TURNERS FALLS — On a warm and partly sunny Thursday evening at Franklin County Technical School graduation, Superintendent Richard Martin reminded the Class of 2025 when they kayaked on a pond that formed on the lawn of the school on a cold and icy New England morning.

“The patch of ice had transformed into a full-blown mini-pond, and there were about 25 of you seniors bundled up, hauling kayaks out of trucks, paddling through the thin ice, racing each other, laughing and plunging into the water like it was the middle of July,” Martin said. “That moment wasn’t just funny. It was real. It was spontaneous. It’s spirited and full of life. It was who you are.”

This class of seniors – the largest to come through Franklin Tech in three decades with 152 students were described by Martin as creative, adventurous, tight-knit and unafraid to make the most of things, “Even if it involves kayaking in the middle of winter.” He said 45% of the senior class were working in co-op placements in their area of vocational study, and nine out of 10 co-op students have been offered employment by their job placements.

As the graduates sat shoulder-to-shoulder in their royal blue caps and gowns on the school football field, they were honored for their personalities and work ethic by administrators and their peers.

To open the ceremony, Principal Brian Spadafino spoke to the personalities of the students who sat before him. He said after four years of work in the classroom and through their co-op work placements, the class has learned the value of discipline and work ethic.

“Each of you has put in the time, the energy and the hard work to develop not just academic knowledge, but real-world skills,” he said, adding how this will benefit the students no matter where their plans take them in college, a career or in the military. “You are leaving here with more than just a diploma.”

The students themselves reflected this vision, with Salutatorian Danielle Walker asking her classmates to look remember that life moves fast and to enjoy the moment. Valedictorian Caleb Hall shared his parting wisdom, emphasizing the value of not waiting to act on goals, and to remember the reason behind ones actions to find fulfillment.

“Ask yourself, what do you live for? Better yet, who do you live for? Why do you do what you do? You set these goals to earn a degree, to build a family, to chase a career and to find satisfaction in something,” Hall said. “I implore you, find your answer, your purpose.”

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Zaydrien Alamed, Kamryn Alicea, Alex Amato, Hazel Andrade, Gabriel Ashcroft, Natalie Bardwell, Brook Bartak, Rachel Bellows, William Belval, Drew Bennett, Haleigh Benoit, Laylah Blount, Kylie Boudreau, Darren Brown, Amelia Bruso, Joshua Carey, Abigail Carlo, John Carmichael, Hailey Chagnon, Dustin Clark, Riley Chilmark, Jacqueline Churchill, Emily Clemons, Owen Cody, Gavin Crossman, Dylan Cullen, Harper Cutting, Maggie Danek, Arianna Dasho, Isabella Decker, AislynnDeCoteau, Julia Dickinson, Gianna DiSciullo, Nicolas Drake, Norah Drowski, Travis Eastman, Collin Eddy, Rylee Fisher, Malcolm Fortes, John Fortner, Madison Fritz, Lucas Gadway, Ronan Gale, KyleeGamache, John Gancarz, Ashlynn Gariepy, Matthew Garvin, Gabrielle Gauthier, Hannah Gilbert, Kristine Given, Atlithonatiu Gonzalez Jayne, Giovanni Grima, Cordelia Guerin, Jacob Guillemette, Dominic Guimond-Swan, Alexis Guimond-Swan, Hannah Hackett, Alyssa Hall, Caleb Hall, Levi Halla, Kaitlyn Harris, Aaron Hart, Avery Heathwaite, Owen Heilman, Ruby Henry, Tucker Hicks, Trent Holst, Jayden Hunter, Christian Hurd, Lilianna Inman, Caleb Johnston, Everett Jones, Jacob Jurek, Jacob Knight, Ryan Kokoszyna, Jayylin Kolakoski-Mansur, JaxonKotright-Clark, Tobias Kuhn, Joshua Laflamme, Jordan Lamarche, Hunter Lanoue, Natalie Lapa, Camryn Laster, Colby Leete, Mason Lehtomaki, Kathryn Lengieza, Riley Leslie, Josiah Little, Yaricelis Lopez, Aiden Lucas-Mullen, Dane Lupien, Savannah Lynch, August Maiewski, Ruby March, Madison Markwell, Ashton Marr, Matthew Martin, Leonardo Martinez, Cameron May, Brayden McDonough, Molly McIntyre, Sadie McKnight, Callirae Medina, Taylor Menard, Colby Merritt, Nickolous Mitchell, Gabriel Mota, Brynn Mullen, Jaime Muniz, Aiyannah Norwood, Aiden Norwood, Shelby O’Leary, Tyler Page, Jackson Pendleton, Riley Pereira, Zachary Perreault, Levi Plesnar, Logan Plesnar, Ean Redmond,Emma Remick, Jack Reynolds, Loki Rhodes, Annabelle Richard-Vernon, Matthew Richards, Jordan Rogers, Tiana Rosario, Dakota Santos, Joshua Sawin, Jayson Scribner, Jacob Scully, Samantha Serrell, Theo Shahan, Sebastian Shaw, Emma Shippee, Ethan Smarr, McKenzie Sourdiffe-Phelps, Gracelyn Stewart, Jeremiah Stockwell, Samuel Studlien, Zan Sykes, Amber Taylor, Andrew Thomasson, Landon Thompson, Mason Thurston, Nathaniel Trude, Joseph Valvo, MykaylahVonschmidt, Danielle Walker, Lilly Warchol, Ariana Whaley-Britt, Madix Whitman, Solstice Williams, Elise Wolfe, Laken Woodard, Tyler Yetter, Dylan Young, Zachary Zilinski, Baileigh Zingler.

■Physical Education Teammate Award, Josiah Little.

■Physical Education Award, Joshua Carey and Lilly Warchol.

■Perseverance in Physical Education, Matthew Richards.

■English and Language Arts Award of Merit, Dane Lupien.

■Perseverance and Most Improved in English, Natalie Lapa and Tyler Page.

■English Language Arts Writing Award, Aiden Lucas-Mullen, and Dakota Santos .

■English Achievement Award, Alyssa Hall.

■Friends of Liberty, Dane Lupien and Theo Shahan.

■Excellence in History and Social Studies, Kylee Gamache and Danielle Walker.

■Perseverance in History and Social Studies, Yaricelis Lopez and Tyler Page.

■Excellence in Math, Owen Cody and Danielle Walker.

■Perseverance in Math, Kathryn Lengieza and Madix Whitman.

■Math Award of Merit, Ean Redmond.

■Most Improved in Math, Julia Dickenson and Jeremiah Stockwell.

■Math Achievement Award, Ean Redmond.

■Perseverance in Science, Tucker Hicks.

■Excellence in Science, Caleb Hall and Danielle Walker.

■Life Skills Communication Award of Merit, Dustin Clarke.

■Integrated Skills Award, Hailey Chagnon.

■Outstanding Effort Award, John Fortner.

■Personal & Social Growth Award, Joseph Valvo.

■Work Ethic, Gabriel Ashcroft.

■Positive Attitude, Aaron Hart.

■Innovation Award, Dane Lupien.

■Perseverance Award, Ean Redmond.

■Excellence in Veterinary & Animal Science Award, Aiyannah Norwood.

■Growth and Progress Award, Sadie McKnight.

■Consistent Effort and Performance Award, Abigail Carlo.

■Perseverance Award, Avery Heathwaite.

■Shop Safety Award, Baileigh Zingler

■Instructors Award, Hannah Hackett and Brynn Mullen

■North Amherst Motors Award, Gracelyn Stewart

■Doug’s Autobody Award, Joshua Carey

■Sanel NAPA Auto Parts Award, Molly McIntyre

■Keystone Automotive Award, Malcolm Fortes

■Non-Structural Award, Kathryn Lengieza

■Paint and Refinishing Award, Atlithonatiu Gonzalez-Jayne

■Harbor Freight Paint Award, Ariana Whaley-Britt

■Snap-On Tools Award for High Achieving Student, Dominic Guimond-Swan

■Auto Zone Award for High Achievement, Mason Lehtomaki

■Most Improved in Carpentry, Drew Bennett.

■Perseverance in Carpentry, Yaricelis Lopez.

■Significant Growth in Carpentry, Jaime Muniz.

■Construction Safety and Growth in the Field of Carpentry, Kylee Gamache.

■Lou Kozloski Memorial Award Sponsored by Cowls Building Supply, Madison Markwell.

■Apprentice Cards: Drew Bennett, Dylan Cullen, Kylee Gamache, Jayden Hunter, Colby Leete, Yaricelis Lopez, Madison Markwell, Jaime Muniz and Jordan Rogers.

■Most Improved, Kamryn Alicea.

■Most Artistic and Creative, Hazel Andrade.

■Customer Service & Professionalism Award, Annabelle Richard-Vernon.

■Licensed Cosmetologist: Brooke Bartak, Ashlynn Gariepy, Taylor Menard and Annabelle Richard-Vernon.

■Cosmetology Achievement Award, Callirae Medina.

■Ryan Sanger Cosmetology Award, Brooke Bartak.

■Most Improved, Brayden McDonough.

■Excellence Award, Everett Jones and Loki Rhodes.

■Shop Safety Award, Tyler Page.

■Hospitality Award, Isabella Decker.

■Proficiency Award in Electrical Trade, Lucas Gadway.

■Business Managers Attention to Detail, Aiden Lucas-Mullen.

■Excellence in Electrical Trade, Lilianna Inman and Ryan Kokoszyna.

■Most Outstanding Electrical Apprentice, Caleb Hall.

■Work Ethic & Perseverance, Aislynn DeCouteau and Laken Woodard.

■Health Care Achievement Award, Kaitlyn Harris and Tiana Rosario.

■Consistent Effort and Performance, John Carmichael and Ruby March.

■Certified Nursing Assistant Pins: Natalie Bardwell, Haleigh Benoit, Owen Cody, Nicolas Drake, Norah Drowski, Kaitlyn Harris, Ruby March, Tiana Rosario and Laken Woodard.

■Certified Phlebotomy Technician Pins: John Carmichael, Aislynn DeCoteau, Kaitlyn Harris, Tiana Rosario, Mykaylah Vonschmidt and Laken Woodard.

■Certified Clinical Medical Assistant Pins: John Carmichael, Aislynn DeCoteau, Nicolas Drake, Kaitlyn Harris, Mykaylah Vonschmidt and Madix Whitman.

■Most Improved, Sponsored by Greenfield Farmers Cooperative, Owen Heilman.

■Proficiency Award, Sponsored by Atlantic Golf & Turf, Giovanni Grima.

■Proficiency in Horticulture Theory, Sponsored by Snow & Sons Landscaping, Tyler Yetter.

■Excellence in Plumbing & Heating, Sponsored by FW Webb Co. and Franklin County Master Plumbers Assn., Levi Plesner and Logan Plesner.

■PHCC Vocational All Star Student, Josiah Little.

■Excellence in Programming and Web Development, Theo Shahan.

■Excellence in Game Design, Matthew Richards.

■Best in Hardware Repair, Dakota Santos.

■Excellence in Cybersecurity, Danielle Walker.

■Award for Excellence, Christian Hurd.

■Most Improved, Elise Wolfe.

■Airgas East Award, Collin Eddy.

■Mayhew Steel/Deerfield Packaging Award, Mason Thurston.

■Apprentice Cards - Gavin Crossman, Joshua Sawin, Jeremiah Stockwell and Elise Wolfe.

■School to Career Recognition Award, Norah Drowski and Zachary Zilinski.

■Career & College Awareness, Excellence Award, Laken Woodard and Zachary Zilinski.

■Career & College Awareness, Perseverance Award, Jordan Lamarche and Matthew Martin.

■Most Improved in Academics, Owen Heilman.

■Vocational Achievement, Julia Dickenson and Aaron Hart.

■Peer Support/Mentoring Award, Everett Jones and Natalie Lapa.

■Academic and Vocational Excellence, Abigail Carlo and Danielle Walker.

■Guidance Perseverance Award, Gabrielle Gauthier and Ean Redmond.

■Outstanding Effort Award, John Carmichael and Theo Shahan.

■Outstanding Student Achievement and Positive Attitude Award, Hazel Andrade and Laken Woodard.

■Most Improved in a Shop Program, Tyler Page.

■Outstanding Attendance Award, Theo Shahan.

■Student Achievement Award, Josiah Little.

■Mass CTE Presidential Certificate of Merit, Kylee Gamache.

■Character Counts Award, Natalie Lapa.

■FCTS Accomplishment Award, Harper Cutting.

■Superintendent’s Award, Kylee Gamache and Madix Whitman.

■MSAA Achievement Award, Everett Jones.

■Administrative Recognition Award, Madix Whitman.

■FCTS Award in Trade, Skill and Service, Ean Redmond.

■MAVA Outstanding Student of the Year, Caleb Hall.

■Excellence in Journalism/Yearbook, Kristine Given and Dakota Santos.

■Yearbook Dedication, Kurt Richardson.

■SAGA Bayard Rustin Leadership Award, Everett Jones.

■SAGA Rainbow Eagle Spirit Award, Danielle Walker.

■Art Club- Most Valuable Senior Artist, Danielle Walker.

■FFA Award, Julia Dickinson.

■SkillsUSA Outstanding Vocational Student Award, Dane Lupien.

■SkillsUSA Senior Officer, Kylee Gamache.

■SkillsUSA Recognition Award, Isabella Decker.

■National Honor Society Leadership Award, Tiana Rosario.

Erin-Leigh Hoffman can be reached at ehoffman@recorder.com or 413-930-4231.