By Maddy Anand, Packet Media Group
The Sun Bank Arena welcomed parents, family, friends and 710 South Brunswick High School graduates Tuesday morning for the commencement ceremony. A sea of black and yellow took over the floor as spectators stood frantically waving and taking pictures.
Principal Peter Varela greeted what he said was one of the most successful graduating classes by recapping its achievements in academics, the arts and sports, and thanking the class as well as faculty for helping South Brunswick become a top high school. “Along with all the accomplishments, we’ve also embraced our five core values; honesty, respect, responsibility, kindness and service,” he said. “We are proud to call you Vikings.”
Student Council President Kevin Chen reminded fellow students to “be you.” “There may be seven billion people in the world, but there is only one of you to be who you want to be, only one of you to pursue your dreams, only one of you, so why do you want to be someone else?” he asked.
Mr. Chen then introduced Superintendent Gerard Jellig, who announced that the school would start allowing electronic devices throughout the school and will ease up on the dress code, to assure graduates that the school to which they are now alumni will never stop trying to improve.
Valedictorian Sakshum Chadha spoke about each of his mentors and thanked them. “Mentors are the people who give us values, who define us, who inspire us,” he said. Salutatorian Brian Shi jokingly quoted Will Ferrell’s character from the film “Talladega Nights” by saying “if you’re not first, you’re last.” He then stressed the importance of South Brunswick High School’s diversity in both people and learning experiences.
After the graduates received their diplomas one by one, they joined together to throw their hats in the air to honor the end of an era and celebrate the beginning of a new chapter in their lives.
