New chapter begins for Pioneer Valley Regional School Class of 2026

NORTHFIELD — Times are changing for the Class of 2026 at the Pioneer Valley Regional School.

The song “Landslide” by Stevie Nicks was preformed by the Pioneer Valley Regional School chorus and graduating senior Viola Brown before the students received their diplomas in the Messer Gymnasium on Saturday evening. The song emphasized what the graduates were told during their commencement ceremony: times indeed are changing, but a whole host of new experiences are on the horizon for the 16 graduates.

“One of the gifts of graduation is that it asks us to stop and pay attention,” Anne Scanlan-Emigh, the principal of Pioneer Valley Regional School said. “It gives us a chance to recognize that something important is ending, even as something new is beginning… For many of us, this is a moment tinged with sadness. But it’s also a moment to be grateful… when these students walk out of this gymnasium as high school graduates.”

Kyler McClelland, the class salutatorian, spoke about her experience of almost going to Brattleboro High School before transferring to Pioneer. She also spoke about how she recently graduated from Greenfield Community College with an associate degree after taking 27 college level credits this semester. She said that while that was her experience, every student receiving their diploma had their own story and journey.

“For those of you who have post ceremony celebrations, don’t worry; our class is so small, we’ll only be here for a few minutes after these speeches,” McClelland said. “But those few minutes represent something much bigger. They represent the 16 incredibly different paths that we took to get to this moment… Each of our high school journeys have included a variety of opportunities, decisions and plans. The choices we’ve made have allowed us to build confidence, relationships and discipline.”

The graduating class had 56 students five years ago, when the students were in eighth grade. And while the class has shrunk, valedictorian Oceana Duclos says that the seniors persevered throughout difficult circumstances, including going through most of middle school over Zoom during the COVID pandemic.

“Through it all, our class remained resilient. We worked hard to keep up our grades, and challenged ourselves with AP classes and GCC classes,” Duclos said. “We learned to advocate for ourselves whenever a situation arose. We worked so hard to get here, but we didn’t do it alone. With the help of teachers and loved ones who held the ladder so we could reach for the stars, we have paved our way to a bright future.”

Claire Brennan, a retiring teacher and the commencement speaker, said that the Class of 2026 will someday discover their “why.” She said that very few people discover their why at once, and it’s OK if they don’t know it yet. But by showcasing integrity, empathy and accountability, the graduates will find their “why.”

“Sometimes it happens piece-by-piece, with something small, like a new job, a new friend or a cause that actually surprises you,” Brennan said. “It comes to us over time; it matures as we mature… Because I know all of you so well, I believe I can write the next chapter of your life for you. But it’s not mine to write. It has to be you who writes your next chapter.”

Graduates

Viola Grace Brown, Michael Andrew Cyhowski, Ceilidh Rose Marie Davidson, Oceana M. Duclos, Layla Virginia Fisher, Sean Thaddeus Froula, Judah Ram Glenn, Matan Lerman-Smith, Gabriel Asher Mallory, Kyler Allie McClelland, Danil Paquet, Abigail Taylor Ray, Matthew Brian Richotte, Jacobia Lee Tyminski, Carter Bradley Vinton and Clayton Lukas White.

Awards and Scholarships

Viola Brown — Beyond Ready 4-H Award, Cathy Hawkins-Harrison Music Service Award in Band, Foundation for Educational Excellence: Richard Martin Theatre Award, Kathryn Bassett Memorial Award, Principal’s Award.

Michael Cyhowski — Outstanding Achievement in Vocational Studies, Owen Clarke Foundation Award.

Ceilidh Davidson — Foundation for Educational Excellence: Robert S. Coy Art Award, Most improved in Spanish.

Oceana Duclos — Valedictorian, Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship, Greenfield Lodge of Elks Scholarship: Duane A. Nelson, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Northfield Fire Dept. Floyd M. Dunnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Silver P Award in National Honor Society.

Layla Fisher — Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Ethel F. Jackson Memorial Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship, Grover/Barnes Award, Jarred Richard Bolognani Scholarship, Kathy Bonnett Memorial Award, Northfield Fire Dept. Floyd M. Dunnell Jr. Memorial Scholarship, Sarah Kemble Memorial Scholarship.

Judah Glenn — Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Excellence in AP Chemistry, Excellence in Calculus, Environmental Innovation Career Pathway, Foundation for Educational Excellence, Greenfield Co-operative Bank Scholarship, Fred R. Whitcomb Scholarship, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship – MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Owen Clarke Foundation Scholarship.

Matan Lerman-Smith — Environmental Innovation Career Pathway.

Gabriel Mallory — Evelyn G. Lawley Award, Excellence in Visual Art, Jo Ann Hagan Pullen Scholarship, Outstanding Achievement in English 12, Outstanding Achievement in Statistics, Service to GSA for creating a welcoming school environment.

Kyler McClelland — Salutatorian, Jo Ann Hagan Scholarship Foundation, Jason Peters Memorial Scholarship, Philip E. Harrington Memorial Scholarship, Pioneer Valley Regional School Scholarship, PVRS Student Council Scholarship, Silver P Award in National Honor Society, University of Vermont Green and Gold Scholarship, Vermont Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship, The Hildegard Durfee Scholarship Fund.

Danil Paquet — Pioneer Valley Regional School Instrumental Music Award, Stephen F. Balk Award, Tyler Family Memorial Award, Warwick Community Scholarship.

Abigail Ray — Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship – MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Outstanding Achievement in AP Literature.

Matthew Richotte — Gerald & Edward McGowan Memorial Award, Pioneer Valley Regional School Scholarship.

Jacobia Tyminski — Bernardston Kiwanis Club Scholarship, Bernardston Veterans’ Organization Scholarship, Environmental Innovation Career Pathway, Fred W. Wells Fund Scholarship, George A. Warner Award, George A. Warner Fund Scholarship, Jo Ann Hagan Pullen Scholarship, John and Abigail Adams Scholarship – MCAS Mastery in English, Mathematics & Science, Leonard Bruno Memorial Scholarship, Leonard Eastman Award, Outstanding Achievement – AP Chemistry, Silver P Award in National Honor Society, Thaddeus M. Ostrowski Memorial Award.

Clayton White — Excellence in Personal Finance, French Club Scholarship, Greenfield Community College, Jarred Richard Bolognani Scholarship, John A. Hogan Memorial Scholarship, Kevin J. Courtney Scholarship, Lucy Wilder Memorial Humanitarian Award, Montague Elks #2521 Scholarship, Outstanding Achievement in French, Outstanding Achievement in Theater, Owen Clarke Foundation Scholarship, Principal’s Award, PVRS National Honor Society Scholarship, Silver P Award in National Honor Society, Theodore Cronyn Award.