Page 14 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, June 11, 2021 GRADUATE | FROM PAGE 1 to more of a traditional ceremony as, once again, the Macdonald Stadium stands were near capacity filled with family members, unlike the dramatically reduced attendance of last year’s mid-pandemic event held in the middle of August. Still, precautions were fully in place, with a reduced on-field seating arrangement but the 402 members of the Class of 2021 on full display. The Class of 2021 was praised and congratulated by Mayor Gary Christenson, Superintendent of Schools John Oteri and MHS Principal Chris Mastrangelo for their perseverance, patience and commitment to achieving their goals, despite the many restrictions and challenges raised by the pandemic. “You have shown a great deal of strength and resilience, both individually and as a group, and that will help carry you forward to the all-important next step of your lives,” Mayor Christenson told the Class of 2021. Mayor Christenson keeps in lighter spirit of the day Keeping in what was a lighter spirit of the day, Mayor Christenson, at the conclusion of his graduation address, unveiled a snazzy, replica suit he was wearing (with added sunglasses) of the same attire that “stole the show” at the recent Malden Senior Prom by “Struttin’” Ronny Batista. It was the Mayor’s own special way of personally honoring the Class of 2021, he said. Supt. Oteri noted the strength the members of the Class of 2021 have shown in their high school years, particularly since the pandemic was declared in March 2020. “Through it all, you have persevered, and you have earned the respect of all of us,” Supt. Oteri said. He recalled the legendary North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano, and his special relationship with his father, noting that father and son always prepared for the best outcome, expecting to reach their highest goals. “Go forth and follow your dreams, remember where you came from and remember your journey,” said Supt. Oteri, who was participating in his final MHS graduation day, as he is retiring at the end of this school year after four years at the Malden Public Schools’ helm. Principal Mastrangelo’s message to Seniors Principal Mastrangelo also had a heartfelt parting message for his seniors in his formal address to the Class of 2021, just before the distribution of the diplomas. “The Class of 2021 just got through a global pandemic that brought the world to its truly unexpected. Covid hit and we thought that it would just be a two-week vacation. This class has missed most of their senior year, but we were able to pull through in the end.” Class Orator Jacob Pettigrew, the third-ranked student in the Class of 2021, spoke about how he has turned a completely different direction regarding clichés. “Hearing ‘Reach for the stars’ isn’t someone telling me to fight my way to the top,” Pettigrew said, “It’s a call to action imploring me to seek out my own definition of success and to strive for that.” The day also featured memoClass Valedictorian Zi Yi “Billy” Zeng addressed his classmates, stating, “Class of 2021, it is your responsibility to use your voice to make the world a better place” at the MHS graduation. (Advocate photos by Josh London) own path, craft my narrative, and most importantly, it gave me space and the strength to explore my identity,” Zeng said. “Being alone shielded me from the outside world telling me how I should act, what I should be and what I should be doing.” Class of 2021 President Harriet Gerochi told her classmates, “I would just like to say that life is rable performances by the Malden High School Band under the direction of Erin Mazza and the MHS Chorus, directed by Todd Cole. Malden City Clerk Greg Lucey announced the awarding of over $50,000 in scholarships to 18 deserving seniors through the Malden High School Scholarship Association. With the speeches completed, diplomas distributed and the smiles in abundance, all that was left was the traditional cap-tossing at the end. Congratulations and best of luck to the Malden High School Class of 2021! Class Orator Jacob Pettigrew stated in his address, ‘It is a good time for all of us to look at clichés with fresh eyes.” The top of the cap says it all. MHS Class President Harriet Gerochi Address:“Class of 2021, I’m so proud of all of you because you made it,” knees. They can handle anything that comes at them,” said Mastrangelo, who was presiding over his fourth graduation ceremony. “This class endured a year like no other class that has come before them.” Mastrangelo said he and his staff went to great lengths to maintain and continue interactions with both his seniors and the other students in the MHS population of 1,800-plus, but it was a daunting task during the pandemic. “I feel like I missed out by not having day-to-day connections with them for the past 15 months,” he said. “But step-by-step, with a return to in-person school for some, my nightly check-in emails to the senior class and other ways, we began to heal and get back to more of a traditional experience.” Valedictorian Zeng: ‘Loneliness was my superpower’ MHS Valedictorian Zi Yi “Billy” Zeng was the #1-ranked student with a 4.89 grade point average. In his speech he thanked teachers, administrators, his family and others. He described the loneliness that accompanied living through the COVID-19 pandemic as a high school senior. “Looking back, my loneliness became my greatest superpower. It taught me how to forge my A soon-to-be graduate walks into Macdonald Stadium for pomp and circumstance.
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