Students shine at AHS under gray graduation skies

Mortar boards fly at close of AHS commencement. / Sean Garballey photo

UPDATED June 5: Commencement exercises for the Arlington High School class of 2023 were held in cool weather under gray skies on Saturday, June 3, at Warren A. Peirce Field.

Here are five speeches those gathered heard:

Graham Dimmock >>

Samip Phuyal >>

Megan Carmody >>

Olivia Moir >>

Mona Mohtadi >>

The address by the faculty speaker has been requested.

Here was the schedule for the outdoor, in-person event, led by Robert DiLoreto, master of ceremonies:

Processional: Entrance of the Class of 2023

Presentation of colors: Arlington Police Department Honor Guard

National Anthem: Arlington High School Jazz Band

Welcome: Matthew Janger, principal

Community recognition: Dr. Kirsi Allison-Ampe, chair of Arlington School Committee

Class achievements: Elizabeth Homan, superintendent of schools

Interlude: AHS Madrigal Singers and Chorale Seniors

“Yesterday” John Lennon / Paul McCartney, arranged by MacHuff

Remarks: Megan Carmody, president of Student Council

Remarks: Mona Mohtadi president of senior class

Faculty speaker: Graham Dimmock, introduced by Sophia Douglass, treasurer, class of 2023

Honors speakers: Samip Phuyal, Olivia Moir

Presentation of diplomas: Janger, Allison-Ampe and Homan

Conclusion: Linda Zhou, vice president, class of 2023; Margo Awad, secretary, class of 2023

Readers diploma: Veronica Tivnan, dean; and Paul McKnight, dean

Diploma assistants: Sue Briggs, Danielle Rakowsky

See the names of the class of 2023 plus a full list of awards, scholarships >>

Who was honored on Awards Night …

Arlington High School held its annual night of conveying scholarships and other awards on Thursday, June 1.

The scholarship awards total about $350,000, according to AHS.

The high school administration provided the following listing:

1. Ida Robbins Scholarship presented by Kirsi Allison-Ampe, Chair, Arlington School Committee
2. E. Nelson Blake, Jr. Memorial Book Awards presented by Kirsi Allison-Ampe, Chair, Arlington School Committee
3. Felicia M. DeLorenzo Scholarships presented by JoAnn DeLorenzo Crimmings
4. Harry Haroutunian Scholarship presented by Haroutunian Family
5. John L. Asinari Memorial Fund presented by Tom and Aida A. Gennis
6. Amy Walsh Scholarship presented by Tom and Roberta Walsh
7. Corinne Baldwin Scholarship presented by Sumner Blount
8. Marie T. Raduazzo Memorial Scholarship presented by Richard Eastwick and Judi Bohn
9. Mary Serpa Sousa Scholarship for Nursing presented by Ed Sousa, Nancy Cirone and Linda Sciuto
10. Vito Sammarco Memorial Scholarship presented by Sandra Sammarco
11. Class of 1987 presented by John McGah, Lisa Sasso, Elizabeth Terry
12. Dr. Edward L. Wyman, R.Ph. Scholarship presented by William Biciocchi
13. Nancy Murray Amenkowicz Scholarship-Advancing Science presented by Nicole Del Canto and Nancy Murray Amenkowicz
14. Catherine J.  Malatesta Memorial Scholarship presented by the Malatesta Family
15. Katherine Wall Memorial Scholarship presented by the Wall Family  
16. Salvatore and Maria Pizzi Foundation Scholarships presentd by Kristin Hodgdon
17. Friends of Arlington Hockey/Bertagna Memorial Scholarships presented by Joe and Bob Bertagna, Robert Bartholomew
18. Brackett PTO presented by Robert Bartholomew
19. Ostregren Award presented by Robert Bartholomew 
20. Arlington Soccer Club/Sam Oliver Memorial Scholarships  presented by Katie Oliver Dilly and Steve Klosterman
21. Marwan Ghabour Memorial Scholarship presented by Katie Oliver Dilly and Steve Klosterman
22. East Cambridge Savings Bank presented by Nartercia Calisto
23. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr  Birthday Celebration Committee Scholarship presented by Crystal Haynes Copithorne, chair of the committee
24. Jehu Jones Memorial Scholarship presented by Vicar Emmanuel Correa Vazquez
25. Friends of Fox Library Scholarships presented by Shun Yamaguchi
26. Griff Strong presented by Danny, Ginny, Luke, Andrew and Tom Griffin
27. Twelve Points Wealth Management Courtney Lynne Jones Memorial Scholarship presented by Kim Van Winkle, David Clayman, Amy Lydon and Robin Jones
28. Performing Arts Parents Association Scholarships presented by Amy Markov and Lea Walsh
29. Pasquale Tassone Scholarship presented by Amy Markov and Lea Walsh
30. Joan Gallagher Scholarship Award presented by Richard Gallagher
31. Armstrong Family Scholarship presented by Richard Gallagher
32. Kenneth J. Simmons Memorial Rotary Scholarship presented by Becca Harris
33. Bob Havern – AHS 67 Scholarship [no listing provided] 

INTERMISSION

 Additional Scholarships and Awards

AHS Class of 1930 Scholarship 

AHS Class of 1947 Scholarship

AHS Class of 1955 Scholarship

AHS Class of 1959 Scholarship

Ann Rosalie Pierce Memorial Scholarship

Arlington Association of School Secretaries 

Arlington Chamber of Commerce Scholarship

Arlington Early Childhood Association Scholarship

Arlington Education Association Scholarship

Art Coughlin Holovak-Logan Memorial Scholarship

Betty Fiorenza Memorial Scholarship

Buddy Stevens Memorial Scholarship

Catherine Brescia Memorial Book Award Scholarship

Ed Burns Scholar Athlete Scholarship 

Edward A. Bailey Scholarships

Elizabeth Sherman Swing Scholarship

Ellen E. Sweeney Scholarship 

Frank Roberts Memorial Book Award 

Henry Ottoson Scholarship

Henry Toczylowski Scholarship 

James F. Leverone Memorial Scholarship

Joan Flanagan/Hardy PTO Scholarship

Joseph J. Keating Jr. Scholarship

Kathleen Crawley Memorial Scholarship

Mary Lou Serra Sheehan Scholarship

Peirce PTO – Alana DeMella Scholarship

Principal’s Scholarship – Honors speakers and SILS recipients

Sam Nigro Charitable Foundation

Sharon Boyle Memorial Scholarship 

Symmes Arlington Hospital Nurses Alumni Scholarship 

Thelma Sonnichsen Scholarship

Tower Mothers Club Scholarship 

Virginia Leonard Memorial Scholarship   

Francis E. Thompson Scholarships *

*Francis E. Thompson Scholarships are a gift of the Thompson Family, funded by the family fortune created in part by the sale of Moxie. Moxie, a carbonated beverage, is considered to be the first mass-produced soft drink in the United States.   

 June 9, 2022: AHS graduation: Time to congratulate ’21-22 and 1966

This news announcement was published Thursday, June 1, 2023, based on a listing sent from the AHS principal’s office. It was updated June 2, to add the graduation schedule plus link to class names and awards; June 3, to replace a photo; and June 4-5, to add links to speeches.