Malden High Class of 2011 Graduates

The 429 members of Malden High School's graduating class gathered on the field at MacDonald Stadium for Sunday's commencement. Families and friends crowded the bleachers to watch as Malden's graduating students received their diplomas, proudly stepping across the stage and into a new phase of their lives. 

Principal Dana Brown, Mayor Richard Howard, State Representative Christopher Fallon, and Superintendent Sidney Smith were all in attendance and each spoke to the class. They commended the graduates for their achievements, wished them well, and gave them advice.  

Superintendent Smith implored the students to remember their roots and to maintain possession of their admirable traits.

“Do not ever forget that you came from Malden and that you came from a place that valued you—that valued diversity, hard-work, thoughtfulness, and caring,” he said.  “Don’t ever let go of those qualities because when you walk out of here you’re not necessarily going to run into people with those qualities everyday, so you’ll need to carry those qualities.”

Students Reflect on High School Years

Class president Kerri Shuman echoed Superintendent Smith’s sentiment that a Malden High School graduate is elite, comparing the students’ experiences to those of Marines: They ate military rations (cafeteria food), dealt with hard-nosed drill sergeants (teachers), and waged battle (against exams).

“We are the few, we are the proud, we are the Malden High School graduating class of 2011,” said Shuman.

Class orator Amanda LaFauci reflected on her past at Malden High and on her future, pondering how to transport old memories while acquiring new ones.

“Our life from here isn’t going to consist only of the good things we choose to take with us,” LaFucci said. “It’s like when you go on vacation and it’s really hard to fit all of your belongings back into your suitcases because you bought so many souvenirs and t-shirts. You’ll meet new friends, have new memories and experiences.”

Salutatorian Jonathan Sit began his speech with a rhyming rundown of the previous four years:

“I'm gonna take you down memory lane, so that when you become CEO’s at the top of the food chain, you don’t forget the place from where you came,” he said.

Sit finished with heartfelt thanks to his family, friends, teachers, and Principal Brown.  He gave a final thanks to Superintendent Smith “for all the snow days.”

Looking Toward the Future

Valedictorian Alison Nguyen spoke last and discussed her definition of success. 

“I thought success meant good grades, doing well in school, having my name plastered on the Blue and Gold (school paper), standing up here,” Nguyen said, but “Success is what you make of it. Success is your personal story.”

“See for yourself what you have already done for yourself,” she continued. “Be selfish, be proud.”

Shuman, LaFauci, Sit, and Nguyen represent only a small portion of a successful graduating class. Members of the Malden High Class of 2011 will be attending many of the nation's best colleges, including Harvard, Brown, Stanford, and MIT.

Not every student chooses to attended college. Some will join the workforce or the military. Regardless of the paths they choose, Smith told parents to have faith:

“Be confident that your child is going to do quite well because, believe me, if they graduated from the Malden Public Schools, they’ve been well prepared.”