The sun shone brightly over the Fitchburg State University campus for the Undergraduate Commencement on May 16, casting a golden glow on the sea of caps and gowns. For Kelly Calamari, a proud Fitchburg State alumna of the classes of ’96 and ’99, the day was a beautiful, emotional collision of her past and her students' futures.
As Calamari stood among the fellow alumni, her mind drifted back nearly 15 years to a classroom at Templeton Elementary School. She had only taught first grade for two years, but that first class had left an indelible mark on her heart. In her mind’s eye, she didn't see graduating young women; she saw three little girls with natural leadership abilities who practically ran her classroom.
"I could rely on any of them to lead the morning meeting while I prepared the day’s first lesson," said Calamari.
Calamari remembered how her former elementary school students Julie Davis, Madison Ambrogi, and Olivia Narkevicius – now Fitchburg State graduates in the Class of 2026 – would confidently address their classmates, using the exact same tone and language she used to keep order. They were her mini-teachers, the ones she trusted to guide a substitute through the day’s routines whenever she was absent.
Now, those same little girls were graduating from the very same institution where Calamari had learned how to be a teacher.
“I recall her genuine passion for teaching, and her tireless encouragement of my love for reading,” said Ambrogi. “This enthusiasm played a significant role in shaping the student I was throughout the rest of my academic career, and has culminated in the recipiency of two bachelor's degrees, multiple research endeavors, and graduating summa cum laude.”
Ambrogi earned a double degree – a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Earth Science. Narkevicius earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, while Davis earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise and Sports Science.
Fitchburg State has become my home, and I have grown so much in my time here. The degree is meaningful of course, but every professor, coach, advisor, who has helped me get to this point here has had an enormous impact that I will forever be grateful for.
Walking through the campus, Calamari felt the familiarity of the buildings and the welcoming, close-knit atmosphere that had drawn her to Fitchburg State decades ago.
"It felt like the perfect environment for them to continue growing," said Calamari.
As the ceremony began, the anticipation built. Calamari had kept a special secret: while the students knew she would be attending, they didn't know she would be the one handing them their alumni pins as they stepped off the stage.
The names were finally called.
As each student crossed the stage, the moment of impact arrived. As they stepped down, eyes wide with the excitement of the achievement, they found their former first-grade teacher waiting for them.
The surprise was etched on their faces.
“To have Ms. Calamari return and watch us graduate is special and shows how caring and supportive she is,” said Narkevicius. “First grade was a long time ago, and to have someone still following along with my journey reminds me that everyone you meet along the way has an impact on you. Hers was a good one.”
As Calamari delivered the Fitchburg State alumni pins to her former students, it wasn't just a piece of metal, it was a torch being passed.
"I am so incredibly proud of the young women they have become," said Calamari. "To see them go from my classroom to the principal’s list, to student government, and now to this stage... it brings everything full circle."
Inside the graduation cards Calamari prepared for them was a small token of her affection: a bracelet for each girl inscribed with the words, "Enjoy the Journey."
“Life truly is a journey,” said Calamari. “I’ve watched them grow through every stage, and I hope they’ll keep in contact to share the next chapters."
As the ceremony concluded, Calamari stood in the same quad where she had stood 30 years prior. Back then, she was filled with anticipation for her career. On Saturday, she was filled with the profound satisfaction of a job well done. She wasn't just an alumna or a teacher, she was a witness to the beautiful, unfolding success of three lives she helped start on the right path.
Fitchburg State has been a great experience for these recent graduates.
“I met a lot of new people here,” said Davis. “I pushed myself beyond limits I even knew I had – mentally and physically because I played basketball here for two years as well. I made a lot of great connections and earned a degree that I worked really hard for.”
“Fitchburg State has served as a place of opportunity, support, and achievement,” said Ambrogi. “Our faculty is incredible, our science facilities are impressive, and this campus truly cares for student success. From tutoring to support the success of fellow students, to conducting research ranging from planetary science to green infrastructure implementation, to volunteering on campus, opportunities at FSU are varied and endless, yet all incredibly rewarding.”
“Fitchburg State has become my home, and I have grown so much in my time here,” said Narkevicius. “The degree is meaningful of course, but every professor, coach, advisor, who has helped me get to this point here has had an enormous impact that I will forever be grateful for.”
For Davis, Ambrogi, and Narkevicius, the journey is just beginning. For Calamari, the day was a perfect reminder of why she became a teacher in the first place.