Valedictorian Rojry Basnet (pictured at right), whose parents "both sacrificed everything as they immigrated to the United States in hopes of a better life" called on her classmates to "honor the people who have always believed in you, who have always supported you, and who will continue to be by your side."
Speaker Wiener Douyon inspired the audience with an impactful poem that incorporated themes of justice, fate, loss, hope, strength, and perseverance, ending with the lines:
And I am more than certain that you all will be seeing
The fruits of our own reaping
Yes, that's a sight that we should all be cheering
And as our next steps are nearing
The world will realize
WE. WILL. RISE.
For the students on stage and many in the audience, the ceremony was bittersweet with the absence of beloved senior Samaya "Maya" Belizaire-Arrendel, who tragically passed away in September. In her memory, a chair was reserved on stage with a cap and gown, a drawing, and a tiara. During the ceremony, an honorary diploma was presented to Maya's siblings.
As they move on from PHA, members of the Class of 2019 will attend a wide range of local and national colleges and universities. 95% of the graduates are enrolled in four-year colleges.
Speaker Wiener Douyon inspired the audience with an impactful poem that incorporated themes of justice, fate, loss, hope, strength, and perseverance, ending with the lines:
And I am more than certain that you all will be seeing
The fruits of our own reaping
Yes, that's a sight that we should all be cheering
And as our next steps are nearing
The world will realize
WE. WILL. RISE.
For the students on stage and many in the audience, the ceremony was bittersweet with the absence of beloved senior Samaya "Maya" Belizaire-Arrendel, who tragically passed away in September. In her memory, a chair was reserved on stage with a cap and gown, a drawing, and a tiara. During the ceremony, an honorary diploma was presented to Maya's siblings.
As they move on from PHA, members of the Class of 2019 will attend a wide range of local and national colleges and universities. 95% of the graduates are enrolled in four-year colleges.
Note: A number in parentheses indicates that multiple students are enrolled at the school.
| Assumption College Boston College - Woods College Bentley University (3) Brandeis University (6) Brown University Bryn Mawr College Boston University Bucknell University Colby College Emmanuel College Fisher College Fitchburg State University (2) Framingham State College of the Holy Cross (5) Lesley University Loyola Maryland Massachusetts College of Art and Design (2) |
Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (7)
Mt. Holyoke College Northeastern University (2) Norwich University Quincy College Rochester Institute of Technology (2) Salem State University (4) Skidmore College St. John's University St. Michael's College Suffolk University UMass Amherst (2) UMass Boston (2) UMass Lowell (4) Union College (2) Westfield State University |