Postgraduate Julia Cobb received her diploma with dozens of loved ones cheering her on.
Friends and family members gathered on Nov. 26 to accompany her as she received her certificate. The ceremony was moved to the cafeteria to accommodate the amount of loved ones attending.
After months of anticipation and community involvement, Cobb has officially graduated from Algonquin and is going into her next chapter with enthusiasm.
Cobb typed in her device that she feels “bittersweet but excited” about her graduation.
Augmentative Alternative Communications Specialist Jeanne Mahanna has worked with Julia since she was at Melican Middle School. She describes her as “resilient,” “energetic” and “ ambitious and a hard worker.”
Cobb will remain in Northborough and continue her involvement within the community by volunteering at the Northborough Free Library and Tatnuck Bookseller in Westborough. She will continue to be in Algonquin Best Buddies until the end of the school year. Best Buddies adviser and teacher Caitlin Hynes has worked with Cobb throughout her years in the program.
“Julia is one of those students where so many people at each school she has gone to have known her,” Hynes said. “She always has been super involved; everyone says hi and she is so a part of the school district and especially the Algonquin community. It is just going to feel weird without her.”
Cobb is one of the officers for Best Buddies, is involved in unified singing, color guard, track and field and has been dancing outside of school for nearly 20 years. With so much involvement, she has had an impact on the development of her peers.
“Julia has taught me a lot, like sign language,” postgraduate Megan Chute said.
Chute has known Cobb since 2009 through the Special Olympics and describes her “like a sister.” Another one of Cobb’s peers, postgraduate Norah Shaikh, describes their relationship as inseparable.
“She is an amazing friend,” Shaikh said.
Cobb’s mom, Christine Cobb, was teary-eyed about her daughter’s accomplishments and growth.
“She makes things that are really hard as parents easy,” said Christine Cobb. “She amazes me every day with her resiliency and the ability to see the good side in everything. She loves people and always has loved school.”
Cobb will remain involved as she enters her next chapter in day programs, including Thrive Support & Advocacy in Marlborough and Post 22 in Westborough. As written on her high school graduation cap, “the adventures await.”
