Lyme-Old Lyme HS Commencement Ceremony Celebrates a ‘Class of Heroes’

OLD LYME—Despite somewhat threatening weather at the Commencement Ceremony held Friday evening, the rain pretty much held off until the 106 Lyme-Old Lyme High School seniors had received their diplomas and officially graduated, thus becoming the Class of 2024.

We have published below the speeches made at Commencement in the order in which they were given. More photos will follow later.

Class President Griffin McGlinchey

Good evening, it is my pleasure to be speaking to you at the 51st commencement ceremony of Lyme-Old Lyme High School. A warm welcome to faculty, staff, administration, board of education, parents, family, friends, and most importantly, the graduating class of 2024. Take a moment to reflect; you are sitting at a graduation that has been 13 years in the making. All of the time, effort, long days and late nights of your high school career are coming to a close – for the most part, at least. Enjoy the long two months you have over the summer before you have to do it all over again in college, the workforce, and the real world. Think about the people who have gotten you here and be grateful for the sacrifices and work they have done to push you to insure that you are the best possible person you can be. On behalf of the graduating class, I would like to thank the teachers, faculty, and everyone involved with making this high school such a great place. We are so grateful for the knowledge and wisdom you have imparted to us. 

Seniors, if you go on a trip down memory lane, back to elementary school, you might remember learning each other’s names, swinging on the playground, and getting into trouble playing tackle football at recess. We didn’t have much of an idea what a graduation was or what the future held for us. We were focused on the important thing – just having fun. Take a lesson from your younger self and enjoy the little things in life, and cherish the people around you who make those little things so special. Make sure to enjoy what you have at hand, as it is easy to get caught up in life and miss the present moment.

After elementary school, we made our way to Lyme-Old Lyme Middle School, which can be summed up in awkward dances, playing gaga ball, and building mousetrap cars. Middle school was a time of change but most importantly, it was where we started to have a solid identity as a class.. Whether you went to school in Old Lyme from the start or joined this year, this class was always there with open arms to support and encourage fellow classmates. By the time we made it to high school, many would agree we weren’t as close as we are now –  in fact we were 6 feet apart in every class for every hour of the day. It wasn’t until sophomore year that we got to show our faces, and emulate the Future song that goes by the title of “Mask Off.” 

There’s no doubt that this class has struggled at times, and has overcome numerous challenges, difficulties, and growing pains during our high school career. Despite this, this class stuck together, pushing alongside one another toward our own personal goals. This graduating class was something special and had impressive contributions from every single student. From award winning artists, recognized musicians and actors, to national competing attorneys, this class had it all. Athletic championships were also not very hard to come by. In this past year alone, Wildcats athletic teams were led by the Class of 2024 to 4 state championships including the first boys’ basketball championship in program history and the girls tennis team who’s won in four straight years. There was also the boys co-op hockey team, the one that I played on, and although we lost in the state championship, my mom said I was a state champion in her book, so I guess that’s just as good as the ring that could’ve been on my finger.

This class was adaptable, and whatever came our way we were ready to take on full force, and push a positive culture forward into Lyme-Old Lyme High School and the community as a whole. I am proud to be in a class full of amazing people, and I wish the best for everyone moving forward. In the words of Abe Lincoln “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” While our time at Lyme-Old Lyme High School comes to a close, I can say in full confidence that this graduating class has what it takes to create a bright and exciting future for the world. Class of 2024, it’s been a ride and we’re at the finish line. We’re saying goodbye to a chapter of our lives, but the friendships and memories we’ve made along the way will stick with us for life. I wish everyone the best of luck creating their own future, and I am proud of every single one of you in those seats, thank you.

Lyme-Old Lyme High School Principal James Wygonik

Good Evening and welcome as we celebrate the Lyme-Old Lyme Class of 2024.

I’d like to welcome the members of the Board of Education, Superintendent Neviaser, our administrative team, the distinguished faculty of LOLHS, the families of our graduates, alumni, members of this fine community, and of course, the class of 2024.   Everyone is here tonight to honor and celebrate this milestone in your lives.  This night is for you.  

I want to thank the parents and families of our graduates.  I think I can speak for the administrative team and the faculty when I say that you have been great partners in this journey.  May I remind the graduates that the people sitting behind you are your biggest fans.  They will be there for you.  And believe me, you will need them.  Never take for granted their love and support.  

Watch how incredibly smart your parents become over the next decade. It turns out that they are pretty skilled at this real-world stuff.  Now, I know, these are the same annoying people who mediate arguments with the words, “because I said so”. And never tire of reminding you that “money doesn’t grow on trees”.  I mean, who other than your mother can become super worried if you don’t answer her text within two-one hundredths of a second.  Who better to embarrass you in front of your friends than your father.  But they have seen you at your best and your worst. Either way they summoned their super powers to simultaneously be an Uber driver, chef, and therapist.  So, tomorrow, when you begin the next leg on your life’s journey, continue to talk to them and listen to them. They will not charge you for their expertise and most of the time you may even get a free meal and laundry service out of the deal.  

Today you leave Lyme-Old Lyme High School with a world class education.  You will take that, some new bed sheets, and hopefully a toothbrush as you embark on your next adventure.  But I think the most important item that you can pack for your life’s journey are your heroes. Those people who you admire the most for their core values, their work ethic, and their commitment to others.  Life inevitably hands us personal setbacks. There will be tough decisions to make.   It is during these personal challenges in our lives that our heroes are most likely inspire us.  To overcome whatever adversity we’re facing.  Heroes lift us up when we are in danger of falling down emotionally, physically, or spiritually.

I believe heroes are made by the paths that they choose not the powers they possess.  It’s those choices that inspire us.  In addition to my biggest heroes, my parents. mostly for how well I turned out, another personal hero of mine is Mr. Rogers. Everyone’s beloved TV neighbor. Through his television show and life’s work, he chose a path of kindness, and dedicated himself to making a positive impact on the world.  He did it by educating us about our differences and emphasizing the common bonds that unite all human beings. I can’t say that I always live up to his expectations, but every day when I tuned in he told me that he liked me just the way I am. Now 50 some years after first watching his show, I still lean on his core values to guide me in my life’s work as a parent and an educator.  I was fortunate to meet him on a few occasions.  As special as those moments were, I reminiscence about them with regret because I never told him that he was one of my heroes.  Not sure I ever told my parents either.   So, to be sure this doesn’t happen to you, here is one last performance task before graduating from Lyme-Old Lyme High School.

1. If you haven’t already done so, identify your heroes.   
2. If they still walk this earth, find a way… call, email, text, tweet, whatever, to tell them that they are your hero and most importantly, tell them why.  Trust me.  It will be a life changing experience for both of you.
3. Finally, choose a path, live a life worthy of becoming someone else’s hero.

A hero’s journey is never truly complete. It is a lifelong pursuit of growth, learning, and service. The world needs heroes now more than ever. It needs individuals like you who are willing to stand up for justice, to speak out against inequality, to innovate, and to inspire. It needs your courage, your compassion, and your creativity.

Class of 2024, you are a special group that will inspire the next generation.    But it was your work here:  Your commitment to excellence, your kindness, and concern for others that have inspired me and many others for a long time. And it’s for that reason I want you to know that you are our heroes.

Never forget that you are a Wildcat for Life.  I wish you the best in your journey.  Thank you.

Commencement Speaker William (Billy) Rayder

Good evening! Ladies, gentlemen, parents, grandparents, Administrators, Board of Education members and, most importantly, the Class of 2024. For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Bill Rayder, and I’ve been teaching here for a mere 49 years. In dog years, that’s …well, still a long time. 

It is an honor to be selected to speak on your behalf. My parents are honored also, and I know they are up there smiling because they are proud of me and, most importantly, because it’s pay back time. They have you, Class of 2024, to thank for it. 

Growing up in Rockaway Beach, Queens, NY, I was the problem child – the middle child. (The sixth of twelve children) I was literally in the middle of everything. I was a tease, the one stirring the pot, the one causing chaos. My motto has always been, “the best defense is a good offense”. Have I changed? 

I don’t want you to feel sorry for me, but I have not slept too well since May 15 when Jim approached me about speaking today. I said “yes” right away knowing I would be out of my comfort zone. My daughters have seen me talking to myself while grilling in the backyard. They think I am crazy!  

What can I say? Who can I thank? And what do you need to know? I can tell you I need to thank all of the faculty – especially Miss Schreindorfer and  Phil Cohen for their 49 years of putting up with me and my antics. Without them, I would not be speaking tonight, I can’t help but think that they see this as a little payback like my parents. Shout out to Bella Ziegler for typing this speech, without her I wouldn’t have known what to do. 

Ella Halsey and Kate Mulaney saw me parking on Lyme street today and wanted to know why.

When I started teaching here, gas was 36 cents a gallon, and ‘selfie’ was what you did to your hair in the morning. I’ve taught long enough to see bell-bottoms go out of style, come back into style, and go out of style again. Just like my tennis shorts. I’ve taught some of you, your parents, and even your aunts and uncles. At this point, if anyone needs a family discount on my memoirs, just let me know. 

I’ve had over 2,000 driver’s ed students, and not a single one has had an accident under my watch. I think that might be because I wore my lucky socks everyday. Or maybe it’s the brake pedal on my side of the car. In my career, I’ve taught over 20,000 students. That’s a lot of laps around the gym, a lot of health quizzes, and way too many attempts to do k-turns. It’s also a lot of lives touched and memories made. 

I have three quotes I would like to share with you. Aristotle says, “Teaching is the highest form of understanding.” What does this mean? We need to make more time to share with others what we have learned. Teach!

The second quote is from the Class of 1990’s valedictorian, Nicole Breault. “Carpe Diem – seize the day!” which, in PE terms, means “go big or go home! ”Go Big!!

The third quote is from anonymous and my favorite quote. “Students might not remember what you taught them, but they will always remember how you treated them.” 

As you move on from here, remember to stay active, stay healthy, and always check your mirrors. Congratulations, Class of 2024. Keep making us proud!

One last time, on the count of three, ladies, gentlemen, and people we are out of time!

Honor Essayist Delaney Nelson

As I’m sure Ella, Aggie, and Griffin can attest, there’s no easy way to write a speech that imparts some deep lesson, or sums up our high school experience. But I want to start by saying a big congratulations to all of us, and to the people who raised us for seeing us to this point in our journey. In order to really thank them, I want to talk about what they’ve given me, and what I can possibly give you.

In eighth grade, my mom gave me a book that I’ve brought here with me today. So everyone look under your chairs! No I’m just kidding – this isn’t Oprah. But, I am going to walk you through the story, so there’s no need to worry. The book is called, the Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse, and I would summarize the plot for you, but there really isn’t one.

It’s more a collection of lessons imparted by a somewhat nonlinear story as the friends journey together. And really, I think that’s what life is. Teaching and learning from others.

On one of the opening pages the boy asks the mole, “what do you think success is?” to which the mole replies, “to love.” As we’ve come to the final weeks of our senior year, it’s obvious that we’ve realized how important our relationships are. So though LOLHS felt competitive at times and we haven’t always gotten along, I think we should all feel so lucky that we have had the pleasure of growing up surrounded by love from the people we’ve spent most of our lives with.

As the boy and the mole move further from that familiar love, the mole imparts yet another piece of wisdom: “Most of the old moles I know wish they had listened less to their fears and more to their dreams.” So as we prepare to partake in that same separation from consistency, I encourage you all to focus on what it is that you want, not what might stand in the way. I’m sure Mr. Rayder is terrified to walk 500 miles in a foreign country, but as he’s said many times, “it’s been a lifelong dream,” and I really do believe he should be the example. To him and to you all, I think we’d all benefit from listening to the mole as he addresses the unknown, “it’s the wild. Don’t fear it.”

Eventually the mole and the boy encounter the fox, who joins their story. Instead of fearing the fox’s threats, the mole frees him from the trap, and invites him along. The mole once again seizes the opportunity for advice stating, “one of our greatest freedoms is how we react to things.” I didn’t expect to have to ask my mom to be the mock trial coach, but we ended up making it to nationals. I’m sure Mr. Wilson didn’t foresee having to teach at the middle school, but he has embraced it wholeheartedly. I imagine Mrs. Dewey didn’t picture herself going from the preschool to the highschool, but she has done so impeccably. While all these scenarios have been unexpected, they’ve all had successful outcomes, all because of how these individuals handled the change, the transition.

So when you have a roommate issue, or you’re homesick, or you’re struggling to adjust to your new phase of life, remember that your power lies in your response. With that sentiment in mind, the horse joins the group as the final member. The conversation begins to flow as the boy asks, “what is the bravest thing you’ve ever said?” The horse’s response is simple, “help.”

Throughout my time at the high school I’ve seen hordes of students in Mrs. Geletkanyzc’s room the morning before a test, scattered around her numerous white boards trying to get as much help as possible. I participated in many an AP Chem review session, where Mrs. Kelley sat patiently as we unloaded our questions on her. There is not a teacher in this building that wouldn’t do so for any kid who was struggling, I think it is a remarkable breed of people who make up the Old Lyme faculty, and I think we can all learn from the example they’ve set for us. In fact I would venture to say that we’ll encounter many people who are struggling in one way or another, and the courage to ask for help or to give it to someone who needs it is what makes us strong.

Expanding on that point the horse adds, “sometimes…sometimes just getting up and carrying on is brave and magnificent.” And this is not a lesson I’m trying to impart, but rather a recognition. As a grade of 110, we’ve all seen each other at our worst. The days we couldn’t come to school in anything other than our pajamas, asking our parents to bring whatever we’ve left at home, and sliding in late to second period. However, there is the mutual understanding that most people are trying their best. That their perseverance is commendable, respectable, and not the least bit shameful. And though sometimes it can feel that way, when it’s your day that’s particularly dark, the mole reminds us that “the greatest illusion is that life should be perfect.”

As they go along, the friends come upon a pair of swans, which prompts the boy to ask, “how do they look so together and perfect?” to which the horse responds, “there’s a lot of frantic paddling going on beneath.” Despite the fact that we’ve all been that person asleep at their desk or hidden in the bathroom, it’s hard to remember that everyone else has been there too. Academic, athletic, personal, all kinds of successes, are not always measured by how difficult they were to achieve, but rather how perfect the people who achieve them seem.

Often the only way to quell this constant desire for comparison, is to focus inwards. And for the boy and hopefully someday for ourselves, the answer is quite comforting. The mole asks the boy, “what’s your best discovery?” and the boy replies, “that I am enough as I am.” As humans, we are wired to constantly be striving for more, but that urge dwindles when there’s an acceptance that we’re enough, or at least the conscious effort to believe it.

At the close of the book “the end” is crossed out, and instead “look at how far we’ve come” is written across the page.

I’ll be honest that I’ve cried a lot of tears over today and what seems like the end of an era, but this little book from middle school has reminded me that this is a testament to my progress and yours, a measure of how we’ve grown and how far we’ve come.

So with that I’ll leave you with one of the illustrations that did not make the story itself. The final page features the horse watching over the boy, as he says “just take this step…the horizon will look after itself.”

I wish you all luck with your next step. Thank you.

Salutatorian Ella Curtis-Reardon

I can still vividly remember my first day of school in this town. Middle school, especially one in the small town of Old Lyme, was entirely foreign to me. The early wake up to catch the morning school bus was fueled by nerves and excitement – mostly nerves. I walked around the halls on that first day with such trepidation and reserve, but looking back, I did not have any reason to be intimidated or shy. The girls who stood next to me in the ice breaker game during gym class, in which we collectively stepped to the side of the line that preferred the Red Sox over the Yankees, are now people with whom I have played seven consecutive years of soccer. The girl from my homeroom who was the first person to start a conversation with me has been one of my best friends through it all. The science teacher, Mrs. Murray, who made the class laugh, continued to be an entertaining, energetic highlight of each of my days. My sixth grade year was also the middle school principal, Mr. Ambruso’s, first year in the district, but we made it through, and now I love mornings in which I am able to stop and catch up with him in the parking lot before I walk into school. 

Lyme Old Lyme Middle School was so good to me and I am forever thankful for the positive, welcoming environment in which I grew up with my closest friends. This time around, entering high school, I was excited for the journey because I knew that I would have the strongest support system. And I did. 

Each time I dragged Mrs. Geletkanycz into her classroom before school to help me prepare for a math test, she did so with a smile on her face – and a Dunkin coffee in her hand. I love getting book recommendations from my English teachers. I love seeing how involved Mr. Lillie will be in spirit week. I love getting to know the custodial staff due to always needing them to unlock classrooms for me when I leave things behind. I will not forget the cheerful visits from Kona, Hildie’s therapy dog. Or the feeling of community in the commons right after school when every athlete is hustling to get ready for their practices. Or the welcoming arms with which Ms. Mass has made her classroom a revolving door for students to congregate and pass time before and after school.

Old Lyme and Lyme-Old Lyme High School are so much more than a town and a school. They are a home. I have felt at home from the very beginning and I recognize how fortunate I am to be able to say that. Administration oversees hundreds of kids each day and manages to get to know each one of them. Thank you for making me feel seen. My teachers have gone out of their way to ensure my success and well-being. Thank you for making me feel heard. My classmates have been an amazing group of people – now young adults – to grow up with and I could not be more proud of every single one of you. Thank you for making me feel loved. I cannot wait to see what you do and cheer you on in your endeavors.

The golden rule as we know it is to treat others the way you want to be treated. As my four years at this high school and seven years in this town come to a close, I know that I have developed a standard for the way that I want to treat people. The solicitude, endearment, and compassion that I received from this community inspires me to do the same for others wherever I go. I truly believe that the kindness and support from you all is what enabled my growth and successes. So I urge you to take this feeling of love and gratitude for your family, your friends, your school – and look to replicate it for everyone else in your life.

The sense of home we’ve found here will always be a part of who we are. It will be our anchor, our reminder of the strength we possess and the support we can always return to. Although we will carry a piece of this home with us wherever we go, what better to do than to make each place feel like a home to someone else? Cultivate empathy. Cherish your friendships. Make people feel welcomed. And go out of your way to be kind. Thank you, and congratulations everyone.

Valedictorian Agatha Hunt

First, I’d like to thank parents and family, the teachers, and of course, the class of 2024, for being here today. It’s a privilege to speak in front of you all. 

This is not my first graduation. At risk of sounding big headed, I did successfully graduate from 5th and 8th grade, so I’m pretty experienced with all of this. However, this is my first time writing a speech for a graduation, so I asked for a lot of advice from friends and family members. Many people, and this may be a reflection of their lack of confidence in my public speaking, told me to keep it brief, which I will. My mom told me that I don’t need to worry, because everyone is only here for Mr. Rayder’s speech anyway. Thanks mom.

When I was in elementary school, I would go over to my friend’s house, and we would bike or razor scooter up and down her street. There was this specific mailbox, shaped like a duck, that we weren’t allowed to go past, because once beyond it we were out of earshot of our parents and into danger. 

I recently drove past this mailbox again – this time in a car, not on a bike – and in the nostalgic state of mind that I’ve been in over the past few weeks, the significance of it struck me. We have gone so far beyond the mailbox, and yet we haven’t even noticed. We’d taken this great step in our lives back in elementary school, this shedding of protective parents and this leap into independence and semi-adulthood – I wondered, how had we missed it? 

I imagine that a lot of us here today, students and parents alike, have experienced something similar, some milestone that we realize years later that we overlooked. It comes from this central contradiction, something that I’ve struggled with all throughout high school, in which we are told to be present and live in the moment, yet everything that we do seems to build to this point, to graduating high school and choosing our future path. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, the idea that we might miss something important and irreplaceable in our lives because we just weren’t paying attention, but over these last few months of high school, I have begun to realize that we don’t need to fear missing the important things in our lives, that what is really valuable is impossible to overlook. It latches onto us as we grow up without us even realizing it. 

This past Sunday, Lauren Rahr, who most of us here at Lyme-Old Lyme High School know as an amazing geometry teacher and a record-breaking tennis coach, told the tennis team, of which I am a part, that after six years of teaching and four incredible years of coaching, she would be moving to Massachusetts to live with her fiancé. I speak for everyone who knows Ms. Rahr when I say she will be missed deeply. 

Ms. Rahr’s leaving caused me to reflect on what she has taught me and how I have changed as a result of knowing her, and the effect that she has had on my life has been profound. Her constant positivity has taught me to be a kinder person. Her encouragement has caused me to become more confident, and the environment she creates reminds me of the importance of inclusivity and compassion. Did I spend every moment that I was on the courts or in the classroom with Ms. Rahr reflecting on the lessons I was being taught? Of course not. I didn’t have to. Those lessons are with me now, and will be with me always, even after we both move on from Lyme-Old Lyme High School. 

I’m sure that every person here today can think back to someone who changed their lives for the better, whether it be a teacher who believed in you, a classmate who was kind to you, or a friend who was there for you. With these memorable people and moments are hundreds of others that we did not notice at the time but are a part of who we are today. 

The things in our lives that change us, that mean the most to us, are not the exams we take, the classes we pass or fail, or the accolades we receive. In fact, we barely notice the most influential components of our lives, the people around us, until they leave us. 

Class of 2024, the point of this speech is not necessarily to encourage you to thank and reflect on those around you who have made an impact on you, although of course, you can and should. It is mostly to assure you that although in taking this next step, we may feel more alone than we ever have before, we carry with us the lessons and support from the people who have meant something to us throughout our lives. Some of you may leave this school vowing to never come back. Some of you may have already begun unfollowing your classmates on Instagram. I’m sorry to tell you, but you can’t escape us. We are who we are because of the people we have grown with these past few years. 

When we stepped past the duck mailbox years and years ago, still hand in hand with the people we’d known all of our lives, we might not have taken a moment to reflect on the milestone or the lessons we had learned together. We might not have noticed that we are defined and built by the people around us. Today, as we graduate, remember that although we may leave behind those people, we take with us the things they taught us. Class of 2024, whatever our futures may hold, we won’t be alone. We will always carry with us the lessons from the best people in our lives.