Graduates

Speakers at gradua on were Alice Keepers, Francesco uresson, Lara Rupnawar, Isaac Stowell and Liesel Geyer they knew that I am proud of them and proud to be one of them.”

Adminis a ve secretary Wilson Sherk gave the keynote address, pulling out a cons uc on paper toolbox as a visual aid. He empowered students with unique air – it’s A3 a erall – and asked graduates to see the pandemic as de ning, skill-building and special. In their toolbox to cons uct a be er future: lucky charms, bumble bees and most importantly, resilience.

“Sorry, class of 2022, you've already had your gap year,” Sherk said. “So as you cons uct your life, recognize that because of your high school experience, you have these speci c tools, you'll have superior abili es. Reimagine yourself as a planet superhero because you know, the Earth s ll needs a lot of taking care of.”

Graduates shook hands with or st-bumped four members of the Spring eld school board before receiving their diplomas om principal, Ame Beard. “We have the most amazing communi , everybody cares so much and we know every person who walks through the door,” Beard said while describing what makes A3 so special. School board member, Jonathan Light said, “I am proud of A3 because it o ers di erent opportuni es for di erent kids … it gets great results, turns out great people.”

A er several years of graduaons being virtual, outdoors, and in a limited capaci , this gradu- a on was a return to normalcy. Humani es teacher Melanie Vetor said, “families being able to celebrate their students publicly is a big deal…it’s a right of passage for students.” Other teachers shared the same sen ment. Nissie Ellison, a long me teacher at A3, said “It's hard to put into words how good it feels to feel normal again. To have the whole communi here, everybody i s coming together and celebra ng, it's just wonderful.”

Students were enthusias c and vocal because there was a lot of uncertain at the beginning of the year about whether an in-person gradua on would be possible. Due to all of the uncertain , one graduate, Skyleigh Mae McKibben said she was “not really prepared” and the realiza on “hit her like a ton of bricks” because of the unpredictabili of the last three years.

“ ere was a huge wave of emo on,” said McKibben. “It’s s ll a lot to process.”