Blue Hills graduates have the tools to win 'the game of life,' valedictorian says
CANTON − Usually, the captain of the football team and the class valedictorian aren't the same person.
Except in Jake Reissfelder's case.
So Reissfelder took the liberty of working some sports references into his speech at the graduation ceremonies for the Blue Hills Regional Technical School on Tuesday night. The ceremonies were taking place, after all, on the school's football field.
The Dedham resident told the assembled classmates, family and friends that "all of you have been cheering us on in the game of life."
During their "crazy" four years at the school, they learned to develop their skills both in the classroom and in the shops.
"We learned how to work with our hands and how to excel in academics," Reissfelder said.
He said this combination is what sets the 207 members of the graduating class apart and gives them the tools for success.
"Our only limits are the ones we place on ourselves," Reissfelder told his classmates. "We have the power to do anything we want in the game of life."
Class President Christian Dedier said perseverance is the quality that got the class members to graduation and will help them overcome obstacles and reach goals.
"Hold on to the spirit of perseverance that got you here," Dedier said.
Eric Erskine, the chairman of the Blue Hills District School Committee, said the school has given the graduates both an academic and a technical education.
"You have been taught and trained well," Erskine said.
The graduates accepted their diplomas grouped by the school's 17 shops, starting with automotive collision repair and refinishing and ending with metal fabrication and joining technologies.
The Class of 2023
Avon: Abigail Bagtaz, Bethany Bolanos, Matthew Cadet, Khayla Calixte, Marvin Danier, Jolene Deane, Makayla Desousa, Sofia Martelli, Benjamin Murray, Gianna Pina, Amber Sawyer, Katherine Small, Amber Thompson, Rylee Whiffen.
Braintree: Jacob Allen, Angela Alvarez, Brianna Arnstein, Rayne Beaudoin, Uniqunek Berry-Woods, Jeffrey Calligan, Kayleigh Clancy, Victoria Corley, Zachary Dean, Tyler Dooley, Arianna Eagan, Chole Gallagher, Julius Gonzalez, James Halnen, Mya Holmes, Aidan Howlett, Nolan Igo, Brendan Joyce, Dalia Keefe, Anna Kelly, Christopher Kenneally, Emily Lehane, James Lippert, Elisa Lizarralde, Kyle Mahar, Kevin McDermott, Beartla McDonagh, Ryan McKenney, Joshua Norton, David Osborne, Steven Peralta Climaco, Deaven Phoenix, Olivia Rynne, Luiz Sa Do Nascimento, Robert Sample, Chole Snow, Jake Spada.
Brockton: Cedric Lestin.
Canton: Marcus Bain, Maria Byrd, Jack Canavan, Gema Chireno, Patrick Crowley, Rhys Draper, Shane Draper, Ava Feeley, James Fitch, Ciara Gabriel, Xavier Heath-Mosley, Brian Mahon, Paul McCann, Riley Moriarty, Brendon Mullin, Ashton Papalcure, Sarah Ryan, Jameson Seaver, Johnathon Shine, Maksimos Zotaj.
Dedham: Robert Conlon, Julia Donovan, Jacob Flagg, Graham Gorman, Campbell Greeley, Benjamin Greenwood, Anasia King, Timothy Kraemer, Camryn Leech, Alexander Loporto, Felipe Mahecha Ramirez, Owen Maloney, John Martin, Marie Mathurin, Aidan McDermott, Joseph Mercuri, Jake Reissfelder, Matthew Richard, Rory Sullivan, Lydia Suprilus, Jack Tully.
Holbrook: Gladimar Arocho, Jeremy Brewer, Elizabeth Brooks, Patrick Callahan, Shersy De Los Santos, Jaelyn Excellent, Brooke Ferbert, Joseph Graziano, Colin Harer, Aaron Inglis, Nakado Jinius, Nathaniel McGowan, Amber Pelletier, Marcolina Pierre, Brittney Pierre-Louis, Ricardo Roca, Amya Steed, Zackeisha Theza, Sherline Valcimond.
Milton: Helena Bleau, Charlie Clark, Kristina Crosby, Andrew DeAscentis, Christian Dedier, Sean Feetham, Kyle Gori, Evan Kery, Rahmani Malabre, Ryan McArdle, Joanna McPherson, Sean Solis.
Norwood: Rachael Barrett, Dylan Barron, Sully Bennett, David Brewer, Saria Campbell, Michael Finn, Nathan Finn, Justin Flaherty, Emily Flynn, Anisa Johnson, Allah Khan Matos, Peyton Labadie, Franchesca Marte Vega, Christopher Martin, Eoin McDonagh, David Medeiros, Iyana Newsome, Alexandria Nicholls, Spencer Pungitore, Cecilia Rosado, Nicholas Russo, Anthony Tritto, Vanessa White.
Randolph: Natali Allaico, Stephany Alvarado-Flores, Kiera Bare, Javens Belizaire, Michael Biggs, Ashly Bossa, Javon Branch, Chanelle Calderon, Geniqu Carter, Ryan Clark, Chloe Condlin, Danique-Ashley Cowan, Tomas Cruzado, Le'Vaughn Damas, Luis DeLaRosa, Trinity Dickson, Regis Dube, Patrick Edouarzin, Jan Estrada, Lentzcaelle Fils, Eliana Fontes Lopes, Jessica Forde, Tatiyanna Gangemi, Haley Goldstein, Tatiana Gooden, Aleesia Haddad, Jaden Harris, Jenna Hatfield, Kylah Huggins, Catalina Huynh, Michaelina Huynh, Amir Ighrayeb Salgado, Aaron Jackman, Melvin Johnson, Dyana-Abasi Jones, Daniela Lawson, Saraiya Limage, Geralyn Mateo, Alexander McLean, Luis Miranda, Andrea Moy, Stephen Nmeje, Kaylee O'Sullivan, Isabella Pio, Jaida Prevoe, Mikeyla Roman, Angela Rossini, Nikko Ruffin, Yexenia Ruiz, Mikarlem Saint-Louis, Bradford Sandraow, Zoey Santiago, Jailene Soto, Jennifer Subiron, Jahmeeliah Sydney, Brentz Theodore, Tyler Tonthat, Malakai Williams, Jean-Alan Zamilus.
Westwood: Braden Vazquez.
Weymouth: Armani Teran.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Blue Hills grads have an unlimited future, valedictorian says
