By Jennifer Bradley, Staff Writer
PLUMSTED — The rainy skies matched the teary eyes of the 124 walking graduates and their friends and families at the New Egypt High School graduation June 12.
The hugs, laughter and words of wisdom of the day, however, counteracted all of the goodbye tears.
”One thing that stands out to me about the Class of 2012 is the high level of enthusiasm that we share for our school,” said Alison Martino, the student government president of the graduating class. “We have definitely helped shape each other into who we are today.”
In Alison’s welcome speech, she thanked everyone who had helped support the Class of 2012 such as family and friends and especially focused on teachers and administrators.
”It is safe to say that for most of them, ‘teacher’ is not the extent of their job title,” she said. “They are also coaches, directors, mentors and friends.”
Alison said one teacher told her it did not matter if she left school knowing how to find the slope of a line because students have been taught far more important lessons in their classes.
She said her teacher told her students learned how to organize their thoughts and articulate their opinions in English classes. She said students learned how to find the tools to work through a problem in math and were taught how to use logic and reasoning in science. Students also learned how to express themselves in fine arts classes, she said.
Plumsted Schools Superintendent Karen Jones also spoke about how far the class has come and how much the students have learned.
”You were the kindergarten Class of 2000, and look at you now,” Dr. Jones said. “You are multitaskers, and you adapted to learn very quickly and communicate faster and in more integrated ways than all generations before you.”
Dr. Jones also left the students with advice for the future.
”Make your decisions carefully, choose your words slowly, and be sure that the actions you take are always motivated by kindness and compassion,” she said. “You should know that you always have a place to call home when it comes to the New Egypt schools.”
Josh Reed gave the student honors address, and he also had advice for his classmates.
”Everyone has a story,” he said. “It is now time to see what we can do with our passions and talents. The question is not what we will do with our lives, but how we will go about doing it.”
The graduates of the New Egypt High School Class of 2012 include Samantha Arvelo, Caroline Alisse Arzt, Andrew J. Augustyniak, Tyler Barnes, Mario Giovanni Barone, Ryan J. Bechtold, Samantha Beckett, Cheyenne Bell, Samantha Marie Bendick, Marie Bendick, Antonia Thea Blanda, Samatha E. Brandt, Shelby Lynn Brevogel, Patrick Britt, Daniel Byrne, Jessical Lynn Caffey, Joshua N. Camancho, Matthew Carr, Julie Ann Ciak, Jason Cooper, Justine Noel Cummons, Jordan Curran, Tyler Dey, Kyra L. Didenko, Tyler James Dietrich, Nicole Anne DiGangi, Christopher Michael Dohn, Bryan Donahue, Tylor Eden, Tyler E. Emery, Melissa M. Emley, Sara Lynne Ennis, Jessica Eosso, John Fassl, Allison Fennel, Lindsey Marie Florio, Rachel Geiger, Katelyn A. Gilbert, Alicia Maria Goff, Gregory L. Goffredo, Rebecca Goos, Brandon Graser, Kyle Greeley, John J. Green, Nicolette Haines, Alexander Arthur Hampson, Deanna Heer, Kyle A. Hendrickson.
Dylan Horner, Frank Hurley, Bradley P. Ingenbrandt, Robert Zachary Inman III, Rebecca L. Jobes, Amy Johnson, Anthony M. Jones, Jessica Lynn Kaczor, Shannon Mary Kelley, Victoria A. King, Matthew Kisko, Susan M. Klin, Danielle Krum, James I. Law, Jacob Lawrence, Daniel E. Lestician, Lisa Ann Levanuski, Michael Joseph Limone, Hunter Lloyd, Pedro Madrigal, Rachel Alexis Marabuto, Alison Marie Martino, Kenneth John Massa II, Raymond Mayberry, Kaylee Ann McCall, Micahela N. Meleg, Cody S. Meyers, Kaitlyn Marie Midgett, Tyler Scott Miller, Gerard Kenneth Miraglia, Daniel Mount, Corney Natalicchio, Amanda Novotny, Forrest C. O’Donnell, Kristen Ordonez, Adam Osofsky, Samantha Diane Panek, Jessi Ann Pannone, Kathleen Bridgette Paone, Thomas Parise, Gina Partite, Joel Petrenko, Anthony J. Priegue, Samantha A. Priegue, Joseph Puza, Harry Raines, Joshua Reed.
Matthew Anthony Renaldi, Rachel Maria Roccuzzo, Dustin T. Roman, Michael Ryan Schlauch, Danielle Shanahan, Corey Simpson, Rebecca Siorek, Jamel D. Smith, Danielle Solinski, Jessica Solinski, Sara Sparano, Sheldon A. Stephens, Kassandra J. Stillwell, Daniel Dimitri Stinson, Andrew R. Swift, Jonathan R. Swift, Alyssa Marie Treszczyn, Teresa M. Tiedge, Gian P. Torrano Jacobs, Dalton Ray Trembow, Anthony Joseph Tucker, Erika Nicole Tucker, Keith Vaclavicek, Emily Jean Van Bruggen, Danielle VanNatten, Jessica Lynn Wasilewski, Ryan Williams, Andrew Winkowski, Jenni Wisniewski and Rebecca Elizabeth Zanchuk.

