WHITE RIVER JUNCTION — After spending much of their high school experience navigating the trials and tribulations of hybrid learning, mask-wearing and social distancing, members of the Hartford Class of 2023 were grateful to end their final year on a note of “almost normalcy.”

Family and friends gathered in the Hartford High School gymnasium Friday evening to celebrate the graduation of the school’s 124 seniors.

The threat of rain resulted in the school moving the commencement ceremony indoors, instead of on the football field as was previously planned. Because of the gymnasium’s limited capacity, some guests watched a livestream of the commencement in the school auditorium.

But as Superintendent Tom DeBalsi said in his opening remarks, these graduates, as well as the Hartford community, have learned how to manage changes.

This school year marked the first return to “almost normal” since spring 2020, where students could learn, participate in activities and socialize without COVID safety precautions in place, DeBalsi noted.

“As hard as it was when we were in the middle of it, we made it through,” DeBalsi said. “These are memories we will carry. We will draw on them when things get tough in our lives, and we will learn from them when we face hardships again.”

Students who spoke at the commencement each conveyed a similar message about the importance of community.

Class Salutatorian Bebhinn Knudsen prepared her speech by interviewing her classmates about their biggest mistakes and their most joyous moments in high school. Her experiment, she said, helped illustrate the connections and shared feelings between the members of her cohort.

“We have all gathered here today because we have all accomplished the same incredible thing,” Knudsen said. “The biggest mistake we can make tonight is not appreciating this moment together.”

Class Valedictorian Cecilia Wendling said the connections she forged with classmates during her senior year helped her grow an appreciation not only for her cohort but for living in a small, tightly knit community like Hartford.

“I realized that while my small town could feel suffocating at times, it could also be a catalyst for making connections, just as the small community we formed on (our senior) trip to Morocco was for me,” Wendling said.

Class President Ava Thorburn read an original poem titled “Graduation,” which carried a cautionary message about “not wishing time away” and appreciating the present.

“When I was 13, I wished to be 18 to finally be an adult, and again my mom told me don’t wish time away,” Thorburn’s poem read. “Now at 18, I wish to be 13, wishing to be 10, wishing to be 5, remembering what my mom said, ‘Don’t wish time away.’ ”

After her speech, Thorburn handed a ceremonial key, representing the key to the school, to the 2024 Class President Zachary Johnson.

The ceremony included two performances from the Hartford High School Chamber Choir, who sang an a cappella rendition of the National Anthem and, later in the ceremony, the song, “That Which Remains” by Andrea Ramsey.

The Hartford High School Band was scheduled to perform “Halcyon Hearts” by Katahj Copley, but had to cancel because of the venue change.

Hartford High SchoolClass of 2023

Sawyer Albrecht; Alan Aldrich, Norwich University; Ines Sofia Asis; Jersey Ballou; Mariah Barrett; Joseph Barwood, Bryant University; Daisy Bee; Emma Beggs, Colby Sawyer College; Joseph Beggs, American International College; Ceaira Bellavance; Laura Belmont, Vermont State University; Christopher Bennett; Trenton Bird, employment; Liam Blish, Valencia; Bella Boeri, Chapman University; Savanna Bragg, employment; Linda Breault; Zebulon Broder; Gavin Brothers; Sheilasia Brown, Castleton University; Brock Buccellato; Rylee Burnham, Saint Michael’s College; William Burns, ELITE Lineman Training; Jacob Carbino; John Cassell, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Rocco Clough, University of New Hampshire; Arlene Collado; Hunter Colson; Larissa Davis; Austin DeFelice, travel hockey; Jacob DeFelice, Vermont State University; Nicholas Delucrezia; Derik Dickinson; Brody Dillon; Jonathan Dombroski; employment; Maggie Dumont, Colby Sawyer College; Nedra Dwinell; Gavin Farnsworth; Isabelle Fernandes; Parrish Gelhar-Pacht; Blaine Gour; Marina Grassi, Lasell University; Austin Guilbault; Silvia Hale, Quinnipiac University; Ahadi Hall; Ashlynn Hamel; Jolie Hawk; Thomas Hazen; Arianna Heijn; Jacob Helms, Roger Williams University; Montana Hood; Daniel Hunter; Ethan Jacobson-Goodhue; Nicholas Jasmin; Gwendolyn Jenkins; Shane Jenks; Alexander Johnson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute; Cassandra Johnson, Community College of Vermont; Sean Kelliher; John King; Bebhinn Knudsen, Yale University; Haley LaBelle; Rilyn Lafoe; Jaklyn LaFountaine; Megan Lang, Lehigh University; Nicholas LaRose; Cole Lucas, Navy; Nora Lyons, UNC at Chapel Hill; Meg MacLaury, Carleton University; Keyden Maddox; Mallory Martel; Nolan McMahon, Regis College; Emmett McReynolds; Daniel Mello; Nolan Morse; Ava Morton; Avery Mosenthal, University of Vermont; Ian Murphy, employment; Izabella Murphy; Christopher Newcity; Sophia Ofstad; Alexandra Owens, University of Toronto; Nora Peeler; Anthem Philip, Simmons University; Alice Piper, University of Vermont; Gavin Provost; Fritz Pungot, Husson University; Rylee Radicioni, Air National Guard; Noelle Rebusmen, Champlain College; Benjamin Reed, Vermont State University; Drake Richardson; Lane Roberts, Keene Beauty Academy; Justin Robinson; Hailey Rogers; Gabriel Ross; Rory Salzano, University of Vermont; Blake Sarazin; Michael Sarlo; Isis Savage; Nakyah-Rae Savage; Kaylee Scott, Saint Michael’s College; Paul Shiffer; Jaelyn Smith, New Hampshire Technical Institute; Jaleal Smith; Alixzander Speckert-Ring; Myah Stevens; Sydney Stillman, University of Vermont; Kati Sykes; Ava Thorburn, Worcester State University; Connor Tierney; Sophia Trombley; Nicki Tsouknakis, UMass Amherst; Cameron Tucker; Kyel Tuckerman; Finn Walther; Eli Weintraub; Cecilia Wendling; Skye Whitcomb; Austin Willey; Everett Winslow; Jennafer Worth; and Gael Wrembel.