Beckham counsels new graduates about road ahead: “Life is a build.”

And just like that, 109 Seniors turned their tassels from right-to-left on June 16, 2025, to become new graduates of J.M. Wright Technical High School.

The graduates, who were organized by trade, walked across the stage of the Palace Theater in Stamford with red gowns and bedazzled caps. The energized crowd cheered their accomplishments as speeches were shared by CTECS Executive Director Dr. Alice Pritchard, Principal Jayme Beckham, Ed.D, and Valedictorian Kevin Vasquez.

Pritchard keynoted Wright Tech’s graduation. Pritchard is responsible for overseeing the state’s 17 technical high schools, two airframe mechanics and aircraft maintenance programs, and technical education center. During her opening remarks, Pritchard spoke to the value of a technical high school education to our state and country.

Following her speech, Jayme Beckham, Ed.D picked up the theme of “building” in her speech to graduates.

“You are builders; you are creators, not just of cars or cabinets or circuits or digital content, but of ideas, of futures, of communities. You’ve spent the last four years learning how to construct, repair, design, and improve. And whether you studied plumbing or health tech, culinary or carpentry, what you’ve really been doing is learning how to build a life,” said Beckham.

She continued, “Life is a build. Sometimes the foundation is shaky. Sometimes the floor plan changes mid-construction. Sometimes you’re halfway through painting a wall when someone tells you it’s the wrong color. And that’s okay. What matters is that you keep building.”

Read Beckham’s full speech to graduates.