
| Colin John Wright |
| Kiley Anne Yepes |
| Kellie Teresa Yezza |
| Lauren Victoria Zaborowski |
