HARTFORD — The scoreboard of Hartford High School’s football field read “congrats” in the place of “home” followed by “grads” in the place of “away,” which is where they are now headed.
Gathered on the field on Friday evening, a crowd of families and friends waved programs like fans amid a heat advisory and temperatures that felt like 90 degrees. But as the 117 “grads” of the Hartford High Class of 2026 made their march for the school’s 136th annual commencement, the crowd’s attention shifted from the weather to the event and they waved proud hands instead.
Cooler breezes began to blow with the horns of the “Pomp and Circumstance.” As the sun began to set behind the trees and hills surrounding the field, Hartford Principal Nelson Fogg approached the microphone for his 10th and final graduation address before his retirement.
He quoted author, activist and former Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, ‘Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?’ Actually, who are you not to be?”
Fogg urged the graduates to embrace their “excellence” and their “light” in the stages of life following Friday’s milestone on the football field.
“Excellence” shined bright among the class’s accomplishments over its four years, including various capstone projects of 11 seniors who participated in the high school’s honors program.
“Using Nanotechnology To Save Humans and Ecosystems” was one capstone topic. “Assessing Residential Happiness in the Town of Hartford” was another.
Daniel Beaulieu’s project, “History on the Stage: The Story of Vermont’s Formation,” earned the school’s Phillip DuTremble Outstanding Honors Program Student Award.
“Daniel challenged himself to bring history to life,” Hartford School District Superintendent Caty Sutton said, celebrating his achievement.
Through extensive research, Sutton went on, Beaulieu wrote an original play telling the story of Ethan Allen and the Green Mountain Boys. He had “little experience” with dramatic writing and historical reenactment, Sutton said. So he taught himself as he went on along, writing a full-length script and even spending over 50 hours hand-sewing “a historically accurate Revolutionary War uniform.
Daniel’s project will continue long after graduation, Sutton said.
“His script has been added to the Hartford High School library, his recorded reading is publicly available and his involvement in historical reenacting will help keep Vermont history alive for future generations,” she said.
When Class President Morgan “Mo” Jensen took the commencement stage, he shared a piece of parting wisdom he gained from his mentor at Hartford High, physical education teacher Pete Driscoll.
“Am I the type of person who…” begins the question Driscoll taught Jensen to ask himself in times of adversity.
“Am I the type of person who lets emotions control them?… Am I the type of person who chooses the easy way out?” Jensen said on the commencement stage.
The response to the latter, Jensen said, is a simple yes or no.
“You are the only person who carries the responsibility of your actions,” he said. “And you are the only person who controls what happens next.”
Hartford High School class of 2026: Tallulah Pearl Abbey; Jess Albert; Marina Couto de Alcantara; Michaela Margaret Jean Anderson; Liliana W. Argyros; Caleb J. Arruda; Rhone Alexander Baker; Ermek Baker-Niffka; Daniel Fenway Beaulieu; Brittany Bennett; Nella Gale Bowen; Madi K. Bradshaw; Courtney Brock; Grace Riley Brothers; Faith Catherine Brown; Marcel Caple; Vee Cervinski; Quinn Amelia Chartier; Owen Michael Chase; Lillie M. Clark-Walker; Madelin Claire Crowley; Mia R. Currier; Skylar S. Cushman; Rosemary Olivia DalPra; Noah Domenic Danieli; Lyndsey R. Davis; Otis Davis; Tricia J. Delisle; Violet Mae DePierro; Cameron C. Dickerson; Rowan Kimberly Dumont; Levi Alise Farnham; Mason Kyle Farnham; Nathaniel Sias Flockton; Jayden M. Forbes; Kole M. Fotion; Molly K. Fournier-Stephens; Olyve Ivy Frankenfield; Connor William Fredholm; Nara Talise Gallagher; Jette Lee Gallant; Sam A. Grigsby; Nicholas Stephen Hayes; Ari W. Hilliker; Jack Robert Howard; Alex E. Hultquist; Gavin S. Irish; Charlotte H. Jasmin; Noah Dean Jenks; Morgan L. Jensen; Jason Aaron Kelly; Caleb M. King; Teagan Michael Kovatch; Ethan R. Krom; Lillian Lachle; Mariley A. LaClair; Randy Robert Laird; Nathaniel B. Lambert; Avery Lou Lemire; Michael Landon Luce; Graham Fuller MacLaury; Joshua Marandos; Serenitee Angel Martel; Tristan Maddox Martiere; Madylyn Violet Matheson; Haley Marie Maxham; Maddison Rose McDow; Lyla Sierra Metheny; Owen B. Mock; Maddie Martha Leigh Moore; Flynn Audrey Moreno; Tate D. Mosenthal; Vincent Orion Munn Campusano; Ryan H. Murphy; Logan Myers; Matthew M. Nubin; Jack David Osborn; Barrett Piper Ouelette; Hayden T. Parker; Zachary Michael Parker; Connor U. Peyton; Maura J. Potter-Conrad; Lucas S. Prignano; Jayden M. Radicioni; Cole Tayten Rafus; Maddie Gabriela Ranieri; James M. Regan; Bethsaida R. Remy; Ivy Lynn Rohrbach; Richard R. Rosenbeck IV; Taylor David Sanderson; Lucas Scott Schwarz; Jamie Eero Snyder Hamalainen; Cecilie Eden Solomita; Sadie Lei Soukone; Tyler George Spaulding; Lilli Ann Sweet; Camden Xavier Tassone; Anne M. Tetreault; Kyra Jean Thibodeau; Graham H. Thompson; Thomas E. Thorburn; Harper Virginia Traendly; Isabella Faith Trombley; Aubree E. H. Vail; Hailey Mae Vanasse; Charlie C. Wadsworth; Leon Hunter Webb; Courtney Diane Weller; Adam P. Wheatley; Carter J. Williams; Charlotte G. Winn; Noah B. Wood; Savannah Coralline Worth; Stevie Wyman; Zoe G. Zanleoni; and Adrian Patrick Zimnick.
