Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Mortar boards launched by newly minted Bishop Guertin graduates spin skyward during Sunday evening's commencement. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

NASHUA – Class of 2021 graduate Aiden Szewczyk was presented the coveted Larry Elliott Loyalty Award and the theology award, while fellow grads John Sullivan and Lindsay Hult were selected recipients of the Thomas Sullivan Memorial Scholar-Athlete awards and Zachary Rioux took home the All-Guertin award, highlighting the independent Catholic high school’s 55th commencement Sunday evening.

The All-Guertin award, presented in memory of Joseph P. Lebrecque, is the most prestigious of the awards presented each year. It comes with a scholarship named for Stephen J. Boland, the Nashua native and 1986 Guertin graduate who was among those killed in the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland, in 1988.

Stephen’s mother, Jane Boland, as she has done from the start, sometimes accompanied by family members, presented the award to Rioux.

Meanwhile, valedictorian Aya Eyceoz and salutatorian Geoffrey Zhang, in addition to delivering their addresses to their fellow grads, were also presented with awards. Eyceoz was the recipient of the mathematics and computer science awards, while Zhang received the physical science award.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Bishop Guertin valedictorian Aya Eyceoz shares a lighter moment with her fellow 2021 graduates during her valedictory address Sunday evening. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

Eyceoz, whose address followed the presentation of diplomas and led into the fireworks display that capped the evening, carried a huge bag of thank-yous to the microphone and reached into it right away.

Beginning by thanking her family, close friends and “my friends who are so close that I call you family” for “wholeheartedly” supporting her “academically, socially, and emotionally” during her four years at Guertin, Eyceoz expressed gratitude to the BG Brothers and staff, principal Jason Strniste for “welcoming the Student Committee of Racial Equality with open arms and working day and night for this school.”

Eyceoz thanked Chris Howe for “always keeping a light and funny mood in the classroom,” and likewise extended her appreciation, with a smile, to Bruce Miller “for teaching us physics” and William Boucher for “teaching us how to like physics.”

Eyceoz, who is headed to Princeton University, is the daughter of Tugay and Zeina Eyceoz of Nashua. Her brother, Mustafa, was salutatorian of the BG Class of 2018.

Eyceoz recalled seeing the inside of the school for the first time as one of dozens of apprehensive eighth graders – and being handed a pool “noodle” that turned out to be an ice-breaker among her fellow soon-to-be Guertin freshmen.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Bishop Guertin principal Jason Strniste applauds as Jane Boland presents the All Guertin award, which comes with a scholarship in her late son's name, to Zachary Rioux at Sunday evening's commencement. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

She went on to encourage her classmates to take risks – and to listen to one another.

“Life is not safe, nor is it meant to be. In fact, life derives its meaning from risks,” Eyceoz told her fellow grads.

“Think about all the people and activities that make you happy. In order to form that relationship, or start that hobby, you had to take a risk, no matter how small,” she said, reminding the 195 members of the Class of 2021 that “we are about to be faced with countless obstacles, challenges, and decisions.”

But it’s also important to remember, Eyceoz added, that “we have the support, education, and resolution to succeed, and we must use our abilities to raise each other up and face our future obstacles together with the tools of dialogue and communication.”

Zhang, who will enter the Georgia Institute of Technology later this year, cited in his address the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on his Class of 2021, and praised his fellow grads for soldiering on through a most difficult time.

Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP Bishop Guertin seniors embrace each other after the switching of the tassles officially made them graduates at Sunday evening's commencement. (Telegraph photo by DEAN SHALHOUP)

“We did not let it prevent us from excelling during our senior year,” Zhang said, adding that members of the class “have become more resilient and perseverent together.”

Zhang, a Nashua resident and the son of Yuhong Gu and Zhihai Zhang, said the timing of the virus, and its residual pandemic, presented “a significant test for us as a grade, and we can confidently say that we stepped up to the challenge and overcame it.”

Strniste, the principal, challenged the Class of 2021 with a simple question: “If not you, who?”

“Throughout the year, I’ve had that saying, COVID Stops with a Cardinal,” Strniste said.

“Ultimately, it’s a statement of optimism about the power of individuals who make up our community. If COVID can stop with a Cardinal, what can start (with a Cardinal)?

“Maybe compassion starts with a Cardinal, maybe critical thinking starts with a Cardinal, maybe personal responsibility starts with a Cardinal, maybe a scientific breakthrough starts with a Cardinal, maybe justice, freedom, liberty, or opportunity for others starts with a Cardinal, maybe the solution to any challenge we face starts with a Cardinal,” Strniste continued.

“You’ll never know if you don’t start to see yourself as the subject and verb of the sentence, not the direct object: ‘If not you, then who?'”

Dean Shalhoup may be reached at 594-1256 or dshalhoup@nashuatelegraph.com.