Highlights from Vestal’s 75th high school commencement on June 25, 2016, included the Class of 2016’s so-designated “Mr. Vestal,” Joseph Seif, enthusiastically leading his classmates in their last Golden Bears’ cheer and one last roller coaster!
Superintendent Ahearn remarked on the bittersweet moment of this occasion as he addressed the 296 graduate-elects. “Today we honor you for all of your accomplishments, but as we celebrate with you the many years of growth and development, we know we also must say ‘goodbye’ as we watch you begin the next chapter of your lives, full of hope and expectations.”
Valedictorian Montana Boone urged her classmates to open their hearts as they go out into the world, embracing others and empathizing with all who are different. “So please be kind,” she said. “ Listen, care and understand.”
Sawako Suzuki, the second student speaker, echoed that sentiment as she shared a personal experience that impacted her life. “No one is alone, and everyone has something that no one knows about,” she said. “It makes us closer; it makes us stronger.”
Both students commented on the uniqueness of their years in Vestal. Sawako asked her classmates to envision themselves down the road in a town where “you are the only one who knows what VHS is, the only one who knows how magical it is to play under the lights of Dick Hoover Stadium!”
Montana wrapped up her speech by saying, “In the words of Mr. Vestal himself, Joe Seif, ‘stay golden, Vestal!’”
We salute every Class of 2016 graduate, and to the following students who earned academic distinction:
Top 10 Students: Montana Boone (valedictorian), Michael Spivak (salutatorian), Sakshi Vasiu, Serina DeHart, Maitri Mangal, Sarah Mieczkowski, Nicholas Barney, Morgan Chadwick, Jamie Wu and Sawako Suzuki.
New Visions Graduates: Benjamin McCarthy and Andrew O’Hare (Business); Tyannah Anderson (Engineering); Zachary Davis, Hannah Hayford, Selena Haykal, Anthony Mangiacapra and Michael Spivak (Health Careers Academy); Samantha Fletcher and Casey MacDonell (Law/Government).
These students pursued International Baccalaureate Diplomas: Nathan Benjamin, Montana Boone, Sarah Boyd, Julia Ferrante, Thomas Hanes, Anthony Ivanov, Joshua Lewis, Maitri Mangal, Jared Miller, Yvonne Raychawdhuri, Sawako Suzuki, Sakshi Vasiu and Jamie Wu.
Vestal’s Scholar Certificate candidates included IB Diploma candidates and these students:
Afrah Ahmed, Azva Alvi, Caroline Barrett, Natalia Basualdo, Madeline Beaulieu, Emily Brennan, Bailyn Brink, Morgan Chadwick, Kristian Cho, Tyler Cingranelli, Patrick Comerford, Jan Cygan, Corinne D’Andria, Maxwell Feinberg, Kristen Garrison, Brianna Hawkins, Alicia Kasson, Joseph Kuchera, Sean Kunz, Rani Marhaba, Evan McNierney, Sarah Mieczkowski, Courtney Moore, Sarah Mughal, Logan Murdock, Annie Murphy, Bach Nguyen, David Pirc, Marissa Pompeii, Samuel Rachmaninoff, Eamon Reynolds, Aubrianna Rice, Rebekah Schwartz, Mohammed Shah, Jordan Skube, Michael Spivak, Andrew Sprague, Ayla Stafford, Kiara Stafford, Emma Stockwin, Alison Van Dyke and Drew Williams.