HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Officials recognized more than 30 Hanscom Middle School eighth-grade students during a graduation ceremony in the school’s multipurpose space June 12.
HMS faculty, school district officials, family and friends attended to celebrate the milestone.
“This is a small cohort of students, one of the smallest cohorts, but even though they don’t have the numbers, they are mighty in their actions and deeds,” said Erich Ledebuhr, HMS principal. “They pushed [academically] inside the classroom, focusing on their academic growth.”
Prior to the presentation of diplomas, four students received awards for academic achievement:
Lincoln Educator’s Association Award: Adrianna Dolce and Shea Nadler
Lincoln Historical Society Award: Leah Sylvain
Heddie Kent Literature Award: Aidan McDonald
Ledebuhr highlighted the overall successes of the graduating class throughout the year.
“The students created public service announcements for our school about topics ranging from pollution to recycling,” he said. “They had the opportunity to learn and speak another language, created civic projects, performed on this stage, and competed on the field.”
Col. Taona Enriquez, Hanscom AFB installation commander, also recognized the graduating students during her remarks.
“I was told their attendance was great – well done – because rule number one is you have to show up,” she said. “We have a core value in the Air Force called ‘excellence in all you do,’ and you exemplify that with your dedication to learning.”
Enriquez also emphasized the unique community at Hanscom AFB by naming the service branches and asking students to stand when their affiliated branch was called. All branches were represented.
Ledebuhr presented Maddie Humphrey, Lukas Martinkus and McKenna Oliver longevity awards. Humphrey and Martinkus have been at Hanscom AFB since preschool and Oliver since kindergarten.
The Lincoln, Massachusetts Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Parry Graham, and Matina Madrick, Lincoln School Committee chair, presented the graduates with their diplomas.
Of the 32 graduating students, 19 will attend Bedford High School in Bedford, Mass., six will attend Shawsheen Valley Technical High School in Billerica, Mass., and one will attend Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School in Sudbury, Mass., in the fall. Six students will leave Hanscom AFB with their families to move to other locations this summer.