HADLEY — Precocious. Spontaneous. Positive and a good outlook on life.

Those were among the words teachers offered Elizabeth Rotunno, valedictorian of the Class of 2026, as she prepared the speech she would deliver at Hopkins Academy’s graduation Friday.

Rotunno said those words help define the 33 members of the class that has now completed a rocky and sometimes winding path.

“Whatever you’re going to do going forward, I urge you to continue being precocious, positive, spontaneous and every other word that describes our class in the moment,” Rotunno said. “We owe it to the teachers who have spent years guiding us and supporting us in school, and the parents who have stood by us every step of the way.”

“Most of all, however, I urge you to take pride in where you are today,” Rotunno said.

Speaking to a gymnasium full of families, Rotunno said there is appreciation for the lively, confident individuals in her class, and that when history teacher Jason Burns, who was also selected to give the address to the graduates, called them precocious, it was an apt description.

“It is clear that our class has strived for excellence since the beginning of our time here,” Rotunno said.

The graduates, part of the 362nd class, entered the gymnasium single file, each holding a gerbera daisy as the class flower.

They were welcomed by Hopkins Principal April Camuso, who said the class was spirited, creative, independent and fun, but she had worried about its members when they came to the school in the midst of the pandemic.

What she found, though, is they were “resilient beyond belief.”

“As true Hopkins students, they grew up and led the way,” Camuso said.

Burns said this marked the fourth time he had delivered remarks at a graduation. He asked the Class of 2026 not to let fear drive life’s decisions and, on the nation’s 250th anniversary, to reflect on the promise of inclusion, even if many believe that ideal remains unfulfilled. But he said history is getting closer to freedom and equality for all people.

Burns added that fear results from binary thinking and said graduates should look beyond the binary, seek nuance, create solutions to problems and become the people who reshape the world.

“You’re a generation that has already demanded accountability, you have questioned the status quo, and looked out for each other in ways previous generations struggled to do,” Burns said.

“Always remember that life is short, and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel with us,” Burns said. “So be quick to love and make haste to be kind, and always focus on the hope of the future rather than the missteps of the past.”

Caprial DiBartolomeo, class president, like Rotunno before her, noted the class motto is “slow down, you’re doin’ fine,” taken from lyrics to Billy Joel’s song “Vienna.”

“I believe slowing down and living in the moment is a difficult idea for most people to conceptualize,” DiBartolomeo said, adding that this allows one to treasure the small moments in life.

“Tonight is not about putting any pressure on yourself and worrying about what comes next, rather I invite you to think about this moment and the memories we are making tonight,” DiBartolomeo said.

Sarim Chaudhry, the class salutatorian, reflected on receiving a “happy Eid” greeting card years ago when he was the only Muslim in class — an early indication of the kindness that would be offered in different forms over the 2,340 days he was part of the school system.

Numerous awards were presented along with trustee scholarships presented by John Earle, vice president of the Hopkins Academy Trustees. Earle observed that one third of the class had GPAs of 3.9 or above, with nine at 4.0 or above. He advised them to “continue to grow, contribute and lead.”

Jeff Mish, who graduated from Hopkins in 1975, received the distinguished alumni award, telling the graduates they are now the greatest class of all time. He is known to the students as Hopkins’ cross country coach.

“You guys are bound together for eternity, with one-time greatest class of all time, Class of 1975,” Mish said. “And if I give you one piece of advice it would be go to your class reunions, every five years have a reunion.”

Mish also called the graduates the “new greatest class of all time,” recalling Kevin Garnett’s famous proclamation after the Boston Celtics won the 2008 NBA championship.

“Anything is possible,” Mish said, then encouraged those in the gym to say it in unison.

Before the ceremony, graduates posed for a class portrait at the front of the school building and for photos with their families.

Members of the Hopkins Academy Class of 2026 include: Deanna M. Aloisi, James Ryan Anderson, Clancey Aurora Arriaga-Escalante, Alayna Grace Bailey, Rochelle Margaret Bouthet, Muhammad Sarim Chaudhry, Sara Marie Curtis, Matthew Ribeiro da Silva, Caprial Angeline Marie DiBartolomeo, Chace Ringler Earle, Lily Gwendalyn Ellia, Natalia Lottie Elson, Madelei Lee Gallo, Aryanna Mirabella Lorettta Hale, Jack Leighton Johnson, Chloe Amelia Kosciusko, John Nguyen Marsh, Lianna Teka McInerney, Tenzin Namdrol, Nicole Lynn Peloquin, Marcia Loraine Pereira Silva, Mason Varick Pieffer, Alison Marie Regish, Elizabeth Viola Rotunno, Jeremiah Adam Scanlon-Dean, Mason Joseph St. Hilaire, Carter Brooks Styspeck, Emerson Campbell Quinn Thorpe, Matthew James Vassallo, Ryan Michael Wade, Harry Lashway West, Megan Piper West, Stephanie Diane West