TINTON FALLS – Ranney School’s 63-member Class of 2020 celebrated its commencement
on campus during a ceremony held on July 11.
Twenty of the seniors, known as “Ranney Lifers,” had attended the school for 10 or more years, according to a press release from the school.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the Class of 2020 was the first class to take Advanced Placement exams at home, the first to produce their year-long Capstone research projects via live, interactive YouTube presentations, and the first to have a socially distanced graduation on Ranney’s Campus in Tinton Falls, according to the press release.
Student Council President Derek Vastola of Colts Neck (Harvard University) began a weekly Ranney News Network Show called “Quarantine Weekly” that showed what members of the campus were doing in their time away from school, raising the spirits of the community while bonding the members from afar, according to the press release.
The Class of 2020 had representation at All-Shore and All-State Performing Arts Ensembles: Sam Novotny of Freehold (New York University, Steinhardt) in the All-Shore Jazz Band; and Haocheng Bai of Freehold (New York University) in the All-Shore Honors Chorus and All-State Mixed Chorus.
Emily Chang of Holmdel (University of Pennsylvania) was awarded the U.S. Figure Skating Gold Level Graduating Seniors Award. Autumn Siliato of Wall Township (University of South Carolina) was featured on Fox Business News for creating a philanthropic equestrian clothing line.
In her commencement speech, Valedictorian Qinyuan Xue said, “Here at Ranney, we received a great education that prepared us to overcome these challenges. All of us … are here because we have tried our best and overcome the fear.
“We couldn’t have done this without the help of all the teachers and our families. … Yes, the future is unclear and we are going for a college career that will be much different from our high school life.
“I know we can move on and take on whatever challenges come next in our lives. And we won’t forget that our friends and family will always be by our side,” Qinyuan said.
Qinyuan, known as Sophia to her classmates, is an international student who lived with a
host family in Freehold. She will be attending the University of California, Berkeley.
Salutatorian Seth Marx of Marlboro (Vanderbilt University) said, “As we all take the next big step of life and move into the real world, I am certain the lessons Ranney has taught us, in and out of the classroom, will be able to take us far in an uncertain future.
“The lessons we learned from each other, however, will take us even farther, and I’m glad to have completed my high school education with all of you,” he said.
At the graduation ceremony, 11 students were awarded with special honors:
• Headmaster’s Cup – Derek Vastola of Colts Neck (Harvard University);
• Gershom Tomlinson Humanitarian Award – Nelly Fadil of Colts Neck (Lafayette) and Kathryn Peardon of Neptune (College of William & Mary);
• Faculty Prize – Victoria Gualario of Colts Neck (Smith College), Seth Marx of Marlboro (Vanderbilt University), Ryan Rinaldo of Colts Neck (Wake Forest University);
• Ann Kappel Citizenship and Service Award – Kieran Fino-Saunders of Sea Girt (Savannah College of Art and Design);
• Robert Paulus Leadership and Perserverance Award – Olivia Knoop of Tinton Falls (Quinnipiac University);
• Margaret M. Mahon Award – Charlotte Clark of Tinton Falls (Northeastern University);
• Lawrence S. Sykoff Award- Sam Novotny of Freehold (New York University);
• Ranney School Leadership Award – Lilly Blumenkrantz of Colts Neck (Elon University).