Meghan Cannon bumps elbows with principal Sean Bevan after receiving her diploma.
By Jeff Slovin, Contributing Writer
NORTHBOROUGH – Algonquin Regional High School presented diplomas to 2021 graduates during a ceremony on June 6.
The event was held outdoors on the Richard Walsh Field, marking the first outdoor graduation held at Algonquin after many years of holding the ceremony indoors in the gymnasium.
In keeping with tradition, graduation day was extremely hot, with temperatures approaching 90 at the start of the ceremony.
Graduates paraded around the field’s track and marched to their seats to the tune of Pomp and Circumstance. That was followed by a prerecorded performance by the Senior Vocalists singing the Star Spangled Banner.
Superintendent of Schools Gregory L. Martineau welcomed graduates and attendees. He was then followed by the President’s Address by 2021 Class President David Gillingham.
Senior class essayists Fabiha Karim and Jake Clancy recounted their memories and experiences from the past four years at Algonquin.
2021 Class Advisors Brittany Burns and Shawn Staines presented the graduating class to those assembled, while Joan Frank, Northborough-Southborough Regional School Committee Chairperson, and Principal Sean Bevan handed out diplomas.
This event as a whole broke from initial graduation plans largely due to a last-minute announcement in late May from Gov. Charlie Baker that mask mandates and other COVID-19 restrictions would largely be lifted.
This allowed graduation to look much more like a traditional ceremony than it would have.
“We want to make this a memorable experience and memorable for the right reasons,” said Principal Bevan during a May 19 Regional School Committee meeting.
