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Date: 5/25/2022
AGAWAM – Agawam High School will achieve a major milestone next month. It will graduate its 100th class.
The first class graduated from the original high school on Main Street – now known as the Roberta Doering School. It opened in September 1922, and in June 1923, 25 students became the first ones to graduate from Agawam’s own high school. Prior to 1922, Agawam residents who wanted to attend high school usually went to West Springfield.
The more than 320 students in the class of 2022 will enjoy the distinction of being the 100th graduating class. Many of the students who will graduate on June 4 learned about this historic fact when Principal Jim Blain announced it during the Academic A’s presentation in March.
It was 90 years ago when future Army Gen. Creighton Abrams – one of Agawam’s most famous residents – welcomed friends and parents “to the 10th commencement exercises of Agawam High School.” Abrams was the president of the class of 1932.
“This is an honor for the class of 2022 and for me as class president,” said Maxwell Florian. He said learning this year’s class is the 100th to graduate came as “a surprise” to many students, some of whom still aren’t aware. “I didn’t know it when I ran for president, but it’s definitely an important occasion for us as a class.”
Florian will touch on his class being the 100th class to graduate from AHS in his address to classmates during graduation ceremonies.
“I feel like it’s important for us to set a good example of the progress that the high school has made in educating students in the 100 years since that first class graduated,” he said.
He also plans to explain how successful his class has been – despite having their education disrupted during the past two years with the coronavirus pandemic.
To help recognize the significance of this year’s graduation, 10 students in the art honors class competed to design a logo that will be used on various printed graduation materials. Senior Alexis Ouimette’s winning design shows four AHS graduates in front of the number 100. It was chosen by Blain in a blind selection process.
“It’s a high-level art class with very talented artists, so there was good competition to create a logo,” Ouimette said. “I had confidence in my talents, but I wasn’t expecting to win. We were all guessing – so I was surprised when my design was picked.”
Ouimette said it was a challenge to come up with her design: “I had a couple of ideas for different designs that I scrapped. When I reflected on my great educational experience in Agawam schools and the sense of community that I’ve felt, it all just spilled out of my brain and onto the paper.”
With her continuous line drawing, Ouimette believes she captured one of the most important things about the 100th graduating class: its diversity. The four graduates in her drawing are diverse in both gender and ethnicity.
“I wanted to focus on diversity – the many different people from different backgrounds and different cultures. The design is representative of students in all Agawam schools, not just the high school,” explained Ouimette, who lives in Springfield and who has attended school in Agawam for many years as a school choice student.
Ouimette also used a continuous line drawing to help illustrate the connection between the first AHS graduating class and the 100th: “There’s a connection that began with the first class to graduate that has continued each year to the next class. I wanted to convey the common link we share as AHS graduates.”
Both Ouimette and Florian said that after everything their class has experienced during the past two years, it seems fitting that their class should have the honor of being the 100th AHS graduating class.
“We pushed ourselves to be the best we could be, we adapted to new technology, we dealt with a pandemic, and we showed that we can be successful in many areas of school,” Florian said.
Added Ouimette, “This a very special thing for our class. It’s a wonderful way to end our high school career – and for me, personally, it makes me feel very proud to graduate from Agawam schools.”
Both Blain and Superintendent of Schools Sheila Hoffman said they feel proud and honored to be part of the ceremonies that will mark the 100th graduating class at AHS.
“All graduations are special, as they represent a culmination of 12-plus years in the Agawam Public Schools. The fact that this marks the 100th graduating class makes this one even more special,” said Blain, who is in his first year as the school’s principal.
“This graduation will be special because the class of 2022 will be the 100th class to graduate from our high school,” said Hoffman. She added that because this year’s graduation will take place on the high school’s athletic fields, the community can be part of this centennial celebration. “The class of 2022 has been through a lot these past few years – and they need to be acknowledged for all their hard work.”
Blain said the entire school district, as well as Agawam residents can help celebrate the accomplishments of this 100th graduating class.
“Our students will enter the military, work force or college, and we know they will take what they have learned at AHS and make a difference in the world.”