The Winthrop High School Class of 2018 is set to graduate Friday night in the high school gymnasium at 6 p.m.
This year’s class may be a little bit smaller than previous class sizes, but it has formed a closeknit group, according to class advisor Gina Massa.
“This is a great group,†Massa said. “They support each other in and out of school. It’s like they have their own little community.â€
This year, due to all their fundraising efforts, the entire class went to the prom for free. They held their prom on Tuesday and received their yearbooks and awards last night.
“This class can also be credited with bringing back the high school talent show,†Massa said. “It was a great success.â€
This is the first class to be born in this century – they are the heart of Generation Z or what is also known as the post-Millennials. They grew up in an era defined by the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, Afghanistan and Iraq wars and one when America elected its first black president.
This year’s valedictorian is Yuriy Meinyk, who came to Winthrop just three years ago from the Ukraine and spoke no English, yet he rose above to become the top student in his class.
Others officers graduating include salutatorian Joy Freeman; class president McKayla Norris; vice president Alyssa Ferrara; secretary Deanna Pucillo, treasurer Cailyn Driscoll and videographer Kaitlin Singarella.