WESTMORELAND, N.Y.- 68 students completed a major chapter in their lives on June 21, 2024 at the Junior/Senior High School Gym.
The graduation ceremony commenced at 5:00 p.m. Students walked out to “Pomp and Circumstance”, as the crowd applauded. The high school chorus performed beautiful renditions of the National Anthem and the Bulldog Alma Mater. 2024 Graduate, Olivia Moore, gave a speech. She spoke to her fellow classmates about the impacts of covid during their eighth grade year and how scary it was. She went on to describe how pivotal her freshman year was because she made new friends. She reminisced over the last few years, saying she was going to miss the “hello’s and the nods” in the hallways. “Happy that I got to grow up with all of you, but sad that this will no longer be my now,” said Moore. She encouraged her peers to create a path that they want to see in this next chapter.
After Moore’s moving speech, the high school band, directed by Kristyn Cutler, played Pacifica by Randall Standbridge. Gianni Notaro, Social Studies Department Chair and Teacher, was this year’s keynote speaker. He told students that they may have a plan for themselves, but to not be upset if that plan changes. He brought them back to how he met his wife. “One night, at a little dive bar called Don’s Rok in my hometown of Clinton, I met the one.” He told students he thought that would be the last place he would meet his future wife. “You always believe it is going to be some dreamlike scenario,” said Mr. Notaro. “But this was better than that. It was perfect because it was real.” He completed his speech with, “life should be messy, that’s reality.”
Emily Davis and her select choir performed, “Does the World Say?”, then Board President, John Acee, gave his best wishes to the students. Autumn Millington, Senior Class President, walked up to the podium with some words of wisdom for her fellow classmates and a few “thank you’s” to students and staff who helped her get to where she is today. Superintendent, Rocco Migliori, gave his speech. He lead the students through specific eras like the Great Depression, Civil Rights and the covid era, which is something the Class of 2024 is all too familiar with. “You will have some control over how the next era will be viewed, and what it will be called,” he said to students. He hopes they are the era of change, where differing views won’t cause one another to hate each other. He read this important quote from Pope Francis, ”life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you.” He asked them to spread positive energy to hopefully make someone else’s life brighter and better, so there’s can become brighter and better too. “Be the difference makers our world needs,” he added.
In his speech, Mr. Saxton reflected on his time with them as their high school principal, then diploma’s were handed out. Congratulations to the Class of 2024! We can’t wait to see what the future holds!
Click here for photos!
Class of 2024
Elisha Andrews
Nicolina Artz
Aubrie Bartholomew
Anthony Besig
Hayley Brasie
Britney Brood
Aaliyah Buchanan
Emma Carmody
Alyssa Christopher
Danielle Crumb
Emily Davis
Cheyanne Doolen
Lauryn Effland
Emaleigh Ernenwein
Joshua Evans
Seth Firsching
Evan Getbehead
Wade Getbehead
Cheyenne Green
Gavin Haggerty
Jake Harter
Logan Hosler
David Huyck
Lauren Jones
Trevor Jones
Hayley Kierpiec
Hunter Kierpiec
Hunter Klis
Lucas Lachut
Sophia Longo
Christopher Malerba
Gino Marangi
Natalie Martinyuk
Jacob Mazur
Lily Mazur
Autumn Millington
Tanner Misiak
Olivia Moore
Dylan Myers
Molly Nestved
Kayleigh Pacheco
Angelina Pagliaro
Chloe Patterson
Logan Rice
Jeremy Riggles
Aurelia Rizan
Anthony Sawanec II
Joel Schoolcraft
Damian Simmonds
Aidan Smith
Joseph Smith
Riley Smith
Aidan Spina
Rylie St. Peter
Patrick St. Thomas V
Autumn Strebing
Cynthia Superak
Tyler Szarek
Madison Thurston
Anthony Tisi
Ryan Townsend
Natalie Trophia
Jenna Tyczynski
Logan Walker
Jack Williams
Victoria Williams
Penelope Worley
Jolin Young