As the largest class to graduate from Renaissance, the seniors pulled in $3 million in scholarship, Mahoney said.
SPRINGFIELD – The Springfield Renaissance School celebrated the graduation of 97 seniors Wednesday at Symphony Hall.
For the fourth consecutive year, the entire senior class at the Carew Street magnet school has been accepted into college, one of top priorities set by the school.
As principal Stephen R. Mahoney noted, the graduates were the first sixth grade class to enroll at the grades 6-12 school, making them the first all-Renaissance class to graduate.
“Seven years ago we set out to build a school that would beat the odds, a school that would stand as an example for the whole world to see that being nice, working hard, and getting smart matter far more than race or class or zip code,” Mahoney told the audience that included parents, faculty, Superintendent of Schools Daniel Warwick and Mayor Domenic Sarno.
“And that is exactly what this class of 2013 has done,” he said.
“Today, you have made your families, your school and your city proud,” he added.
Speakers included Warwick and Peter Murphy, vice chairman of the School Committee.
Seniors Jesse Lederman and Edward Brown offered remarks; both were selected by the class to speak. Keith Wright was the faculty speaker.
Monique Owens, senior class president, also recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
The class valedictorian was Michaela Paul and salutatorian was Maya McCann.
A posthumous degree was awarded to the family of Shyrlena Nieves, who died last summer.
As the largest class to graduate from Renaissance, the seniors pulled in $3 million in scholarship money, Mahoney said.
“Public schools should be the great equalizer, the place where courage and self-discipline and responsibility and perseverance pay off,” the principal said.