Suffield Academy Graduates Class of 2011

Suffield Academy held its 178th annual commencement exercises on Friday as the school graduated 124 seniors. New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick was present as a proud parent of graduating senior Brian Belichick and as the commencement speaker.

Following the opening invocation and prayer from The Rev. Erica Wimber Avena, pastor of the Second Baptist Church, Headmaster Charlie Cahn welcomed the students and visitors.

“We are here today to celebrate the accomplishments of an outstanding senior class,” he said.

Cahn also presented 28 prizes and awards to students and three to the faculty.

Alex Cjelka won prizes in economics, English, science and Spanish, while Yingyi Chen was awarded the mathematics prize. Awards in other categories including philosophy, visual and performing arts, public speaking and humanitarianism were awarded as well.

The warm and sunny day meant the formally attired attendees, especially those in full academic regalia, felt the heat as the ceremony progressed. But the smiles on the faces of graduates, families, faculty and staff beamed through the perspiration.

Belichick, adorned in a full-length black robe, was feeling the heat as well. He began his address by contemplating cropping the robe’s sleeves near the shoulder, a nod to his usual coaching attire of a cut-off sweatshirt.

“[I should] show up on the sidelines in this,” he said, drawing a round of laughter from the audience.

Belichick called the students’ successful completion of their high school careers an “awesome accomplishment.”

“I’m happy to be here,” he said.

He focused his address on adapting to large and small changes the graduates will face in their lifetimes, the importance of teamwork and successful leadership. He also told the graduates to maintain and nurture friendships they have made so far, pointing out that the relationships made early in life tend to last the longest.

Belichick implored the students to take paths in life that appeal to them.

“Follow your heart, follow your passion, follow your curiosity,” he said. “In the end, it’s your life. You’re the one you have to satisfy.”

The exercises began with the sound of bagpipes heralding the processional of trustees, faculty and seniors. They ended with the ringing of the school’s bell as the newly minted graduates proudly participated in a Suffield Academy tradition.