HARWICH – Before tossing their caps Saturday evening, the 139 graduates of the Monomoy High School Class of 2026 were reminded to be proud of their achievements, to be thankful for the support they received, and to go forth as adults with love, kindness and integrity.

Superintendent of Schools Scott Carpenter, who retires at the end of the month, said the Class of 2026 is a special one.

“We both came to this school district 13 years ago, you as kindergarteners and me as the new superintendent, with a vision to transform the opportunities and the education of the children of Harwich and Chatham and all those who attend our schools,” he told the graduates. Uprooting his family from a suburb of Boston created a family dilemma involving his son Rory, a lacrosse enthusiast who was then in the sixth grade. Monomoy, at the time, was the only school district in the area without a lacrosse program. Rory shared the stage with his father at Saturday’s commencement.

“As a dad and new superintendent, I was asked the most awkward of questions,” he said.

“Dad, can I go School Choice to Nauset so I can play lacrosse?” Rory said. The crowd offered a good-natured boo, with laughter. The superintendent said the optics of such an arrangement would have been awkward.

“But I simply said to him, we all have a role to play in building Monomoy, and yours is to build a varsity lacrosse program.” By recruiting friends and organizing practices over the years, Rory eventually accomplished just that, and today the varsity lacrosse program thrives, with some graduates going on to play the sport in college.

Building Monomoy into the district it is today was a shared vision and a community effort, Carpenter said. From the international travel study program and Mandarin language offerings to the Unified Athletic Program and Project Lead The Way, the regional district has grown and flourished in the last 13 years thanks to the community of parents, educators and supportive citizens, he said.

School Committee Chair Meredith Henderson said the community is extremely proud of the Class of 2026, and wished them well. “There will be many decisions ahead about careers, relationships, and the kind of person you want to be. And while your paths may be very different, I hope you remember one simple idea,” she said. The key is to “take the high road” consistently, Henderson said. “It means showing kindness even when others do not. It means standing up for what is right even when it takes courage. It isn’t always the easiest choice, but it is almost always the right one,” she said.

Valedictorian and Class President Thomas Chase urged his classmates to stay true to their values. “Stay curious and never stop learning. Pursue your goals with determination,” he said. Be truthful and courageous, and “above all, approach others with kindness, compassion and humility. Character is not defined by a single achievement or grand moment. It’s built through the choices we make every day and the way we treat others around us,” he said. Chase thanked his parents and family for their love and encouragement. “You always believed in me, even when I doubted myself. Thank you for every sacrifice you have made and for always being in my corner,” he said.

“You need to live your life not only for yourself, but for those around you,” salutatorian Natalie Sims said. “You might not notice the people that show up, but you always remember the people who aren’t there. Don’t be the person who doesn’t show up. Be the person who is present. Be the person you want others to be for you,” she said.

“Whether you realize it or not, love is the reason why you’re all here today,” student Abigail Meyer told her classmates. “Love was there when we were kids chasing each other around on the playground,” she noted. In the last 13 years, love came from teachers, parents, extended family and others, helping the Class of 2026 grow and achieve. With college applications, exams and other deadlines, “I think sometimes we forget that,” Meyer said. As graduates came across the stage to receive a diploma, Meyer handed them a note of support with her phone number on it. If they ever need a friendly face, “I will always be one phone call away,” she said.

Continuing a long tradition, graduates chose teachers from the elementary, middle and high schools to receive Reflection Awards for having the greatest impact on their lives. The recipients were Barbara Laub of Chatham Elementary, Katie Keith of Harwich Elementary, middle school teacher Leslie Botsford and Michelina Oliver at the high school.

Three students received AP Capstone diplomas : Livia LeBlanc, Ciara McAllister and Natalie Sims. Together, the Class of 2026 earned scholarships totaling $584,749.

Find Scholarship and Award Winners here.

James Steven Allison
Solomon Onaje Antar
Tyler John Ayer
David Benjamin Azorer
Aaron Nathaniel Bailey
Gabriella Ann Bassett
Mya Corinna Bates
Ella Lynne Baum
Paige Elizabeth Bennett
Raul Pablo Bastos Borges
Meryn Laurene Boutin
Mackenzie Price Bowers
De-Andra Kara Brown
Sani Kanya Brown
Jordan Tyler Bryan
Thomas James Burchell
Kate Addison Burrill
Briana Danielle Butler
Rubi Anaiz Cabrera
McKenna Christine Carchedi
Moya Marcia Chang
Nicholas John Charran
Thomas Michael Chase
Rea Artemis Christakis
Samantha Leigh Clarke
Anthony Ryan Coleman
Hayden Ryan Cook
Graycen Marie Cote
Abbey Marie Crownshaw
Austin Joao DaSilva
Felipe Teles De Souza
Colin Thomas DeMontigny
Jillian Leigh Dittrich
Nadya Arico Do Nascimento
Chloe Marie Duarte
Bella Rosa Dunn
Olivia Paige Eldredge
Savannah Lyn Eldredge
Tristan John Eldredge
Reese Marie Eldridge
Ryan John Elhilow
Sunder Elisme
Joel Alexander Felippe-Mejia
Tyler Michael Fleischmann
Liam James Flood
Alexa Rose Ford
Lauren Sheila Gabri
Megan Kirsten Gabri
Fabiola Gedeon
Chatham Rhodes Gillis
Arden Hughes Gingras
Megan Emilei Gogol
Timothy Charles Gray
Tessa Rose Grodzicki
Sarah Lyn Groves
Victoria Guadalupe Guzman
Isabella Madison Hardy
Cathryn Cearys Hart
Lauren Margaret Henderson
Riley Elizabeth Hesse
Lisaughn Jaye Tediesha Hibbert
Emory Shae Hines
Kyra Eve Howard
Jude Hutchings-McMahon
Ognyana Ognyanova Ivanova
Fainie Jean Baptiste
Patrick James Jordan
Samuel Franklin Kelley
João Pedro Andrade Lima Lage
Andrew Jonathan Lagreze
Jonah-Christopher Laine
Myles Roland Lajoie
Sophia Azambuja Lapointe
Jacob John Larivee
Ava Harrison LaRocco
Livia Lynn LeBlanc
Willa Madison Leighton
Nevaeh AnnMarie Lewis
Charles Joseph Lombard
Abrielle Reese Long
Isabelle Macy Long
Shaun Charles Lopez
Payton Noelle MacRoberts
Madison Eva Mahfouz
Carly Jayden Mainini
Jean-Louis Francois Marjollet
Zachary Noble Martin
Kiley Anne Mawn
Ciara Rose McAllister
Camoya Adenique McGregor
Patrick Stephan McMahon
Jayden Allen Merriam
Dylan John Metters
Abigail Helen Meyer
Terrin Jay Milkey
Lucas Peter Mirisola
Leticia Mkarzel
Kenlee Anne Moniz
Sheandra Kaitlyn Moore
Grace Shannan Morgan
Sean Valery Needham
Sawyer Read Nicholson
Benjamin Richard Ottino
Sophia May Pandiscio
Bryce Benjamin Piatek
Nirvens Carter Pierre
Stacey Pierre
Xevi Mandela Treme Pina Parker
Asher Riley Porter
Sydney Mae Power
Margaret Rose Powers
Toneek Emmanuel Pryce
Luke Stephen Raftery
Amalia Reyes De Castro
Raymond Agusta Riley
Dylan Julian Rodriguez
Luke Joseph Routhier
Jonathan Sagesse
Emily Rose Saliba
Holly Jean Salisbury
Sebastian Alexander Sarabia
Ethan Kelly Seufert
Kurtc Verceles Seymour
Dominic Francis Silvester
Natalie Eve Sims
Charlotte Rose Skinner
Djenika St Ulysse
Jillian Muriel Stevenson
Olliver Finn Tadema-Wielandt
Elias Christopher Taloumis
Edgar Alexander Taveras Savari
Zay-Dah Asia'H Lamotta Thomas
Giovanna Cananzie Tileston
Gavin Joseph Varley
Joseph Stephen Ventura
Faye Viprino
Phoebe Heitz Watkins
Michael Anthony Webster
Morgan Ashleigh Willis