By ELIZABETH LITTLE/Sentinel staff
LINWOOD – The 2021 graduates of Mainland Regional High School have had a memorable four years. On Monday, the seniors graduated on the field at the Mustang Corral with the stands full of family members, a stark contrast to last year’s commencement ceremonies that limited attendance because of COVID-19 restrictions.
“It’s surreal to be honest,” graduate Nathan Cacioppo said. “I never really thought I’d make it this far, but here I am, and I have to make the best of what I have right now. I enjoyed my time here overall. Senior year was kind of rough because we had to deal with all the COVID restrictions, but we made do with what we had to work with, and I think it turned out pretty well in the end.” Cacioppo plans to attend Grove City College in the fall, following in his family’s footsteps. He plans to study STEM-related subjects.
Some of the graduates got creative and decorated their mortarboards with future plans, interests or hobbies. Mia Bodkin decorated her cap to say “Crystal Cleaning NJ,” a nod to her own business. After graduating, Bodkin plans to expand her business.
Graduate Rebecca Brown’s cap was decked out in glitter and a big “V,” and said “Anchors Down.” Brown’s mortarboard alludes to how she will be attending Vanderbilt in the fall. “Anchors down” is a tradition at Vanderbilt, as at the beginning of events, someone “drops the anchor” in midfield.
As the graduates lined up and walked into the Mustang Corral, Mainland’s band, under the direction of teacher Derek Rohaly, played Pomp and Circumstance.
Brown, the 2021 class president who graduated summa cum laude, gave the welcome address.
“At this time, we recognize dedication and perseverance,” Brown said. “In doing so, it is important to also recognize that the accomplishments of our class would not have been possible without the overwhelming support of everyone who helped us along the way. We first thank our teachers, who have inspired us to be better students, better people, and who have taught us to be resilient in the face of adversity.”
Brown went on to thank the administration for putting together events for the graduates’ senior year, like prom and a graduation car parade. She thanked friends and family on behalf of the graduating class, and talked about Mainland’s roots in the community.
“To my fellow classmates; on this day, we acknowledge what binds us together. Our roots. The roots that have been established in this community. Our roots at Chido Burrito and Charlie’s, the football field, the band room, the computer lab, Birch Grove Park, the docks, the beach… So today, we celebrate our roots, where we came from, and our branches,” Brown said.
The welcome address was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. As Mainland’s band played the national anthem, the senior class choir members sang along.
When summa cum laude senior Luke McSorley delivered his speech, he was first greeted with a lackadaisical applause, until he said, “Come on, you can afford to be louder.” The crowd laughed and cheered.
“Now, behind me sits a group of half-children, half-adults,” McSorlyy said. “A group who is being entrusted to live their lives on their own, but also a group that doesn’t entirely know how to do their own laundry. And that’s the beauty of the period we find ourselves in at this very moment. Today marks the day that we are entrusted with responsibility, about growing the very village that has helped us become who we are. And now that we finally know who we are, it’s up to us to decide where to go from here,” McSorley said.
McSorley’s speech was artfully done with a touch of sarcasm and humor, but his message still stands.
“It was our community that pushed us along this path. Teachers handed out F’s, parents grounded us, coaches yelled a little too much at the referees, and our principal once made us eat lunch off the gymnasium floor,” McSorley said. “But they all gave us the opportunity to explore the very facets of ourselves that we didn’t know existed. We discovered passions, and we took wacky electives, and were forced into research papers on obscure garbage that we came around to liking in the end.”
After McSorley’s thunderous applause from the audience, Chief School Administrator Mark Marrone asked all students graduating with honors, with high honors, with highest honors, to stand. He then asked all students who were in Tri-M Music Honor Society, Thespian Honor Society, French Honor Society and Math Honor Society to stand. Then he asked students who were honored at the senior awards ceremony and those who were part of a championship team or club to stand. These students got a hefty round of applause from the attendees.
The next selected speaker was graduate Katharine McClintock, a national-caliber swimmer who also graduated with highest honors. McClintock spoke about the last two years the world suffered through, the COVID pandemic, and the difficulties of online learning.
“I’m glad we are able to find ourselves well after the intense year that was put upon us. The class of 2021 was faced with obstacles that seemed insurmountable. Several hours a day, we spent with our gaze centered on a glaring rectangle, divided into smaller rectangles, containing our first names, our last names, and our personalized icons that we would be remembered by for the majority of the year,” McClintock said. “Fast forward a couple of months, and we finally made it. We made it to this core memory of our lives, through all of our trials and tribulations. An intense, but memorable, four years of impactful life changes.”
After McClintock’s speech, the senior class vocalists sang Mainland’s alma mater as the band played along. “We’ll remember Mainland High forever and a day,” the choir ended.
Marrone certified the Class of 2021. Famously, every year without fail, Marrone says, “Let’s hand out some diplomas!”
Students were ecstatic to be receiving their diplomas. Some even did backflips. There was hooting and hollering, as it was a day of excitement and celebration.
Brown ended the ceremony by leading the turning of the tassels, and as the Mainland band played “Fanfare and Recessional,” the graduates threw their caps high in the air. Congratulations, Mainland Class of 2021.