DANVERS — 69 students from Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Saugus, and Swampscott were among the 268 who graduated from St. John’s Preparatory School this year. This year, both the senior-class speaker, Graham Kramer, and valedictorian, David Kane, were from Marblehead. 

Kramer spoke at the ceremony about how the Class of 2024 started its high-school journey at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, in “what could have been the most confusing time ever.” Students were only able to see each other face-to-face starting in their sophomore year. 

“Although distance was enforced, somehow we became closer as a class while simultaneously being forced to stay apart,” Kramer said in his speech. “During my first year at SJP, even though I couldn’t see any faces, I saw kindness, I saw nervousness, and I saw commitment all in the eyes of my classmates from showing up to those early Zoom meetings to making sure masks were on straight for games.”

After discussing the “bad” — COVID-19 —  Kramer also talked about the “good,” highlighting the accolades of fellow classmates on the field, court, and stage.

“Throughout our time at the Prep, we have won dozens of state championships, received rewards and accolades for fine arts, dominated in robotics, and so much more,” Kramer said.

He added other achievements, such as students winning a stock-market game, performing a production of “The Addams Family,” and placing second in an intramural basketball league.

Kane, in his speech, urged his fellow graduates to live life more openly, without adhering to an “outline” or “to-do list.” He described how his recent college rejections made him accept that his plans are constantly evolving.

“No outline can predict our lives after high school, no matter what we try or do,” Kane said. “Surprises happen and things change. The more I try to plan, the more disappointed I find myself in surprises.”

Kane is headed to Tufts University and Kramer will go to Boston College. 

Elliott Adams and Alex Bernstein from Marblehead and Christian Kaminski and Christopher Shea from Peabody were also in the top 5% of their senior class in academic performance.

The following students from Lynn, Lynnfield, Marblehead, Nahant, Peabody, Saugus, and Swampscott graduated from St. John’s Prep this year:

LYNN:
Willem A. Hofeldt
Marquese Thomas L’Italien-Avery
Joshua A. Mlongecha
Anthony Joseph Smart

LYNNFIELD:
Cameron Michael Busa
Aidan Joseph Driscoll
Sean David Drzewiczewski
Braedon Thomas Flanagan
David Jin (also from Hefei, China)
Jason Victor McCausland
Mark John McDuffee Jr.
Brendan Andrew Powers
Christian Richard Rosa
William Joseph Vittiglio
MARBLEHEAD:
Elliott Nils Adams
Alexander Gabriel Bernstein
Charles Langdon Brenneman
Matthew Arthur Callahan
Richard Loomis Case III
Jack Robert Doherty
Wells Rockefeller Gillett
Jackson Bailey Ivers
David Andrew Kane
Evan David Karlyn
Andrew Samuel Klein
Graham Patrick Kramer
Alden Robert LeMieux
Graham Eagan MacLean
James Kipp MacLean
Jason Paul Martin
Ryan T. Murphy
Jason Morris Orfaly
John Upton Rice
Ethan James Rule
Andrew Ronald Ruocco
Kurt O’Neill Schillinger
Daniel Timothy Scroope
Gregg Duggan Semprucci
Everest A. Tilkens
Samuel Henry Tucker
Christopher Jian Young
NAHANT:
Will Malachy Hayes
Colin Sullivan Mellen
PEABODY:
Tirenioluwa Michael Asenuga
Thomas J. Desmond
John Thomas Droggitis
Shamus Stephen Flaherty
Nicholas Anthony Gregory
Rani M. Haddad
Nico Ilardi
Joseph Michael Isidro
Christian James Kaminski
Terence Robert Lee
Shane Rose
Zachary Craig Saporito
Christopher Michael Shea
Yianni Nectarios Vamvouklis
SAUGUS:
Sebastiano Carmen DiModica
Anthony Burke Hykel
Anthony J. Sapochetti
Christian Andrew von Jako

SWAMPSCOTT:
Arthur Jacob Audet Jr.
Tory Bryce Fasciano
John Paul Kiely
Alexander Scott Macey
Charles H.R. Ralfs
Matthew James Rockett
Charles Joseph Westwood
Samuel Nicholas Wolke