NORTHAMPTON — Students of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School made their way onto stage for the last act of their high school performance on Thursday — a graduation equally theatrical and ceremonial.

No high school football field, no warehouse looking auditorium. They took the stage of the Academy of Music to dance and sing their way to their diplomas, as they have in the years they spent at the school, and put on a show for the packed house of family members and friends.

During his remarks, Brent Nielsen, who heads the South Hadley-based school, said the procession at his graduation 40 years ago did not include funk.

“My high school band played the pomp and circumstance,” he said. “And we did not walk in dancing and clapping — none of that.”

But, he concluded his address, “As you walk across this stage tonight, beginning the next chapter in the journey, I ask that you use the creative and critical thinking skills fostered by your teachers at PVPA to bring your community, wherever that ends up being, together in harmony.”

Among the 65 graduates, student speaker Danyelle Joujoute will enter a pre-law track studying political science at the University of Vermont this fall. But she won’t stop dancing even after graduation, and will be double majoring in dance.

“Dance is what brought me here to the performing arts school,” she said. “I just fell in love with it and the artistry of it, and I don’t think I’d be as academically great as I am without dance, without my creativity.”

As students lined up out the doors of the Academy before the ceremony began, Joujoute said she was feeling a gamut of emotions — nervous to speak, proud of her classmates, and a bittersweet feeling of moving on.

“I’ve been at this school for six years, so this is like a big moment for a lot of us that have been here since seventh grade,” she said. “It’s not like a normal high school experience where you just started freshman year. I mean, this is a very special school to graduate from, as you can see, all of our creative caps and colors.”

During her speech, Joujoute reminisced about showing up to school always with a new ambition, inspired to be something different based on her favorite TV shows at the moment. But now, she said, “The grown up in question has arrived.”

Like Joujoute, Alicia Ricks has been at the school since seventh grade, and will be going on to double major in psychology and theater.

“My sister graduated in 2022, and this place has been a part of my life for half my life. I wake up and it’s like I go to PVPA,” she said. “Now I’m taking a new chapter and it’s scary but also really exciting, and I’m so ready.”

At the back of the line stading on the sidewalk, Marina Fuller and Veronica Partex waved to congratulatory drivers honking on their way by.

Partex said, “I’m excited to move on to the next chapter,” which will be at UMass Lowell to study forensic science inspired by her daily consumption of true crime shows.

“I’ve always been interested in not dead people, that sounds wrong, but figuring out why stuff happens and the reason behind it is why I’m excited,” she said.

Her PVPA experience prepared her for an eventual career in forensics, she said. “I learned to understand the truth of people — there is always more than what you see,” said Partex.

Fuller interjected and said, “Yeah, like how we hated each other but now, we’re like best friends.”

Fuller will be going to Greenfield Community College to study human services.

As the procession entered the building, Partex clapped and said out loud, “This is the biggest moment of our lives besides college,” as they went to take their seats in the theater, it’s thermostat reading 81 degrees.

All eyes were on the stage to witness several student performances — a couple solos, as well as a choreographed dance with dozens of students.

Songs on the graduation day playlist included “Home,” by Dianna Ross, “I’m Here,” by Cynthia Erivo, and “Cosmic Love,” by Florence + the Machine. The last song, performed by the whole class, was Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes’ “The Time of My Life,” which was their selected senior song.

Nasiya Yates gave a solo and also received a $1,000 scholarship, one of four issued on the night.

Noah Mekhi Vargas received not only a scholarship through the school, but was also visited by Alicia Thomas from Palante in Holyoke, who praised him for his work in “transformative justice,” during the night’s award ceremonies.

The faculty address was given by English teacher Anna Furr, who said, “some of your handwriting is still questionable, but your hearts have always been clear.”

Among the traits she praised students for were jokes during online classes during the pandemic, thoughtful gestures like stopping into her office to say hi, an apology cake for being late to class, and for the students who shared Furr’s obsession with Emily Bronte.

“That is what makes this class special. You notice the small things. You don’t overlook each other, and in a world that sometimes forgets how to pay attention, you build community where attention, kindness, and consistency thrive,” she said in her teary address. “This is not typical, this is extraordinary,” she said.

Michael Strachota, who last had the students in 10th grade for history, was the final speaker before students received their diplomas.

His final reminder was not for the students to look back on their joys, but the things that intimidated them through their high school years.

“I want you to think about something from your time at PVPA that you were intimidated by or you didn’t think you could do,” whether this was an overdue assignment, mental health struggles, or even the one student who had her car stolen and still got to school that day, said Strachota.

“I want you to keep in mind the one thing that seemed impossible, and remember that you accomplished it when you are outside of these walls, when you encounter the next thing that seems insurmountable,” Strochata said.

2025 Graduates

Aaron Stark, Aleena Mar, Alexander Baymon, Alicia Ricks, Ariana Meredith, Arianna Jimenez-Laurent, Ash Piedra, Ava Navi Godbolt, Bram Salus, Cadence Maldonado, Caley Showers, Chevy Carter, Chloe Andle, Ciana Meredith, Clay Kusmierczak, Danyelle Joujoute, Derrik Kendrick, Devin Gosselin, Diego Emilio Miranda-Martiniez, Elijah Nathman, Emma Barkyoumb, Emma Palumbo, Esperanza Rivera, Faith Kellogg, Genevieve White, Grey Pouliot, Heavenly Rain Mendoza, Henry DiNapoli, Jules Brennan, Kami Lafleur, Katiana Foucher, Kelsi-Olivia Narai Cooper-Quest, Keyaria Sledge, Leanessa Enriquez Rodriguez, Legacy Moye, Lucia Dimino, Lucia Humsea Russek-Clegg, Lydia Paquette-Lopez, Marina Fuller, Mason Pelletier-Biggs, Maui Palacio Vicencio, Milo Forrest, Molly Neto, Monty Jones, Nakayla Kelly, Nasiya Yates, Nilo Reilly, Noah Mehki Vargas, Pfeiffer, Premier Love, Reed Shea, Reese Granholm, Rex Zucker, RJ Hoover, Ronni Partex, Sagen Crowell, Sapphire Huey, Shaunttrell Buckhannon, Sierra Allen, Sophie Rios, Warren Holness, Wren Lax-Holmes, Yeanhnixon Garcia, Zoe Lapierre, Zoey Puffer

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at [email protected].