001I think you I am happy. Singer finger. six six. What a wonderful evening for our parents and family and friends and the class of 2026. At this time, I would ask if you are able to please stand and join Ronan Sullivan, ROC candidate and member of the class of 2026 in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I would ask that you please remain standing afterwards for the performing of our national anthem. Mr. Svin. 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. Say early at the twilight stripes and bright stars for the so that our that was still there. Oh, say for the land of the brave. I would now ask David Havlin, member
002of the Dover Board of Selectmen, please come forward to offer his greetings. Well, welcome to the 2026 Stover Sherburn graduation. The last thing you want to hear is a long speech from a selectman. So, I'll try to keep this to about an hour. Seriously, let's do something a little bit more fun and oh so necessary. Will the class of 2026 please stand? Please look into the stands and surrounds and find your parents, family, and friends. Now, on my signal, let's see if you can follow instructions. Please give them a round of applause worthy of the 17 or 18 years of support, caring, and love they have given you to help you get to this day. Come on, graduates. Let's hear it. Similarly, I'm going to ask you to look in the stands and surrounds and
003find others who are here to celebrate with you. Find your teachers, your coaches, staff, and administrators. And let's give them a similar round of applause worthy of their investment in all of you. Finally, why not why don't you give yourselves a round of applause for getting here to this day. So, congratulations and please be seated. Graduates, you've been through a lot, but so has every generation. Please do not let past events define you. Each of you will forge your own path and define yourselves. The future is bright and it will be much brighter with all of you in it. As you forge ahead in the next chapter of your life, I implore you to consider just one thing. Please be kind in all to all you encounter. Life is not always fun. Life is not
004always fair. But you can be. you can be. Please remember that kindness is unique. It always costs you nothing, but its value is immeasurable. We all appreciate it. Why not be that ambassador to spread it? Most of you probably don't even know who Emily Post was. Well, she wrote a book on etiquette many years ago. Let me sum it up for you. Be polite and be kind in everything you do. Ask someone lonely to join you for lunch. Invite someone you don't know to join and go have some fun. Thank those who are working on your behalf. Be generous. Be happy for others. Practice not only random acts of kindness, but also purposeful ones. Open the door, hold the door, invite people in. Interact, share, and laugh together. Please don't fall into the ways of
005social media. Be kind. Always be kind. Whether guided by karma, the golden rule, or just plain courtesy, it will make each of your journeys just that much more special. Be kind. Always be kind. Will you do it? We believe you will. So, as President Kennedy said best in 1963, so we ask the best of you. I congratulate you on what you have done and most of all, I congratulate you on what you are going to do. Congratulations, class of 2026. I would now ask Mr. Dan Cickle to come forward representing the Sherborn Board of Selecmen to offer his greetings. Good evening, families, friends, faculty, staff, school committee members, and most importantly, the DS class of 2026. As a member of the Sherburn Select Board, I'm very pleased to stand here today. Now, I know you're
006probably thinking when a local government official steps up to the mic, "Oh, great. We're gonna get a 20 minute lecture on the town's open space bylaws or some budget spreadsheets." And as a retired Welsley econ, that would definitely be my comfort zone. But I promise you, I left the zoning maps and spreadsheets at home. Being on the select board does mean that I get to see firsthand what makes a community thrive. And it isn't the bylaws. It's the people who step up and contribute and look out for one another. It's your parents, teachers, and all the other people in this community that got you to this day. So, looking out at all of you, I see tremendous talent and promise, and you're about to scatter from DS into the greater world. There will undoubtedly be
007challenges ahead such as all the ways that AI will change our world and the kinds of lives you'll lead such as how we together navigate local, national, and international politics. But wherever your next chapter takes you, I want to challenge you to look for ways to build something bigger than yourselves. For ways to strengthen the communities you'll be part of. There are many ways to do that. And I want to plant a seed today in your minds for one particular way. And I hope that seed will grow over time. I encourage you to be open to considering public service at some point in your lives. That could mean running for office or working for the government. As complicated as things are in our world, our communities as a nation need your talent more than ever.
008And after having worked in the federal government in Washington DC for over 20 years, I can say that that work can be incredibly important. and extremely rewarding. That said, public service also means having a mindset that extends beyond yourself. It means that if you see something in your community that isn't working, a local problem or a national or international problem, that you think, I'm going to help fix that. It's about the quiet, hard work of making day-to-day life better for the person standing next to you and the people beyond that. Whether you choose to serve in government, volunteer at a local nonprofit, or coach a youth team, our democracy and communities only work if you show up. Class of 2026, you've already proven yourselves right here at DS. Now, go out there, find your unique
009path forward, and do your bit to make the world a better place. Thank you, and congratulations on behalf of the town of Sherburn. I would now ask Maisie Gilkers to please come forward to say our first acclamation speech. Maisie Class of 2026, as we gather here today to celebrate this milestone, 178 of us will walk across the stage, closing one chapter and stepping into the next. It was supposed to be 179. That one person missing is my dear friend and our classmate JB Harvey. JB and I met right before kindergarten. From the very beginning, we were inseparable. We grew up side by side, sharing the kind of friendship that shapes who you are. The The sun felt brighter back then on the days where we would ride his scooters through the neighborhood, laughing until we
010couldn't breathe. Back then, I didn't understand how fleeting such moments can be. I didn't realize how precious ordinary afternoons were. As the years went by, JB may have grown physically weaker, but our friendship only grew stronger. No matter what, we showed up for each other. I knew about his condition. What I didn't understand is how little time we truly had. In August of 2023, JB flew in a red biplane over Martha's Vineyard. On August 15th, he left us for the sky permanently. On August 17th, I found out it felt like a piece of me had quietly disappeared without a warning. Grief is unpredictable. One day I was laughing at old memories, replying how hysterical he was. The next I was wishing I had texted him more, called him more, listened to his laugh one more
011time. That school year felt different. It felt incomplete. I kept expecting to see his bright red sneakers in the hallway. And when I didn't, it finally sank in. I was angry. I was angry that he wouldn't experience graduation, prom, his 18th birthday. But over time, I had realized something. JB would not want to be remembered only through our sadness. He would want to be remembered through the way we live. And when I think about the way our class has lived for the past four years, I realize just how much we have truly shared together. We filed into student sections to support our sports teams. We packed into the auditorium to cheer on musical and drama productions. We showed up for spirit weeks, fundraisers, and class events that turned every classmate into a community. High school
012was never about the grades or the schedules. It was about the people. And it was about learning to support each other and leave a place better than we found it. And JB understood that better than anyone. So with that in mind, instead of letting my grief hold me back, I let it move me forward. JB taught me that joy is not something that you wait for. It's something that you choose. He chose joy even on the hard days. He chose laughter when things weren't easy. He chose to show up fully even when life was unpredictable. And that is what today is about. Graduation isn't just about diplomas or tassels. It's about understanding that none of this is guaranteed. The ordinary days we sometimes rush through, the classes, the hallways, the half days were never ordinary
013at all. They were the moment shaping us. Class of 2026, as we walk across the stage, let's just not walk for ourselves. Let's walk for the friend who couldn't. Let's walk for the dreams that were cut short. Let's walk with gratitude for the time we have because I now understand how precious it is. When your name is called today, hear it as more than a celebration. Hear it as a reminder. A reminder that you are here, that you have breath in your lungs, and that you have time. And time is the greatest gift of all. Today we are walking across the stage as 178. But in spirit, in memory, and in impact, we are 179. JB's life may not have been measured in length, but it was measured in light. And that light doesn't just
014disappear. It lives in us. And how we treat people and how we show up and in how we choose to fully live. Life is fragile. Life is fleeting. But life, when lived boldly and with love, is powerful beyond measures. Congratulations, Thank you, Maisie. I would now ask the DS regional chorus to please come forward to perform a song for the class of 2026. Mother says I was a danc She says I began to sing I'm so thank all honesty. What would I say? Thank you for the music for it to me. the girl. What a joy. What a life. What a chance. for all the joy they're bringing. Who can live without it? I ask in all honesty, what would life be? without a song or dance. What are we? So I say thank you
015for the music to me. So I say thank you for the music to me to At this time, we will now hear our second declamation speaker, Caroline Hoe, representing the class of 2026. Caroline. Good evening, proud parents, family, friends, and Dover Sherborn's class of 2026. I'm sure you've all heard the idiom, don't hold your breath. Usually, it's a warning. Don't expect too much. Don't get your hopes up. Don't wait around for something that might never come. For most of us, holding our breath looks like patience, self-control, and waiting for that right moment. And over time, we get very good at that kind of waiting. Waiting to feel ready, waiting to make sure we don't mess up, waiting to graduate. But that perfect moment where everything feels certain and easy rarely comes. The longer we wait
016for permission, whether from others or from ourselves, the easier it becomes to hold our breath. It means ideas go unheard. Opportunities pass without us, and we slowly convince ourselves that our voices don't matter. But they do. And if there's anything the four years at Dover Sherborn High School have taught us, it's that the moments that define us are the ones where we never felt truly ready. They're the ones when we spoke, even when we weren't confident, when we asked questions, no matter how outrageous, trying when we weren't sure of the outcome. For me, one of those moments came this year when I joined mock trial as a senior. To be honest, I had no idea what I was doing. I certainly wasn't the most experienced person in the room, and speaking up, especially in a
017setting where everyone else seems so confident, was terrifying. But I wanted to get the most out of the experience. So, I spoke. And through all of our arguing and arguing and arguing, my uncertainty blossomed into excitement. And what was previously unfamiliar became something I genuinely cared about. I found something I never would have discovered if I had kept waiting. Because the goals we chase, the passions we discover, the changes we hope to make don't come to us while we're waiting. And we didn't learn that lesson on our own. We learned it from teachers who challenged us, coaches who pushed us, families who supported us, and the countless staff members, guidance counselors, custodians, bus drivers, and administrators who made Dover Sherborn somewhere we could take those chances in the first place. In college and beyond, we're
018stepping into spaces where no one is going to hand us certainty. There won't always be clear signals telling us when to speak, when to lead, when to take a risk. More often than not, the responsibility will fall on us to recognize those moments and to choose to not let them pass. So, think about that deep breath you take before something important, a test, a game, a presentation, or a performance. It's that breath that marks when the crucial shift moment h crucial shift happens when you take control and start deciding what happens next. So, class of 2026, when you find yourself in that familiar moment, take that same deep breath and don't hesitate. Speak when something matters to you. Act when something feels wrong. Step forward even if you're not entirely sure of the outcome. And
019don't hold your breath. Because every goal, every change, every future you're imagining starts the same way with that one breath and the decision not to waste it. Congratulations to the class of 2026. Thank you, Caroline. At this time, I have the honor of presenting the Longhan Award. Each year, two seniors are chosen to receive the Longhan Award. This award sponsored by the Dover Sherborn PTO is presented in honor of former high school headmaster Denise Lteran who served the Dover Sherborn school committee for 33 years with 13 years as the headmaster of this high school. Recipients of this prestigious award are active in the school community. They are in good academic standing and they possess the following qualities. Altruism character, diligence, integrity, and loyalty. I would now ask the following two students to come forward and
020receive this special recognition. Sebastian Hassar and Nora Olsen. Congratulations, Nora and Sebastian. Before I begin my remarks to present to the class, I'd like to give a a quick thanks to the many people who have made this evening possible. like to thank Sean McGee, Dean Boen, Chris Hendris, Elliot Lucil, Joe Grusk, Nick Grout, all of our student volunteers, and in one person in particular who has been working on graduation since October, my administrative assistant, Katie Graham. Katie, thank you so much. Good evening, family, friends, faculty, and the class of 2026. Tonight, we gather to celebrate a truly remarkable group of individuals, the class of 2026. Over the past four years, you have demonstrated not only high academic achievement, but a spirit of intellectual curiosity, resilience, and empathy that has put you into schools and programs
021that will offer you endless opportunities. Once again, Dover Sherborn graduates will be attending programs all across our country as well as nations abroad. Dober Sherborn High School is a very challenging school. Your teachers have high expectations for your performance as well as your work ethic. While I'm sure you have all faced some academic adversity in your time at DS, this experience will serve you well next year and well into the future. As a school, we are tasked with developing and strengthening your critical thinking skills, expanding your overall understanding of the world, developing and fine-tuning your ability to write in a number of academic areas, as well as contemplate and solve challenging problems. As the student, you are responsible for developing a strong work ethic, balancing multiple school activities, and always putting forward your best work.
022Can this be stressful? Yes, of course. But that is what life is all about. In order to achieve and to be successful, you have to step outside your comfort zone. Take academic risks and put in the necessary time to achieve positive results. Finding those moments where you can enjoy your family, your friends, and your passions will also be the key to a happy and successful life. You will have victories, setbacks, and challenges like everyone else in the world. How you respond will determine your happiness. Now, that does not mean being the absolute best at everything, but rather you should pursue what makes you happy. If you meet that goal, then you will be successful in life. Thus far, you have completed this initial hurdle. Continue to strive to be your best and look at life's
023challenges as opportunities. These opportunities will bring you to different places, different jobs, and different careers. The path is not a straight line, but rather is a series of curves that will teach you about yourself and what you want to be. Work hard, play hard, and enjoy this beautiful life. Congratulations, class of 2026. I am so very proud of each of you. Thank you. Superintendent McCoy, it is my pleasure to present the class of 2026. Would you please come forward to accept the class of 2026 by offering some parting words? Okay, I'm ready. Good evening, elected officials, parents, families, friends, educators, and graduates. Graduation speech 2026. Wow, that was fast. It feels like just yesterday I sat with all of you at kindergarten orientation thinking, "The class of 2026, that seems so far away." And here
024we are. Tonight, I have two messages to share. The first is a message of gratitude. As someone who both lives and works here, I have witnessed firsthand what makes the Dover Sherburn District so special. Our community is deeply committed to academic excellence providing the resources to make that possible. Small classes, pristine athletic fields, generous scholarships, and signature programs like seminar day and senior project. Parents and guardian guardians give generously of their time supporting enrichment, coaching, mentoring, and serving in across array of organization including PTO's, boosters, FOPA, and the school committee. Our educators and staff consistently go beyond expectations, designing new learning experiences, creating opportunities for kids to explore their interests, and truly knowing each student as an individual who is seen, known, and valued. Collectively, the towns of Dover and Sherburn have fully contributed to
025the growth of the confident, curious, and promising young people we celebrate here today. Thank you all. My second message is for the graduates. As a mother and an educator, this is my one last opportunity to say something memorable before you launch. So, here goes. I know how hard you have worked to get here. I have seen you in the classroom, on the field, on the stage, at the workplace, in service to others. Day after day, you completed your long list of things to do. On a typical day, your list included go to class, turn in assignments, take a test, eat quickly, attend practice, finish homework, check. Now, sleep and repeat. This past year, your to-dos, SATs, campus visits, college applications, games, rehearsals, and endless assignments, check. Over the last four years, English, math, science, history,
026world language, wellness, the arts, technology, band, drama, sports, community service, check. Before that, middle school map tests, remember those? Elementary math facts, check. Today marks the end of a 13-year march. Check. So before you tear off a new clean sticky note, I ask you to reflect on the wisdom of one very famous senior. Ferris said, "Life moves pretty fast, and if you don't stop and look around once in a while, you might miss it." If you are not careful, adulthood will gladly hand you an endless to-do list. Work deadlines will replace school assignments. Bills will replace permission slips. Appointments, emails, meetings, they will multiply quickly. And before you know it, years will pass. So at this moment, we are going to pause time. Right now, you are full of hopes and aspirations. You are brighteyed,
027optimistic. You are larger than life. So, here is your last directive as a Dober Sherburn High School student. I want you to pause and think about your dreams for the future, the things you aim to accomplish and dared to do. Perhaps you long to conserve wildlife in Costa Rica. Perhaps you aspire to learn American Sign Language. Perhaps you dream of driving from Boston to LA. Perhaps you aim to build the dreamhouse by hand. Perhaps you strive to play a waltz on the accordion. Perhaps you seek to soar through the sky in a red open cocklet pit plane. Or perhaps you wish wish to watch the sunrise from Mount Reineer. Got them? Now, hold on to these aspirations because whatever your dreams may be, your final homework assignment is this. Create a new kind of to-do
028list, a life list in your yearbook because I know you will return to that in the years to come. Promise yourself that you will make time to pursue each of these endeavors. Do not settle for a life built only on tasks, chores, and responsibilities. Do not let verbs like take, attend, and finish override those like yearn, venture, and discover. Do not let the everyday overshadow the extraordinary. Take risks. Stay open to love, friendship, and possibility. Pursue what makes you feel alive and reconnect with your dreams when obligation and routine tell you to set them aside. True happiness is not found in checking boxes. It is found in growth, in relationships, in purpose, in adventure, and in becoming who you truly want to be. Now, with the assumption that you will complete this final assignment to
029write your life lists into your yearbooks, promise, I accept the class of 2026 and attest that you are prepared to aspire, to experience, and to thrive. Congratulations, seniors. Dream boldly, live fully, and do not let life pass you by. I would now ask the superintendent, the assistant superintendent, and members of the regional school committee, Miss Angie Johnson and Mr. Jeff Cassidy, to please come forward to confer the diplomas for the class of 2026. Regori Abraian Tosen Ammani Edyamo Matilda Sadi Akari Antonus Alexopoulos Abigail Paige Ardain Piku Ashk Oliver Zire Atwood Isabelle Rain Bogard Elise Susanna Basada, Camille Marie Budro, >> Marabella Teresa Busussy, Jonah Lauren Brown, Charles Raymond Bun, Wesley James Bun, >> Winston Robert Bun, Abby Kathleen Burn, Isabella, Linda Campanella, Tiana Rain, Ammani Carter, >> Luke Edward, Seal, >> Nicole O Chen, Saming
030Chen, Arabella May, Gawa Clark, Riley Rose Kaminsky, Chaden Gabriel Cordell Tessa Fay Carell Frederick Pierre Horton Adeline Victoria Cullum Emily Linder, Darren, James Robert Davis, Kate Shaughnessy, Dolly, Grant Howard, Debbon, Harrison Peter Depala, Joshua Modi Diaz, Wincy Melody Ding, Kyle Menddees, De Santos, Patrick Declan, Driscoll, >> Iman Faith, Elhalali, Kyle Scott Embry, >> Alexander Edgard, Fiad, >> Ruby Virginia, Fielding, Ethan Britain, Fiori, >> Henry G. Young Fowler, >> Maxwell Henry Fel, >> Meredith Reese Gibbs, >> Monica Brook Gibbs, >> Maisie Louise Gilchrist, Sarah Elizabeth Godfrey, Sierra Godfrey, Mia Grace Griel, >> Jaden Ilon Gun, Beatatric Donnelly Hackett, >> Avery Elise Hatfield, >> Jasmine Natalie Lotito Hancock, Charles Patrick Hartnett, Wow, Marissa Huff, Leah Francis Hills, Caroline Raan Hoe, >> Matthew Carlton, Howell, Sebastian Joseph John Hassar, >> Elizabeth Solen Huang, >> Ty Anthony Jun, >>
031Alexander William Johnson, Benjamin Gekai Jerasimo Nicholas Cafkus Vivian CJ Camphouse >> Addison Rachel Kaine Offsane Shahabi Kazmerki >> Caleb Lewis Keptniss >> Darius Desmond King Jr. Rory Payton Kenny, >> Nolan Andrew Kuzlowski, >> John Alden Kz, Isaac John Lee, >> Maya Caroline, Lyric, >> Laya Lockhart, Craner, >> Anique Balaka, Lmani Carell Sudila Lami, >> Clara Grace Lombard, >> William Quinn Lombard, Kiara Marian Loose, >> Emma Claire Lusco, >> Satie Yan Limnios, Henry Vivian Ma Caroline Jackson Mahoney Grace Violet Mackis Amelia Marie Mariano O Rachel Marie Krueger Martin Adam Matayv Kaden Patrick McCoy Neve Elizabeth McMin Reed Edison Henderson McRavic Grace Eugenie Meansen, >> Maria Merculi, >> Tristan Dvaros Miller, Brada Johanna Miranda Perez, Franco Monttoayor, Keratini, >> Isabella, Pauline Moral, Emma Khalani Mley, >> Jacqueline James, Modern >> Alexander Michael Mose, Alexa Wendy Murphy, Jameson
032Michael Murphy, Carara Danielle Murphy, >> Reema Moini, Nana Dylan Hoy, Nat Nin House, >> Kyla Yuching Ing. No. Riley Elizabeth Nun Jack Timothy O'Brien Lucas Emanuel Olmstead Robert Carr Olsen, >> Nora Jane Olsen, >> Eve Rose Ortiz, Jadep Sai Potty, Doss Pang Elellanar Fay Papilly Magayens Pasos Raina Angelie Patel Maxwell Walter Patnod Lexi Olivia Payton Sienna Oceanana Pedto Willham Perne Renee Publens Charles Miller Pollock, >> Jacob Robert Poil, >> Malachi Terrell Price, Oliver Namday Reya, >> Olivia, Neca, Rehea, Cecilia, Beatatric, Richie, Amelia, Noel Rubio, Adam Pierce Russell, >> Owen Patrick Russell, Steven Ward, Saber Laya Kazawe Sakiyama, >> Benjamin Kyle Salvin, >> Isabella Rose AN Allison May Sham, >> Caitlyn Susan Shanahan, >> Leila Anne Shanahan, Abby Sharma, >> Attilla Sharma, Jonathan Jaden Shen, >> Hamida Shitu, Abdu Jackson Henrik Schusta, >> Sally Annette Seagull,
033>> Alyssa Wii, Sin, >> Julia Marie Sip, Llaya Elizabeth, Emma Stern, >> Ronan, Steven, Sullivan, >> Bowden, Gerard, Sweeney, Ethan Tyugo, >> Arman Singh, Tambber, >> Neil Tanden, >> Nev, Dmitri Tasacov, Si Matthew Ting Shantanu Tawari Hamilton Ching Ten >> Caroline Higa Wang Ian Oliver Watson, >> Alexis May Weiss, >> Samuel Kobe Whitesman, >> Kyle Andrew Wetgen, Elkie Elaine Weim Meer, >> Caroline Jane Williams, >> Olivia Heather Wong, >> Steven Woo, Bridget Helen Wyers, >> Elise Maria Xavier, >> LRA Maria Xavier, Jason Sia, >> Jericho Zu, >> Amethyst, >> Jacob James, Yablonsky, Sam Peter Zagorianis, >> William Michael Zampini, >> Harper Anzatili, >> Ian Zho, At this time, I would ask the class of 2026 to please rise. And I would ask for Kate Dolly to please come forward to confer the graduates of the
034class of 2026. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the class of 2026. Come on.