A Resilient Class Picks Up Its Diplomas

Athletic champions, gun control advocates and future nurses and lawyers walked across the temporary stage near James Hillhouse High School, all united by their resilience through hardship.

This was the theme speakers and students kept returning to as 157 Hillhouse seniors celebrated their coronavirus-altered graduation.

“We are living proof that we are a vaccine, immune against what anyone can say against our dreams,” said Valedictorian Shua Kim.

To prevent the spread of Covid-19, each senior drove up to the stage and got out of their car just long enough to receive their diplomas and take a graduation photograph at Thursday afternoon’s ceremony, held at Bowen Field. The valedictorian and salutatorian speeches were pre-recorded and played over loud speakers to the parking lot full of cars.

Staff members carefully choreographed where each car was parked and called them into line in order of last names.

“You have displayed resilience. People say that our students are our future. I don’t believe that. I believe that you are our present,” Superintendent Iline Tracey said from the podium.

Tracey called out black and brown students in particular for their leadership, especially in recent Black Lives Matter protests.

The Hillhouse seniors are a special class for Glen Worthy, who became principal in time for their freshman year. He said that they have been active players in shaping school policy and have informed local and state conversations on gun control and how to prevent vaping.

“They’re unique in their fearlessness to advocate for themselves,” Worthy said.

The pandemic canceled many of the milestones the students were working towards, from school plays to tests to key sports events. Worthy said that students had studied for SATs and AP tests after school and on weekends. He still thinks the students aced the tests but it will take longer than usual to get the results this year.

He added that the class is full of star athletes, who were on track to win state track and basketball championships.

“Covid-19 kind of robbed them of the opportunity to win it again,” he said.

A few graduating seniors were missing that afternoon, Worthy noted. He guessed that they were unable to find rides to the event.

The students present expressed relief and joy for being able to celebrate their achievements despite the circumstances.

“[High school] was good. I got through it,” said Sheron Hunter (pictured above), who is looking at jobs or trade school next year.

Jaiden Satchell noted that the onset of Covid-19 prevented his grade from doing many of the things he was looking forward to, like prom. He is planning to attend college but has not selected a particular one yet.

“I’m feeling very excited,” Satchell said.

Brianna Eckenrod waited in her car for what she called the main celebration left to seniors.

“I’m excited to graduate. I’ve worked my tail off for the past four years. I’m glad they did something for us,” she said.

Eckenrod was taking a course at the University of New Haven when the pandemic hit. UNH transitioned online but Eckenrod didn’t. Only once she got a laptop from the school district was she able to resume her studies and start adjusting to distance learning.

Eckenrod plans to attend the University of Connecticut and major in finance and pre-law, with the goal of becoming a lawyer.

Jayda Seth’s family described how proud and emotional they were to see her graduate. They prompted her to list her achievements as three-year captain of the cheer team and as a student at both Hillhouse and the Educational Center for the Arts — all while balancing a job at Dunkin’ Donuts.

Seth said that her greatest moment of triumph came when she got all her college acceptance letters and saw the opportunities available to her in life. She settled on American International College in Springfield, Mass. and is looking forward to studying nursing in a new state.

Demoi Willis moved from New York to New Haven partially for the better school district, according to his family members. Melissa Crooks explained from the back seat of the car that she saw him open up more at Hillhouse and find activities he enjoys, like band. Willis is taking some time off before majoring in computer engineering and psychology, he said.

Rosaria Aguilar picked up her diploma from Worthy and stepped carefully along the raised platform to get her portrait taken. She paused just long enough to divulge her plans to join the army before staff members and family whisked her back into their car and up the road.

The school entrusted Heaven Anderson with the photography gig. Anderson has been shooting for Hillhouse since she graduated from the school herself in 2017.

Anderson said that her strongest memories from her time there are of supportive teachers and staff. It saddened her to realize that the Class of 2020 would not get to say the same good-byes to one another that she did.

“I’m happy they could all come together here,” she said.