Perpich Arts High School Graduation 2021

May 28, 2021

The Perpich Arts High School Class of 2021 graduated on the Perpich campus on May 28 in a series of three ceremonies that were also live streamed on Facebook. Perpich is proud to announce that 100% of the Class of 2021 graduated. Savanna Ferrera (Literary Arts 2021) served as Student Speaker and math instructor, Amy Burge, gave the faculty speech. The audience, both in-person and virtual, were treated to presentations by each art area.

During Ferrera’s speech, she spoke about what Perpich means to her. “Perpich is artistic freedom. Where, we, artists of all different forms come together to express ourselves as we find our place in the world around us. We are Perpich. All of us, and each of us. Graduates from twenty years ago, graduates from last year, and us today.” Acknowledging that over half of her experience at Perpich was either in distance learning or hybrid, Savanna said, “Even though we were separated this year, Perpich was not. We were together even though we weren’t. Art is a power that transcends physical boundaries. As artists, it is our right to take the world, to perceive it, to understand it, and work to change it. Sometimes, like this year, they are quiet fights, fought in the home. Also, like this past year, some fights can only be won together, through assembly of the people to demand social justice, equality, or freedom. Art exists where you are. Art exists in that powerful place in the very core of you and I can only hope that for all of you, Perpich has only strengthened that ability and that passion.”

During his closing comments, Principal Conn McCartan reflected on the challenges of the year and the good fortune that they experienced it all together. “To be in a community of artists, to be immersed in a learning environment that is infused in, and informed by, the arts allows us to develop the kinds of skills to not just experience the world, but to examine it. It allows us not just to critique the world, but to have that critique serve as a catalyst for addressing improvements in each iteration we strive to create. The artists’ response to the world is more than a reflection. It is also an expression of what might be and what can be. The skilled artist knows how to use negative space to bring forth the image they hope for. They can see what they want to bring forth in their source material and they do so by removing that which is not what they want to express. As Michelangelo said, ‘I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set it free.’”