Celebrating. the Class of Garden City Public Schools Summer 2019, Vol. 20, No. 4

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1 On The Line Garden City Public Schools Summer 2019, Vol. 20, No. 4 Dear Community Members, I hope you are all having a wonderful summer! Welcome to the latest edition of On the Line. In keeping with tradition, we dedicate this to our graduating class. On behalf of the Board of Education, the entire administration, and faculty, congratulations to the Garden City High School Class of 2019, as well as our students who are moving up to new schools this fall. The Class of 2019 is filled with so many wonderful, high-achieving scholars who have made us all very proud by their many accomplishments whether academic, athletic, extracurricular or community-service oriented in nature. What makes me even more proud of our graduates is the high caliber of character they have demonstrated throughout their career in Garden City. This group has been accepted to and will be attending a wide variety of prestigious universities and colleges. You can refer to the inside of this newsletter to learn more about where members of the Class of 2019 will be attending. As the summer winds down, please be assured that much work is being done so that we can continue to provide the best learning opportunities for our students and ensure another successful school year. I look forward to seeing you all very soon. Sincerely, Kusum Kusum Sinha, Ed.D. Garden City High School s 85th graduating class proudly marched out to the traditional Pomp and Circumstance and the applause of proud family, friends, faculty and school leaders to kick off the 2019 commencement ceremony at Warren King Field. High School Principal and keynote speaker Nanine McLaughlin presided over her final ceremony before moving into her new position as the district s assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership development. Co-valedictorians and Celebrating the Class of 2019 and salutatorian Aidan Padala each gave inspiring addresses of reflection on their years in the district and confidence in their classmates for the years ahead. Class President Aidan Pfaff and Vice President Isabella Herrera introduced the graduation candidates. One by one, each stepped up to receive their diplomas and congratulations from Board of Education members, who wore smiles of gratitude for this class of high achievers and solid citizens that is moving on to make a positive difference in the world.

2 At the Top of their Class I would like to first start off by saying thank you to the school administration, Dr. Sinha, Ms. McLaughlin, Mr. Steingruebner, Mr. Perrotta and my guidance counselor, Ms. Whiston as well as all the teachers and staff who have made Garden City High School so memorable and who are always there for their students. I would also like to thank my parents, my sisters, my relatives and my friends for being there for me all these years. Six years ago, I was here for my sister s graduation, and then two years prior, I was here for my other sister s graduation. That I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be standing here, and I am so honored to be with all of you on this wonderful day. However, I didn t get here on my own. I d like to thank the administration, my guidance counselor, Ms. Khan, my teachers, my fellow students, my family, my sisters, and, most importantly, my mothers, Beth and Margaret, for providing me the resources, support and experiences that have molded me into the person I am today. I know that sounds cliché, but it s the truth. When we were younger, a lot of the decisions in our lives were made for us which elementary school we went to (shout out to Stratford), what activities we participated in, and even what we wore. As we grew older, we, for the most part, gained more independence and responsibility. We all chose to go to the was almost eight years ago! Eight years ago, my biggest concern was most likely, when is lunch? I cannot help but wonder where those eight years have gone. Times were much simpler back then. One thing I have learned is that growing up is tough, so we should savor the time we get to spend together. We have had the extraordinary opportunity to explore a wide range of fields and hobbies at this school. Over the course of four years, I have gotten to know talented people not just in academics, but also in the arts, continued on page 6... high school, rather than a private school; we chose for the most part the classes we took; and we chose to take the next, and often scary, step onward from high school. But now it is truly our turn to make decisions, as well as to further grow and develop our individual characters. However, luck and chance often play a role in our lives, as well. Who knows what my fate would have been had I remained in China. But I am sure the opportunities I have had in America, and certainly in Garden City, are abundantly greater. Ironically, my family knew the Go family before I was adopted. And here I am today standing shoulder-to-shoulder with, my co-valedictorian. We are all so lucky to have grown up in Garden City, to have lived in a district with such a great public continued on page 6...

3 The Journey Continues: Class of 2019 College Attendance Kara Acinapuro Alexandra Adams Pratt Institute Christian Ahrem Jennifer Alden Thomas Allen Lucy Ambach Middlebury College Bridget Anderson Sydney Antic Cameron Aries Elon University Owen Ascher Vincent Aversa Jenna Aversano University of North Carolina at Wilmington William Bahlke Lehigh University Jared Baker Ithaca College Rudolph Baldeo CUNY Hunter College Yuexuan Ban University of Rochester Ninfa Baron The University of Alabama Nicoletta Barton Robert Baschnagel James Basile University of Vermont Kishan Batra Cuny Baruch College Stephen Baymack Grace Belt James Madison University Christina Bennett Alex Bensen Texas A&M University John Bensen Gabriella Bevil Travis Bharucha Ryan Bice Bryant Bily Trent Biscone John Blume Drexel University Daniel Boccafola Raj Brahmbhatt Merrimack College Abigail Brita Gregory Buckman Jolie Buggy Gunnar Burpee Pace University Jeanne Butler Donald Byrne Gianni Canaletich James Cashwell Claire Castellano Rice University Amanda Cerrato Providence College Andrew Cheng Rochester Institute of Technology Charles Cody Allison Colameo Matthew Conelli John Connolly Pace University Lauren Conway Caitlin Cook University of Pennsylvania Justin Coppola Georgios Cosmas Kaitlin Costello Julie Couture Abigail Cox Andrew Coyle Ithaca College Aidan Coyne Matthew Critelli William Crowley Michael Cuomo Rebecca Curran Wagner College Timothy Curran Alex D Aloisio Northeastern University Anthony D Antone Kelly D Antonio University of California, Los Angeles Connor Dane Meghan Dealy Angelo Demiris Armen Demirjian Jason Derby Byrant University Jamie Derkasch University of Georgia Margaret Digan Jillian Dilemme Joseph Dilemme SUNY Maritime College Mary Kate Dolan Aidan Dougherty SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry William Duff Stonehill College Christian Durante Rice University Thomas Efthimiou SUNY Farmingdale State College Gregory Elmokian Heather Fanning Stefanie Farkas Syracuse University Lauren Feijoo Lucas Feingold Tara Fenty Ciara Feron Iona College Daniel Ferreira Theodore Ferzola The Culinary Institute of America Elizabeth Fetherston Catherine Flood Maria Flouskakos Kiera Foley Michael Fontanetta SUNY Delhi Kayla Fosbeck Jake Fraher Catholic University of America Kevin Freddo Eva Gaberlavage Liam Gaffney Lindsey Gambino Massachusetts Institute of Technology Emily Gaven Lauren George Madison George Mary Gibbons University of Florida Leigh Gillan Chase Gladd Spencer Gorman Michael Greco The George Washington University Michael Greene Miranda Griffith William Griffith Julia Grimes Connor Gunn Hobart and William Smith Colleges Steven Haass Stevens Institute of Technology Miles Hanson University of New Haven Joselyn Harris Whittier College Colin Hart Brown University Erin Healy Ella Heaney Zoe Heath Washington University in St. Louis Patrick Heavey Alexandra Heber Julianne Hegarty Isabel Henke University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign Isabella Herrera Justin Hessler Lauren Hill Kelly Hollis Nicole Hughes Theresa Hughes Boston University Diana Humbert Hannah Hwang Parsons The New School of Design Elizabeth Iraj Sean Jaeger Chloe Janicke Elon University Hope Janicke Nicholas Katos Michaela Keating Grace Kelly University of Tennessee Caitlin Kenna John Kenny Stephanie Knechtges Alexandra Kopcak Hobart and William Smith Colleges Matthew Koslo Nicholas Krawiec Jennifer Kubler University of Massachusetts - Amherst Cyrus Lalehzar Temple University Lukas Lambraia Alexandra Larocca University of Michigan Jenna Lavinio Brooke Lawson Rollins College Daniel Leary Robert Lehan Daniel Leiter University of Wisconsin Nicholas Leopizzi University of Dayton Christina Levi Alexa Lodato Andrew Luglio Rose Lynch Vassar College Sarah Ma The Juilliard School Pre-College Program Sarah Mackey University of Florida Kelsey Macri Antonio Magnotta Olivia Manettas The Ohio State University Ryan Manley Roanoke College Margaret Manning Matthew Marooney American University Hope Mauceri Samantha Mauceri Timothy MCauliffe Roger Williams University Veronica McCann Kelly McDonald Worcester Polytechnic Institute Liana McDonnell Stanford University Brendan McEvoy Syracuse University Christian McGannon Matthew McGovern Daniel McLeod Manhattan College Gracie McManus Amanda Melkonian Kyle Merritts University of Pittsburgh Kara Metzler Alexandra Michael Christopher Michel Siena College Morgan Miller Alexa Molloy University of Wisconsin Priscilla Mongelli SUNY Fredonia Emily Moody Vanderbilt University Matthew Moody Abigail Moran Hunter Morgan John Morris University of Tennessee Iain Morrison Northeastern University Steven Moscatiello Kristen Motto Eric Mueller Franklin & Marshall College John Muldoon Grace Mullahey Kathleen Mullins Harry Murphy Providence College Lisa Murphy Maria Neuhedel Catherine O Connor Emily Olenik Union College Aidan Padala University of Pennsylvania Zara Pahlavi Anna Paisley Santa Clara University Jeffrey Papazian Stephen Pappacena SUNY Canton Gavin Pappas Denison University Julia Peppard Aidan Pfaff Alexis Philippides Bentley University Angelica Pietromonaco Collin Plunkett Jessica Price University of Massachusetts - Amherst John Protano Carnegie Mellon University William Puccio Trinity College Gilbert Puentes Emily Quinn Olivia Ragusa Michael Rasquin SUNY Plattsburgh Thomas Reifler Patrick Reilly Julia Remick Daniel Rocha Chloe Rogers Dartmouth College Erika Rooney Nicholas Rosato Helena Roukis Emma Rubino Lara Salsberg Shania Sanasie Boston University Lelia Santos Matthew Savino Danielle Sbeglia Joseph Scattareggia Bucknell University Tufts University Timothy Schmitt Mariyam Shami Michael Shirley Thomas Siler University of Pittsburgh Amy Smith Christian Smith George Spanos Northern Vermont University Pasquale Sperduto SUNY Farmingdale State College Ashley Sproul Megan Stabile SUNY Cortland Alexandra Stefanik Rhode Island School of Design Erin Studdert Anne Sullivan Brady Sullivan Sydney Sutherland Salisbury University Rose Sweeney Cathryn Tateosian James Madison University Grace Taylor Connor Tierney Garrett Treanor Indiana University Charles Tynan Vassar College Alexandra Valdes Emma Van Dyke Paul Varano Bentley University Joseph Villapol William Von Heill Manhattan College Madeleine Walsh Clemson University Jenna Ward Katharine Mary Ward Clemson University Caitlin Wellbrock The College of New Jersey William Willis Saint Michael s College Yasmine Worrell SUNY Baruch College Emily Wykowski Nicole Yaghdjian Trevor Yeboah-Kodie Brown University Garrett Zander Andrew Zupicich SUNY University at Buffalo

4 Congratulations, Class of 2019! Salutatorian Aidan Padala with co-valedictorians Elsie Schaubeck and. Student Council President Grace Mullahey leads the Pledge of Allegiance. Salutatorian Aidan Padala gives the welcoming address. Class President Aidan Pfaff introduces the Class of Graduated! The culmination of years of hard work is encapsulated in this smile. Board of Education trustee Stefanie Granville awards a graduating senior his diploma.

5 Garden City Public Schools 56 Cathedral Avenue Garden City, NY Board of Education Angela Heineman, President Tom Pinou, Vice President William Holub, Trustee Stefanie Granville, Trustee Michael Cassaro, Trustee Dr. Kusum Sinha, Superintendent of Schools Resident Garden City, NY Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Garden City, N.Y Permit No. 22 Top of Their Class At the...continued from page 2 athletics and music. We got here to graduation through hard work, patience and lots of determination. What is important is that we continue these habits. We are all off to start a new adventure. We will certainly face new challenges. We will learn, cry, make mistakes, love, and maybe even change our perspective on the world. However, what will be constant will be the qualities that shaped us from our experiences in this high school. These defining qualities will guide us to make decisions in our lives that will allow us to do what we love. Class of 2019, through laughter and tears, we have gotten through it all, and I know we are ready to move on to greater things. The future is bright, and I don t know about you, but I am excited to see what is in store for us. Congratulations, Class of 2019! See you later! school system, and to have had teachers, counselors, and administrators who have cared for and supported us for so many years. We all live in what we call the Garden City bubble. However, as we leave Garden City High School behind and enter whole new environments as young adults, we step out of our comfort zones. It is time for us to take risks, challenge ourselves and make new memories. It s OK to not know what you re doing, it s OK to make mistakes as long as you can bounce back and fall forward. Our lives are like a game of Jenga. Sometimes we play it safe by removing that middle piece towards the top. But sometimes we need to be daring enough to take out that piece on the side and to risk the tower falling down in order to progress. The difference between playing it safe and taking chances is simply making a decision. It may not be an easy one, but it rests solely on our willingness to accept the possibility of failure and to learn from our experiences. And if the tower does happen to collapse, it s our responsibility...continued from page 2 alone to make the choice to build it back up again. When I look out at all of you, I see so much potential. I see doctors and nurses, lawyers and athletes, artists and musicians, writers and engineers, and so many strong individuals who will carve their own paths. But mostly I see our future. For all I know, someone out here might be the one to cure cancer. But think of the endless opportunities open to us when we take full advantage of our strengths and our minds. Whether traveling the world or staying close to home, we can always make a difference. Some of us may save lives in the medical field or make scientific advances through research. Some may write books or music or create magnificent pieces of art. But all of us will make new memories, have new experiences, and form new friendships. As we go off on our own journeys, I dare you all to do something new, do something different, but mostly do something that you love and that matters to you. We are always learning and growing from our experiences, so let s go out into the world with an open mind and an open heart. Thank you.