'I love you guys': Blue Hills Tech graduates reflect on unique education, tightknit class

Alyssa Fell, The Patriot Ledger
·5 min read

CANTON – Friends and family rushed to the fence of the Blue Hills Regional Technical School's turf to  take pictures as 209 graduates made their way onto the field for a commencement ceremony Tuesday.

Blue Hills Regional Technical School  consists of students from Avon, Braintree, Canton, Dedham, Holbrook, Milton, Norwood, Randolph and Westwood.

"You guys will always have a special place in my heart. I love you guys and I hope you guys do well," Class of 2022 Vice President Temia Murray told the class.

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District school committee Chairman Eric Erskine recognized the students' courage as they left former classmates in their respective towns to start anew at Blue Hills. He applauded the class' perseverance through a school renovation and a pandemic. Erskine called them warriors, an homage to the school's mascot.

"Follow your heart, enjoy what you do," Erskine said. "Show love and compassion in what you do. This is when you will find true success."

Class Vice President Temia Murray of Randolph expresses her future on her mortar board during the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School graduation in Canton, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Tom Gorman/For The Patriot Ledger
Class Vice President Temia Murray of Randolph expresses her future on her mortar board during the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School graduation in Canton, Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Tom Gorman/For The Patriot Ledger

Kyle Grosso, who studied criminal justice, and Ryan Smaller, who studied computer information systems, were the co-valedictorians. Grosso thanked the Blue Hills teachers and urged students to "risk some failure."

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"We've pushed through so much already to the point where this diploma has become symbolic of an absolute victory against intense adversity. If we can claim this victory, we can claim many, many more," Grosso said.

Smaller shared his experience of being labeled "the smart guy, the nerd, the robot," and said his chosen vocation sparked a fire in him. He credits the people at Blue Hills with getting him to where he is today, and told attendees that everyone has the power to change their lives.

Graduates march in during the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School commencement ceremony in Canton, Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Graduates march in during the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School commencement ceremony in Canton, Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

"We are all the smart guys, the nerds, the robots, the shy guys, but we do so as the valedictorians of our own futures," Smaller said.

Class President Noel Hill thanked the students' support systems, and said he could "brag about this class for hours."

"Class of 2022, today, unimaginable destinies and dreams become one step closer to achievability," Hill said.

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Superintendent Director Jill Rossetti said the class is resilient. She said online learning allowed exploration for some and was difficult for others. She told graduates to reflect on their time at Blue Hills, their kindness and their inclusion.

"I know you will surpass all expectations no matter which path you choose as you soar to new heights," Rossetti said. "From the bottom of my heart, this is one of the best classes I have ever seen at Blue Hills."

Graduates toss their caps during the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School graduation in Canton, Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
Graduates toss their caps during the Blue Hills Regional Technical High School graduation in Canton, Tuesday, June 7, 2022.

The Class of 2022

Attleboro – Kaylah Simpson.

Avon — Elmyre Buisson, Nehemie Derosla, Alessandro Gomez, Brady Graf, John Ierardi, Alison Joyce, Eric Mann, Ashlyn McPhee, Christopher Rand, Evan San Inocencio, Karter Suzor, Kai Vaughn, Karly Wagner, Shadae Zamor.

Braintree – Adam Al-Janabi, Trinity Bennett, Kaitlyn Blaney, Colleen Cahill, Christian Carey, Ryan Chandler, Anna Coughlin, Michael Daiute, Darien Grindle, Emma Henderson, Alyse Hernandez, Yazmeen Hyvarinen, Victoria Lupica, Lauren Lynch, Carolyn-Marie Macomber, Alyssa McCarthy, Brendan McCormack, Lindsey McCormack, Matthew McLaughlin, Bernardo Merlos Serna, Kaitlyn Sawyer, Kyle Smith, Domenic Spano, William Spano, Madison Weidner.

Canton – Damien Auguste, David Bosworth III, Aiyana Burrus, Benjamin Canny, Matthew Derome, Nicholas DeSantis, Joseph DiCalogero, Isabella Leonard, Michael Mercer, Thiago Nascimento, Nicole Nihtila, Casey O'Keefe, Ana Serodio, Sarah Stubbs.

Dedham – Thomas Bender, Audrey Cusack, Luana De Paula, Ethan Demeo, Vincent Disalvo  II, Maritza Donovan, Joseph Flanagan, Ryan Galvin, John Hawkins, Matthew MacPhail, Tristan McDonough, Thomas McHugh Jr., Thomas Menino III, James Mullin, Spiros Papadakis, Alex Reyes, Nailah Rivera, Siarah Runyan, Isabella Serret-Fernandez, Caitlin Trainor, Cynthia Tran, Conor Zaferacopoulos.

Holbrook – Charles Abbott, Kayla Anastasio, Edward Basler, Kristine Berrio, Samantha Cull, Connor DeGiacomo, Alexsandra Graham, Lauren Graham, Anthony Graziano, Zachary Holbrook, Aidan Inglis, Cody Jones, Timothy Kapson, James Lindley, Brian Littlewood, Melanie Magoon, Ethan Mann, Liam McHoul, Patrick Nimeskern, Coleman O'Brien, Shane O'Neill McDermott, Alanna Packard, Andrew Poole, Bella Prisco, Marcus Sadowski, Steven Silvia, Antonio Soto, Cora St. Laurent, Thomas Taylor, David Verissimo, Morgan Welch, Matthew Witunsky.

Milton – Colin Banik, Dylan Beaulieu, Daniel Bosworth, Joseph DeAscentis, Pixley Simon.

Norwood – Brianna Baker, Sean Bernyk, Bryant Bueno, Francis DeGloria, Olivia Donohue, Connor Durant, Caroline Flanagan, Davidino Giampa, Kyle Grosso, Nicole Kehoe, Jonathan Longval, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Jessica Mullen, Temia Murray, Alijah O'Connor-Dufresne, Paul Pungitore, Luke Reynolds, Allyson Salvucci.

Plainville – Ariyan Ranck.

Randolph – Jhocelin Allaico, Kayla Alphonse, Anthony Apromollo, Dylan Augustin, Ianna Brown, Jake Butler, Lauren Callahan, Alayla Campbell, Markens Charles, Erika Cizmar, Jazmin Faust, Cheyenne Fee-Hall, Mariana Fernandez, Jean Fontil, Tyler Forde, Nature Fry, James Gakaya, Cameron Gallant, Samira Garcia Infante, Brittney Gomes, Jesseley Gomes, Brianna Grasso, Destanie Headley, Noel Hill, Alyssa Horsman, Brian Howard, Liberty Hull, Zinan Ieng, Cidne Jackson, Rasheed John, Qwaelan Jones, Alyssa Jouissance, Isaiah Kebreau-Mengual, Jessica Keefe, Michelle Kha, Carline Lafaille, Antoinae Leaks, Zailen Lopes, Wadline Lovinsky, Qwon Lynshue.

Caroline Marius, Steve Martin George, Ava Masone, Jacob Mata-Valerio, Hainara Mazarin, Cara McFadden, Bryanna McLain, Izaya Mejia, Kiyanah Michel, Gabriella Moldaver, Elizabeth Moore, Jason Murphy, Abigael Myrthil, Jared Newcomb, Ryan Noble, Diana Pierre, Jakalee Pierre, Kelly Pineda, Naythan Pires, Fiona Quinn, Josephine Raphino, Andon Reckard, Devin Rideout, Michael Rinehart, Cristian Rodriguez, Shane Rourke, Sonia Sanxaridis, Alessandra Sarno, Christopher Sarno, Anderson Silva, Ryan Smaller, Junior Thomas Joinis, Andrew Thorn, Michael Toscano, Hellen Truong.

Westwood – Christopher Morrill.

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Reach Alyssa Fell at afell@patriotledger.com. 

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 'An absolute victory': 209 students graduate from Blue Hills Tech