Luckily for the seniors graduating last night, there was little chance of passing out from the oppressive heat.
The indoor ceremony was held in the Performing Arts Center at the high school, where 101 students slowly filed in and sat on the stage in front of friends and family while being serenaded by bagpipes.
In the first speech of the evening, Salutatorian Charles Fraioli urged his classmates to not be discouraged in the face of challenge or adversity; those that succeed often fail first, he said.
“I’ve hit the wall before and I’ve failed to achieve many goals but I’m still a runner,” he said, referring to his own challenges with the sport of running.
“Are we all still runners? Life is the race—we are all runners.”
Keynote speaker Robert Marrone—the host of "Good Morning Westchester” on WVOX radio and the station’s news director—advised the Class of 2012 to choose their careers based on their true passions, and to not give up on their dreams.
“Talent alone is not enough—if you have talent and persistence with the talent you have, it does win the day,” he said.
Following this, Rye Neck Teacher’s Association President Melinda Merkel presented Alejandra Galvez with the Maureen Sullivan Scholarship—given to the senior who best exemplifies motivation, enthusiasm for learning and leadership—describing her as having “intrinsic motivation,” as well as “energy and enthusiasm in everything she does.”
But it was Valedictorian Kirstin Tamucci who asked her classmates not to lose sight of the value of life’s experiences.
“We have finally reached the pinnacle of 18 years worth of living…the joy is in the journey.”
Please click below the photos for a list of all 2012 graduates as well as a college acceptance list.
