Simsbury High honors Class of 2026 with student-led speeches, music and diploma recognition

Simsbury High School held a commencement ceremony for the Class of 2026 that featured student speeches, musical performances and the formal recognition of diplomas. Class president Vanayak Rajesh opened with thanks to advisers and student council members and urged classmates to "bet on yourself," telling graduates that even classes that felt pointless taught skills they could use later in life. Rajesh quoted a line from Avatar the Last Airbender: "Sometimes life is like this dark tunnel. You can't always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but if you just keep moving, you will come to a better place," and encouraged graduates to keep moving forward.

Student speaker Ryan Bates used a "two truths and a lie" framing to urge classmates not to let fear dictate their choices, recounting that he quit soccer because he was afraid of not making varsity and saying the day marks a moment to leave "could haves" behind. Faculty remarks included a math teacher's talk on the value of making mistakes and resisting overreliance on AI, urging graduates to learn from real experience.

Marissa Capernetti delivered a personal account of surviving osteosarcoma as a teenager, describing eight months of chemotherapy and nine months as an inpatient. "How can I make today great?" she said, describing how small acts of gratitude and presence shaped her recovery and urging classmates to be kind and present.

The administration certified that students had met academic requirements for graduation and presented diplomas for public recognition. The program included musical performances by the graduating band, which named student musicians and received applause, and closed with the traditional cap toss as families were asked to meet graduates outside.

The ceremony celebrated athletic and extracurricular highlights from the year — including state championships in boys soccer and girls lacrosse and a Halo Award for best contemporary musical — while speakers repeatedly returned to the theme of "small wins" and momentum as the foundation for future accomplishment. The event also included acknowledgments of retiring staff, including language and special education teachers and maintenance and tech crews who supported the graduation.

The ceremony concluded with instructions for families and the celebratory cap toss. A separate appeal for donations to the town's community media organization aired following the program.