By Lynn Schofer
The Seaford High School commencement for the class of 2026 was held last Friday in Seaford. The class was welcomed by Dr. Susan Harrison, Seaford High School principal, who spoke for the administration in welcoming everyone to the commencement and recognizing local dignitaries in attendance, which included Blades Mayor Nancy McAdams, Seaford Chief of Police Marshall Craft, Seaford Assistant Chief Tyler Justice, Seaford Mayor Matt MacCoy, Seaford Vice Mayor Dan Henderson, Sussex County Councilman Matt Lloyd and Seaford School Board members Dara Laws Savage, Armore Rice Jr., Marcus Wright, Jeff Benson, and Kimberly Hopkins (Board President).
Martine Laguerre, the 2026 Valedictorian of Seaford High School, addresses the class at the commencement. Laguerre will go on to study nursing at Widener University. Photo by Lynn Schofer
Hopkins spoke on behalf of the board and told the class their perseverance, resilience, and determination brought them to the moment that all are celebrating. “Each graduate sitting before us has faced challenges, overcome obstacles, and continued forward to reach this moment,” she said.
Hopkins said it was an honor to speak on behalf of the board and recognize the achievements of the class. Hopkins congratulated the class and said, “Dream big, work hard, lead with integrity, and never forget the power you have to make a difference.”
Seaford School District Superintendent Sharon DeGirolamo addressed the class and said, “Each of you arrived here through years of hard work, challenges, lessons learned, and moments that help shape who you are becoming.
She added that despite all of the technology today, “People still need kindness, encouragement, people still need one another. Your generation has an incredible opportunity to help rebuild connections in a world that often feels divided. We are incredibly proud of you, and we cannot wait to see the difference you will make in the world.”
Seaford class salutatorian Za’ria Camper is the daughter of Veronica Daniels and Gary Camper. Along with having a weighted GPA of 103.18, Camper is a member of Key Club, National Honor Society, wrestling manager, participates in the Old Souls Club, and plans to study neuroscience at the University of San Diego. Camper, in her speech to the class, said the graduation was not an ending but more of a sunset on a shoreline.
“Behind us is everything familiar, ahead of us is an ocean, unmapped, unpredictable, but beautiful,” Camper said. “The things I remember most about high school will never appear on a transcript.”
She spoke of teachers, challenges, responsibilities, and balancing expectations. Camper also spoke of time: “One day we will wish we could step back into this exact moment, just one more time, one more laugh, and one more memory with the people beside us.” Camper’s poignant speech spoke of true friends, memories, impactful educators, but also of the need to move forward. “A blank page is intimidating, but it is also where every great story begins,” said Camper.
Class Valedictorian Martine Laguerre, who has a weighted GPA of 104.55, is a member of student government as the historian and treasurer, team captain of the tennis team, national honor society, concert band, jazz band, choir, drama club, and cheerleading. Laguerre will attend Widener University to study nursing. Laguerre thanked God, “for giving me strength, hope, determination to keep moving forward.”
Laguerre thanked friends, family, and teachers for the many memories, support, encouragement, and love shared. Laguerre said of her journey from Haiti to Seaford and being unable to speak English, “I remember all the teasing that came with me being an immigrant, not being able to defend myself because I was new here. I did not know what to do, I did not know what to say, so I had to stay quiet and had to adjust at the time.”
In her reflections, Laguerre said her painful beginning taught her many lessons of resilience, patience, and strength. “It was a huge challenge for me to navigate a new language and culture while also holding on to the traditions and values that define my heritage,” she said. “I cannot imagine myself not being Haitian.”
The lessons of her culture gave her perseverance, and she said to her class, “I still remember our first year; we grew together and supported one another. Don’t be afraid to be yourself, and always let your light shine. Always surround yourself with people who support you, find people who will fan your flame, and not people who throw water on it.”
Dr. Harrison told the class, “Look around, can you see all the love, joy, and pride that is being given to you today?”
“You have created the foundation for an incredible school, your school, Seaford High School, a high school that people are proud to be part of, a high school that values student contributions, that advocates for others, that pushes boundaries, and forms new ones,” she said. “I am sending 241 pieces of my heart out into this world, and I am super excited to see you fully become who you are.”
Seaford’s Academic Top 10 are: Martine Laguerre, Za’ria Camper, Aleks Anderson, Shea Cooper, Harrison Herrschaft, Perla Ibarra-Romero, Luke Metzner, Kiley Reyes, Destiney Snow, and Neriza Jaimez Vazquez. Class officers are: Andrea Altenor, president; Perla Ibarra-Romero, vice-president; Laura Charles, secretary; Martine Laguerre, treasurer; Scarlet Reyes-Bonilla, historian; Fadoul Pierrilus, member at large; Enoch Duprey, member at large. Class president Andrea Altenor led her classmates in the changing of the tassel and then the mortars were ceremoniously thrown into the air.
