Postgraduate Daniel Mondarres received his diploma from the Community Access Program (CAP) on Oct. 11 with loved ones gathered to show support.

Mondarres has been a part of the Algonquin community since the fall of 2021 and has been a resident of Southborough after graduating from Shrewsbury High School in 2021. In his free time, he enjoys going to the playground, analyzing traffic signs and cooking. Unified Track & Field and Basketball enhanced his time within the school district due to the community it provided.

Principal Sean Bevan kicked the ceremony off by presenting Mondarres with his diploma followed by a heartwarming slideshow of pictures showcasing his time spent at Algonquin. The photos ranged from Mondarres helping prepare school lunches to wearing shirts with various traffic signals. One thing remains constant throughout the images: a smile stretching eye to eye on his face. 

“It’s always bittersweet when we do an event for the CAP program because we have grown to know these students really well; we have known them longer than most other students,” Bevan said. “It’s bittersweet to see them go, but it is also exciting to see them transition into a new chapter of their lives.”

As Mondarres’ slideshow flashed on the projector, so did the emotions his loved ones experienced. Teary eyes flooded the room along with contagious laughter and smiles sparked by Mondarres’ infectious positivity. 

Special education teacher Lisa Pagan has noticed Mondarres’ growth in his willingness to greet people and break out of his shell. Special education teacher Caitlin Hynes has also been a part of Mondarres’ CAP journey throughout his four years at Algonquin. 

“He is very social,” Hynes said. “He wants to communicate with you and engage with you and tell you what he is watching.”

Mondarres’ mother Carla Carten and his close friend Isabel Murphy were by his side with tears in their eyes. 

“He has turned the corner from being more of a child to being more of a young man,” Carten said. “It was definitely through the support of the people at Algonquin High School.”

Norah Shaikh, a peer of Mondarres, describes him as “a very good friend” and is emotional to see him graduate from CAP.

Mondarres plans to continue his love for cooking and being outside and expressed how he feels “good” regarding his accomplishments as well as his bright future. He is moving to Vermont for new opportunities and involvement in dairy farms along with a community-based day program.

Despite the traffic sign “STOP” being Mondarres’ favorite, he continues to indulge in new adventures.

This story was originally published on The Harbinger on October 21, 2024.