PAWTUCKET – Shea High School graduates’ success to this point has been “a three-legged stool” involving them, their families, and their schools, Principal Matt Bergeron told graduates during commencement ceremonies on June 12, but make no mistake, he said, this achievement is theirs.
“Tonight sitting in front of us are more than 170 examples of what happens when all three legs stand strong and support each other,” he said.
He gave a shout-out to parents and staff who have lost sleep helping them get to this point for the past 18 years, showing up whether young people wanted them to or not. All graduates have been knocked down, he said, yet they kept going. No one sees what came before the moments of celebration, he said.
For 18 years, people have been telling these students who they are, said Bergeron. Last year, he said, “I said you will be somebody,” but this year, he realized, “you don’t have to wait, you already are somebody.” Students have been challenged, beat up, and pushed to their limits, he added, but here they are.
“Raiders never stay down,” said Bergeron.
He then carried on the tradition of awarding four graduating seniors based on them exemplifying the core values of Shea High School:
• Skilled – Jiovanni Araujo
• Honorable – Jayshawn Lopes
• Empowered – Miracle’lee Santiago
• Achievers – Lara Fortes
Salutatorian Behnema Sirleaf told classmates to never give up. Life will get hard and even overwhelming, she said, but the one thing they have complete control over is the amount of effort they put in. At the end of the day, only they will know if they are giving 100 percent, she said, encouraging graduates to be themselves, be self-assured, and work hard as the formula for success.
“We maaade it,” she said.
Valedictorian Mikha’la Anne Campbell said belonging somewhere isn’t about how long you’ve been there, but about what you build, and these classmates have been building something for four years. Growth is not linear, she said, and hardly ever looks as one expects. Sometimes it looks like success, sometimes failure, sometimes good or bad memories. They all made it despite the struggles, she said, and proved to are skilled, honorable, empowered achievers.
Campbell teared up as she thanked her parents for giving her and her brother an opportunity for success in a new country.
“We don’t have to have everything planned out to move forward,” she said. “We don’t have to start perfectly to end up somewhere meaningful, and we don’t have to be there from the beginning to belong.”
She said wherever they go next, they’ll have new experiences, develop new relationships, and become the best versions of themselves and find themselves wherever they are.
Mayor Donald Grebien told graduates that Raider pride now belongs to them to carry forward. No matter the path they choose, he said, remember that success is not measured by how quickly you arrive at your destination, but by one’s willingness to keep learning, keep growing, and keep moving forward. There will be so many hard things ahead, he said, but what defines these young people will be how they respond.
“No matter where life takes you, you will always have a community here cheering you on and celebrating your success,” he said.
Supt. Randy Buck urged graduates to never forget the people who helped them get here or the community tha believed in them.
“Class of 2026, Shea High School is so, so proud of you,” he said.
School officials said this class showed hard work, determination, resilience, and growth, which all brought them to this moment.
“Throughout your high school journey, you have faced challenges, created memories, built lasting friendships, and discovered strengths you may not have known you possessed,” they said. “Each of you has left a unique mark on our school community, and your achievements inspire us all. We celebrate not only what you have achieved, but also the remarkable individuals you have become. Congratulations, graduates. Your future is bright, and we can’t wait to see all the amazing things you will accomplish.”
