42 High-Schoolers Reach Summer Graduation

Forty-two high school seniors from eight different New Haven public high schools were celebrated for their accomplishments and perseverance after working through summer school to attain the credits needed to receive their diplomas.

That summertime graduation ceremony took place on Friday morning at Metropolitan Business Academy at 115 Water St.

The forty-two students of the class of 2023 who got their diplomas on Friday hailed from Cooperative Arts & Humanities Magnet School, Hill Regional Career High School, High School in the Community, Gateway to College at Gateway Community College, James Hillhouse High School, Metropolitan Business Academy, Sound School, and Wilbur Cross High School.

Following the traditional graduation march, the audience recited the pledge of allegiance before Coop student Cristian Edwards delivered a powerful rendition of the national anthem.

Dixwell Alder Jeanette Morrison, alumna of James Hillhouse High School’s class of 1986, delivered the convocation speech. During her time at Hillhouse, Morrison held the position of cheer captain and was voted Miss Hillhouse by her peers.

“Look around the room,” she said. ​“This is support. All of [the graduation speakers], your family, your friends. You didn’t do this alone — remember that.”

Gratitude and family emerged as the focal theme of the morning as each speaker took the podium to deliver their words of congratulations to the class of 2023.

Mayor Justin Elicker followed Morrison with a rousing speech, reminding the graduates that they were exactly where they needed to be on their path to success: ​“You are graduating right on time,” he said.

“What is important about success is that, even though you all are brilliant, it does not come from brilliance. Even though you all are beautiful, it does not come from beauty. Success comes from tenacity,” Elicker said. ​“Unlike a lot of people out there, you have the experience of getting back up, and that will serve you well on your path to success.”

During her speech, New Haven Public Schools Supt. Madeline Negrón reminded the class of 2023 the value of individuality and determination.

“You should never — not now, not tomorrow, not next week, not next year, not in ten years — let anyone else write your future,” she urged the graduates. “[Defining yourself] starts with goals. Imagine yourself achieving those goals like a movie in your head, and when others doubt you, play that movie, because success starts with time, effort, and believing in yourself.”

Before the class of 2023 could receive their diplomas, Morrison had a surprise up her sleeve: in recognition of their persistence to earn their high school diplomas, New Haven’s Board of Alders had issued a personalized citation from the city to each graduate. ​“Your accomplishment can only be called impressive and remarkable,” Morrison read from the citation.

Each graduating senior was granted a moment to thank those who supported them and share their hopes for the future before receiving their diplomas and city citations.

Eriesha Brantley, a graduating senior from James Hillhouse High School, thanked her family and friends for supporting her through the past four years. ​“Thank you for believing in me,” she said.

“There are bigger and better things coming my way,” said Kiara Robinson, another graduating senior from James Hillhouse High School, before strutting down the receiving line with confidence to accept her diploma.

Jaylisha Gary, a graduating senior from Gateway to College and the final student to receive her diploma, took a moment to compose herself before making her statement.

“My whole life, I’ve believed in God’s timing, and now, I am on my way to college. Thank you to my family for supporting me through these past four years of happiness and pain. I just want to make them proud.” The room, which had fallen silent, erupted into raucous applause and cheers as Gary made her way towards her diploma.

The excitement only swelled as Elicker conferred the diplomas, cueing the class of 2023 to move their tassels from the left side of their graduation caps to the right side, signifying the end of their high school careers.

Chanel Rice, the building leader of the New Haven summer school program, watched as the graduates flocked to their families and friends, reflecting on their triumph over adversity through the summer months.

“Many people don’t even expect half of these kids to show up to summer school, but they do. I had students who couldn’t secure a ride, so they would walk all the way from Hamden,” she said. ​“I even had one kid show up late, drenched in sweat, pleading with me not to kick him out because he had to walk all the way from Hamden. That’s how much they care about their future.”

Officer F. Perez, a security guard at the event, took time to personally congratulate as many graduates as possible after the ceremony. She did not know any of them personally. ​“I’m just happy that they’re graduating. Everyone deserves to have someone be proud of them, and I’m proud of these kids.”