WESTHAMPTON — Hampshire Regional High School graduated 103 seniors Friday evening in its 53rd annual commencement ceremony, an unexpectedly indoor event that celebrated the class’s school spirit, perseverance, and unity despite differences.

While teachers and school administrators praised the class’s academic achievements — including a combined 143 advanced placement exams and acceptances to over 130 different colleges — the graduates celebrated their classmates’ senses of humor, dancing skills and deeply-forged connections.

“Hampshire is the place that brought us together as one, and this community will stay with you for the rest of your life,” said Jack Laliberte, class vice president.

Laliberte, who will attend the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in the fall, urged his classmates to remember and appreciate the community members who were by their sides during their best high school memories.

Hampshire Regional’s commencement ceremony is usually held outside on the school’s Dorunda Field, but a storm forced this year’s celebration indoors. While rain poured and lightning struck nearby, select friends and family members gathered in the school’s auditorium to watch the cardinal-clad graduates receive their diplomas. Others, on account of the auditorium’s limited seating capacity, gathered in the school’s gymnasium to watch a live screening of the ceremony.

The class speakers, salutatorian Julia Sicard and valedictorian Olivia Manganelli, each reflected on the particular lessons they learned growing up in western Massachusetts.

“There’s a special and quiet kind of power in knowing who you are in the small towns that built us,” Sicard said. “Our roots made us into the people we are, and wherever each one of us may take our lives, these roots will ground us.”

Sicard will attend the University of Tampa to study nursing next year. Her twin brother, Jacob Sicard, also graduated from Hamsphire Regional on Friday.

Manganelli, who will attend Brown University in the fall to study political science and visual art, said, “We do not have to agree with others to listen to their stories, and sometimes those ones are the most interesting. For every person we do not know, there is a story untold, advice ungiven, and, most importantly, an opportunity to learn.”

She continued, “These lessons, values, and memories give us something special to take with us out into the world and share.”

Assistant Principal Alexander Seid awarded a posthumous degree to Tim Slate, a member of the Class of 2025 who died last summer.

“Tim was someone who had his own ways of going through his days,” Seid said. “He was smart, funny, very personable, and had a passion for work — not always work in a classroom, but work. Even when he wasn’t doing things we wished he would, he always had a way of making us laugh.”

Slate had looked forward to a future job as a diesel mechanic.

Before degrees were awarded, seniors in the school chorus sang a rendition of Tim Minchin’s “When I Grow Up,” and class secretary Cassidy Clark presented the class gift of funds for a school courtyard and to increase accessibility on field trips.

“The story of the Class of 2025 is one that will be told for years to come,” Clark said, reminiscing on past spirit battle victories and times the class “dominated the dance floor” at school events.

Other graduates reminisced on their own favorite high school memories. Kayla LaBeau, who will attend Bridgewater State University next year, gleefully remembered how her school friends jokingly wished her “happy halfway to thirty” on her 15th birthday.

Bella Gallo, who will also attend Bridgewater State University and plans to study speech pathology and film, recounted the language department trip to Spain this past spring. “That was, like, the coolest thing I’ve ever done in my life,” she said.

Sadie Mahon-Moore’s favorite memories at Hampshire Regional stemmed from her time on many of its sports teams, including track and field and Nordic skiing.

“I met so many great people on those teams,” she said. Mahon-Moore will attend Mount Holyoke College next year, with plans to study classics on a pre-law track.

Sulema Jesse Garrido earned her degree from HEC Academy in Northampton but graduated with the HRHS class. HEC Academy primarily serves students with social-emotional challenges or learning disabilities. Garrido hopes to work with animals in the future.

“I made so many memories I can’t even believe it, honestly,” said graduate Alyssa Colon-Garcia, an academic society member and one of two members of the graduating class to earn a seal of biliteracy. Colon-Garcia will attend Westfield State University in the fall, with plans to study mathematics and secondary education.

“Hampshire is a pretty great school,” she added.

2025 Graduates

Robinson Agresto, Fadhil Al Baghadli, Brooke Alexander, Sabah Alshmlh, Logan Bean, Sophia Bernier, Jaydin Biladeau, Hope Brodeur, Ryan Brooks, Grace Brouillard, Delaney Cantwell, Elijah Cashin, Dara Cassidy, Matthew Cesare, Teagan Charles, Cassidy Clark, Adin Clifford, Alyssa Colon-Garcia, Clairissa Cranston, Breanna Dale, Jayden DeJordy, Isabella De Mar, Miguel Delgado, Harman Dhaliwal, Delsin Diaz, Eleanor Donohue, Hayden Durazo, Emma Erickson, Julien Ericson, Ryleigh Fennessy, Georgiana Frazier, Bella Gallo, Sulema Garrido, Layla Gauger, Sawyer Goodnow, Gavin Gorman, Cooper Goudreau, Ava Gougeon, Julia Hamel, Beatrice Hamilton, Robert Herman, Bowen Hocking, Madelynn Hollister, Colin Holt, Addison Hufnagle, Camden Jarosz, Cristien Jimenez, Emma Kelly, Robin Ketcherside, Koleton Kolodziej, Jack Laliberte, Ashton Lashway, Isabella LaBarron, Kayla LaBeau, Sadie Mahon-Moore, Tricia Malanson, Olivia Manganelli, Benji Marconi, Riley Marney, Alexander Materdey, Dassiah Mize, Isabelle Mondschein, Philip Morin, Julianne Moro, Evan Moulton, Chloe Moynihan, Payton Norris, Emily O’Connell, Thomas O’Connor, Madeline Oravec, Isaias Ortiz Colon, Angelena Osiecki, Giuseppe Osiecki, Zachary Phakos, Elijah Picard, Emmett Quinn, Colman Radowicz, Emily Reyor, Kailee Roncone, Destiny Saltis, Ava Senecal, Caley Shade, Anna Shadrick, Kayleigh Shea, Jacob Sicard, Julia Sicard, Katherine Simmons, Zola Simonelli, Ash Skow, Molly Smith, Brendan Stevenson, Lloyd Sullivan, Caelyn Thayer, Mary Thibault, David Thibodeau, Nathan Utrera, Kyle Vandeberghe, Kayla Velez, Dana Warren, Frederick Williams, Jack Wresien.