Conard High School’s Class of 2018 celebrated their graduation with words of wisdom, advice, and encouragement for their future endeavors. 

By Maddie Geerlof. Photos by Ronni Newton

Students, faculty, and family gathered to celebrate the 61st Commencement ceremony of West Hartford’s Conard High School’s 360 Class of 2018 graduates on Tuesday evening.

Class President Charlotte Novak opened the ceremony with remarks that the superseding speakers would soon echo in agreement – words of thanks to the parents’ continuous support and well wishes for fellow classmates’ future successes.

“Those who have helped us along the way … we could not have done it without your support,” said Novak graciously as she reflected on her high school career. Novak added that she could not be more grateful for the friendships and memories that she has had while at Conard, and said to her class, “I cannot wait to see where life takes us.”

“Your diploma is much more than a piece of paper,” said Conard Principal Julio Duarte. Duarte, during his address to the graduates, told the students that a diploma is a symbol of the students’ hard work and perseverance.

Duarte said that through musicals, artwork, sports, and random acts of kindness, the Class of 2018 is a well-rounded class and has set a new precedent for future classes. He also challenged each of the graduates, as they embark on their new beginnings, to stop and listen to people’s stories before casting judgment on them.

For many of the seniors, their graduation “symbolizes the end of a story and start of a new one,” said commencement speaker and math teacher Douglas Serkoski. As a testament to this, the Senior Choir sang “Hello, Goodbye” to commemorate not just the end of their high school careers, but the start of their new, exciting journeys.

Superintendent of Schools Tom Moore, who was not only a commencement speaker but also the proud parent of a graduate, shared a special testament with the graduates as he spoke from a parent’s perspective. Moore congratulated the students and thanked them for helping him, as well as all of the parents in attendance, to grow.

“Go and do miraculous things,” said Moore as his final challenge to the class of 2018.

Moore was not the only speaker to leave the graduates with final charges just moments before they would graduate. Serkoski, who was selected by the graduating seniors to speak, challenged the students with the following tasks: he encouraged the graduates to practice compassion, set realistic goals for themselves and plan for the future, and he advised the students to know when to pick up their cellphones and use them and when to put them down and live in the moment.

In a similar manner, one of the class speakers, Annie Bugos, advised her classmates to “Be kind … it’s as simple as that,” she said. Bugos reminisced about the valuable lessons she learned during her career as a Conard student and emphasized to her peers the importance of cherishing those lessons and remembering their roots. “Once a Chieftain, always a Chieftain,” she said with pride as she concluded her remarks.

It was evident that for the students graduating, a Chieftain is more than just their high school mascot. Instead, it is a term that exemplifies an extraordinary community and a family. “A Conard Chieftain is someone who follows their own path and chooses to be unique,” said Serkoski, and he added that the class persevered even through the toughest challenges as a Conard family.

Alex Held, who also spoke on behalf of the class, said that the Conard Chieftain camaraderie is one that is rooted deep within the student body.

After the students walked across the stage to receive their diplomas, they gathered one final time and moved their tassels from right to left.

The ceremony concluded and mortarboards flew into the air as Moore presented the crowd with the Conard High School Class of 2018.

A complete list of graduates from the Conard High School Class of 2018, provided by Conard, follows the photos.

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Conard High School Class of 2018:

Nicole Renee Abrahamsen

Anthony Joseph Adam

Enoch Jesuloba Adelani

Shushank Adhikari

Alyssa Rose Alford

Shaheer Akhter Ali

Syed Hunain Ali

Jasmine Juliet Alvarado

Jonathan Joseph Amara

Grace Elizabeth Andrews

Sofi Jane Andrews

Katia Koledo Araya

Kyle Edwin Armstrong

Nimesh Bajgain

Anna Golli Baker

Conrad James Baldwin

Brooke Ann Barbeau

Delina Rose Bartolomei

Spencer Thomas Bavaro

Keith Martin Beadle

Kaylee Ann Bechard

Lila Fallon Bell

Jordyn Bellizzi)

Lauren Emily Belo

Michael Joseph Bienasz

David William Birnbaum

Sam David Bourquin

Jennah Boyd

Mackenzie Ellis Brink

Jared Thomas Brown

Malik Dominick Brown

Tanner Daniel Bruttomesso

Anne Dewitt Bugos

Danny Bui

Sarah Frances Burgdorff

Joseph Anthony Burnett

Maria Elise Burnett

Grace Elizabeth Burns

Marisela Caban

Liseth Enedina Cabrera Anaya

Finn Andrew Cahill

Julianna Rose Calcaterra

George Baltimore Calvert II

Summer Rose Calvert

Daniel Moises Campos

Abigail Rose Capone

Anthony Vincenzo Carabello

Michelle Cardona

Frank Carpio

Luke Thomas Carroll

Adam Joseph Carson

Orlando Rivera Castillo

Sheppard Thomas Cersosimo

Jennifer Diana Chacon

Nathan Alexander Chacon

Alexander Alexandrovic Chernysh Jr

Alexander Milton Chinchilla

Matthew Abraham Chorches

Rachel Frances Chozick

Chinedu Christopher Chukwura

Danielle Paige Clymer

Rose Betsyris Colon Santiago

Mya Concepcion

Vincent Ralph Conelli

Delaney Elizabeth Connors

Andrew William Corcoran

Victor John Amaral Costa

Gillian Arseanna Danielle Cotton-Graves

Tai Ke’Juan Craig Jr

Lauren Nichole Cummins

Yasmin Da Silva Arcenego

Benjamin Kilty Dalton

Arnold DaRocha

Aakrish Naresh Daswani

Nadia C. Davis

John Nathaniel Davison

Ian Rafael De Matto Mendoza

Janina Rane Decelles

Kemuel Gabriel DeJesus

Ava Rose DeLaCruz

Joseph Thomas DeMeo

Jada Montrice Devonish

Jaden I. Devonish

RuthAnn Elizabeth Dillon

Catherine Jiang Ding

Kerrigan Frances DiPippo

Kasey Do

Leah C. Dollar

Dionna Henrietta Dorsey

Omari Benjamin Douglas

Graham Duncan Douglass

Tiasha Tiana Downer

Tiazjah Jamesha Drayton

Ayla Aliguyon Dulnuan

Eleanor Rose Duva

Jessica Haley Edelson

Zarin Asiyih Ehsani

Andrew James Eikleberry

Richard E. Faria

Osvaldo Feliciano

Jessica Joy Fernandes

Andrew Daniel Ferrucci

Janeidi Figueroa

Matthew T. Fisher

Matthew Edward Flanagan

Maya Elizabeth Flores

Jaden Henry Foster

Jaela Milin Fowler

David Manuel Freitas

Jessica Michelle Frigon

Nicholas John Gaglioti

Gabriel Marcel Garcia

Adarsh George

David Livingstone Giles Jr

Jacqueline Leigh Gilmartin

Michael Eduard Giungi

Samuel Kasimer Glista

Lila Jane Goldstein

Vanessa Chanel Goodman

Magdelena Rhea Grabber

Thomas McLaughlin Grady

Katherine Anne Gregory

Sophia Jeanette Gruber

Cole Thomas Haggerty

Lindsey Hamilton Hammond

Daniel William Harris

Mohamed Abdullahi Hassan

Gillian Leigh Haverty

Tyler Emerson Healey

Alejandro Held

Ramsey Blackburn Henderson

Rebecca Ann Hendsey

Rachel Abigail Hennessey

Evelin Boyle Henninger

Benjamin Davies Hollerbach

Kylon Holloway-Carter

Thomas Hoong

Charles Joseph Hosek

Mathew David Hutchins

Owen Matthew Hyland

Lauren Elizabeth Jacobs

Jimith K. James

Troiana T. Jenkins

Colby Alexander Jones

Nicole Taylor Jones

Terese Katherine Jones

Christopher David Josiah

Arbindra Karki

Mary Elizabeth Kauczka

Margaret Casey Kelly

Omar Ghani Khan

Alexander Kennedy Kim

Rebekah Doeun Kim

John Robert Kirklin

Tyler Knott

Katherine Olivia Kopp

Hunter Lee Kowal

Nicholas Yuan Kuang

Kishan Raj Kunver

Jamie Alexandra Kurowski

Owen Theodore Kutscher

Zachary Burke Lagana

Christopher Anthony LaMarco

Jake Andrew Landry

Lilliana Szabo LaPointe

Nicole Hayley C. LaPorte

Anh-Tu Nguyen Le

Kevin Hoang Le

Isabelle Anderson LeConche

Jane Lee

Cristoff Stefan Ligon

Joel Angel Lopez

Cassidy Marie Lorenzo

Janey Rose Lorenzo

Christian Diogenes Lowe

Anny Lu

Olivia Marie Lucas

Jesus D. Luna Mora

Ethan Andrew Lynch

Raymond Ma

Xiaoyang Ma

Chloe Michelle Macko

Nicholas Andrew Magliochetti

Jackson Anton Mahaffey

Maxwell David Main

Cristian Teodoro Maisonet

Clare Elizabeth Majewski

Jesenia Maxine Maldonado

Maeve Colleen Maloney

Daniel Thomas Manger

Sofia Maricevic

Matthew Joseph Marino

Emily Elizabeth Marshall-Delude

Jenna Elizabeth Marshall-Delude

Rachel Alina Massey

Abel Mathew

Irin Elizabeth Mathew

Danielle Marie Mathura

Cullen Patrick McCaffrey

Collin Blaine McCarthy

Matthew Benneyan McCauley

Sienna McClay

Eileen Mary McGowan

Bryanna Nichole McKreith

Diamond Alisia McLeod

Elizabeth Lucey McMahon

Frances Shelton McPherson

Ivan Eduardo Medina-Ribeiro

Fitore Mehmeti

Roy Carter Melhado

Abel Anthony Mendoza

Angelica Maria Mesias-Mejia

Kyle Manuel Milhomens

Nilan Kamar Miller

Michaela Lynn Mocadlo

Olivia Lee Mocadlo

Hussein Ismail Mohamoud

Christina Marie Molina

Gabriela Magdalena Molina

Jack Thomas Moore

Diana Francheska Morales

Armela Mucka

Adriana Nace

Yash Nair

Syed Muhammad Ali Naqvi

Lauren Nicole Nasby

Mutiyah Nash

Daniel Webster Newton

Alyssa Linh Nguyen

Chan The Nguyen

Chris Anh Nguyen

Kathy Hoang Nguyen

Lukas Vu Nguyen

Tin Tommy Nguyen

Frankie Ni

Jake Donald Nichols

Kyle Robert Nichols

Dominic David Niman

Margaret Wieland Noble

Jenniffer Oliveira Nogueira

Charlotte Elizabeth Novak

Aidan P. O’Brien

Grant Michael O’Connor

Maeve Catherine O’Shea

Jackson Albert O’Sullivan

Lillian Oliveira

Sophia S. Oliveira

Korina Angelique Oliveras

Douglas Joseph Olmstead

Long Bich On

Miles I. Onukwugha

Cameron Paul Orentas

Ryan James Orlowski

Hector Anibal Ortega Jr

Leslyan Marie Ortiz

Michelle Lurry Outlaw

Andrea Gabriela Padilla

Nayeli Padin

Alexandra Alissia Padurariu

Ariya Pakabutr

Briana Kay Paparazzo

Neyarit Pardo

Christian Ariel Paredes

John Stafford Parker

Anna Arlette Patterson

Venkata Krishna Sai Pranav Peddibhotla

Madison Nicole Perez

Cole Aric Peterson

Elizabeth Rice Phillips

Zoe Harper Pierce

Lillie Miriam Pinette

Stephanie Pixley

Nora Elizabeth Policelli

Kaylee Marie Pollicita

Rian Mikella Carolyn Preston

Lena Elizabeth Proietti

Timothy Henryk Rak

Benjamin Lee Ratchford

Trevor William Ratchford

Macy Reese

Jared Justice Reisner

Matthew John Remigino

Joshua Luis Restrepo

Liza Eduarda Ribeiro

Hector Javiel Rivera Jr

Brandon Wilfredo Rivera

Brian Daniel Roach

Eric Joseph Rodonis

Juliana K. Rodrigues

Edwin Alexis Rodriguez

Joseph Lexus Rodriguez

Savannah Jade Rodriguez

Yuneli Yomaris Roman

Nathaniel Marquis Rosado

Anaida Isabel Ruiz

Victoria Rose Santa Maria

Briana Evelyn Santana

Mario Carl Santos

Michael Dailey Schneider

Kaitlin Grace Schulken

Isabelle Rose Schwartz

Max Benjamin Schweitzer

Robert Ganesh Seecharran

Luke Francis Serdechny

Alejandro Serrano

Cristiano Sgarbi

Maryonna Shamonei

Casey Miller Shane

Elijah Shapiro-Rios

Kelsey Margaret Shay

Madison Nina Shea

James G. Shepard

Claire K. Sherrill

Hunter Martin Sigler

Lakshmana Fournier Silva

Cameron James Silver

Sonia Montgomery Simon

Timothy Barry Simplicio

Isaac Noah Sims

Manjot Singh

Emma Niamh Sinnock

Anna Smith

Hunter Ames Smith

Skylar Rose Sokolowski

Nadia Marie Son

Brent Armand Soucy

Emma Mayland Soucy

Julia G. St.Pierre

Aidan Dean Stabnick

Yaira Ayanna Stallings

Jackson Evans Starr

Christopher Louis Stimson

Abigail Marie Swanton

Corey Joseph Tague

Jack Bryan Tapia

Gia-Vonna Jean Tavares

Brandon Thai

Ujwal Thapa

Austin Michael Tobin

Alexandra Elizabeth Tousignant

Chloé J. M. Toutain

Anhthien Teddy Tran

Kelly Tran

Kiet Tuan Tran

Shannon Truong

Liza Beth Uthgenannt

Yasmine Valentin

Ashley Van

Melanie Desiraee Vazquez

Neyde Mercedes Velasquez

Maggie Catherine Venora

Camila Vieira Aguiar

Cameron Ruth Vines

Lauren Kathryn Vitelli

Joseph John Volpe

Jewel Elise Voyer

Ethan William Wadsworth

Andrew Ian Walsh

Matthew John Walsh

Sasha Marie Wenograd

Kaleigh Anna Werner

Jenna Jie-Yu Westfall

Austin Joseph Whittel

Zachary Quentin Wiggins

Alysha Irene Williams

Chloe Elizabeth Williams

Robert Jesse Williams

Casey Natasha Wilson

Paul Owen Wilson

Camille Helena Wimpe

Joseph Thomas Wojciechowski

Cory Alexander Wolski

Eric Campion Woods

Michael Luke Woods

Dylan Michael Wu

Miguel David Yancce

Maggie Kathleen Yezza

Juan Jose Zayas

Robin Jiaxin Zheng

Dominik Zysk