By Maria Riegel, Special Writer
South Brunswick High School’s 675-member graduating class held its commencement ceremony at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton on June 22.
”This is a really special graduation because it is our 50th graduating class which honors our heritage as a high school,” South Brunswick High School Principal Timothy Matheney said during the ceremony. “I am really pleased that this class was our 50th.”
In the 2011 senior class, there were 675 graduates according to Mr. Matheney, and this year was the eighth commencement ceremony held at the Sun National Bank Center.
Senior class president Aaron Lassin, school president Maggie Boyle, class valedictorian Utsarga Sidker, and salutatorian Muhammad Khan presented speeches to the graduating class.
Mr. Matheney and Superintendent of South Brunswick schools, Dr. Gary McCartney also spoke to the class about how proud they were of its achievements and how well the seniors demonstrated SBHS’ five core values: honesty, kindness, respect, responsibility and service.
”This class does well exemplifying our core value of kindness because of their variety of (community) service projects,” Mr. Matheney said.
The class of 2011 completed many positive projects that effectively help the South Brunswick community and beyond, according to Mr. Matheney.
Mr. Matheney said that this year’s senior class collected six tons of food for the township’s food pantry, and also organized many fundraisers for the people of Japan following a massive earthquake and tsunami earlier this year.
Aside from the class’s positive display of character, they are one of the top five graduating classes from the high school that had numerous admissions to elite universities.
”I think they really capture the value of diversity in this school,” Mr. Matheney said. “They have taught the other classes the value of diversity.”
Mr. Matheney said that this class was extremely school spirited and ultimately was a great role model to the other classes for leadership.
The seniors definitely showed their excitement at the ceremony through their anxious smiles.
”It feels like a relief and it also feels like a new responsibility on me,” Senior Elena Georgopoulos said. “I know we are starting a new part of our lives that will affect us positively. I know that I still have so much more to learn, but I also feel confident in what I have learned already.”
Elena said she would be attending Rutgers University in New Brunswick in August where she will be studying comparative literature.
She said she hopes to be working in a publishing house or writing her own novel or script after college. Elena said that she is grateful to the many writing courses she took at South Brunswick because she believes that those classes encouraged her to become a writer.
”I’ve always been interested in writing and reading,” Elena said. “I am infinitely grateful to those classes and teachers that gave me those opportunities.”
Senior Amit Kulkarni said that he would miss the many friends he has made at South Brunswick.
”I will definitely miss SBHS because of all of the friends and relationships I’ve built here, but I will not miss the insignificant high school drama and pointless rules,” Amit said.
This fall, Amit will be attending Rutgers University to major in Environmental Engineering. Amit said that he feels that being in the marching band essentially helped him grow as an individual and experience new friendships.
Senior Sneha Fadia said that she would be attending Rutgers University in New Brunswick to major in teaching.
”I want a successful job teaching at a high school,” Sneha said. “I think seeing specific (social studies) teachers like Mr. (Sean) Cannon and Mrs. (Kimberly) Greenberg and watching the way they teach, they have fun.”
Senior Renee Bunn said that she was amazed on how high school went so quickly.
”It’s exciting (to graduate), but I can’t believe high school has gone so fast,” Renee said. “I appreciate everyone who has been there for me.”
In Dr. McCartney’s address to the graduating class, he spoke about the students pursuing their talents in the future. He said that one must make the most of their future and apply themselves.
”The best is yet to come,” Dr. McCartney said. “I will talk about the challenges that will confront the class and that the students must confront those challenges with the incredible talents they have. The next generation will depend on them.”
”I don’t know exactly what effect high school will have on me because it has not been long enough (away from it), but in the end I will not regret anything because high school helps you grow up,” Elena said.
