scheduled for June 23
at football stadium
Lakewood seniors have
high hopes for future
Graduation ceremonies
scheduled for June 23
at football stadium
BY JOYCE BLAY
Staff Writer
LAKEWOOD — On June 23 at 6:30 p.m., Lakewood High School will graduate its senior class on the Russell Wright football field behind the Lakewood Middle School.
High school Principal William Anderson and Superintendent of Schools Ernest Cannava offered their best wishes to the graduating class.
Anderson wished the students a glorious future and counseled the graduating class to "think, develop the intellect, ponder and reflect, share your vision, your insight, your intuition and your understanding."
Cannava said, "I’m very proud of our graduating class. I think they have the skills necessary to be successful. Whatever the future holds for them, they’ll hopefully use their education to not only help themselves, but to help others as they go through life."
The class of 2004 will be the 31st to graduate from the current high school on Somerset Avenue. However, the graduation will be the 108th commencement since the first high school was built in Lakewood in 1892, according to an alumni directory by historian Benjamin G. Pulcrano of the Lakewood Heritage Commission. At that time, Frank Winters Todd was the first and only graduate.
Next Wednesday, 286 students will take their place alongside Todd in history. Cristina Garces, 17, will be the valedictorian. Christina Burke, 18, will be the salutatorian. As many of their classmates will do in days to come, both girls reflected on the past and the future.
Garces, who was accepted to Columbia University in New York City, has aspirations of attending the graduate school in journalism there. She envisions a career as an editor of women’s consumer magazines.
"I’ve always liked to read Seventeen and Cosmo Girl," she said. "I like science, but I like to write and read magazines (more). It just seems like a natural step."
Garces won first place for a student essay published in a local newspaper. In addition to writing, Cristina also looks back with fondness at her membership in the Lakewood Marching Band, in which she was a drum major.
At the time she spoke with the Tri-Town News, Garces had not yet decided what she would say when addressing her classmates at commencement. However, like any good editor, she had already decided what her speech would not contain.
"I don’t want to speak in clichés at the exercise," said Garces. "We’re people, not candles."
Her fellow speaker, Burke, also hopes to be employed in a creative field. To attain that goal, she will be attending Richard Stockton College this fall with a major in math and computer animation.
"My dream is to work for Pixar Animation," said Burke. "If the digital animation doesn’t kick up, I’ll have (math to fall back on, but) digital animation is my dream; I love it."
Burke is also devoted to art in many forms of expression. Her ceramic sculptures have won awards in competition. She also enjoys photography, which she took in her senior year.
Burke is an Edward Bloustein scholarship student.
She has already thought about what she will tell her classmates when she addresses them as salutatorian next week. However, she also wanted to share her thoughts with next year’s seniors.
"My advice to the next graduating class is don’t procrastinate," said Burke. "Don’t put off tomorrow what you could do today."