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News

Class of 2025: Hawks Prepare to Leave the Nest

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By Avery Bridson, ‘27, and Ryan Costello, ‘27

Staff Writers

As graduation approaches, it is time to celebrate the achievements and future plans of the 169 members of the Class of 2025. Seniors who responded to a survey from The Hawk or who posted on the hhs25.decisions Instagram account by our publication deadline shared many different paths, each reflecting their hard work, goals, and aspirations for the next chapter of their lives.

Humanities 

Aevyn Brink will study history at Simmons University, while Eli McCombs plans to pursue a humanities degree at Brandeis University. Amelia Begin will study Communications at Quinnipiac University, while Ava Curran will study film and communications at Bridgewater State. Madi Pongratz will attend the University of Rhode Island for sports media and communications. Courtney McGinnis will study political science at the University of South Carolina. 

Several seniors will pursue their creative passions. Dante Heffron will major in music composition at the University of South Carolina, while Paige Cleary will study art history at the Mass. College of Art and Design.

Among our future teachers will be Nina Toglia, heading to Merrimack College, and Lexi McMullen, attending Florida Atlantic University; both will pursue degrees in elementary education. Natalie Alba will major in speech pathology and minor in elementary education at Bridgewater State, while Olivia Graham studies speech pathology at the University of Tennessee Knoxville. 

Law & Enforcement

Alexandra Marinis will major in criminology at Endicott College, and Callie Baldwin will take the same path at Virginia Tech. Casey LaBelle will attend Emmanuel College, choosing between criminal justice and law, while Kenzie Jacobs has committed to studying law and justice at the University of Kentucky. Riley McCormick plans to pursue English and pre-law at Fairfield University. Matthew Puglia will pursue criminal justice in college, as will James Bison, who heads to Merrimack College, and Elizabeth Curtis, who will study at Salve Regina University while participating in the Army ROTC. 

Kaylee Lupien will major in forensic science and minor in criminal justice at the University of New Hampshire, while Noey Giardina studies the field at the University of New Haven. Matt Lombardi heads to Quincy College with plans to join the Boston Police Department, and Athena Laskos will combine marketing with pre-law at Suffolk University. Gavin Hardy will study emergency management at Mass. Maritime.

Life Sciences & Health Care

For nursing, Abby Flynn heads to Xavier University; Addison Baldinelli and Ellie Handrahan will go to Providence College; Brenna Scott will attend Trevecca Nazarene University; Cam Bradford will go to Westfield State University (where she will play basketball); Emma Lyons heads to Saint Anselm College; Lily Chiappini goes to the University of Rhode Island; Marisa Anderson heads to UConn; and Sam Baker studies at Sacred Heart; and Sam Ferguson goes to UMass Amherst. Ella Brinkman plans to study nursing at Quinnipiac University with plans to become a nurse in Boston and eventually a girls’ lacrosse coach. 

Jentina Nguyen will focus on radiology at the Mass. College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Melike Corbaci will major in health sciences at UMass Boston and Alana Coutts will study Allied Health Sciences at UConn. Pursuing psychology will be Brooklyn Scott at Trevecca Nazarene University, Caroline Straut at Providence College, Izzy Latessa at UMass Amherst, Kelly Gould at the University of South Carolina (with the goal of becoming a children’s therapist) and Rachael Foley at Virginia Tech. Ruby Telepak will study psychology and pre-law at Roanoke College, while also competing on the cycling team. Fiona Flaherty will major in communication disorders at the University of Rhode Island, and Riley Clarke will study athletic training at the University of Tampa.

On the life-science front, Amelia Rea will study biology at Endicott College, while Maddie Monahan pursues the field at UMass Amherst and Kasper Borkiewicz goes to the Univ. of Tampa. Abby Taylor will major in kinesiology at the University of Rhode Island. Megan Nguyen plans to study microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics at UCLA. Nicole Rathgeber will enter Providence College with a biochemistry pre-med course.

STEM

For computer science, Adam Polk will attend UMass Boston, Dylan Clark heads to UMass Amherst, Jeremy Laprise will attend the Univ of Vermont, and Max Aikins will study at UMass Lowell, where he’ll also focus on software development. Will Hines will combine computer science with football at Williams College, while Cullen Chadwick attends Villanova for computer engineering.

To study biomedical engineering, Julia Fitzgerald will attend Cornell University, John Keegan will attend the University of Vermont, and Brian Tawa will head to UMass Amherst. Matt Jenkins will pursue mechanical engineering at the University of South Carolina’s College of Engineering. Grace Witt will study both environmental science and engineering at Wheaton College, aiming to advance conservation efforts while Adrian Nickerson explores marine science and environmental safety at Mass. Maritime Academy. Juneau Mofford will pursue marine science and play rugby at the University of Delaware. 

Joseph Signor will major in aeronautical science for flight at the Florida Institute of Technology. Ryan Shea will study architecture and design at Wentworth Institute of Technology. Those with a passion for numbers, like Thomas Perkins at UMass Amherst and Tyler Neville at Ithaca College, will major in mathematics.

Trades 

Ethan Darcy will study a trade, while Robert Antonetti, Colby Kehoe and Scott Theriault plan to become electricians. Cameron Fish will pursue HVAC, while April Hamilton attends mortuary school. Tyler Bean plans to join the sprinker fitters union and maybe try college in the spring. Michael Sawaya will study automotive technology at the Benjamin Franklin Institute of Technology, with hopes of running the family’s gas station and auto repair business. Marie Fortier will attend the Collectiv Academy Braintree for hairdressing.

Military 

Cam Scott plans to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps, while David Bonilla and Stuart Moore are set to become U.S. Army Rangers. 

Business

Business majors include Ansh Patel at Northeastern University; Ava Puzzangara at Southern New Hampshire University, where she will also be playing lacrosse; Gannon Doherty at the University of Alabama; Josie McCarthy and Olivia Henry at the University of Tennessee; Katie Little at the University of New Hampshire; Lochlan Garvey at Mount Saint Mary’s University, where he will also be playing rugby; Olivia Froelich at the University of Rhode Island and Ana Alcantara at Bryant University. Martina Kelly will pursue the major at Endicott College, along with Ben Johnson, who will also be playing football. Lukas Maynardand Love’on Flowers will study business and play football at Curry College, while Aiden Boutin pursues business and plays rugby at Fairfield. 

Students majoring in finance include Ben Freedman at Saint Michael’s College, where he will also be playing baseball; Brennan McCarthy at Saint Anselm; Camryn Kemp at the University of South Carolina; Charlie Mitchelson at the University of Tennessee; Connor Godfrey at Fairfield University; Connor McCue at the University of Central Florida; James Bristol and Sophia Mendoza at UMass Amherst; Max Merra at Bentley University; Tyler Vincent at Providence College; Ryan Burke at Virginia Tech; Cooper Horner at the University of Pittsburgh; and Keira Long at Miami University.

Grace Monahan, Cole Sullivan, Macklin Ball and Maddie Curtis will head to UMass Amherst to study marketing or management. For marketing, Keira Greeley will attend Simmons University, while Lacey Manolakis heads to Quinnipiac University; Luke Fanning heads to Stonehill College; Owen Murphy attends Lynn University and Sophie Schiller heads to the University of Connecticut. Noah DeMeule will study sports management at Nichols College.

Economics majors include Annie Dougherty and Jenny Dougherty at UMass Amherst; Matthew Donnelly at UMass Amherst; and Matt Bellerby at the University of Richmond, where he will also play rugby. Those pursuing accounting include Aiden Richards and Analesa O’Grady at Indiana University; Catherine Reinhart at the University of South Carolina; and Hannah Geary at Penn State. 

Max Goitia will study environmental and natural resource economics at UMass Amherst, while Luke Sheridan studies business communication at the University of South Florida. Andrew Long heads to Roger Williams University to study construction management, which Erin Joyce will pursue at Merrimack College. For hospitality management, Kelsey Anastasiades will attend the University of South Carolina and Savannah-Leigh Draheim heads to UMass Amherst.

College – Undecided

Abby Hanna will attend Johnson and Wales University where she will also play softball, while Charlotte Wheeler and Reese Curran head to the University of New Hampshire. Abe Dehner has committed to Bentley University; Anthony George and Matthew Donnelly will attend Stonehill College; Ava Good heads to Roger Williams University; and Bell Keenan will study at Massasoit Community College. Marley Gallagher heads to UMass Amherst, Natalie Gilpatrick will study at Emmanuel College and Noah Balewicz will attend Bridgewater State. Brooke Barber and Malcolm Beliveau are still making plans for what comes next.

News

Class of 2025: Parting Words

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By Jenna Clasby, ‘27 and Sophie Bunar, ‘27

Staff Writers

As underclassmen, we often look to the seniors for advice. Whether it’s which classes to take, which extracurriculars to check out, or just how to get through high school, seniors often have the most valuable knowledge and experience. As this school year comes to an end, members of the Class of ‘25 shared their best pieces of advice for younger students.

“Enjoy the time you have, and enjoy the moment. Live in the present.” – Aidan Boutin.

“Being perfect isn’t needed. You are allowed to make mistakes and you should make them. If you’re stressed about being perfect all the time, you’ll miss all the good stuff.” – Aevyn Brink 

“Don’t take anything for granted, it goes by way too fast so enjoy it.” – Abby Hannah

“You’ll never see these people again.” – April Hamilton 

“Do everything for yourself.” – Alexandra Marinis

“Keep your grades up and you’ll be fine. I also wish I had done more sports and joined more clubs, because it is an advantage of making new connections.” – Ava Curren

“Keep your GPA up and turn in assignments on time.” – Bell Keenan

“Don’t be absent all the time.” – Brooke Barber

“Get involved in as much as you can in high school and don’t be afraid to go out of your own comfort zone. High school goes by fast, and the more you put yourself out there, the more experiences and friendships you’ll create.” – Catherine Reinhart, class president

“Don’t be afraid to get involved and don’t stress yourself out too much.” – Thomas Perkins

“Take notes on Thomas Perkins.” – Cam Scott

“Keep open communication if you are struggling. Your teachers want to help you succeed and not asking for help won’t benefit you in the long run.” – Izzy Latessa

“Don’t feel the need to impress anybody. Be yourself.” – Ryan Shea

“Take risks even when you don’t know if you’ll succeed! Apply for the job or leadership position or group outside of school you want because you never know what could happen!” – Julia Fitzgerald

“Shave your facial hair and get a haircut.” – Tyler Neville

“Spend every minute with your friends! You’re all going separate ways after graduation.” – Casey Labelle 

“True kindness comes from lifting others up without lowering yourself. You’re worthy of standing tall, just as you are.” – Addison Baldinelli

“Give the janitors less work to do.” – Malcolm Beliveau

“My advice is to figure out what you want to do after high school as soon as possible and start working towards that goal as soon as you start your freshman year.” – Connor McCue

“No one expects you to know everything, and it’s okay to ask questions when you’re struggling. Teachers, friends, and family are there to support you” – Ella Brinkman 

“Don’t let drama get to you.” – Kaylee Lupien

“High school isn’t for everyone, find something that you enjoy to do whether it is in school or not and put more time into that.”  – Dylan Clark

“Only try your sophomore and junior years.” – Matt Lombardi

“Work hard, even if you’re unmotivated. Surround yourself with people who motivate you to be the best person you can be.” – Grace Witt  

“Take the right classes. Ask upperclassmen what to take.” – Macklin Ball

“The best advice I would give to younger students is to always keep your head up and don’t get past yourself and just focus on the moment. Be you, not something else.” – Michael Sawaya

“Take classes that are the best fit for you. Don’t pick classes just because they are popular to take.” – Tyler Vincent

“Take advantage of every opportunity, as cliche as it is, you will be a senior before you know it, so enjoy it.” – Sophie Schiller

All in all, advice is important to shape the young minds of underclassmen. It can provide guidance and support which leads to better decision making overall in the future. As underclassmen, we are forever grateful for the advice from our seniors that allows us to better ourselves on our own journey through High School.

News

Class of 2025: What We’ll Miss Most

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By Billy Hersey, ‘27 and Siena Oliver ‘27

Hawk editors

As our seniors look toward new beginnings, many can’t help but look back on their fond memories of our community. Students who replied to The Hawk senior survey said they would miss many things about their time at HHS. A common theme among responses was that students would miss their friends, teachers and sports.

“I will miss the teachers that showed up every day and cared about us deeply,” said Thomas Perkins. For Noey Giardina, it will be the lunch ladies. For April Hamilton and Adrian Nickerson, it’s the art classes and teachers. James Bison will miss “Doc.” Michael Sawaya will miss “hanging out with the office ladies.” Samantha Ferguson said: “I’ll miss my friends and my favorite teachers.” Sophie Schiller echoed that sentiment and added that she’ll miss her coaches too.

Connor McCue will greatly miss the atmosphere at HHS and the people. “They do a great job at creating a positive environment that people want to be a part of.” 

Many seniors are sad to be separated from their friends and will cherish the memories they have made with each other. Max Aikins will miss “classes with my friends who are going to different schools.” Scott Theriault will be sad to end “socializing with the people I’ve grown up with.” Cat Reinhart said she’ll miss “seeing everyone in 6th period library every day.”

“I’ll miss having my friends around me all the time and just being able to drive a mile or two to see them,” said Grace Witt. Madi Pongratz agreed. “I’ll miss seeing everyone together in one place because once we graduate we won’t see a lot of these people ever again,” she said.

Sports are a huge part of life at HHS, leading to lifelong connections and great memories. During the Class of 2025’s time at HHS, girls soccer won the state championship in 2022 and made it to the finals in 2024. Boys hockey won the state title at the TD Garden in 2022 and returned to the finals in 2024. Rugby made it to the state finals in 2022 and 2024. Girls Lacrosse reached the final four in 2024. Football made it to the state semifinals in 2022 and 2024, and to the Super Bowl at Gillette Stadium in 2023.

Abby Hanna, who played softball and hockey, will miss her teammates and coaches. Max Goitia will miss playing rugby; for Matt Jenkins, it’s soccer, and for Cam Fish it’s baseball. Addison Baldinelli will miss playing field hockey and performing with the dance team.

Liz Curtis will miss field hockey the most. “Being part of the team has been such a huge part of my high school experience!” she said.

Aidan Boutin, who played football and rugby for four years and wrestled for three, said he will miss the opportunities to practice and compete with close friends. “It deeply saddens me that I will never be able to suit up and play with my childhood friends ever again.”

Watching sports was as memorable as playing, according to Ava Good and Ava Puzzangara. 

Clubs, community service and performing arts provided fond memories for many students. Tyler Neville said he will miss “performing at concerts for the symphonic and marching band.” Julia Fitzgerald, who counted band and tennis among her activities, said she will miss the friends she made inside and outside the classroom. “Even if I keep them up in college,” she said, “I know I will miss their presence.”

While the Class of ‘25 will embark on different paths, hopefully their memories of friendship, guidance and support will bolster them in whatever they take on next. It is clear that, for many students, their time at HHS has left an indelible mark.

“Over the past eight years since I moved here in 4th grade, I have gotten to know the people around me here in Hanover and I have grown to love it,” said Lochlan Garvey. “Being able to come to school every day and be surrounded by this community that we have created over the past years has been a gift and I am going to miss it terribly.”

Sports

2025 NFL Draft Recap: Hits, Misses & Surprises

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By Luke Curran, ’27

Staff Writer

The 2025 NFL Draft is done, and there’s a lot to discuss. Some teams made smart picks, some took significant risks, and a few surprises shook things up. A couple of players left earlier than expected, while others fell significantly. In hindsight, this year’s draft did not fall short of expectations.

When reflecting on the first round of the draft, it’s clear that many teams selected players who were considered the best fit for certain positions. Organizations such as the Tennessee Titans and the New York Giants sought talented quarterbacks, while other teams, including the New England Patriots, drafted offensive linemen. The Titans, possessing the first overall pick, selected Cam Ward from the University of Miami. Other notable players chosen within the first round included Heisman winner Travis Hunter, who went to Jacksonville; Will Campbell, a left tackle selected by New England; and Ashton Jeanty, heading to Las Vegas as a running back. 

Some significant risks were taken within the first round of the draft, including quarterback decisions. One notable example is Jaxson Dart, selected 25th overall by the New York Giants. Dart was projected to land outside of the first round. Other risky draft picks include quarterback Tyler Shough, taken by New Orleans, and quarterback Dillon Gabriel, selected by Cleveland. 

However, some players who were projected to land in the first round were not as fortunate. A clear example of this is former NFL star Deion Sanders’ son, Shedeur Sanders, a quarterback from Colorado. Shedeur Sanders was widely anticipated to fall within the first round, yet many teams passed up on him. The Cleveland Browns eventually chose Sanders as the 144th overall pick in the 5th round of the draft after a series of other quarterbacks had been selected before him. 

This 2025 NFL draft class is loaded with talent and standout players who have each given it their all just to be drafted. The efforts shown by these individuals reveal the hard work required to be part of the league, no matter how easy it may appear to be. Overall, it’s clear that the future is bright for several teams and players. The next class of stars is on the way, and fans have a lot to look forward to.

Featured image: https://www.skysports.com/nfl/news/12118/13355067/nfl-draft-2025-tennessee-titans-select-cam-ward-with-first-pick-as-travis-hunter-heads-to-jacksonville-jaguars

News

Debate Team’s Sucess Leaves No Room for Argument

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By The Hawk staff

The Hanover High Debate Team racked up an impressive number of wins and awards in the Eastern Mass Debate League Competition. At the final debate and awards ceremony at Bridgewater-Raynham High School on Feb. 26, four out of five varsity debate pairs won their final rounds. Even better, several students earned league awards for outstanding performance for the entire season. Junior Alana Cole took home first place among all individual varsity speakers; junior Ava Khouri won second and junior Abbey Corbo grabbed third. Sophomore Sam Frattasio earned 5th place and Senior Ruby Telepak finished 9th. Among two-person varsity affirmative teams who scored the highest for the season, Cole and Corbo won third place and Telepak and Khouri finished 10th. The HHS team is coached by Mrs. Allyson Gately.

The Eastern Mass Debate League includes 13 schools and 48 four-person teams which this year competed in 8 rounds of debates starting in December. Teams must prepare a variety of resources in order to argue the season’s resolve. Affirmative teams create and deliver a specific argument connected to the resolve, and negative teams have to be prepared to rebut whatever argument their opponent creates. This year’s resolve was The United States federal government should significantly strengthen its protection of domestic intellectual property rights in copyrights, patents and/or trademarks.

Team Roster

Varsity Affirmative

Alana Cole and Abbey Corbo

Ruby Telepak and Ava Khouri

Varsity Negative

Bradlee Dowling and Liam Anderson

Sam Frattasio and Aine Scanlan

Novice Affirmative

Elena Perez and McKenzie Gezokis

Novice Negative

Emma Louko and Hadley Gunter

Alternates

Christopher Bassill

Leah Gardner

Campbell Speckmann

News, Sports

Unified Sports Win is About More than Final Score

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By The Hawk staff

The Hanover High School Unified basketball team made a powerful statement as they took on a team fielded by Student Council in a packed gym on Feb. 6. While the final score stood at Unified 79, StuCo 21, what counted more than the many, many (many) baskets made was the teamwork, sportsmanship, and friendship on display.

For the Unified team, top scorers were Danny Campbell, Bre Thomas, Jillian Richards, JJ Molina-Para, and Adel Mustafa-Rivera. Dom Castaldini and Maeve Patten showed determination as they made passes and grabbed rebounds. Molina-Para wowed the crowd with his 360-turns before sinking several baskets, and Richards’ countless steals from StuCo players were almost criminal.

The StuCo team kept their spirits high, with several members of HHS basketball teams making impressive shots. The atmosphere was festive thanks to the play-by-play of HHS senior Thomas Perkins, and the Hanover Hawk mascot rallying the crowd. Congratulations to players from both teams! Special thanks go out to Unified Sports organizers Ms. Mann and Ms. Gately, Athletic Director Scott Hutchison and all the fans in attendance.

The HHS Unified team will take part in a Jamboree at Abington High School on Feb. 12, playing teams from Abington and Carver high schools. We wish them best of luck!

Pioneered by Special Olympics, the goal of Unified Sports is to partner people with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. By training and playing together, Unified teams promote inclusion, friendship and self esteem, according to the Special Olympics website. An estimated 19 million young people participate in Unified Sports nationwide.

Sports

Patriots Tap New Head Coach After Losing Season

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By Ryan Costello, ’27

Staff Writer

After the New England Patriots finished 4-13 in the 2024-25 season, many people demanded changes in the franchise. The former Patriots linebacker, Jerod Mayo, named coach after the departure of fixture Bill Belichick, was criticized by fans throughout the season. Many fans were upset with Mayo in Week 18 after the Patriots beat the Buffalo Bills, 23-16, causing them to give up their number one draft pick and drop to number four. Mayo was fired soon after, with Patriots CEO Robert Kraft saying, “I felt guilty” and “I put him in an untenable situation.”

Kraft tapped another Patriots alum to replace Mayo, former linebacker Mike Vrabel. People think Vrabel has the experience for the job considering he has been the linebackers coach for the Houston Texans and the head coach for the Tennessee Titans. During his time playing as a Patriot, he became a three-time Super Bowl champion. People are also eager to see what he can do with quarterback Drake Maye’s second year with the team.

Fans have been frustrated with the Patriots and their lack of playoff success in the years since Tom Brady left. Vrabel has a good reputation for leadership, principle, and an ability to bring out the best in his players. He has strong knowledge for game management and an instinct for decision making. He is good at making important strategic calls, especially when the stakes are high.

With a new head coach, fans are feeling optimistic for the future. Now all we have to do is see how the draft in April plays out. With some good moves, hopefully next season will give fans more to cheer about.

News

Eagle Scouts Soar to New Heights

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By Bradlee Dowling, ’26

Staff Writer

Earning the rank of Eagle Scout is no small achievement: it requires years of dedication, leadership, and service. Five scouts from Hanover High School have gone above and beyond, using their projects to make a meaningful impact on our community. From improving accessibility and transportation to preserving local history, their efforts demonstrate the values of scouting and the lasting difference one individual can make.

According to EagleScout.org, the projects these high schoolers participate in must be challenging, valuable to the community, “demonstrate leadership of others and provide service to a worthy institution.”  Eagle Scout is the highest rank a scout can achieve.

After seeing how many bikes were being thrown out at the Hanover transfer station, senior Gavin Hardy organized a bike drive for his Eagle Scout project. He collected about 100 bikes from the dump in one weekend, refurbished the bikes that could be saved and donated them to schools, veterans and families in need. Spare parts were sent to Cameroon, Africa. He credits Rich Bonanno, the founder of the Scituate-based nonprofit Rolling Wave Foundation, with helping him connect with organizations and individuals in need. Gavin’s project shows how a simple idea can bring mobility and independence to others.

Drew Keith’s journey to Eagle Scout has been lifelong, filled with challenges and memorable moments. Attending the National Jamboree in West Virginia stands out as a highlight, while navigating the extensive paperwork for his Eagle Scout project proved to be his greatest hurdle. An HHS junior, Drew built a bog board to replace an old one between the middle and high schools, making the trails accessible for people and their dogs. Despite facing weather challenges, Drew’s perseverance shone through, and he credits scouting with instilling leadership, life skills, and values like good citizenship. When asked for advice, Drew shared, “Stick with it. It’s a fun experience if you go into it with the right mindset.”

Tyler Jewson’s Eagle Scout project also involved building bog boards to bridge muddy areas, improving accessibility and usability for the community. The HHS junior’s project demonstrates a hands-on commitment to solving local challenges and leaving a lasting impact.

Since joining scouting in 2019, junior Matthew Bell has held the leadership position of “historian.” For his Eagle Scout project, Matthew built paddle board racks for the Hingham Maritime Center. In addition to that, he refurbished their flagpole, built in the 1920s. His role as troop historian reflects his dedication to leadership and legacy and his project reveals a deep understanding and appreciation for the local history.

Junior Liam Anderson’s path to Eagle Scout began with a unique twist: quitting in 5th grade only to rejoin in 6th. His determination paid off as he rose to the rank of Senior Patrol Leader, managing a troop of 60 scouts. For his Eagle Scout project, Liam created portable exhibit signs for antique vehicles to support the local historical society. Communication challenges during the project taught him the importance of persistence and follow-ups. Liam credits scouting with shaping his leadership and communication skills, making him a more well-rounded individual. His advice to aspiring Eagle Scouts: “Overlook the tedious, see the light at the end of the tunnel, and imagine yourself in the future without it. You’d be pretty sad if you saw all the others and wish you had stuck through it.”

From bike drives to bog boards and historical preservation, these scouts’ projects highlight the diverse ways Eagle Scouts make meaningful contributions. Through their dedication, leadership, and resilience, they’ve not only achieved scouting’s highest rank but also left lasting marks on their communities, setting powerful examples for future generations.

Students from HHS and the area celebrate earning the rank of Eagle Scout in a ceremony Jan. 4. Photo courtesy of Kimberly Hardy.
News

Students Rally for Spirit Week

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By The Hawk staff

Hanover High students went all in for Spirit Week and Homecoming, held Oct. 28-Nov. 1. The costumes for the four themed days included red, white and blue; jammies and jerseys; ‘On Wednesdays, we wear pink’ from the movie Clueless; and Halloween costumes. The Junior Class won the pod decorating contest with Jungle Juniors, and students wearing their class colors crowded into the gym for a pep rally that featured riotous games and friendly trash talk.

The football team crushed North Quincy High School 42-7 in the Friday night Homecoming game, cheered on by a crowd of costumed fans in the endzone. Seniors Connor McCue and Ava Good were voted Homecoming king and queen at the Saturday night dance, which attendees said was the best in several years.

Click on the pictures to scroll through a larger gallery.

News

Carrying the Truth about War

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By: Michael Sawaya, Jack Nadeau, Malakai Beliveau, Daniel Sierra and Cam Melone, ’26

Guest Writers

“If at the end of a war story you feel uplifted, or if you feel that some small bit of rectitude has been salvaged from the larger waste, then you have been made the victim of a very old and terrible lie,” wrote Tim O’Brien in The Things They Carried, his National Book-award winning novel based on his experiences as a soldier in the Vietnam War. 

Our reading of this book in class motivated us to reflect on the horrors of war and what a soldier would carry on his body and in his heart in order to survive such a traumatic experience. We invited Robert (Bob) Melone, a U.S. military veteran who served in Afghanistan, and father of junior Cam Melone, to join our class and candidly discuss his experience.

“Everyone is human and deserves dignity.”

Robert (Bob) Melone, with his son, Cam, now a junior at HHS.

Mr. Melone always felt the obligation to join the military because his father and grandfather had served. In 1996, he graduated Silver Lake High School and was working at Papa Gino’s in Pembroke. He knew he wanted to go to college and the only way he could afford this was by joining the military. So he joined the National Guard in 1997 and began basic training in Missouri. He was deployed to Afghanistan in 2002 to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda, two terrorist organizations.

He recalls landing his military plane at Bagram Air Force Base with no lights on, in total darkness, in order to evade the enemy. For the first three months of service, he and his platoon did not have the means to take a shower. Mr. Melone then embarked on a covert operation to locate a shower; he ended up finding one on another Air Force base.

Mr. Melone’s platoon was responsible for blowing up a cache of ammunition and bombs from al-Qaeda and the Taliban. His platoon detonated the enemy’s weaponry high up in the mountains of Afghanistan. The elevation was higher than Denver, Colorado, causing him to suffer from elevation fatigue for the first few days he was there. Mr. Melone found it difficult to breathe in the extreme altitudes of these high mountain ranges as he embarked on these dangerous missions.

Mr. Melone visits schoolchildren in Afghanistan.

As a combat medic, he made sure his platoon was taken care of properly. Not only this, but Mr. Melone also took good care of prisoners of war (POWs) who were on the side of America’s enemies. He cared for the very people who may have killed him if given the chance. He never lost sight of the humanity in people on the other “side.” For him, it wasn’t about how many people he hurt, it was about how many people he helped. “Everyone is human and deserves dignity,” he said

Overall, Mr. Melone reports that he and his American platoon colleagues were treated well by the Afghans, but he noted that he “wasn’t sure if some were bringing information back to the enemy.” Similar to Vietnam, there were times he did not know who the enemy was. 

The women in Afghanistan wore burqas and were not allowed to speak to American servicemen, Mr. Melone recounted. The Afghan women were only allowed to speak amongst themselves or possibly to female soldiers. The young girls in Afghanistan attended school at the time; however, that is no longer the case. Mr. Melone reflected with regret on how women’s rights deteriorated over time. Since the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan in 2021, the role of women has declined even further. 

Mr. Melone and fellow soldiers enjoy the Italian platoon’s espresso bar.

Despite being in combat overseas, there were some moments of levity that Mr. Melone looks back on fondly. He remembers that the European troops were better equipped and had more luxuries than their American counterparts. He recalls visiting an Italian military platoon that had set up a full espresso bar. Mr. Melone and his fellow American servicemen indulged in the Italian hospitality and truly enjoyed the excellent quality coffee, espresso and cappuccino. 

Mr. Melone’s platoon with their MaryLou’s delivery.

As a lover of coffee, this was one of the comforts that Mr. Melone missed most. He recalls writing a letter to the popular coffee chain Mary Lou’s asking them to send his platoon some coffee. Soon, he and his fellow servicemen received a massive supply of Mary Lou’s coffee direct from the South Shore. 

Much like O’Brien recounts in The Things They Carried, Melone met his best friends in the military. They gave each other nicknames and used their sense of humor to deal with the stress and agony of war. 

Also similar to O’Brien’s observations, Melone considered the overall sense of purpose in America’s presence in Afghanistan. At the time, Melone felt that Americans had a strong reason to be in Afghanistan: to free the Afghans from the oppression of the Taliban. Yet looking back, he feels doubt about what the purpose was. He reflected that, when it comes to war, “getting out is way harder than going in.” 

An Afghan child walks his bull on a leash.

In The Things They Carried, Tim O’Brien writes about the tangible and intangible things he and his fellow troops carried with them while at war in Vietnam. Mr. Melone said during his year of service and to this day, he carries the Afghan children. He felt a deep connection to the innocent young lives that were trying to survive in very difficult conditions. He showed a photo of a very young boy walking a bull around on a leash, similar to the way Americans walk their dogs. He cherishes photos of the children of Afghanistan and has several photos framed around his house. 

Physically, he carried a St. Jude prayer card from his cousin Patty that was originally their grandmother’s. This prayer asks God for help during difficult times. He carried this prayer card with him everywhere and it reminded him of his loved ones back home. 

To this day. Mr. Melone carries the powerful emotion and experience with him, and is not afraid to show his vulnerability and how it deeply affected him. We witnessed this when he shared his family legacy of service, his love for the children of Afghanistan, and his love for his own children. 

Ultimately, Mr. Melone is grateful for the opportunities the military gave him and is proud of his service. However, his overall message about war resonated with us all: “Anything that glorifies war is a lie. War is inhumane.” We are sure Tim O’Brien would agree.