Norwich – Angel Saavedra of New London overcame bullying and discrimination in his younger years by making a choice to become a high school graduate with a future in video game design.

Gabrielle LaFlesh of Plainfield used hard work and sheer determination to overcome possible financial hurdles on her way to a full scholarship at the University of Connecticut’s School of Nursing.

The two were just a sampling of the more than 150 students to graduate Monday from Norwich Technical High School.

School Principal Nikitoula Menounos said each and every student made a choice to attend the school and earn a certificate in a trade; something she said opens the door to a job, higher education or in some cases military service.

Saavedra, the class salutatorian, said his life experiences helped push him to achieve and make the right choices.

While still in elementary school and suffering abuse from fellow students about his size and ethnicity, Saavedra said he chose to fight.

“The outcomes of my fights was always the same - I was beaten to a pulp,” Saavedra told fellow classmates. “Later on I learned that violence just creates more violence even though I was the victim.”

He said it was welcoming environment, as well as a promise of a career, that led him to Norwich Tech.

“I could have gone to another school, not went to school at all or become an outcast of society. Fortunately I wasn’t,” Saavedra said. “I stepped up, took charge in my mind and reached the highest mountain possible. I am graduating with high expectations and making my parents very proud. I was given a chance to change and change is what I achieved.”

Saavedra plans to attend the New England Institute of Technology where he plans to earn a degree in video game design and simulation programming.

LaFlesh, the class valedictorian, echoed some of the same sentiments about earning her own way.

“It does not matter what type of family or financial situation you were born into or what your current situation is,” LaFlesh said. “You were given one life to do what you want so why not make it a good one. You can do anything if you work hard enough.”

When she first started attending Norwich Tech, LaFlesh said she was an average student with nothing extraordinary about her.

But after sampling health technology she said she “fell in love with caring for those who were ill or injured.”

“It became my dream to be a neonatal nurse. To be able to go to work every day and know that I would be giving a sick baby a fighting chance would be a most satisfying career.”

By the time she reached her graduation, LaFlesh had already become a certified nursing assistant, certified in first aid and CPR and president of the local chapter of the National Honor Society.

“It proves that hard work and dedication can bring you closer to your dreams and visions,” she said.

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay

Norwich Tech Class of 2015.

Automotive Technology

Bryce Bedard, Justin Brown, Kristyn Dankiw, Benjamin Doukas, Ty Fabian, William Hansen, Connor Hovland, Codi Kay, Dean Lautenbach Jr., April Littlefield, Zachary Magee, Stephen Mattingly, Jacob Moran, Brandon Norman, Aaron Pelletier, Blake Perry, Tyler B. Rowe, Paul Rychlovsky-Gravelle, Benjamin Silver.

Carpentry

Samuel Beaver, David Chirchigno, Noelani Colebut, Austin Deschamps Jr., Anthony Diaz, Alec Mendez, Destiny Miner, Grace Pendleton, Naisun Pierre, Kelvin Rivera-Olán, Dakota Brian Shepherd, Tanner J. Slade, Blane M. Starke, Laura Cecilia Viveros.

Computer Aided Drafting And Design

Joseph Bacon, Quinn Corriveau, Stephen Duhamel-LaGram

Culinary Arts

Dustin Briggs, Kristin Brodeur, Sara DeRouin, Thomas Nicholas, Devon Odgers, Joshua Prince, Joseph Williams.

Electrical

Austin Abell, Gamalier Berroa Jr., Andrew Carroll, Macpherson Eghianruwa Jr., Joshua Garza, Nathaniel Gromek, Sean Hawkins, Jackson Konrad, Thomas Morrow V, Codey Potvin-Johnson, Nicholas Schaen, Austin Schalla, Austin Shirley, Tyler Stimson.

Graphic Technology

Zachary Ackart, Anastasia Athas, Ethan Backus, Abigail Billings, Steven Buchanan Jr., Marissa Funk, Wilson Howe, Kailin Jones, Cameron McPhail, Samantha Naples, Sarah Noel, Justen O'Dell, Rebecca Pozzato, Nathaniel Ward.

Hairdressing And Barbering

Sarah Allard, Molly-Kate Bolles, Jordyn Clark, Aprile Hoard, Amber Marchetti, Quintessa Matthews, Briana Rodriguez, Courtney Ryan, Aylin Victoria-Montanez

Health Technologies

Jordan Aronson, Kerrie Bellerose, Chelsea Bertocki, Destiny Burt, Victoria Case, Michael Clapsadle, John Cole III, Nicole Davis, Johenny De La Cruz, Safiyyah Elahi, Marissa Fuller, Gabrielle LaFlesh, Kassandra Missios, Elayne Peltier, Rachel Petrosus, Shirlyann Rivera, Dalaenashay Sabol, Stephanie Sager, Elanna Sanon, Alondra Vega, Danielle Wlaszkiewicz

Heating, Ventilation And Air Conditioning

Jason Carle, Jared Citizen, Nicholas Dufresne, Carlos Guzman, Alberton Hall IV, Nathan Holzschlag, Dorianne Libby, Matthew Lindquist, Brendan McCarthy, Brandon Morgan, Brandon Morin, Mack Osias, Kyle Piette, James Robertson III, Stephen Sieczkowski, Michael Smith, Rose Veilleux, Austin Wagner

Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship

Nasjai Brown, Alexis Colòn-Demars, Sakai Cort, Staraezah Gibson, Karyna García, Jada Larkie, Kyniel Mathews, Fernando Rodriguez Jr., Aniana Rosario, Cortni Smith, Antonio Vargas Jr., Kellie Wicks

Plumbing And Heating

Charles Appleby Jr., Connor Birchall, Tyler Chapman, Christopher Dawley, Michael Froscello V, Joshua S. Gilot, Jason Grisafe, Tyler Pater, Nicholas Rudd, Calvert Senesac, Stanley Wybraniec III.

Pre-Electrical Engineering and Applied Electronics

Julio Alvarez III, James Bayer, Victoria Beaudoin, Tyler Brooks, Patrick Brown, Ryder Choti, Scott Decker, Micahia Favreau II, Matthew Martinez, Christian Purple, Alexis Morales, Jacob Roch, Angel Saavedra, Mason Walenda.