Wellesley High School’s 157th Commencement Ceremony on Friday evening brought together graduating seniors, their families, and members of the WHS community. The WHS Band, conducted by Steven Scott, opened with “Pomp and Circumstance” as seniors processed in, followed by the WHS Choral Ensembles performing “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and the National Anthem.
Of the 319 seniors who received diplomas, 71 were members of the National Honor Society, and 46 earned the Seal of Biliteracy.
Class Officer Naomi Vella, who will attend Colgate University, delivered the welcome address. Drawing on her experience as a cross country captain, she spoke about the difficulty of showing up before you know the outcome. Vella said seniors are graduating into “a world changing technologically, politically, environmentally, socially, faster than any generation before [them] has experienced,”acknowledging that “many are anxious about the future.” She encouraged her classmates to choose curiosity over fear and to dare greatly rather than watch from the sidelines.
Class Officer Sophia Pavano, heading to Middlebury College, presented the Class Gift: a scholarship for Leaders in 10th or 11th grade at Wellesley High School, awarded to students who demonstrate a passion for leadership. Pavano explained that the class chose a living gift over a physical one because it’ll directly support Wellesley High School students. She concluded, stating it “reflects the values of the class of 2026, a class with endless ambition and diligence.”
On being ‘chalant’ and taking your own minds seriously
Senior Class Speaker and Class Officer Cameron Lynch delivered one of the evening’s most warmly received addresses. Lynch made the case against nonchalance, arguing against his generation’s agreement that “the best way to be considered popular is to not care about the world around you.”
Lynch proposed the word chalant as its own positive concept, saying that “being chalant means you actually care. You show up when it counts. You say what you were thinking instead of deciding it’s weird. You cheer too loudly, wave back with genuine enthusiasm, and call just because you want to check in. Deep down, everyone cares. Being chalant just means you’re not pretending otherwise.”
WHS Principal Dr. Jamie Chisum offered his remarks and took the opportunity to honor several retiring faculty members, including Tim Eagan, head of WHS’s language department, who was praised for teaching with empathy and serving as “a true teacher of our teachers.” He also recognized Andrea Holbrook, who worked in tech support, Jill Lapato, a math teacher, and Heidi Marquedant, who taught in the Child Lab. Finally, he honored Janet Sozio, who served as both a school counselor and a dance teacher.
Dr. Chisum set aside particular warmth for David McCullough, appreciating being able to speak before a “world-class speechmaker.”
McCullough has taught English at Wellesley High School for 40 years, and also delivered the Faculty Message. Citing Emily Dickinson’s line that “the brain is wider than the sky,” he urged students to take their own minds seriously: to read often, think deeply, and spend time with people who sharpen their judgment.
McCullough used The Wizard of Oz to caution against accepting constructed realities, noting that the Scarecrow had a brain all along, and that spectacle and artificial temptations can mislead those who stop thinking for themselves.
Lastly, he warned against eight-hour screen days, social media validation, and political disengagement. Inspired loosely by Ralph Waldo Emerson’s idea of self-reliance, McCullough shifted the thought toward interdependence, reminding graduates that people influence one another and should take that responsibility seriously.
Assistant Principal Andrew Kelton, a WHS Class of 1987 graduate and a 25-year administrator, recognized co-Valedictorians Stephanie Xia, heading to MIT, and Elaine Cheng, heading to Harvard.
Next, Sami Juma, class officer, presented the Excellence in Teaching Award, voted on by students, to David Charlesworth. He taught Honors 12th Grade English and ACP 9th Grade English this year, and delivered last year’s faculty message. Students noted how Charlesworth “doesn’t just teach students how to read; he teaches them how to write their own stories”, while colleagues stated he is the “world’s greatest mentor.”
Dr. Chisum presented the final award of the evening. The Annual Senior Cup recognizes outstanding students nominated by faculty, and was awarded to two members of the Class of 2026.
First, Jolie Chen, who will attend Yale, was described by her teachers as “an exceptional student, a deep thinker, a thoughtful reader, and a great writer.” She was especially notable for her relationship with special needs students. Outside the classroom, Chen is a Red Cross volunteer, Jimmy Fund walker, volunteer for the Chinatown Business Association, and a captain of the cross country and track teams.
Cameron Lynch, the aforementioned senior speaker, was also named a Senior Cup recipient. His teachers described him as “not only a tremendous student and athlete, but most importantly, a gentleman and a leader.” Dr. Chisum added simply: “It’s hard not to like him.” Lynch is a member of the varsity hockey and baseball teams, a four-year Class Officer, and one of two WHS representatives to the State Student Advisory Council. He will attend Harvard University.
The evening’s recurring theme, expressed differently by each speaker, was a call to show up in a world that makes disengagement easy. Whether framed as courage, chalantness, or faith in the width of one’s own brain, the graduating class was sent off with the same call to care about their work and share it with others.
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