BY DANIELLE MEDINA
Staff Writer
MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Brick Township High School graduate Arifur Rahman gets hugs and smiles from family members on the high school football field June 16. Rahman was one of 407 BTHS class of 2006 graduates. Mother Nature must be a Green Dragon fan.When Brick Township High School (BTHS) Principal Dennis M. Filippone took to the podium Friday night to give his opening remarks at the school’s commencement exercises, he did so under a cloudless and bright early evening sky.
“Forty-eight years of graduations at BTHS and never a rainout,” Filippone said. “And we’re never going to have one because this is where you should graduate from.”
By the time the sun had set that day, 407 BTHS students walked off the school’s Keller Memorial Field with their diplomas in hand and words of advice in their heads.
“Remember the lessons learned not from a textbook – friendship, character, hard work, compassion,” Filippone said. “Be people of high character.”
Filippone also congratulated the Class of 2006 for its efforts for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraiser, which this group of students began two years ago. To date, $400,000 has been raised for cancer research through Relay for Life.
Salutatorian Andrew Syvertsen, who called himself, “the second biggest nerd in the class,” gave his fellow students his definition of success.
“Success is satisfaction,” said Syvertsen. “I am happy with who I am and that’s why I am a success.”
Board of Education President Sharon Kight offered her congratulations to the senior class and to their families.
“This day is as much about their accomplishments as it is yours,” Kight said.
During his speech, Superintendent Dr. Thomas L. Seidenberger talked about technology and globalization and encouraged the students to remember their values.
“In a very short time, you will become a global citizen,” Seidenberger said, “but we still need a moral compass to guide us.”
PHOTOSBY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff Top, Stephanie Zuccaro gets a squeeze from one of Brick Township’s newest graduates, Adam Bender, after the BTHS commencement ceremony June 16. Above, the grads applaud their classmates during the school’s 48th commencement ceremony. Below, Deanna Salafia blows bubbles in celebration of her last day of school. Student Government President Georgette Chryssanthakopoulos spoke about the importance of opposing viewpoints.
“Four years ago we brought our different perspectives into this building,” Chryssanthakopoulos said. “Never forget the power of someone else’s point of view and how much you can learn from them.”
Senior class president Emma Gagliardi urged her classmates to go out into the world and take care of others.
“Be extraordinary, help others and allow yourself to be helped,” said Gagliardi.
Valedictorian Hannah Raymundo, who received a full scholarship to attend Ramapo College, wrapped up the evening’s speeches by encouraging her fellow students to live life to the fullest.
“Life is an opportunity, benefit from it. Life is a struggle, accept it. Life is an adventure, dare it,” said Raymundo, quoting Mother Teresa.
During the ceremony, four teachers from the township’s elementary and middle schools were recognized by Filippone for the contributions to the education of the graduating class.
The teachers present were: Kathy Bottone, Drum Point Elementary School; Myrna Goldsmith, Emma Havens Young Elementary School; Linda Kenney, Osbornville School; and Ronald Heitmann, Lake Riviera Middle School.