Under a perfect blue sky Friday night, the members of Tiverton High School’s Class of 2024 were encouraged by commencement speakers to look back with pride on their four years of high school and to savor the prospects of a bright and promising future.

But the message from valedictorian and class president Eilish Condon also included a reminder to her classmates to be mindful of the moment at hand:

“Enjoy the present — your last time sitting here as a Tiverton High School student. Look at the people around you. Feel the gown on your shoulders, cap on your head, and sun on your face.”

Referring to John Lennon’s quote — “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans,” — she said, “We’ve all been so focused on getting out of here ... we forget to cherish what we have in front of us.”

Condon described how the time-honored tradition of signing yearbooks illustrated the growth and transformation of her classmates since freshman year.

“Just last week ... I noticed a different pattern in those messages. They were much more heartfelt, consisting of ‘Thank you, I love you, I’m so proud, and you’ll do great things.’”

At the close of her remarks, Condon told the audience that because she was both valedictorian and class president, she had been expected to deliver two commencement speeches that evening.

“Yeah, I was not thrilled. No one wants to hear me talk twice.”

She resolved the dilemma by handing off her presidential speech to “someone who truly deserves it,” the class vice president, Cameron Lambert.

When he arrived at the podium, Lambert elicited some laughs from the audience by making light of his role. 

“I’m not the president, valedictorian, or salutatorian, like my well-deserving classmates Eilish and Sydney [Simmons]. Instead I’m the vice president and ranked third in the class — the next best thing.”

On a more serious note, he acknowledged the critical role of Tiverton’s educators.

“The incredible staff here at Tiverton schools has been nothing short of amazing, pushing us every day to get to this point. I can’t thank my teachers enough for always putting on a smile and pushing me to my fullest potential.”

When salutatorian Sydney Simmons spoke, she highlighted the diverse paths her classmates will follow after graduation. Some, she said, are pursuing teaching degrees. Others will go into trade professions, or will study forensic or computer science, marine biology, or medicine. Some are enlisting in the military, while still others will major in fields of study that will lead to careers in psychology, chemistry, engineering, or the arts. 

“Our class contains students who are pursuing their passions in every area of life. The future is bright for all of you.”

Then, sharing what she said was a favorite quote associated with the Epcot theme park at Walt Disney World, Simmons said, “If we can dream it, we can do it.”

“I truly believe there is no limit to what everyone in front of me today can accomplish,” she told her classmates. “You just need to have the determination and rigor to make your dreams a reality.”

Meet the graduates

Jackson Thomas Baker #

Maeve Bañal +#

Nathan Beaudoin +#

Nenita Andaya Bebe *+#

Mason Christopher Bennett *+

Maxwell Colby Berche +#

Brooke Deborah Bergeron

Devin LaRue Bordner *+

Jason Patrick Bowler +

Alexis Cadence Burgo

Connor Patrick Campion

Kendra Maureen Carlisle *+

Jake Michael Carreiro +#

Tijan Ceesay

Yara Ihab Chamseddine

Catherine Chenier +#

Ellish Ryan Condon *+# (1)

Keegan Joseph Conway *+

Lily Anna Conway +#

Olivia Mae Corga *+

Devin Jack Cosmo

Mya Abigail Couto +

Gabriela Apocalypse Croft *+ (6)

Braylon Deion DaRosa *+

Abigail Emily DeMello #

Sydney Dirga *+ (7)

Dylan Luiz Estacio

Capitolina Rose Fernandes *

Geoffrey Garcia

Ethan Joseph Goetz *+ (8)

Kaylee Nichole Gorman #

Megan Elizabeth Gorman

Anthony Joseph Guarneri

Ava Marie Guarneri

Wyatt Joseph Halstead *+

Ariel Lynn Hannon

Jordan Harrison

Ryan James Hite *+#

Shayeli Lynn Ims-Mattera #

Curtis Henry Johnson #

Pierce Klos *+

Riley Jean LaBonte +

Cameron James Lambert *+ (3)

Alexander Joseph Landoch

Amber Rose Lapointe

Claudia Rayne Lapointe #

Aidan Patrick Larson *+# #

Luke Lebeau +

Rhianna-Marie Lebreux #

Destiny Milena Lee D'Amico

Damien LeFrancois

Rachel Claire Leonard *+#

Laney Rose LePage *+

Lauren Elizabeth Lewis *+ (5)

Roman Lennon Marzilli +#

Aidan McCoy

Aidan Medeiros

Faiza Mehmood *+#

Rachel Grace Mello

Owen Timothy Messenger +#

Cassidy Faith Miranda

James Christopher Mumme

Sienna Opferkuch #

Orion Parker

Elliott Drake Pasquale #

Daniel Christopher Payne #

Prescott Smith Peckham

Zoe Elizabeth Peckham +

Hailey Lynn Perry

Jada Rose Peters #

Delia Frances-Jo Pieroni

Julia Anne Polofsky *+# (10)

Jak Owen Potvin

Jorja Skey Powell +

Ethan Riley Quicksall +#

Dylan Rainey #

Matteo Rajesh Ramunno

Jason Michael Raymond *+#

Cayden Joseph Rego #

Katie Elizabeth Richardson *+

Grace Kathryn Rocha *+

William Rocha

Aidan Joseph Russo #

Zachary Scheffler

Ellen Tracey Sherman

Natalie Claire Silvia

Sydney Ann Simmons *+# (2)

Deacon Kane Smith #

Sarah Ann Souza #

Brianna Lorraine St.Laurent +

Lyla Grace Staskiewicz +

Aidan James Sweeney *+ (9)

Harrison Scott Taylor *+

Aliza Abigail Thibault +#

Addison T. Torio *+ (4)

Payton Robert Travis #

Emersyn Alice Trenholme *+

Ashley Fabricio Vieira

Jaimee Katelyn Viera #

Kelsey Edna Walker *+

Lliam John Walsh

* National Honor Society

+ Rhode Island Honor Society

#Career and Technical Education completers

(xx) Denotes top 10, with rank in parenthesis