Gloucester High School held its mid-year commencement program last Wednesday, Feb. 8, for 14 students in the GHS Auditorium.

“Tonight is a big deal,” said GHS principal Dr. Stefan Mygas.“This is their moment,” he said about the graduates. “They’ve worked for it.”

“None of you got here by yourself,” Mygas said as he addressed the graduates. As part of that sentiment, he encouraged them to “pay it forward.”

“There are going to be young people who need you,” said Mygas. He also told them that their community will need them as well.

“This evening is a moment of celebration,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Walter R. Clemons.

After participating in commencement exercises for 27 years, Clemons told the graduates that “it never gets old.“It’s still an occasion I remember very fondly,” he said, reminiscing about his own high school graduation that happened 40 years ago. “It is special … It is something no one can ever take away from you.”

Clemons told the graduates to not...