Gardner High Graduation 2026

Academic and Vocational Achievements

The Class of 2026 has demonstrated high levels of excellence across various academic and technical disciplines. Principal Mike Barkus highlighted several key performance indicators for the 150-member class:

Category	Achievement Data
College Readiness	56 students graduated with 1–2 years of college credits completed.
Associate Degrees	5 students earned full associate degrees prior to high school graduation.
Advanced Placement (AP)	9 students passed five or more AP exams during their high school careers.
Vocational Partnership	Participation in the Monty Tech partnership (carpentry, electrical, plumbing).
Auto Tech Program	9 students completed the program through Mount Wachusett Community College.

Notable Individual Accomplishments

• Athletics: Cam Gamache achieved a career milestone of 1,000 points in basketball.
• Arts: Briana Hudson’s performance in The Addams Family was specifically noted for its vocal excellence.
• Civic Service: Josiah Pera attained the rank of Eagle Scout.
• Community Support: Zoe Sheldon was recognized for extensive volunteer work within and outside the school.

Historical Context and Class Journey

The Class Treasurer, Jason Flaherty, provided a chronological reflection of the class’s journey through the Gardner school system, emphasizing their adaptability through structural changes and global crises.

• Elementary Years: The class began at Waterford Street School, with some moving to Helen Solder. They were the inaugural second-grade class at the Elm Street School.
• Middle School Transition: In fifth grade, students transitioned to middle school, noting the loss of recess and increased academic rigor.
• COVID-19 Impact: The sixth-grade year was truncated by the pandemic. Seventh grade was conducted via remote learning (Zoom), and eighth grade required a return to the building under mask mandates, where students could “only see the tops halves of each other’s faces.”
• High School Maturity: The four years of high school focused on personal discovery, navigating increasingly heavy workloads in junior year, and the complexities of the application process in senior year.

Resilience and Proving Oneself

Valedictorian Delaney Cormier emphasized that success is often born from the support of others and the desire to overcome the skepticism of peers. She encouraged graduates to use critique as motivation to become the best versions of themselves and to maintain a mindset of continuous learning.

The Perception of Time

Salutatorian Jason Scola introduced the concept of “Time’s Arrow,” noting that time neither stands still nor reverses. He urged his classmates to:

• Cherish the Present: Recognize the difficulty of living in the moment when the future seems so pressing.
• Embrace Evolution: View time as a “friend to soar with” rather than a hazard to avoid.
• Acknowledge Finality: Celebrate the “fruits of labor” before swapping tassels and transitioning to alumni status.

Defining Success and Passion

Mayor Michael Nicholson offered a critique of traditional definitions of success, arguing that job titles and salary are secondary to personal fulfillment.

• Growth vs. Failure: He asserted that changing one’s path (e.g., switching majors or career fields) is a sign of growth, not failure.
• Authenticity: He encouraged graduates to pursue what makes their “heart sing,” whether that be art, nursing, science, or public office.
• Community Support: He reinforced the idea that the city of Gardner “stands behind” the graduates even when the future is “something we know absolutely nothing about.”

Institutional Values and Support

Principal Barkus identified the core expectations of Gardner High School as Community, Appreciation, Responsibility, and Excellence (CARE). He noted that the class exemplified these traits, specifically citing:

• Responsibility: Observed during the senior “drive-around,” where students maintained safety and traffic etiquette.
• Community Appreciation: Observed during awards night, where students showed genuine joy for their peers’ successes.
• The “Family” Concept: Barkus described the class as a family unit, having grown together over 13 years, and emphasized that “once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.”

Conclusion of the Ceremony

The ceremony concluded with the official certification of the graduates by the Mayor and Superintendent. As a gesture of continuity and community support, the Class of 2026 presented financial gifts to the underclasses:

• $3,000 to the Class of 2027.
• $3,000 to the Class of 2028.

The final message from administration and city officials was one of welcoming: while the students are leaving to pursue new chapters, Gardner remains their “home” and the community remains their primary cheering section.

Key Quotes

“Part of the journey is the end… wherever life may take you, just remember: once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.” — Jason Flaherty, Class Treasurer

“We may be done with high school, but we should never stop learning.” — Delaney Cormier, Valedictorian

“Time’s arrow neither stands still nor reverses; it merely marches forward. So don’t treat the arrow like a hazard to avoid; treat it like a friend to soar with.” — Jason Scola, Salutatorian

“Don’t let anyone tell you that change is synonymous to failure because in reality it’s growth and it’s inevitable.” — Mayor Michael Nicholson

“Make good choices over your years because I’d like for you to be the best you can be… You can make a difference.” — Principal Mike Barkus

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