We are a revolutionary pathway for education. And revolution in our school doesn't come with noise and chaos. It comes with care, with collaboration, with courage. It comes with students like you who choose to show up, speak out, lean in, and lead. You've done that through project-based learning, through late nights on final products, team conflicts that turned into breakthroughs, presentations that pushed you outside of your comfort zone, and real world challenges that made your learning come alive. You've worked with community partners, engaged with real audiences, and taken ownership of your voice and your work. But it's not just what you did, it's who you became. At CSA, we s we center our learning on seven powerful outcomes. Not just to check boxes, but to grow humans ready for the world. And tonight, I want to lift up how you have lived them. You've learned to know yourselves and your talents well.
Hey. Hey. Hey. [Music] 2. [Music] [Applause] Good evening. Please remain standing. And gentlemen, remove your caps. I now ask you to join me in saying the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Please remain standing. At this time, let us pause for a moment of silence to remember our classmates who are not with us tonight. Thank you. You may be seated.
It did not pass at town meeting but people are still interested in either doing separate parcels or smaller or smaller areas but historic preservation is important for many of us here in Ashland. Uh from there we did an update on some 40B projects. Most people are very familiar with the one at 10 to 60 Main Street. that is about four or five months into their process. Then there is the one at 61 Waverly Street. They're about a month or so into their process. And then there is a new one uh on the corner of West Union. So at the corner of Memorial and West Union that is a smaller one uh only about 116 units, but right there near the commuter rail. We then went through our consent agenda and as part of that, we did approve a number of one-day liquor licenses for a number of new distilleries that are going to be participating in the farmers market who has their opening day on June 14th.
Tonight, we celebrate the Stevenson portrait of a graduate come to life and we celebrate our astounding students and all your accomplishments. As you graduate and leave Stevenson to begin your next journey, I ask you to please remember the foundations you learned here. commitment to self, commitment to others, and commitment to learning. Wherever you go and whatever you do next, please remember as a community, we will always be here holding you up and cheering you on so you never forget. You are astounding. Thank you and congratulations. [Music] Good evening families and good evening graduates. My name is Troy Gobble and it is my high honor to be the principal here at Stevenson High School and we are so excited to have the opportunity to celebrate tonight with all of you. At this point, it is my pleasure to introduce the first of our student speakers who will be giving the scriptor address which looks back at our four years together.
My backpack, pencils, folder, paper were all in my locker. And I was marching down the stairs with literally nothing but myself, my phone, and my worries. Whoops. That day, I felt utterly unprepared for high school and the world beyond, unsure of my own capabilities. And yet, a week later, I found that I didn't have to think about what class I had next or what my schedule was. I just knew what I had to do. That's what Columbus North does. Day by day, it introduced us to new ideas and new people, forcing us to test our own limitations. Whether that be through the senior project, C4 classes, or military recruitments, North has pushed us to leave our comfort zones, find friends, and expand our worldviews in ways we had never imagined before, making us stronger, more resilient, and more empathetic. And just like North, the people in our lives, from family members to teachers to mentors, have pushed us to look beyond the present and into the future.
And you've begun to identify your paths, your passions, and where you want to go. You've learned through collaboration with family, business, and community, partnering with real people to make your learning matter beyond our walls. You've developed a strong sense of civic responsibility, taking ownership not just of your work, but your role in shaping a better world. You've embraced and celebrated differences. You've stood beside one another with empathy, openness, and respect, creating space for every voice. You've learned to think critically and practice 21st century skills. Skills that matter in every corner of the real world. Communication, problem solving, adaptability, and innovation. You've learned to think creatively to solve authentic real world problems. Whether it's in projects, internships, or in your own lives, you've stepped up to make a difference. And perhaps most importantly, you've shown us how to sustain healthy, trusting relationships that make this building feel like more than a school.
Good evening everyone. I am the senior class president Tavin Freeze. I am delighted to welcome you all to the graduation commencement of the class of 2025. I want to thank you all for taking time to be here on this special evening to celebrate how far these students have come in their academic journey. I would like to start off by thanking family and friends. Thank you for the constant support and love love for us you have given through our ups and downs. The constant encouragement from those around us helped us overcome the most difficult tasks. To the teachers and staff who poured countless hours into building us into the exquisite humans we are today. Thank you. The love and compassion shown from all of you will be cherished forever. Your gift of patience, guidance, and wisdom is embedded into each of our characters. Finally, I would like to thank the fellow graduates.
We then went into our town manager report. Uh he talked about the local election which happened on Tuesday, May 20th. There was two contested races, one publicly, which is the select board race, and Joe Manyani and Brandy Kinsman, who were the incumbents, won those seats. And then Scott Peller won the two-year planning board seat um as a write-in candidate. We had a review of town meeting. There were 234 voting members in attendance at Ashland at our town meeting. Uh a few good discussions that happened. As I mentioned in the meeting, it's always disappointing when people who are there for a specific reason then leave even though there's more to happen. So maybe the next time you come, you stay for the whole thing. And if you've never been, look for our next one happening in fall of 2025 for a special town meeting. We then did an update on some of our opened positions.
Please, a great round of applause for our speaker, Ryan Dong. Thank you so much for that kind introduction, Mr. Gobble. Fellow graduates, esteemed teachers, parents who honestly deserve diplomas themselves for their patience. Good evening. My name is Ryan Dong, and I'm so beyond honored to be here with you all tonight. We, the class of 2025, have spent over a decade writing our epic novel, a literary masterpiece that first began in kindergarten in 2012, the year of stubby crayons, Velcro sneakers, and backpacks bigger than our backs. For years, we've written the story together, and now we meet here today, ready to close that book and each start our own. But before we sign off, let's take a nostalgic flip through the highlights of our educational journey. After kindergarten came first and second grade, where we would assert our dominance at recess gaga ball. Then came third and fourth grade where we all became masters of that future Olympic sport, water bottle flipping.
At the end of the day, it is those people who have been with us through the entire journey who have made us most prepared, giving us a safe space we can depend on. When I walked in on the first day of school this year, I didn't have everything planned out, but I was confident enough to know that it would all work out. And it did. When we leave today, we leave as the class of 2025. We leave as friends, as project buddies, as teammates, all in the class that started high school with masks and ended with lanyards. We'll soon be adults with rent and bills and adult responsibility. But adulthood should not make us strangers. Whether we're at the airport or the grocery store, say hi. Talk about your job or your family or your struggles or that new concert you went to. Just remember each other and remember North.
You've made it feel like a home. To our staff, thank you. You are the heart of this place. You don't just teach content, you guide, mentor, listen, and read. You create safe spaces where students grow not just in skill, but in confidence and purpose. To our parents and caregivers, thank you. Thank you for every time you've supported your student through a tough project, showed up to a presentation, asked how their day was, or simply woke them up to get to school on time. Your partnership makes this vision possible. And to our graduates, you've proven again that the CSA spirit is alive and well. That's not something you leave behind tonight. It's something you need to carry forward. Carry it forward in how you treat people and how you lead, in how you ask questions, and how you keep building something better. So, here's my charge to you.
We may not have all started this journey together, but through the laughs, early mornings, and memories made together inside and outside of the building, we have become family to one another. As we prepare to go to our separate paths, I encourage you all to not be strangers. The class of 2025 has a special place in all of our hearts, and we will always be there for one another. Thank you for the positive impact and legacy you will leave behind at Bluffton High School. For those who of you who are willing, please bow your heads with me as I pray for us all. Dear heavenly father, we thank you for this special opportunity to gather together and share a special message. We pray that you will lead each of us onto a path that is fulfilling for our souls. Lord, please help us choose kindness over everything and look forward to having a positive impact on others individual's life.
So we have a planning director and it's now planning uh director of planning and economic development as well as an assistant planner and an assistant HR uh administrator. Uh so those are in the process of being interviewed and hopefully by June we'll have all of them filled. From there we did a discussion of um some additional funding we received uh our Senate our senator Karen Bilka also Senate President put some additional funding in one of the bond bills for some complete streets and uh funding for us to work on some of our street projects. We also then discussed an IMA between city of Framingham and the town of Ashland for some work and a study that's going to be done over on Wikum Pond over on the Route 126 side of town. We discussed some dates for a board retreat. Looks like we're going to get together on July 12th.
Then finally fifth grade, where we had believed that we had experienced the pinnacle of education, our first graduation. We walked across that stage in paper caps, certain that we had conquered the academic world. And then all of a sudden, we were in middle school with a plot twist that no one saw coming. At one moment, we were figuring out locker combinations. And the next, we were attending school from our bedrooms. Seventh and eighth grade weren't just awkward, they were historically awkward. We endured virtual PE, which let's be honest, we were not doing jumping jacks behind those cameras. We turned our bedrooms into makeshift classrooms. And we became masters of the phrase, "Oh, sorry, my Wi-Fi is lagging," and maybe even the occasional, "Am I muted?" We experimented with questionable quarantine haircuts, tried to sync together our orchestra instruments over Zoom, and despite all odds, learned math through a screen.
Although you may never feel completely prepared to start your next chapter, know that you have the ability to do more than you think. So dream big, go after it, and make it happen. Just know that no matter what, North believes in you. So when you step outside today after this ceremony, look up at the endless expanse of sky teeming with possibilities. Look at the tall trees and the colorful flowers around you. Look at the rows of cars and the walk to the student lot that feels miles long when you're late. Look at the benches outside and the cafeteria inside where so many memories were made. Look back at the front doors as the words Columbus North High School sit above you on a ledge. look at everything and anything because when you step outside today, you will be a graduate of Columbus North High School.
Live with the CSA vision in your heart. Be revolutionary, not because it's flashy, because it's real. Keep thinking big. Keep caring deeply. Keep believing that you have a role to play in changing the world because you do. And when the future feels uncertain or overwhelming, remember what the Beatles said at the very end of the revolution song. Don't you know it's going to be all right? It's going to be all right because you're out there now. And we believe in you and we believe in what's ahead. Congratulations, class of 2025. We love you. We're proud of you. And we're honored to celebrate you tonight. [Applause] [Music] It is my pleasure to now introduce Darby Rocker to share her thoughts with the senior [Applause] class. Thank you. You know, almost every successful celebrity has their own personal theory on what the recipe for success is, and they all have something to do with hard work and dedication.
For every step of our lives, you have been there. I pray that you will continue to lead each of us on the journey we continue to pursue. We praise you. We love you. And we pray these words trusting and believing in you. In your name we pray. Amen. [Applause] Good. Good evening. I am Jackson Afforder, a proud member of the class of 2025. As I come up here, I want to thank the students, staff, and guests who are here with us tonight. I thank you, my fellow classmates, for staying determined and putting in the effort to reach this monumental moment. I thank you teachers and staff for investing your lives into us so that we may be successful in our own lives. I thank you family and friends who are here with us today. It's because of your encouragement in our pivotal years of de development that we are able to stand here today.
Uh downtown, we're looking to have things wrapping up in the fall. Same with Route 126. Warren Barn the we are working with Framingham State and they are going to be going out for their request for bids to start moving that project forward. We also talked a little bit about some board reports comprehensive plan two nights of meetings leading up to our select board meeting and uh oh another update the Ashland Arboritum uh is being worked on by Becca Solomon um our conservation agent. We wrapped up by 10 uh by doing a board reorg. So moving forward, Joe Manani will be the chair, Brandy Kinsman will be the vice chair, and Claudia Bennett will be the clerk. And that was our meeting for Wednesday, May 21st.
But if those years taught us anything, it was adaptability. We learned that school was less about where we were and more about the people that we experienced it with, whether it was in person or in glitchy Zoom breakout rooms. And when we couldn't be together, we still found ways to connect. Whether it was FaceTime marathons between classes, oh, sorry, during classes, Google Docs that turned into group chats, or even sussing out the imposttor in Among Us together. Though we were editing our shared history online, we never stopped turning the page. We came back stronger, if not slightly feral, and ready to face high school, the final chapter of this book. Four years that felt like both a lifetime and a lunch break. At first, we were overwhelmed by the endless hallways and the maze of parking lots. And what do you mean? There are two whole buildings that you have to travel between.
Thank you. [Music] [Applause] Good afternoon everyone. My name is Annabelle's son. As one of this year's validictorians, I want to thank our families, friends, teachers, and most of all the class of 2025 for being here. After all these years, we finally made it here at graduation, ready to start a new chapter in our lives. That may seem ordinary, but for me, it's something I've looked forward to for a long time. For the past few years, graduation always happened to fall on the same day as the semi-state tennis tournament. While the members of the graduating class walked across this very stage, I was tying my shoes on the hot court, gripping my racket with sweaty palms and stepping into another highstakes match. It was a choice I made again and again to show up for my team and hope we would make it to state. As a member of the Lady Bulldogs tennis team, I actually never expected to attend my graduation.