Fredonia High School Celebrates New Graduates at 95th Commencement

Fredonia High School's newest graduates were encouraged to "strive to be different" as they enter the next chapter of their lives. Those were among the pieces of advice that Principal Ron Tonelli shared with the Class of 2026 during the school's 95th Commencement on Sunday at SUNY Fredonia. Tonelli reminded the graduates that their future is not a competition with a fellow graduate, saying that what matters -- among other things -- is making their community better...

Ron Tonelli: what matters

This year's valedictorian was Ray Dai. He likened the graduates' last four years of education to rehearsing for a musical, and that commencement was their "opening night"...

Ray Dai: taking the stage for the very first time

The keynote speaker was Matt Gould, who graduated from Fredonia in 1991 and currently serves as Director of MSG's television broadcasts for the Buffalo Sabres and owner/operator of Lyrical Pipe Creative. He encouraged the class to ask "Why?"...

Matt Gould: embrace all that comes with it

Sunday's ceremony at King Concert Hall also included the presentation of five scholarships: 

• Lauren Arch Memorial Scholarship: Charlotte Caserta
• Ricky Burgstrom Music and Bowling Scholarship: Gracia Domenico, Jackson Gollnitz, Allison Hellwig, Sydnee Hoffman
• Gabriel "Bart" Carruth Memorial Scholarship: Brady Crawford
• Love More Foundation Memorial Scholarship: Molly Tuccio
• Roger Pacos Memorial Scholarship: Olivia Balch, Gianna Novelli, Alexandria Ferguson, Cooper Stenger

Click here to watch the full commencement ceremony.

Images and audio from Fredonia Access