Huntington’s Class of 2009 Graduates
A strong storm interrupted Huntington High School’s 148th commencement exercises last Friday night, sending a crowd of more than 2,000 running for cover. But, the drenching rains couldn’t dampen the enthusiasm of the Class of 2009, which reassembled in the auditorium and celebrated during their last time together.
Huntington school officials were hoping to pull off the 6 p.m. outdoor ceremony without incident, but as members of the senior class and faculty marched into Blue Devil Stadium and circled the track to a standing ovation, dark clouds quickly moved over the area and ominous thunder could soon be heard in the distance.
By the time salutatorian Dylan Payne began his address, winds had started whipping through surrounding trees and sent the high school orchestra’s music sheets flying. As Mr. Payne rushed to finish his remarks, the skies opened and a race to shelter ensued.
About 30 minutes later, the ceremony resumed in the 1,850 seat auditorium. Mr. Payne completed his address and the huge audience listened to short speeches by a handful of students and School Board President Bill Dwyer, Superintendent John J. Finello and Principal Carmela Leonardi.
Mr. Payne looked ahead to the future during a whimsical talk. “Surely all of us have been pushed by our parents at one point or another, so I would like to thank all the family members who are here today, who have helped us achieve over the past four years,” he said. “However, this thank you is also a goodbye. After high school, the people who brought us up from drooling toddlers, into intelligent young men and women, will play a much smaller role in our lives. Not to say that they will be less valued, needed, or loved by any of us. However, now that we are done here, we will be making more of the everyday decisions of our lives, the places we go, the things we do, and the people we meet.”
The seniors were a high performing group, with 112 of them taking at least one Advanced Placement exam and 67 students taking three or more. Six of the graduates took six AP exams. In all, members of the Class of 2009 sat for 331 AP exams, a leap of 50 percent from the previous year.
“My parents once gave me an incredibly important piece of advice that I wish to share with all of you,” valedictorian Christopher Lau told classmates. “It is a lesson that I live by each and every day: The most important part of life is doing what you love. Although this may sound a bit corny, and perhaps a bit idealistic, I believe it is a doctrine to live by. Find your passion and your love in life. Travel your own path. Embrace your own journey. And, most importantly, be bold in your quest. The bottom line is this: always do what you love, no matter what it may be; life is simply too short to ever be unhappy.”
Huntington’s Class of 2009 collectively received scholarships amounting to $13,428,936, topping last year’s total by nearly $4.9 million. The school processed 1,439 college applications. In all, 90 percent of the graduates will be going to college, 4.1 percent are headed straight into the work force, 2.1 percent have enlisted in the military, two percent will pursue a specialized certificate program and one student is destined for an academic leadership program in Israel.
“Our world today presents many different and difficult challenges,” Mr. Finello told the graduates. “Look upon them as opportunities to improve the quality of life for all. Use your talent, energy and knowledge to make the world a better place. Stand up to social injustice, work to put down the dangerous threats that challenge our rights, privileges and civil liberties. The American dream does exist. Whatever you set out to achieve can be accomplished if you remain true to yourself. Be an independent thinker. View your successes as well as your failures as learning experiences. Follow your dreams and set goals to give your life purpose and direction. Find your passions and pour your heart and soul into achieving them. Success comes to those who never quit. Learn all that you can about your chosen field and your goals will be more easily attained. Value your friendships. Above all, respect yourself and be honest with yourself.”
The graduates have been accepted into Dartmouth College, Univ. of Pennsylvania, Cornell Univ., Univ. of Virginia, Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Univ. of Maryland at College Park, Rutgers Univ., Tufts Univ., NYU, Fordham Univ., Univ. of Notre Dame, Duke Univ., College of William and Mary, UCLA, Georgetown Univ., School of Visual Arts, Fashion Institute of Technology, all the top SUNY schools and dozens of other colleges.
“You are ready to start a new chapter in your life, and it is a chapter where you write your own story,” Mr. Dwyer told the seniors. “You see, up until this point, you have been ours. Your education has been mandatory. Like it or not, you had to get up every morning and go to school. But now the choices become yours. Many of you will go on to further your education at colleges, whether they be two year or four year programs, or trade schools. But these will be schools of your choosing, in courses of study that you are interested in. And if you’re not sure yet what it is that really interests you, don’t worry, give it time.”
Senior Grace Barnard announced the Class of 2009’s gift to the school was two large white and blue medallions that have already been mounted atop the building on either side of the letters spelling out Huntington High School. One depicts a lighthouse and the other is of a Blue Devil. “I believe we chose this symbol because a lighthouse leads all ships in a safe direction,” she said. “I can say with confidence that this school has done an excellent job in leading all of its students in a safe direction in whatever endeavors our future holds.
Dr. Leonardi urged the seniors to follow through on their obligations. “More than any other group, the Class of 2009 has been warned that the future of our country and our planet rests on their skills and talents,” she said. “We, as parents, would not have chosen to put such a burden on their young shoulders. Judging from the achievements I have just listed, however, we can be encouraged by the knowledge that our sons and daughters will take up the responsibilities they have been handed and find solutions where we did not dream or even dared to hope for. For my part I strongly believe that the future of our society is in very capable hands.”
As the commencement drew to a close, graduates tossed their caps high into the air and cheered before accepting heartfelt congratulations from parents and other family members, posing for photos and heading off into Huntington history.
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