Graduates of West Hartford’s Hall High School came together one last time before starting the next chapter in their lives. 

By Roz Green. Photos by Craig Rosenberg

The sun shone down on Hall High School graduates as they completed their four years of high school and received their diplomas on Wednesday, June 11. With their caps beautifully decorated and their heads held high, students were celebrated with cheering and applause from their teachers, family, and friends. 

Principal Sarah Isaacs gave a heartfelt introductory speech to begin the ceremony. She mentioned how time moves so quickly and sometimes people don’t take a second to pause and reflect on important moments in their lives.

“Eighteen years from now – and well beyond, when you pause to reflect on your life thus far, I hope the way you’ve measured time brings a smile to your face. I hope you remember that you are strong. You are capable. You are kind. You are good,” said Isaacs as she encouraged the graduates to measure time with the moments that matter, the moments that are meaningful. 

Isaacs concluded her speech by reminding students not to panic if time doesn’t go as planned, but to view it as a new opportunity for growth and rethinking. She encouraged students to remember all they’ve learned at Hall and use that as they navigate through their lives. 

After congratulating the graduates, Isaacs handed the microphone to Superintendent Paul Vicinus to give his remarks. 

Vicinus stated that wherever the graduates may be heading, “whether your plans involve college, career, or military service,” the students’ time at Hall, and throughout their entire academic career, has brought forth the fundamental tools for success. It has allowed for students to learn lifelong skills and grow into well-rounded individuals. 

“Success is not defined solely by the milestones you reach, but by the values you carry and the impact you make on those around you,” said Vicinus. He emphasized the importance of making an impact, speaking out, and advocating for oneself and others. He reminded the graduates that every one of them has the potential to create change and become something great. 

After Vicinus gave his remarks, Dr. Gayle Harris, a member of the West Hartford Board of Education, stepped up to the podium. 

Harris spoke on behalf of the entire Board of Education to celebrate and congratulate the graduates on all their hard work and effort that they’ve put into the past four years. “We are all so proud of what you have accomplished here and we cannot wait to see where your next steps will bring,” said Harris. 

Harris also mentioned how the world has changed tremendously from when she was in high school. The students lived through a pandemic, through technological developments, and “world chaos,” Harris stated. She reminded students that it is important to have their own opinions and beliefs on certain topics, but it is still vital to keep an open mind and listen to other people’s opinions. She stressed that listening to other people’s opinions will make one well-rounded and more educated, and that it makes one stronger. 

Harris closed her remarks by expressing her hope that each student will reach their goals and aspirations, become strong leaders, and continue to learn from each other and care for each other. 

After the Hall High School Choraliers sang their Alma Mater, student speaker Rebecca Samuels delivered a unique speech as she acted as if she was speaking for a podcast. “I’m your host, Becca Samuels, and today is a very special episode because it’s our graduation episode,” stated Samuels as she opened her speech. 

During her speech, Samuels focused on happiness. She stated how although it may seem that happiness is “something we should easily be able to grab hold of,” it is truly one of the hardest things to understand. Students are constantly faced with huge projects, exams, and the major task of figuring out exactly who you are. 

Samuels explained how a lot of people believe that happiness is defined by big moments, such as graduating high school or getting into college. “But real happiness,” Samuels stated, “comes from the smaller everyday moments. The little joys we often overlook while they’re happening.” She mentioned things like seeing a friend while passing through the halls, or sitting in the same spot in the cafeteria “where you and your friends always seem to end up.” 

She concluded her speech by reminding her classmates to pay attention to the little things that bring joy, because those small moments that may seem minuscule at the time, may be more important and defining than the big ones. After congratulating her peers, the Hall High School Choraliers gave another beautiful performance of “The Road Home.” 

Following the Choraliers, James Doyle, the faculty speaker of the evening, addressed the graduates. He, too, is graduating with the class of 2025 as this was his final year at Hall High School before retiring. He reminisced on all the memories he has made with the three thousand students he has had throughout his 29 years of teaching. He expressed his appreciation for the students’ kindness and has been consistently impressed by their strength, perseverance, and brilliance.

“I have been given the tremendous gift of encountering dozens and dozens of extraordinary young people with extraordinary talents, extraordinary kindness, with whom I have shared extraordinary mutual respect. Students have enriched my life in a way that I never thought possible when I signed up to teach math,” stated Doyle. 

Doyle continued his speech by suggesting one thing to the students: to seek a type of mastery. As his type of mastery is math, he wished that the students would find their own type, something they are good at, passionate about, and something they value. He reminded students to use their time wisely, but make sure they use a portion of their time for the greater good. Doyle urged students to remember that they are provided with 10,000 hours every 1.7 years. “You have many cycles of mastery opportunity ahead of you. Use them wisely.” 

After Doyle’s speech, the presentation of diplomas began. As the graduates collected their diplomas with pride and dignity, the next chapter of their lives began to unfold, but their journey has only just begun. 

To view the full gallery of photos by Craig Rosenberg, click here.

Hall High School Class of 2025 (list provided by Hall High School)

Luc Anthony Abbatemarco

Fareed Abu Rabia

Eyans Adhikari

Tyler Jordan Albanese

Audrey Claire Alerte

Rory Virginia Allen

Juliana Alves De Paula

Zachary Brett Anderson

Brady Steven Araujo Cardoso

Ana Roberta Araujo De Souza

Annika Louise Arias

Maia Elizabeth Aronson

Arati Awasthi

Ari Walter Baitch

Jordan Paul Baitch

Abigail Mei Baker

William Joseph Baker

Jordan O’kieff Barnes

Eliza Grace Bean

Jillian Daniels Beatman

Kimberly Faith Bednarz

Yehonatan Ben-Naim

Adina Sigal Berger

Morde Joseph Bernstein

Tabitha Carson Block

Evangelia Antonia Bona

Rachel Elaine Book

Lila Borre

Jason William Borysewicz

Jacob Evan Boyer

Jackson Edward Bracken

Maddalena Frances Richardson

Brancato

Corynne Tahlia Brown

Tessa Pearl Brown

Abigail Amelia Brunjes

Zackary Kyle Bulaong

Livia Josette Bush

Zahir Butler

Georgia Catherine Caldwell

Maxwell James Caley

Amaya Amelia Camilleri

Mel Alexander Cardenas

Josie Rose Carey

Toph Carnemolla

Duncan Gerard Caruk

Jasmine Elise Castro

Matthew Harvey Castro

Erina Christine Cayford

Esmir Cecunjanin

Angealicia Chavez

Zachary Eli Chern

Flavia Arianna Choy Lazaro

Calvin Jeffrey Cianflone

Jacob Peter Ciccone

Sullivan Parker Clancy

Hila Climor

Nevaeh Joy Colon

Marcelo Facundo Concha Casique

Donovan Michael Connole

Matthew John Connole

Alessandro Joseph Contreras

Mabel Martin Cook

Branly Alejandra Cordova Garnica

 

Fernando Kevyn Correia Barros

Seth Reuben Cosin

Thomas Richard Cote

Bradley John Crocker

Gavin Joseph Cykley

Deanna Queiroz Belchior Da Isabel

Isabella Faye Daigle

Sophia Friederike Davidson

Jedin Mykel Davis-Phann

Pamela Vitoria De Freitas Gomes

Paola Vitoria De Freitas Gomes

William Dennis DeBassio

Isaiah Galin Decker

Desiree Jessy Delgado

Katherine Rose DelGrego

Ava Trina DellaFera

Seamus Michael Deveney

Katherine Mary Devlin

Yohannes Arland DeWander

Tatiana Ivette Diaz

Benjamin Frank DiBella

Natalie Elizabeth DiCorpo

Daniel Dustin Do

Lexi Jewels Dominguez

Omaro Feliciano Donaldson

Sophia Dong

Thijs Martin Doot

Yuri Dos Santos Bevilaqua

Lulu Marie Drummey

Elias Malachi Drummond

Isaac Josiah Drummond

Sophia Duarte

Alexis Eder Duenas Lopez

Leonardo David Duenas

Nehemiah Joseph Durant

Jacob Benjamin Dylan

Ziggy Hope Edney

Jeremy Noah Eisen

Nadine W. Elmateit

Aya Zahara Erik-Soussi

Yael Escribano Henriques

Caeden William Fabas

Tate Thomas Faranello

Sean Galen Fay

Jacob Joseph Fein-Avitabile

Spencer Kenneth Ferguson

Martin Horatio Fernandez

Amelia Danielle Fichandler

Thomas Degnan Finley

Maximus Kenneth Fite

Rachel Dalia Foxman

Maya Rose Frankel

Quinn James Freeman

Nelson Osiris Gaitan

Ashton Gerardo Garcia

DaVonta NeJean Gaston

Alivia Neve Geller

Wells John Gengras

Zachary Harris Gerken

Nikolas Emmanuel Giarenakis

Celia Catherine Gillis

Johan Giraldo

Ella Godel

Sloan Kelsey Golas

Eliana Hannah Goldberg

Ella Brynne Goldberg

Nathaniel Ruben Goldschmidt

Sari Rachel Goldstein

Giuliana Sofia Gonzales

River James Goss

Alexander Goyanes

Sarah Emily Granquist

Preston James Green

Sofia Rose Greenfeld

Michael Kalaii Griffin-Prado

Aryan NM Grover

Khushi Nancy Munish Grover

Christian Nicholas Gurahoo

Oliver Hartmann

King Thomas Hayes

Nicholas Narido Hermes

Malachi John Holt

Kathryn Ann Homer

Dylan Alexander Hosmer

Lia Allegra Howley

Madison Lynne Hoyle

Anthony Nathaniel Hubbard

John Clair Sylvester Hunt

Kieran Christian Hunt

Colby Michael Hurlock

Carter Scott Ivens

Zella Hazel Jackson

Giulia Aurora Jeanes

Jessica Brinch Jensen

Hunter Jewett

Benjamin Franklin Johnson

Bennett Anders Olen Johnson

Olivia Shir Kamchaji

Gavin Leo Kaminski

Emelia Mei Karim

Riona Esi Karim

Noah Borchers Kaslusky

Charles James Kavanagh

Griffin Thomas Keating

Avery Padraic Kerrigan

Parker Elizabeth-Kay Kessler

Chez Kejuan King

Margaret Jane Kinney

Benjamin Krasinski Kirschner

Keira Payton Klein

Eli Robert Kopelman

Max Louis Kopelman

Macey Peyton Kotowitz

Sharon Qi Kuang

Ngoc Gia Lam

Joseph Stanton Landino

Alexander Lu-Cheng Lee

Cameron Benjamin Levine

Julie Ruth Levy

Benjamin Richard Lewis

Stanislau Liavonau

Jayden Lin

Lois Kwan Yee Liu

Emilia Lofting

Julian David Long

Mariana Carolina Lopez Sanabria

Eric Kien Lu

Jake Douglas Lumelsky

Andrew Stevens Lurie

Joshua Bergfeld Mabe

Chloe Irene Madrak

Haylee Love Malave

Max Christo Maniatis

Griffin Joseph Margolis

Bryce Wilson Market-Maestre

Samantha Healy Martindale

Jezaier Aramis Martinez-Wilson

Peter Christian Acuna Matsikas

Braden Edward McDonald

Nory Frances McDonald

Mason Francis McGowan

Shane Scott McIntyre

Anthony Joseph McKeown

Anderson Marc McMullon

Katrina Ruth Melick

Tanya Abhay Mene

Ryan Matthew Miale

Ruby Josephine Michtom

Owen Mason Millman

Isabella Grace Minja

Zoe Grace Mintell

Tara Mirkovic

Eva Benedict Mocciolo

Sophie Elizabeth Mulready

Brigette Nora Murphy

Samiya Riaz Musani

Amithi Nair

Nitya Nair

Fiona Kristina Nelson

Gage William Nguyen

Aaron Vinh Nham

Jon Carlos Nunez

Casey Patrick O’Brien

Dror Aryeh Ohad

Mathews Dantas Oliveira

Alexa Kathryn Orsey

Michael Alexander Ortiz

Yael Alcides Ortiz

Katelyn Rose Osoba

Inanc Fethi Ozbay

Isabella Elsa Pagan

Luca Daniel Panaitisor

Shay Jannette Paradis

Samara Rose Parker

Alexander Simon Patt

Abigail Rose Patterson

Jayden J. Pereira

Gabriela Mia Perez-Coniglione

Ella Evelyn Pesce

Madeline Crawford Peterson

Tatiana Catherine Carrabba Pettinato

Joshua Ryan Posner

Fiona Marie Power

Tyler Faber Pudlik

Benjamin Maine Puzzo

Laziah Noreen Quinonez

Shubha Raj Rai

Edmundo Nicolas Rangel Ortiz

Donovan Thi Ravenberg

Troy Noam Raviv

Kyra Jacqueline Reardon

Tyler Passman Redden

Valerie Reyes-Castillo

Burke Carlton Reynolds

William Weston Ribando

Nicolas Ribeiro De Oliveira

Mysteria Marie Rich

Grayson Cecil Rivers

Braxton Giovanni Rocha

Mariana Rodriguez Catano

Jammy Felicia Roman

Juliana Lissette Roman

Charles Cooper Rose

Greyson Levy Roth

Abigail Hannah Rothstein

Ry Tenzin Royce-Day

Noam Rozen

William Litos Rueckert

Pristine Stephen Ruhuma

Connor Vincent Russell

Emma Grace Sack

Sophia Rebecca Sadler

Rebecca Anchor Samuels

Efrosini Nikas Sanchez

Abigail Westcott Sanderson

Adam Angel Santana

Jasmine Dianna Santiago

Martha Grace Sauer

Caroline Reese Saulsbury

Dante Magnus Sayarath

Connor Roland Schieding

Matthew Louis Schoenfeld

Ari Jacob Schuyler

John William Scott

Tyler Courtney Scott

Reilly Abigail Shagensky

Aryan Anurag Shah

Ethan Peter Shamshtein

Katelynn Elizabeth Shea

Sam Maxwell Shefsky

Samantha Pearl Shifrin

Ahmadullah Shoja

Hannah Claire Shtern

Elijah Garret-Jesmore Simwenyi

Rudra Pratap Singh

Gabrielle Machette Sleight

Breanna Maxine Smith

Emelia Paige Smith

Nicholas William Smith

Samantha Leigh Smith

Amani Capri Snellings

Thomas Soler

Kaylize Michelle Solivan-Ortiz

Gavin Eugene Sortman

Jason Dylan Sribanpot

Simon Leo Stanfield

Soleil Starr Stevens

Declan Paul Stone

Charlotte Helene Sullivan

Geneva Maeve Swanson

Samantha Yuen-Man Szeto

Roman Alexander Tagliarini

Natalie Starr Talavera

Chloe Isabelle Taylor

Bishal Thakur

Joshua Charles Thomas

Ciara Amire Thorington

Lauren Jean Todd

Samantha Paige Tofil

Ava Bacall Tringali

Rebecca Juliana Tsarkov

Storm James Vakman

Madeline Lily Valentin

Michelle Varela

Djuvitza Alondra Venero

Jackie Viet

Jessica Hannah Virkerman

Lily Grace Vlastos

Gavin Sorgen Walker

Jaelahni Sabrina Jean Wallace

Owen Wang

Grace Marie Watters

Anna Katherine Witinski

Caleb Boleslaw Worrell

Jonathan Owen Wright-Goodison

Yimin Wu

Zining Wu

Juliette Marie Wyatt

Cyrus Xu

Lily Xu

Isaiah George Yacoub

Dylan Alexander Yarne

Travis Clifton Yates

Miriam Johnson Youel

Ellie Morgan Young

Mohammed Abdelgadir Yousif

Yaser J.A. Yusuf

Adele Jeanne Zadi

Michelle Zazon

Carden Zeng

HaoZhe Zhang

Mindy Mengdi Zhao

Raychelle Zheng

John David Zimmer

Jacob James Zirolli

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