ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Maria Reyes receives her diploma at the Lynn English graduation.
BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — As a West Peabody kid, Chris Collins admired Anthony Anderson and other Lynn athletes.
The veteran sportscaster urged English High School’s Class of 2016 Friday to apply lessons of success to their lives.
“You should be so proud to be a graduate of English High School and to grow up in Lynn,” he said.
Collins tossed his commencement speech and brushed over his career, including his job at the University of Massachusetts-Boston, to urge graduates to find out what motivates them.
“Passion is so relevant to everything you do in life,” he said. “It is your job to create who you want to be and what you want to be.”
His remarks capped off a graduation marked by cheers, songs, tears and praise for fellow graduates from speakers, including valedictorian Haylee Denham. She congratulated classmates for surviving 17,280 hours of hard work.
Denham let her emotions flow during her speech when she described her mother, Beth Murphy, and her late friend and English Class of 2015 graduate Ashley Frawley.
“She had an exceptional way of making my life a lot brighter,” Denham said, describing Frawley.
Friday was also emotional for Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy who watched daughter, Mia, graduate and address the graduating class.
“I’ve known some of you since kindergarten and met others along the way,” Kennedy said. “I am proud of you and the city is proud of you.”
Senior class president Jonathan De Azevedo pointed out the enthusiasm shown by classmates who participated in sports, clubs, cheerleading and other activities.
He said the Class of 2016 received a combined total of more than $1 million in college scholarships. De Azevedo praised the immigrant backgrounds defining English’ broad diversity.
“Sheer greatness is seated in front of me,” he said. “I love this school and I love what happens here. We are ready to take over the world with positive change.”
School Superintendent Catherine Latham told the graduates that attending English with students from many different backgrounds taught them respect and cooperation.
“People want you for your talent, ability and willingness to get along with all people,” she said.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at tjourgensen@itemlive.com