School: Ella T. Grasso Technical High School in Groton

Number of graduates: 149

Ceremony location: Football field at Ella T. Grasso Technical High School

Valedictorian Josiah Hinojos: “These past couple of years have been different than most of those who have graduated in the past. We have gone through many obstacles along the way such as the transition from virtual learning to regular school. I remember how our exploratory was shortened because of COVID and how we originally had one day in each shop. It made it harder for us to pick the one we wanted, spending little time learning about the shop. But we all made it here! High school not only gave us our education but it created long-lasting friendships, memories from high school dances, games, and much more.”

Salutatorian Jacob Major: “I am still in disbelief standing here before you all, I mean this is just one of those events that you hear about for your entire life that feels so far off, something so out of reach that even at the beginning of this year, or even this week, I couldn't believe we would actually be here today, and yet, we are, we all worked hard and persevered for these last 4 years, and we did it.”

While I’m sure many of you already have plans for the future and may have even picked what you want to do for the rest of your career, I encourage you to keep an open mind toward new things.“

Principal Patricia Feeney: “Life moves very, very fast, and so, I encourage you to find ways to give your time and energy to the people and things that give you energy. Cultivate your curiosity and challenge yourself to be more creative, understanding, resourceful, and hopeful.

I encourage you to take on every opportunity life presents you. No matter the obstacles which you may come across in life, act with courage. I am incredibly proud of you and congratulate each and every one of you upon Graduation tonight.“

Justin Lowe, interim superintendent of schools for the Connecticut Technical Education and Career System: “So here we are – graduation ceremony for the class of 2024. But this is not the end. This is the beginning. “

Other highlights: This was the last graduation for Principal Patricia Feeney who is retiring after 12 years at Grasso Tech.

The class includes five firefighters, eight out of eight cosmetology students passed their state boards and the class has 33 graduates hired by Electric Boat, the most of any school in the state.

Ella T. Grasso Technical High School graduates

Ted Allen, Richard Mayo, Federico Grullon, Tirike McCoy, Robert Ross, Flordelis Acevedo Martinez, Benyris Acevedo, Natalie Acosta, Devin Ahern, Justin Alford, Sarah Andrews, Savanah Auxier, Aiden Avery, Andrew Baldi, Alex Balkcom, Kailee Bancroft, Nathan Banker, Alena Beardslee, Samantha Beebe, Kai Bixby, Nolan Blewitt, Rome Brown, James Brunelle, Ava Burdo, Tyler Bustamante, Genevieve Cabilin, Shayla Cagle, Jaden Carroll, Yeleny Castillo, Jupiter Chance, Brandon Chmelecki, Calieb Clark, Tayshawn Clarke, Kariann Colon Rodriguez, Carymar Colon Rodriguez, Erykc Colon-Vega, Nathan Concepcion, Bodie Cormier, Hazel Cortez Baires, Aidin Dahl, Daniel Damiano, Elijah Davis, Richard Davis, Kristian DeBerardinis, Seth Deming, Aamorri DeRose, Willianny Diaz, Amanda Dorsett, Kaitlyn Drake, London Edmonds-Velez, Brianna Edwards, Tyla Elci, Elijah Figueroa, Blake Fraser, Aidan Gardiner, Sara Gately, Charles Goede, Iyende Gomez, Edgar Gonzalez Vazquez, Noelle Guerrero, Luisanna Guzman Garcia, Luisanny Guzman Garcia, Eliana Guzman Almonte, Chase Harraka, Zachary Haviland, Nicolas Hayes, Josiah Hinojos, Samone Holley, Jada Horton, Luca Iglesias, Gavin Jameson, Frankie Jimenez, Jaylivette Jimenez, Alandra Johnson, Bryce Johnson, Charis Johnson, Tyking Julius, William Keith, Abigail Lallis, Cristian LaPrade, Alyssa Lemon, Syrah-Eternity Leonard, Ryan Leone, Nevaeh Lukacovic, Benjamin Luna, Emily MacIver, Owen MacLean, Ian Main, Jacob Major, Conner Marchand, Leron Martin, Sebastian Martin, Emely Martinez Blanco, Michael Marzec, Shane May, Caleb McNeill, Jeremiah Medero, Eric Medina, Jonathon Mentz, Charleigh Meyers, Thomas Mierta, Ryan O'Bern, Antonia Orbe, Elisa Otanez, Beky Pallaroso, Richard Parsons, Kelvin Paulino Familia, Todd Pezzolesi, Isabella Portella, Ramel Porter, Lilyana Quinones, Jaydon Ramos, Brandon Randeau, Solmarie Reyes, Riley Roache, Lucas Rode, Zachary Rogers, Nicholas Romeo, Jacob Rosen, Payton Rutherford, Alexander Santiago, Patrick Santora, Maya Seidel, Zackary Shaw, Natalie Smith, Giovanni Soto, David Spence, Peter Stabach, William Stanley, Nicholas Stavesky, Daniel Stringer, Allesandra Suarez, Nathan Sylvestre, Haley Tatum, Lilly Thibodeau, Maxwell Thomas, Miguel Torres, Niklas Trakas, Isaiah Urena, Alejandro Veliz, Keira Wagner, Jacob Wallace, Brandon Walters, D'Andre Walters, Ryan Waselik, Jarian West, Madeline Whittle, Adrian Yepes, Harley Yuschalk.