Celebrating the ‘qualities, quirks, and details’ of Belmont High School graduates

The Belmont High School Graduation program contained a welcome surprise: After the valedictorian address, graduate Wyatt Kratzer would be performing “Time” by Pink Floyd.

Kratzer, known for playing his guitar in the hallway, is the reason many other Belmont students plan on taking Introduction to Guitar next year. (“You have to come back and teach it,” said Lauren Fountain, the school’s music teacher.)

“He is probably one of the coolest freaking brothers in the world,” said sister Stella Kratzer. “He just really has incredible talent with anything that he puts his mind to. And I love him. And I wish him the best for his future. And for today.”

The graduates, girls in white gowns, boys in red, gathered on Friday to celebrate their achievements as they prepared for their next steps in life.

“I think I’m quite ready for another adventure,” read Samantha Johnson’s mortarboard, quoting from J.R.R Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.

For her, the next adventure lies at Marist University in New York, where she plans on studying political science and global studies in hopes of becoming a political analyst in New York City.

Principal Matthew Finch highlighted the different-yet-shared traits among the students, asking them to stand when categories that applied to them were announced. Among the recognized were artists, athletes, club members, working students, college credit earners and those going to the military, the workforce, or college.

“Our friends and families will watch us walk across the stage, but few have seen the full picture of the effort that it took to get here,” said Valedictorian Anna McDonald in her address to the crowd.

As the school’s music teacher, Fountain originally met many of the Belmont High School Class of 2026 in fifth grade. In her keynote address, she highlighted each of the 65 graduates, pointing out their “qualities, quirks, and details” one by one.

“As you enter this next chapter of freedom, responsibility, and opportunity, do whatever you can to protect the things that make you uniquely you,” she said.

For McDonald, the thing that makes her unique is her four Scottish Highland cows, one of whom, Poppy, has placed fourth at the Deerfield Fair. Graduating with a Diploma of Distinction, her community service project involved making a child’s wish of having Scottish Highland cows come true in connection with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

McDonald will be attending the University of Connecticut in the fall, studying engineering and participating in the school’s dressage program.

“Continue filling your life with blue ribbons,” she said.