New Hyde Park Memorial High School celebrates the class of 2016! After years of hard work and dedication, New Hyde Park Memorial High School’s Class of 2016 completed their high school experience when they took hold of their diplomas at their commencement ceremony at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports and Exhibition Complex on June 26.
Speakers included Sewanhaka Central High School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ralph Ferrie, senior class president Daniella Malliae and Student Council president Kyle Francis Bangug, who told fellow graduates “today is a great day to be a gladiator.”
“A gladiator by definition is a person who fights relentlessly for a cause,” said Bangug. “For these last six years, we have stuck to our roots as gladiators and have fought through every single obstacle to achieve this cause today. This ultimate moment of success, prosperity and achievement.”
New Hyde Park Principal Dr. Richard Faccio spoke about the key points to success during his remarks. Faccio told students in order to be successful they would need to create a roadmap, find their passion, take risks and be realistic.
Salutatorian Carolyn Wilson used Disney movies as inspiration for her salutatorian’s address and urged fellow graduates to be courageous.
“We are going to face many obstacles in the coming years and regardless of the tons of advice our parents will be supplying us during these times, the simplest and most applicable advice will always be ‘just keep swimming.”’
Valedictorian Roby Daniel spoke about his greatest fear during his remarks.
“I’m afraid of whether or not my life had any real positive effect on this world. I’m afraid of leaving this Earth without giving back to it. I’m afraid of not being able to say I know I left a legacy and I’m proud of it,” he said. “Perseverance and determination to keep moving should remain with us forever, so take these experiences and lessons you’ve learned during your time at New Hyde Park and affect change in this world.”
Musical performances by the school’s select choir and senior high school band were highlights of the ceremony, which continued with the awarding of diplomas and the traditional tossing of the caps.
—Submitted by the New Hyde Park High School District