As Warwick Area Career and Technical Center principal Tim Kane said, those in attendance at Toll Gate High School’s auditorium last Friday were gathered to celebrate one thing — perseverance.

Seniors at both Pilgrim and Toll Gate High School who successfully completed summer school officially received their high school diplomas Friday morning in a ceremony attended by friends, family, teachers, administrators, the mayor and three School Committee members.

Kane, who was the principal overseeing Warwick’s summer school program, said the accomplishments of the summer school graduates came with significant adversity and growth.

“Not everybody learns at the same rate; not everybody gets the piece of paper at the same rate,” Kane said. “It’s important to recognize students who could have been at the beach this summer, could have been hanging out, could have given up.”

Assistant Superintendent William McCaffrey said that the students’ ability to complete summer school in their senior year showed good things about each graduate.

“Your presence here today is a testament to your resilience,” McCaffrey said. “Returning to summer school is more than just about completing assignments or passing exams. It’s about character — showing up when it’s hard, staying committed when it’s tough, and believing in your ability to succeed even when there are obstacles in the way. These qualities will serve you well.”

McCaffrey urged graduates to continue to embrace challenges as they move forward in life, and to enjoy the last week of the summer before figuring out what they’re going to do next.

In total, nine Pilgrim students and 14 Toll Gate students graduated. Eleven of those students — five from Pilgrim and six from Toll Gate — were in attendance to walk across the stage, shake hands with their respective principal and end their high school journey by receiving their diploma in person.

Pilgrim principal Toby Gibbons said that the character of the students and the summer work they completed would pay dividends as they prepare for the rest of their life.

“Although your path through the district wasn’t like your peers, you have gained experience most of them will never have… You fought significant obstacles to get here,” Gibbons said. “You are strong, smart and show great determination, while others in your shoes would quit.”

Gibbons said that by not dwelling on the past and focusing on their work throughout summer school, graduates are now able to start the next chapter of their lives positively.

The students resisting the temptation to give up on their education and on finishing what they started, Toll Gate principal Candace Caluori said, made her the “proudest principal in Warwick.”

“No one will ever be able to take your high school diploma away,” Caluori said. “You’ve earned that, in some cases, more diligently and harder than anyone else.”

Graduates

Pilgrim

Julian Ames

Dorena Ayres

Madison Carvalho

Jaden Childs

Joshua Czerwien

Noah Neris

Caiden Ouellette

Nathaniel Rodrigues

Madison Volpe

Toll Gate

Haley Cabral

Carmine Calenda

Jonah Davenport

Niko Gallucci

Jaryd Keener

Kimberly Kellerman

Andrii Marunich

Nataliia Marunich

Michael Mazzatto

Alexzayvier Morales

Jason Stockard

Amorah Thompson

Joshua Thompson

Jonah Townsend