By ELIZABETH LITTLE/Sentinel staff
OCEAN CITY – The Ocean City High School Class of 2021 is unique in the sense that they only attended less than three years of high school in person, but they all gathered to graduate at Carey Stadium on Tuesday evening, June 15.
The class gathered on the boardwalk before the ceremony. Groups of friends talked, laughed and smiled as they waited to walk to Carey Stadium for one last hoorah. The boys were in red and the girls in white cap and gowns. Some students got creative and decorated their caps, such as Megan Anderson, who plans to be a mathematics major. Her cap was designed with maps and a picture of a plane.
“I’m doing mathematics, but I’m a pilot. My dad is an airline pilot and he put me in it when I was 14,” Anderson said.
The Ocean City Class of 2021 has big plans after high school. The graduating class is full of future doctors, educators, writers, scientists, actors and essential workers.
“It feels so good, I’m so glad we got to have a normal graduation in a not so normal year,” Katie Barlow said. “I’m going to be triple majoring at Ursinus College and swimming.”
Barlow plans to study political science, statistics and neuroscience. She graduated on Tuesday with highest honors, and was sporting her National Honor Society stoles.
“I got into Bucknell as a business analytics major, but I’m planning on changing my major to computer science,” Matthew Gallagher said. “It feels amazing, I would say it’s bittersweet, but it’s pretty much all sweet.”
Barlow and Gallagher transferred from other high schools as sophomores. Barlow went to Bishop Eustace Preparatory School while Gallagher went to LaSalle College High School. The two barely had time to adjust to such a big change until another, bigger change hit the world.
“I was in Ocean City for four days and then COVID took us out,” said Gallagher.
One graduate, Brian Parks, described his senior year as “pretty … weird.”
Cody Ferretti rolled up to graduation in a wheelchair due to a bull riding accident. He snapped his femur in half, but Ferretti said he will “absolutely” continue to ride at Cowtown once he regains his leg back. Post graduation, he has plans to become a firefighter.
The graduates remain hopeful. The ceremony began as the graduates marched down the boardwalk and onto Fifth Street before turning to walk into Carey Stadium and sit in their assigned cohorts as Ocean City High School’s band played Pomp and Circumstance.
A Marine color guard who presented flags during the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner. Members of the Ocean City choir sang along, and selected American Sign Language students performed both in sign language.
The same five graduating choir members sang the Ocean City alma mater, before performing their senior song, “And Make it So” by Douglas E. Wagner.
The welcome address was delivered by graduate Emily Smith, who spoke about togetherness, grief and growth.
“As we leave the halls of Ocean City and walk towards our future, we remember the lessons of our time here. In four years, we’ve all developed our goals for the future, but more importantly, we’ve developed everlasting friendships,” Smith said. “Our teammates have become our
greatest supporters. Our classmates have become a shoulder to lean on. As we take our next step, whatever that may be, we cannot forget the impact OCHS had on us.”
Smith is a member of the National Honor Society and graduated with highest honors. Following Smith’s speech, Principal Dr. Matthew Jamison introduced the classes of 1970 and 1971. He explained that the Ocean City tradition is to invite alumni from 50 years ago to watch the graduation from the best seats in the house: they were seated on the field with the graduates. The Class of 1970 was present because members didn’t get to go to the 2020 graduation due to COVID-19 limits. Only students and staff were allowed inside Carey Stadium last year during the ceremony, but this year the stadium seats were packed with family members.
Grace Gleason gave the farewell address about resilience and the difficulty of completing high school during the COVID pandemic.
“None of us would have ever thought that our senior year, our final year that comes wrapped in a bow of Friday night football games, homecoming, exciting college decisions, and prom could ever be less than the expectations in our head, but it was,” Gleason said. “So instead of allowing our circumstances to dictate us, we need to dictate our circumstances. All of us have
emerged with a new skill set, and I can say that with certainty as we are sitting here because we pushed through every situation and made it to this next step in life. One of these skills is the ability to be resilient and it is defined as one’s capacity to recover from crisis and return to pre-crisis status quickly.”
Gleason is a member of National Honor Society and vice president of the Class of 2021. She graduated with highest honors on Tuesday night.
Dr. Kathleen Taylor, superintendent of the Ocean City School District, delivered the recognition. Taylor reminded students how much the graduates’ families love them.
“Smile for your pictures today, no matter how many times your parents want you to smile. It’s your day, and your family wants to capture every moment of it. So, now set sail. And be your powerful, influential, caring self. Be a change. And on behalf of the Board of Education I accept Dr. Jamison’s recommendation, and it is an honor to officially recognize for the first time Ocean City High School graduates of the Class of 2021. Congratulations!”
Jamison presented the diplomas as more than 300 graduates walked through Carey Stadium as students one last time. Class president Madison Morgan ended the ceremony by leading the turning of the tassels.
Just like that, four years and a pandemic later, the Ocean City High School Class of 2021 was graduated.