The Westfield Technical Academy Aviation Maintenance Technology Class of 2020. (HOPE E. TREMBLAY/THE WESTFIELD NEWS)
WESTFIELD – As planes flew overhead July 15, the 11 members of the Westfield Technical Academy Aviation Maintenance Technology Class of 2020 were honored at Hanger Two at Westfield Barnes Regional Airport.
The students are not only graduating from high school, they all received certification from the Federal Aviation Administration, an extraordinary accomplishment under normal circumstances, but particularly during the coronavirus pandemic.
The 2020 Aviation Maintenance Technology graduates are Lidia Bazukin, Matthew Beattie, Nathan Black, Nealon Derosier, Connor Medeiros, Joseph Ruffo, Holden Schopp, Vladislav Seleznev, Zachary Smith, Jamie Toomey and Faith Young.
Instructor Galen Wilson told the socially distanced audience that when schools were closed for in-person instruction in mid-March, Principal Joseph Langone and Superintendent Stefan Czaporowski began advocating for the class to return to school to finish the hours required for the FAA certification.
Their hard work paid off and the class received an exemption and returned to the classroom June 23 to complete the hours necessary to become certified.
Wilson said this was the only class in all of New England to achieve certification this year.
“I want you all to know how proud we are of you,” Langone said, noting that the students not only rose to the occasion academically during extreme circumstances, but all 11 were “committed to completing what you started.”
Graduate Faith Young spoke on behalf of the class and recalled the feelings she had on March 13 when they left the school building for the final time. She said she lamented the loss of events such as the prom and senior week, but “nothing hurt me more than the possibility of losing three-and-a-half years of work.”
Young said her class rallied and remained strong.
“If you know us, you know we don’t go down without a fight,” Young said.
Wilson spoke about each graduate Wednesday, as well as the class as a whole.
“In front of you today is a group of dedicated students,” Wilson said.
Wilson ended his remarks with advice he has given the class throughout their years together: “When doing a task, pay attention to the little things. Ensure you do the little things right because if you don’t do the little things right, people won’t trust you with the big things.”
Mayor Donald F. Humason Jr. awarded shop certificates to each student and told the class he and the city are proud of them.
“We are so proud of all the graduates of all the schools, but this group has a special place,” Humason said.
Humason told the class that for thousands of years people have stood on the ground looking up toward the sky. With work and creativity, people took to that sky. “You are continuing that tradition,” he said.
The Aviation class will receive their diplomas with the rest of the Westfield Technical Academy Class of 2020 at 7 p.m. July 30 outdoors at Westfield High School.
