Pittsfield High School has announced the class speakers for the 2024 graduation ceremony, which will take place this Sunday, June 9, at 4 p.m. The event will be held at Tanglewood in Lenox, marking a return to this venue after a five-year break.
The senior class has chosen Frankielys Payano De La Cruz, Abigail Malumphy, and Brooke Tripicco to deliver speeches at the graduation. Tripicco, who plans to attend Clark University in Worcester, will double major in English and education, with a possible minor in sociology. She expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to represent her class, reflecting on her fulfilling time at Pittsfield High School.
Payano De La Cruz, who moved to the United States from the Dominican Republic at the age of nine, will be attending the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Malumphy, a member of the honors college, will attend UMass Boston, majoring in nursing with a research focus and minoring in Spanish. She credited her family’s unwavering support for her achievements.
These three students embody the resilience and dedication of this year’s senior class, who have navigated a challenging four years of high school.
Pittsfield High School also honors students with the top 10 cumulative grade-point averages in the senior class. The PHS 2024 Top Ten, listed alphabetically, are Donald Corbett, Jake Christopher Duquette, Julia Haggerty-DeGiorgis, Riley Katharyn Barbara Laurent, Summer Rae Lawton, Abigail Malumphy, Jack Thomas Robarge, Camila Andrea Sebastian Riva, Grace Ungewitter, and Joseph Ilan Weiner.
In addition to recognizing academic excellence, various departments at Pittsfield High School award students for outstanding performance in their respective fields. This year’s honorees include Katarena Castagna (Art), Joseph Ilan Weiner (Band), Jack Thomas Robarge (Jazz Band), Analeese Matos (Business), Donald Corbett (Computer), Brandon Westbrooks (CVTE), Summer Rae Lawton (Drama), Hannilor Nda Morkeh (Multilingual), Brooke Adler Tripicco (Edward J. McKenna Award-English), Benjamin Eshun (Math), Ethan Maisonueve (Orchestra), Braden Bienvenue (PE), Riley Katharyn Barbara Laurent (John P. Leahy Memorial Award-Science), Makayla Jayne Wax (Social Studies), Dea Courtney Wood-Crooks (Vocal), and Elliot Michael Trainor (World Languages).
The Seal of Biliteracy, which acknowledges graduates proficient in another language besides English, will be awarded to several students. This recognition aims to promote long-term language study and produce a biliterate, multicultural workforce. Pittsfield High School is among the first in Berkshire County to honor seniors with this achievement. The recipients of the Seal of Biliteracy include Amanda Pou Burgos*, Elliot Trainor*, Brooke Tripicco*, Makayla Wax*, Brandon Balcazar, Juan Bedard Torres, Jerson Gonzalez, Abigail Malumphy, Frankielys Payano de la Cruz, Paola Reinoso, Juan Pablo Salcedo, and Elliot Trainor* for Italian.
This year also marks the first Pathway graduates from Pittsfield High School. These students have completed a rigorous course schedule in their chosen fields. The Performing Arts Pathway graduates, with distinction, are Summer Rae Lawton*, Dea Courtney Wood-Crooks*, and Ethan Maisonneuve.
Additionally, the AP Seminar and Research Certificate is awarded to students who score three or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research. Ellen Muller completed this certificate in her junior year, and several candidates have pending scores from recent tests.
The 2024 graduation ceremony promises to be a memorable event, celebrating the achievements and hard work of Pittsfield High School’s senior class.
