Two hundred members of the class of 2023 will join the ranks of alumni on Thursday evening, culminating the 66th Bedford High School commencement.
Graduation will begin at 6:15 p.m. in the Tsongas Center, University of Massachusetts, Lowell. More than a decade ago, BHS joined many other high schools in the region to schedule commencement at the spacious arena, thus avoiding the uncertainty of weather that could force the event from Sabourin Field into the BHS gymnasium and its limited seating and cooling.
Thursday’s exercises, featuring student and faculty speakers, student musical interludes, and individual presentation of diplomas, is an annual experience of mixed emotions: joy and affection tinged with the realization of one of life’s major transition points.
Chronologically, Principal Heather Galante, serving as emcee, will deliver her welcoming address, followed by remarks from retiring Superintendent of Schools Philip Conrad. Next, Emily Kang will present the senior class president’s address.
Que’Mya Brewster will deliver the graduation essay as the student speaker chosen by a staff panel. All students in the graduating class are eligible to submit a speech for consideration. BHS dropped the academic class ranking several years ago and thus does not have a valedictorian.
The faculty speaker will be Alexis Duffy-Protentis, who teaches wellness as well as science at BHS. The faculty speaker is voted by the graduating class. Duffy-Protentis also runs the school’s peer leadership course and is a former BHS athletic trainer.
Student vocalists taking part in the ceremonies are Alynne Dandridge, Rachel Gould, Minseo Hong, Connor McClung, Riley Stevens, and Arianna Triplett.
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