FROM PANDEMIC TO POSSIBILITY, CROMWELL HIGH SENDS OFF THE CLASS OF 2025

Cromwell High School graduates toss their caps in the air in a joyful celebration marking the end of one chapter and the beginning of the next. Photo, Boceto Media

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Cromwell, CT.- Under golden light and a warm June breeze, the Cromwell High School Class of 2025 gathered with friends, family, and faculty to celebrate a milestone years in the making. It was a night filled with applause, joyful tears, and reflections on just how far they’ve come.

Principal Andrew Kuckel welcomed the crowd with pride and sincerity. “As a high school principal, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing many graduating classes,” he said. “But few have left as profound an impression as this tremendous group of students sitting before me tonight.”

This graduating class entered high school during one of the most uncertain times in recent memory, the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their freshman year was marked by isolation, remote learning, and the emotional toll of a world turned upside down. They missed milestones, faced mental health challenges, and had to learn how to connect, grow, and succeed under extraordinary circumstances.

Four years later, they crossed the stage not just as graduates, but as a generation shaped by resilience, empathy, and a deeper understanding of the world around them.

School counselor Alicia Melillo, honored as Cromwell High’s 2025 Teacher of the Year, offered the graduates words of affirmation. “You earned your diploma because you showed up. And I don’t just mean tonight, you’ve been showing up. You’ve been doing it for a long time.”

Dr. Enza Macri, superintendent of schools, congratulates graduates with a handshake as they receive their diplomas during Cromwell High School’s Class of 2025 commencement ceremony. Photo, Boceto Media.

Superintendent Dr. Enza Macri reminded the students that they’ve already navigated “real-world” challenges, adaptation, resilience, and countless late-night study sessions. “Today is about recognizing the incredible growth, grit, and greatness you’ve already shown,” she said.

The ceremony also spotlighted student voices. Salutatorian Alexander Abdrighani joked, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face,” quoting Mike Tyson to underscore life’s unpredictability. “It’s almost inevitable that you will be punched in the face in some regard,” he added, “but the crowd behind you is always there cheering you on.”

Valedictorian Sharan Manick spoke with heartfelt clarity, urging his classmates to treasure even the quiet, ordinary moments. “These memories… have shaped who you are today, who you have become, and who you will continue to be,” he said.

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But while joy echoed in Cromwell, not every graduate in Connecticut got the chance to walk across the stage.

Kevin, a 16-year-old honor roll student at Francis T. Maloney High School in Meriden, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement just one week before graduation. He was taken into custody during a routine immigration check-in alongside his father and later transferred to a family detention facility in Texas.

For Kevin’s family, graduation day was meant to be a celebration of perseverance and promise. Instead, it became a painful reminder of absence. In a message shared on a GoFundMe page, a family member said, “This day was so special to him, but ICE took him away. The only remnants of his hard work are his graduation clothes that remain in his room. Our family has faith that everything is going to be ok, that Kevin and his dad are going to return home very soon.”

An empty chair sits where 16-year-old honor roll student Kevin was meant to be during his graduation ceremony at Francis T. Maloney High School. Photo provided by Sonya Jelks and Charla Nich. GoFundMe.

In a powerful display of solidarity, classmates organized a walk the next day to honor Kevin’s absence, an act rooted in compassion, unity, and hope.

Meriden Mayor Kevin Scarpati expressed the city’s commitment to supporting Kevin and his family during this difficult time. “City officials have engaged the State Delegation, Congressional leaders, and the Governor's Office, and are actively working with immigration advocates and faith leaders to help the family with legal and emotional support,” Scarpati said.

Mark Benigni, Superintendent of Meriden Public Schools, addressed concerns surrounding student graduations and the importance of community support. ”While I cannot share details about specific students, I can assure you that students who meet all Meriden Public Schools graduation requirements will be issued a diploma from the Meriden Board of Education.”

Students Dina Cecunjanin, Araceli Carreras, Zymal Naeem, Maham Rafiq, and Eman Naeem share a joyful moment after receiving their diplomas during Cromwell High School’s Class of 2025 graduation ceremony. Photo, Boceto Media.

Back in Cromwell

Amid the complex realities many students face today, Cromwell High School’s graduation ceremony focused on celebrating perseverance and potential. Principal Kuckel closed the evening by reflecting on the remarkable growth of his students: “Instead of treating them like teenagers,” he said, “we offered them unprecedented opportunities. And they rose to the challenge.”

As Cromwell’s graduates turned their tassels and looked toward the future, some heading to college, others into careers or military service, they left not only with diplomas but with the legacy of a class that showed up for each other and for those beyond their walls.

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