While wind whipped tassels to and fro, Tiverton’s Class of 2023 closed out a “spectacular” chapter of their lives at Friday’s gusty graduation ceremony at the high school

As so aptly described by Salutatorian Connor Nobrega, the past “604,000 minutes” of graduates' lives were worthy of cherishing as he humorously avoided the elephant in the room by explaining moments of adversity in enduring an extra 15-second walk into school when administration barred entrance through the building’s side door, and when they blocked his favorite Chromebook game and he was subsequently “forced to pay attention in class”.

Millie Gerlach, though, saw the elephant for what it was.

“Weird,” the class president exclaimed proudly. “This was weird. These past four years have been weird.”

After detailing the Tiverton Class of 2023’s commendable fortitude through the COVID-19 pandemic — with all its problems and pitfalls — she acknowledged that their strength stems from their keen ability to “stay weird” through it all.

“That [first] year, I learned the importance of good friends and a hard life lesson about appreciating the small things I once took for granted,” she said with a smile.

This year’s graduating class boasted an impressive 100 percent graduation rate, a point noted by Valedictorian Ethan Aguiar: “I consider this to be a testimony to the strength of our community,” he proclaimed, “and the perseverance of each of us about to receive our diploma.”

And diplomas they received. Accompanied by whoops and hollers, all 122 students walked, ran, and even danced, across the stage.

“You did it your way,” Aguiar reminded his classmates. “You should be proud of yourselves.”

Other remarkable distinctions for the class include that a quarter of its students obtained a GPA of 4.0 or higher, and that its students were accepted to the highest number of colleges in Tiverton history.

“Do not overly focus on the past, and do not excessively worry about the future,” announced Nobrega, instilling a final lesson in his peers. “Instead, take a second every day to look at the world around you. Live in the moment, because if you don’t, life is going to pass right by your eyes, and just like today, you’ll be asking yourself: Where did all the time go?”

PIC: TOSS

CREDIT JUSTIN WALKER

Graduates toss their caps as commencement exercises come to a close.

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Tiverton High School — A list of graduates

Tiverton High School graduated 122 students Friday, among them the highest number ever who will attend college. In addition, a quarter of the class earned a 4.0 grade point average.

Graduates include:

Ethan Kenneth Aguiar*+

Miranda Lee Aguiar+

Ramisha Akbar+

Madison Elizabeth Andrade

Zachary Armand Andrade

Mitchell E. Andrews

Joseph Anthony Awad*+

Ciana Nicole Azevedo*+

Kylie Marie Azevedo*+

Seth Thomas Batista+

Julie M. Benevides

Aaron James Berry

Samantha Marie Bettencourt*+

Justin Michael Boissonneau

Tyler Botelho

Logan J. Bouchard

Logan Brandao

Robert T. Campion

Logan Tyler Cantelmo

Ethan Max Casey

Ali Ihab Chamseddine

Ethan Nicholas Chase+

Benjamin Thomas Chhim+

Dylan Maxwell Combra+

Abigail Rose Costa+

Adam Christopher Costa*+

Keith Patrick Costa

Thomas Allan Costa*+

Zoe A. Crudale

Benjamin True Curtis

Madeleine Arwen DaSilva

Jonathan Ernest Simpson DeGala*+

Briana Lynn De Jesus

Brooke A. De Jesus

Jacqueline Olivia Delcourt*+

Avery Raye Deneault*+

Adam David DiIorio

Adrienne Elizabeth Durand+

Keegan James Dutelle

Elijah Edelen

Samuel Augustine Farley*+

Derek Louis Rezendes Fauci

Anatasia Flynn

Ryan Fournier

Samantha Rose Gacioch*+

Kayden Gallego

Amelia Louise Gerlach*+

Michael Vincent Gonsalves

Brady Christopher Grant

Kaylee Annette Grant

Joshua Dennis Guillemette*+

Julia Rosalina Han*+

Vladimir Herisse+

Samantha Jade Hyson*_

Carly Grace Kelly

Helana Marie Kesson*+

Paige Courtney Klusak+

Lexey Kate LaBonte*+

Tyler Matthew Landoch*+

Harrison Landy

Jackson Landy*+

Jack Lapointe

Autumn Rose Lebeau+

Lucas Carreiro Lobo+

Zachary Lomastro+

Jonathan Jacob Lorenzi

Jazmyn M. Lowe+

Madison Medeiros+

Devin Michael Medeiros-Lavoie

Emily Christine Mello

Madison Raye Mello*+

Nicholas Chayson Mercer

Casey Mae Michaels+

Camden Michaud+

Aimon Arthur Almy Miranda

Abigail Mary Monkevicz*+

Riley Lyn Morton

Devyn Joan Newbury*+

Alexander Ryan Nimiroski*+

Connor John Nobrega*+

Brady Edward Oliveira

Hannah Marie Oliveira

Mackenzie Oliveira*+

Benjamin Richard Pacheco*+

Charles Greer Page*+

Jordan Andrew Panell*+

Abigail Rose Parella*+

Halsey Jeanne Payne*

Paige Reace Peace Fortin*

Jed Thomas Pearce*

Eva Inacio Pimentel

Ryan Roderick Poland*+

Jason Potvin*+

Luke Elliot Richard Prochazka

Rajin Ramunno

Elijah Joseph Raposo

Nicholas Joseph Rielly*+

Gabriela Michelle Rivera-Torres

Madison Brooke Rosinha

Ava Christine Roy

Nathaniel P. Sama

Gehrig William Sheehan*+

James Simmons

Adrianna Lynn Simpson

Owen Solomito

Jadyn Marie Sousa

Joshua Sousa

Benjamin Russell Sowa*+

Catherine Elizabeth Sullivan

Gavin Robert Sullivan

Cassie Frances Taber*+

Kasey Marie Tappen

Madelyn Mae Tavares*+

Ethan Louis Taylor

Angus Flynn Thomson*+

Sofia Valencia+

Ty Venditelli

Kailynne Ashley Verrette

Kaedin Journey Vicente

Tristan White+

Mary Xiang Williams+

Joshua Grant Wood*+

• National Honor Society
• + Rhode Island Honor Society