Senior Class Advisor Sam Brubaker addresses the graduates before the ceremony as they gathered in the WGHS Field House gym.

WG Class of 2012 moves on

WATKINS GLEN, June 24 -- The Watkins Glen High School Class of 2012 received its diplomas Saturday in a commencement exercise that filled the school auditorium with family and friends.

Nearly 100 students were on stage to receive diplomas, and to listen to addresses by Valedictorian Marguerite Virginia Kellogg and Salutatorian Margaret L. Myers, and a Senior Oration by Jenna Marie Gimbar.

Myers spoke briefly about "the past four years," which were "full of ends ... the end of semesters ... the end of sports seasons ... the end of school years. But now it's different. This marks the conclusion of our career as students at Watkins Glen High School."

Gimbar noted that the time the Class of 2012 shared across the years had passed quickly, "and now we're in robes, ready to leave what we call home." She said her class, as tightly knit as it has been -- full of close friendships -- "was the one to be watched" and was "full of leaders" who should "embrace the challenges ahead."

And referring to author Robert Fulghum's book, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" -- where a list of do's and don'ts includes "Share everything, play fair, don't hit people, put things back where you found them, clean up your own mess ... wash your hands before you eat, and flush" -- she urged her fellow graduates to "never forget what we learned in kindergarten." She also cautioned them to be "guided by kindness, compassion and love."

Kellogg urged her classmates to "take risks" in life, "out of your comfort zone. Never stop dreaming. If you dream and do the things you love, it will inspire others around you."

High School Principal Dave Warren briefly addressed the graduates, telling them that "all days won't be as sunny as this one," and urged them to "learn to dance in the rain."

Warren and Senior Class Advisor Sam Brubaker distributed prizes (see list below), and then School Board President Brian J. O'Donnell awarded the diplomas to the graduates, one by one.

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The top 10 students academically were (in order):

Marguerite Virginia Kellogg
Margaret L. Myers
Jenna Marie Gimbar
Jessica M. Brogdon
Elena L. Likoudis
Rachel C. St. Julien,
Haley Elizabeth Tuttle
Angela Marie Keough
Alexander D. Rundle
Brett Somerville.

The rest of the graduates, in alphabetical order, were as follows:

Hunter S. Arcangeli
Albert W. Barrett
Charles Xavier Bascom
Clayton James Beaumont
Jonathan Michael Besley
Lydia Marie Biever
Shawn R. Bliss
Benjamin Bloodgood
Erin Katrina Bond
Matthew James Bradascio
Chanda Doree Brown
Alex Nathan Cacciotti
Calyssa Emerald Cady
Ryan T. Campbell
Taylor Marie Chaffee
Joshua Michael Chilson
Stephanie Joylyn Clawson
Jason Conroy
Kayla Ann Cornish
Alexander M. Coxson
Alexander Joseph Croyle
Dustin M. Cummings
Nicholas Paul Dalrymple
Ethan Lee Dean
Sarah Elizabeth DeBolt
Michelle L. Denmark
Rachel Ann DeWitt
Christopher W. Duane
Devan Sean Edwards
Rowan Fitzsimmons Elizabeth
John William Fausold
Mikel A. Fazzary
Christopher M. Flood
Bradley C. Gallow
Jordyn Alexis Gardner
Matthew Aric Gardner
Courtney Marie Gascon
Ryan J. Gascon
Christopher W. Gill
Connor E. Goodwin
Joshua Allen Hamelin
Kelsie Allena Hamelin
Zachary Jason Harrian
Adam J. Hughey
Jolie Rae James
Brittany R. Johnson
Meredith A. Johnson
Jordan Nicole Kelly
Kristin Renee Kerr
Desirae Elizabeth Landon
Chelsea Jean Lehman
Chelsea Lynn Maceda
Haley May Matson
Marissa K. Meehan
Alec H. Moore
Kimberly I. Morris
Hilary Brook Mosher
Yui Nagano
Sophia A. Nemeth
Steven R. Padgett Jr.
Victoria Hazel Pagliaro-Katz
Hannah Jewel Pastrick
Juliana E. Peters
Quincy Alexandra Powers
Stephanie Taylor Rhoads
Kenneth Leroy Rhodes
Mitchell Connor Rhodes
Maegan M. Robbins
Thomas W. Rockwell
Robert Michael Rondinaro
Shane Matthew Smith
Nicholas D. Sorensen
Dalton Scott Stansfield
Jessica Mae Stansfield
Austin J. Stephany
Peter Joshua Storelli Jr.
Joseph Clarence Strait III
Nicole M. Swarthout
Danielle Elna Ann Teed
Bryan Charles Teeter
Aaron Keith Thurston
Ashley Nicole Tieppo
Brooke E. VanAlstine
Logan R.VanNordstrand
Cassandra A. Wait
James Joseph Walker
Brandon James Michael Westervelt
Damion Keith Westlake
Shawn MJ Wright

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Awards and Scholarships

The awards and scholarships presented Saturday were as follows, determined by either the faculty or the organization that issued the award.

Amber Brockway Award
$500.00 given to a Senior who is compassionate, loving, kind and charitable. The recipient must be going to a two- or four-year college. This year's recipient is Dustin Cummings.

Beth MacNamara Art Award
$100.00 bond given to a Senior who will pursue a career in Art. Chanda Brown

Butch Bianco Sports Award
$50.00 bond given to a Senior with all around athletic skills and sportsmanship in competitive sports. Alec Moore

Southern Tier Guidance Counselor Award
$350.00 to a senior who has earned an average of at least 90% and who demonstrates
exemplary leadership, service, and stewardship to school and community: Christopher Gill

Dr. T. J. Love Elks Club Scholarship
$1,000.00 given to a Senior majoring in agriculture, veterinary medicine or related studies, after successful completion of the 1st semester of college: Danielle Teed

Financial Institutions of Schuyler County
$100.00 bond given to a Senior who is an outstanding Math student: Margaret Myers

Italian American Festival Frank Chiacchiarini Humanitarian Award
$1,000.00 presented to a senior who honors community service and who is active in athletics: Hannah Pastrick

Freeman Family Foundation American History Award (In memory of Larry and Ruth Freeman)
$500.00 to a graduating Senior who is a winner of an American History Essay Contest:
Marguerite Kellogg

Freeman Family Foundation Teaching Award (In memory of Larry and Ruth Freeman)
$2,500.00 each awarded to two graduating Seniors who are going on to a college curriculum in teaching: Marissa Meehan and Haley Tuttle

Finger Lakes Runners Club Scholarship
$500.00 to a senior who devotes time to serve at numerous community activities and has a passion for running: Christopher Gill

Joanne S. Hayes Memorial Scholarship
The Arc of Schuyler helps area students prepare for a career in special education, human services, or a related field where people with developmental disabilities will be supported. The award recognizes the recipient's dedication to academics, commitment to the community, and promise to have a positive impact on people with developmental disabilities. The scholarship of $1,000.00 will be awarded after the successful completion of the first semester of college: Jenna Gimbar, Rachel St. Julien and Haley Tuttle

Erik Houseknecht Memorial Award
Awarded to a student who has improved the most throughout his four years of high school, reaching higher academic achievement and greater personal goals by believing in himself and helping other students: Ryan Campbell

Lenore Fenaughty Business Award
$100.00 given to a student who demonstrates exceptional achievement in Business Studies and intends to pursue a professional career in the business world: Nicole Swarthout

New York State Health Olympiad Award
$1000.00 earned by the Watkins Glen High School health education team at a NYS competition in April 2012. The team chose a senior pursuing study in a medical field at a university in New York State who demonstrated commitment and passion to make a difference in America's health care system and improve the quality of life for all Americans. This award will be granted upon successful completion of the first semester of college: Jessica Brogdon

Melissa B. Wilson Sportsmanship Award
$800.00 and a plaque given to a girl in the senior class with an academic average over 80% who
participates in athletics and school activities with enthusiasm and good sportsmanship:
Jessica Stansfield

Chemung Valley Soccer Association Award
Chemung Valley Soccer Association provides recreational soccer for thousands of our area's young people. CVSA provides an opportunity for area middle and high school students to referee games and has established a scholarship program for graduating seniors. CVSA is proud to award $250 to a senior for her hard work and participation: Hannah Pastrick

Merry-Go-Round Book Club Award
$200.00 given to a deserving Senior who is going to college: Maegan Robbins

Northrup Foundation Award
$1,000.00 and a plaque given to a Senior for outstanding scholastic achievement awarded after the 1st semester of college: Margaret Myers

Peter A. Pevo Memorial Education Award
$300.00 and a plaque given to a Senior pursuing a career in Early Childhood Education:
Jessica Stansfield

PTO Academic Improvement Award
$500.00 given to a Senior who has shown significant academic improvement in his or her high school career: Desirae Landon

PTO Art Award
$250.00 given to a Senior for excellence in Art: Meredith Johnson

PTO Community Service Scholarship
$500.00 awarded to a Senior who demonstrates a commitment to community service: Jenna Gimbar

Ray Bailey Memorial Award
$100.00 and a plaque given to a Senior who will share his/her appreciation of music by continued participation in a community music group; this student may also be minoring in Music in college:
Marguerite Kellogg

New York State Correctional Officers & Police Benevolent Association, Inc.
$600.00, payable upon successful completion of the first semester of college, to a senior whose parent is a member of the association: Brittany Johnson and Charles Bascom

Dart League Math Award
Presented to a senior who has demonstrated a keen interest in math and earned high achievement in the study of mathematics: Margaret Myers

Schuyler Hospital Auxiliary Health Care Award
$1,000.00 to be awarded at the completion of one semester of college to a senior who is pursuing a career in the Health Care field: Jessica Brogdon

VFW Outstanding Senior Awards
$100.00 and a plaque given to each of four outstanding Seniors as selected by the faculty: Robert Rondinaro, Alec Moore, Haley Tuttle and Jessica Brogdon

Bill Meehan Elks Club Scholarship
$1000.00 given to a senior for service, leadership, and academic achievement: Marissa Meehan

Southern Tier Guidance Counselor Award
$700.00 to a senior who has earned an average of at least 85% and who demonstrates exemplary leadership, service, and stewardship to school and community: Christopher Gill

Watkins Glen Faculty Association Scholarship
$1,000.00 to a Senior entering the education field, given after completion of the 1st semester of college based on citizenship, dependability, and academic achievement: Jessica Stansfield

Watkins-Montour Lions Club - Milford "BUD" Warner Achievement Scholarship
$500.00 and a plaque given to a Senior for service, leadership and academic endeavors after successful completion of the 1st semester of college: Jessica Brogdon and Adam Hughey

Watkins-Montour Rotary Club Achievement Scholarship
$1,000.00 given to Senior after the 1st semester of college based on academic ability, activities, improvement and goals: Jenna Gimbar

Zonta Club Award
$250.00 given to a senior girl entering the field of medical and health related studies at a college:
Chelsea Lehman

Zonta Club Award
$250.00 given to a senior girl entering the field of business and enterprise studies at a college: Courtney Gascon

Ronald Ward Tech Education Achievement Award
$500.00 given to a senior who has made the greatest progress at the Tech Center and pursues higher education in his or her tech field of study: Michelle Denmark

Friends of Music Scholarship
$500.00 and a plaque to be awarded after the successful completion of the first semester of college to a senior who will continue to study music as a future career: Marguerite Kellogg and Benjamin Bloodgood

Michael Watson Memorial Wrestling Scholarship
$500.00 awarded upon successful completion of the first semester of college to a senior who has at least three years of wrestling experience, including grade 12: Adam Hughey

Watkins Glen Police Benevolent Association
$250.00 to be awarded after the successful completion of the first semester of college, based on service, character, academic achievement and the pursuit of the study of Criminal Justice: Steven Padgett Jr.

Financial Institutions of Schuyler County
$100.00 bond given to a Senior who is an outstanding Math student: Jenna Gimbar

Live Like Liz Scholarship
$1,500.00 awarded to a Senior who possesses the same qualities as Elizabeth Amisano did: good academic record, continual evidence of good citizenship, commitment to further education, demonstrates belief in the good of all people, and most importantly, has a great sense of humor: Jenna Gimbar

Chemung Canal Trust Company Scholarship
$8000.00 awarded to: Elena Likoudis

Spirit of Schuyler Scholarship
The Spirit of Schuyler is awarding two scholarships in the amouont of $500.00 each to deserving Schuyler County residents who are pursuing further education in the Arts: Marguerite Kellogg and Benjamin Bloodgood

Photos in text:

From top: Rachel St. Julien (left) and Elena Likoudis; Jenna Gimbar delivers the Senior Oration; Valedictorian Marguerite Kellogg sings The National Anthem; Chris Gill receives an award from High School Principal Dave Warren; Joseph Strait receives his diploma from School Board President Brian O'Donnell; Austin Stephany receives his diploma from O'Donnell; Quincy Powers receives her diploma and a hug from granddad Joseph Fazzary, a member of the School Board; Charlie Bascom receives an award from Warren; Maggie Myers delivers her Salutatory Address; Haley Tuttle; O'Donnell hands Kelsie Hamelin her diploma; Cassie Wait is handed her diploma by O'Donnell; Chris Duane receives his diploma from Superintendent Tom Phillips; exchange student Yui Nagano.

Left: Brett Somerville. Right: Alex Rundle receives his diploma from Brian O'Donnell.

Josh Hamelin and Stephanie Rhoads receive their diplomas from O'Donnell.

From left: Graduates Ashley Tieppo, Meredith Johnson and Nick Sorensen.

Prior to the ceremony, the graduates gathered in the Field House gym.

Left: Halle Phillips, a member of the high school band, which performed "Pomp and Circumstance" and "Coronation March." Right: Graduate Robert Rondinaro.