Medway High School celebrated the Class of 2020 at a socially distanced, outdoor ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 2. (Photo courtesy Tim Rice Photo) 
Principal John Murray speaks to the graduating class. (Photo courtesy Tim Rice Photo) 
A total of 189 seniors graduated from Medway High School on Aug. 2. (Photo courtesy Tim Rice Photo)
MEDWAY — Superintendent Armand Pires and Principal John Murray are pleased to announce the graduation of 189 students from Medway High School.
Medway High School held a physically distanced, in-person commencement ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 2 at Hanlon Field at Medway High School. Masks were required for all attendees. Graduates and their families sat together in measured areas to ensure proper distancing. Students walked across the stage after their name was read and picked up their diploma from a table on the stage.
Class of 2020 President Sam McKeown began the ceremony by thanking administrators and staff and recognizing fellow class officers Vice President Ethan Core, Secretary Ram Tysoe, Treasurer Tara Shippos and Historian Tess Donnelly.
“We’ve seen that we can be extremely adaptable and grow to meet a changing world. We’ve experienced the importance of personal connection, be it virtual or face-to-face,” McKeown said. “We further realized the importance of our families and support structures that have aided us nonstop for 18 years, allowing us to both fully thank them for everything they’ve done before we move on to the next phase of life and how to build these structures of our own.”
The class of 2020 Valedictorian is Daniel Labbe.
“We all have the ability to make an impact. To cause change in the world, even if you do not believe so. And doing so allows us to remove a bit of the negativity we all see and experience every single day. Standing for and with others, or just being kind to one person can have an impact,” Labbe said.
Superintendent Pires recognized the graduating class for their flexibility and resilience.
“This unique time in our history has required a level of flexibility and adaptability like no other. It has provided an opportunity to show real persistence and grit. As the spring progressed the plans for your senior year were slowly changed or canceled,” Superintendent Pires said. “Your ability as a group to be flexible, resilient, and positive during this challenging time was an inspiration. Your ability to take life’s lemons and make lemonade, making the very best out of the most most challenging situation quickly became a model to many. Your thoughtful planning to continue to celebrate your end of senior year while adapting traditions demonstrated that our experiences are most importantly about the people with whom we share them. Your demonstration of persistence, grit flexibility and adaptability during this time is a strong indicator of your future success. Those attributes are the hallmarks of those in our society who can and will do great things.”
Principal Murray also congratulated the graduates before reading their names.
“We have truly missed all of you and are so thankful to have this opportunity to come together one last time as a class to celebrate this important milestone in your lives,” Principal Murray said. “The last few months have been difficult for all of us, and particularly our graduates. The road to August 2 has been filled with obstacles and challenges, none of which have been fair to any of us. I also feel a tremendous sense of pride to be a member of this community and have seen the bonds of community strengthen since March. Today, I wish to share gratitude to our community, and my hope that our students will follow the example we have set to build their own community.”
Additional speakers included Medway School Committee Chair Susan Dietrich, Salutatorian and Class Secretary Ram Tysoe and Honors Essayist Ryan Spillane. The Honorable Rich Eustis also recognized three graduates who have chosen to pursue military service following high school.
A full gallery of photos from the graduation is now available here.
Video of the graduation can now be viewed on Medway Cable Access and on Medway Cable’s Facebook page.
A virtual Class Day was also held Sunday, June 7, featuring speeches, the class history, class will and teacher will. Student scholarships and awards and the teacher of the year award were presented. This event can also be watched on Medway Cable’s Facebook page.
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