A confetti bomb set off by some students punctuated the
end of the graduation ceremony..
Watkins Glen High
School
says goodbye to Class of 2015
88 students receive
diplomas at Commencement
WATKINS
GLEN, June 28 -- Eighty-eight members of the Watkins Glen High School
Class of 2015 received diplomas Saturday afternoon at a commencement exercise
in the school auditorium.
The class size was up from last year's total of 72 students
-- and just short of the previous year's 91.
More than 30 awards and scholarships were presented to graduates.
Those awards appear below.
The Valedictory Address was delivered by Colin DeMeritt,
who told his classmates: "We are authors of our future and deciders
of our fates" -- a class "destined for greatness" and possessing
"class spirit and overall unity like no other I have ever seen."
High School Principal Kai D'Alleva said he knew the past
year -- one of transition as the school absorbed the last of the old Middle
School classes -- "was not easy for you" but was "handled
with class and dignity. Your tremendous leadership in and out of the classroom
did not go unnoticed. Today is a great day. Enjoy it."
Salutatorian
Lydia Myers said the ceremony marked "the end of one journey and
the beginning of the next," and that it was both "exciting to
take this next step in my life," but at the same time "bittersweet"
because "it's hard to say goodbye" to her classmates and others
with whom she has shared her school years. The graduating class, she said,
is "like birds" leaving the nest, "learning to fly."
In her Senior Oration, Elizabeth Reed told her classmates
to "never let your past define you," but to never forget those
"who helped us grow."
The High School Band performed The Processional ("Pomp
and Circumstance"), The Alma Mater song and The Recessional ("Coronation
March"). Lydia Myers sang the National Anthem.
Diplomas were presented by outgoing School Board President
Michael Myers. The Class of 2015 graduates are as follows:
From left: Graduates
Amanda Cherock, Jonas Recker and Gabriella LaRosa.
Photos in text:
Top: Colin
DeMeritt delivers the Valedictory address.
Bottom: Salutatorian Lydia
Myers sings the National Anthem.
******
The High School Band performed.
Awards presented
at ceremony
The awards presented at Saturday's
graduation ceremony included the following.
The
Tommy K. Martin Law Enforcement Scholarship
$500.00 given
to a Senior who is pursuing a career in Law Enforcement
Taylor Yaw
Beth MacNamara Art Award
$100.00 given to a Senior who will pursue a career in Art
Brittany Tuttle
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:
Megan Dupuy
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; one
of those years must be in grade 12.
Jon Brown
Watkins Glen High School Alumni Association
Scholarship
Presented at the Alumni Banquet, The Watkins Glen High School Alumni Assoc.
will award scholarships in the total amount on $5,000.00, to be divided
among these graduating seniors:
Jon Brown, Lucy Craig, Noah Wigmore
Italian American Festival Frank Chiacchiarini
Humanitarian Award
$1,000.00 presented to a
senior who honors community service and who is active in athletics
Lucy Craig
Watkins-Montour Lions Club-John Cook-"Bud"
Warner Achievement Scholarship
$1,000.00 and a plaque given to a Senior after successful completion of
the 1st semester of college for service, leadership and academic endeavors
Halle Phillips
Peter A. Pevo Memorial Education Award
$300.00 and a plaque given to a Senior pursuing a career in Early Childhood
Education
Ethan Clark
PTO
Academic Improvement Award
$500.00 given to a Senior who has shown significant academic improvement
in his or her high school career.
Courtney Perrone
PTO Art Award
$250.00 given to a Senior for excellence in Art
Kaylee Reilly
PTO Community Service Scholarship
$500.00 awarded to a Senior who demonstrates a commitment to community
service
Justine Hulbert
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
Lydia Myers
Southern Tier School Counselor Award
$400 given
to two seniors who have earned an average of at least 85% and who demonstrate
exemplary leadership, service, and stewardship to school and community.
Ethan Clark, Alexandra Joslyn
Watkins Glen Faculty Association Scholarship
$1,000 given
to one senior after completion of the first semester of college based
on citizenship, dependability, academic achievement and entering the education
field.
Alexandra Joslyn
Watkins Glen Police Benevolent Association
$250 to be
awarded after the successful completion of the first semester of college,
based on service, character and academic achievement and pursuit of the
study of Criminal Justice.
Sonja Pruitt
Schuyler Hospital Auxiliary Health Care
Award
$1,000.00 to be awarded at the completion of one semester of college to
2 seniors who are pursuing a career in the Health Care field
Colin DeMeritt
CVSA Award
$250.00 awarded
to two graduating seniors who have played for the CVSA Soccer League.
Keziah Fraboni, Noah Wigmore
Live Like Liz Scholarship
(Elizabeth Amisano Ovarian Cancer Education
Fund)
$1,500.00 awarded to a Senior who possesses the same qualities as Elizabeth:
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
Halle Phillips
Erik
Houseknecht Memorial Award
$100.00 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
Dean Laughlin Jr.
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
Kalea Jones
Northrup Foundation Award
$1,000.00 and a plaque given to a Senior for outstanding scholastic achievement
awarded after the 1st semester of college.
LynnAnn Caslin
Melissa B. Wilson Sportsmanship Award
$950.00 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
Amanda Cherock
Freeman Family Foundation Teaching Award
(In memory of Larry and Ruth Freeman)
$2,500.00 awarded to two graduating Seniors who are going on to a college
curriculum in teaching
Alexandra Joslyn and Ethan Clark
Watkins Glen Lions Club - John Cook - Milford
"Bud" Warner Improved Student Scholarship
$1,000.00
and a plaque given to a senior after successful completion of the first
semester of college, for academic improvement of the four years.
Sonja Pruitt
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
Colin DeMeritt
Zonta/Belle Cornell Club Award
$250.00 given to a senior girl entering the field of medical and health-related
studies at a college
Alexis Gonzalez
Zonta
Club Business Award
$250.00 given to a senior girl entering the field of business and enterprise
studies at a college.
Madison Gates
Devon Shaw "Defense For Devon"
Memorial Award
$700.00 given to a senior who has displayed a desire to live a purposeful,
fulfilling life that demonstrates the life lessons Devon bestowed upon
us. This senior exemplifies good character and citizenship, keeping a
sense of humor along the way, also displaying the importance of family,
friends, and community in his daily living, being involved in groups that
may include but are not limited to:sports, music, church, scouts, etc.
Luke Flahive
Schuyler County Retired Teachers' Association
$500.00 given
to a Senior who will be pursuing a career in Education.
Alexandria Gardner
NYS Correction Officers and Police Benevolence
Association
$600.00 given
to a graduating senior who is a dependent of a member of the NYS Correction
Officers and Police Benevolence Association.
Keziah Fraboni
Lake Country Players Performing Arts Award
$100.00 given
to a graduating senior who has been involved in the performing arts.
Lydia Myers
Masonic Senior Tradesman Award
$300.00 given
to a Senior Male pursuing the trades. This award is being given to honor
the work and contribution of masons to mankind.
Dean Laughlin Jr.
NYS Education Department Scholarship for
Academic Excellence
$1,500.00
per year given to a senior, awarding his or her academic excellence.
Colin DeMeritt
NYS Education Department Scholarship for
Academic Excellence
$500.00 per
year given to a senior, awarding his or her academic excellence.
Lydia Myers
NYS Education Department Scholarship for
Academic Excellence
$500.00 per
year given to a senior, awarding his or her academic excellence.
Elizabeth Reed
Frank Anthony DeSarno IV Memorial Scholarhip
$1,000 given to a Senior who has
a passion for the automotive trade. This scholarship is given in memory
of Frank Anthony DeSarno, a Watkins Glen High School graduate.
Timothy Carnes
Dart League Award ($200)
$200 given to a senior who has high
academic achievement in Math.
Elizabeth Reed
Ladies Wednesday Afternoon Club Award
$100.00 given to a senior who plans
to attend college, and shows commitment and enthusiasm for meeting the
challenges of doing well.
Tamijah Lawton-Stone
George Douglas/LPGA Corning Classic Scholarship
$4,600 goes to a diligent student
who demonstrates maturity and responsibility and is a concerned citizen
of the high school. It is given in memory of the co-founder and former
general chairman of the LPGA Corning Classic Golf Tournament.
Colin DeMeritt
Maurice Costa Scholarhip Fund
$7,250.00
is being awarded to a senior who has worked hard with determination and
desire to pursue a higher education.
Joshua Burge
Photos in text:
From the top:
Luke Flahive receives the Devon Shaw "Defense for Devon" Memorial
Award from Principal Kai D'Alleva; Madison Gates, winner of a Zonta Club
Business Award; Alexis Gonzalez receives a Zonta Club Health Award from
D'Alleva; and Lucy Craig, winner of an Italian American Festival award
and a Watkins Glen Alumni Association scholarship, receives her diploma
from School Board President Mike Myers.
Graduates Kevin Kernan and Victoria Wixson.
Colin Gates and Keziah Fraboni receive diplomas from School
Board President Mike Myers.
Abigail Rundle and School Board President Mike Myers
share a laugh as she receives her diploma.
Matt Estes and Halle Phillips receive their diplomas --
Phillips from her father,
Superintendent Tom Phillips.
Left: Graduate
Keith Rekczis enters the auditorium during the Processional.
Right: Taylor Yaw receives
her diploma from School Board President Mike Myers.
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