Pelham Memorial High School Celebrates Commencement

Press release from Pelham Public Schools:

July 1, 2022

The Class of 2022 - the 100th to graduate from Pelham Memorial High School - exited the tent on Franklin Field to thunderous applause this past Saturday, June 25. The annual commencement ceremony marked completion of a historic year for this year’s 240 graduates and the iconic high school, which celebrated its centennial this year. Highlights of this year’s commencement included performances by the PMHS Band led by Andrew Van Bochove and a wonderful rendition of the National Anthem sung by Malia McLellan.

A color guard was presented by American Legion Pelham Post No. 50 and speeches were given by Class of 2022 President William Anderson, Student Association Secretary Oliver Tam, Graduates Malia McLellan and Luis-Jaime Casenas III, as well as PMHS Principal Mark Berkowitz and Dr. Cheryl Champ, Superintendent of Schools.

The W.W. Fairclough Prize was awarded by PTA Council Vice-President Dr. Tiffany Hébert to the three top academic students: Andrew Kelly, Ann Liu and William Anderson. Memorial Tablets were presented to Malia McLellan and Thomas Shelton by Superintendent Dr. Cheryl Champ.

Principal Berkowitz recounted the many accolades garnered by the Class of 2022, including in academics, athletics and service.

“The Class of 2022’s collaborative spirit and creativity has brought joy to the Pelham Memorial High School community,” Principal Berkowitz said. “They sang from the heart during the Battle of the Bands, produced amazing skits during the Senior Talent Show and with ‘Seventies’ style brought home the Wilson Cup as champions of the Dr. Charles T. Wilson PMHS Olympics. Class of 2022, we are so proud of you.”

In a speech titled “High School Musical,” McLellan spoke about how the Class of 2022 was able to come together through the incredible adversity they faced through the pandemic as well as the special bond they forged.

“Take a moment and look around you,” McLellan said. “The peers surrounding you are the ones you traded silly bands with in Kindergarten, went through a neon phase with, got braces with, shared secrets with, crushed on, whipped and nae nae-d with at friday night lives, did the mannequin challenge with, asked to the 8th grade dinner dance, sang “Old Town Road” with, logged onto google meets with, reunited with, and now, the ones you turn your tassel with.

“Although this town is small, Pelham’s bubble has sprouted tenacious students contributing to important issues everyday. Even on a small scale, such as participating in clubs at school, we have aspired to get involved in this community and make meaningful differences towards success.”

Tam’s speech, “The Sequel,” encouraged his classmates to leave their doors open as they proceed into the next chapter of their lives.

“Moving past high school, whether you’re going to college or directly into the workforce, the unknown is the most tantalizing and exciting part,” Tam said. “With months of trying to plan my own sequel, I realized that trying to reason and chart the paths that life takes you is impossible. Life is exciting and spontaneous. It can’t be contained or predicted by words on a page or characters on a screen...So, if you asked me to write the next chapter in my life, the sequel to my high school experience…I’d tell you no because embracing the unknown is the most exciting part.”

In the speech “Struggle for Success,” Casenas spoke about the power of failure and the necessity of forging ahead, learning, and ultimately succeeding.

“Don’t let go of your past regrets or mistakes, and be aware of the inevitability of your future ones,” Casenas said. “After all, what is their purpose if not to act as learning experiences? Carry them with you, and learn from them. They’ll make you stronger - us stronger, collectively. They’ll mold us into the next politicians, the next educators, scientists, actors, actresses, or whatever you aspire to be!”

Class President William Anderson used his speech to reflect on the qualities he has picked up from his teachers at PMHS and thanked the faculty for their hard work helping the Class of 2022.

“...It made me think about what attributes or traits that I have gotten from other teachers,” Anderson said. “It could be the rigorous work ethic from Mrs. Battema, or the bubbling attitude that Mr. Schleifer brought with him to every class. I thought about how amazing my teachers have been, and I would be lucky to take just a couple of qualities with me. Here at Pelham we are fortunate to have an amazing staff of teachers who care about their students. Not only staff, there are a lot of my own classmates that inspire me as well.”

In her remarks, Dr. Champ highlighted some of the similarities and differences between the inaugural PMHS Class of 1922 and this year’s Class of 2022. In closing, she shared Ralph Waldo Emerson’s poem, “To Have Succeeded,” and commended the graduates.

“Pelham Memorial High School Class of 2022, by Emerson’s definition, and by mine as well, you have succeeded,” Dr. Champ said. “As you go forth from these hallowed halls on to the next stage of life, it is my sincere hope that you ‘Honor here the ideals for which they fought,’ as is inscribed upon this Memorial building - ideals of scholarship and service, that you remember with fondness the relationships you made with staff and students during your time here, and that you build upon the firm foundation that has been laid during your time in Pelham to turn your success into significance and truly change the world for the better. Thank you and best wishes to the class of 2022.”

This press release was produced by Pelham Public Schools. The views expressed here are the author's own.