The North Salem News 2019 Graduation Section

Congratulations

CLASS OF 2019

SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO

June 27, 2019

PHOTOS: SARAH BUSSINGER

Page 2 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – June 27, 2019

NClOasRs TofH20S19ALEM HIGH SCHOOL

Stella Anna Ard Gabrielle Elaine Da Silva Alyssa Cohler Freedman Daniel Charles McCormack So a Marie Singer
Julianna Tacadena Austin Jonah Beckett D’Alessandro Rachel Freeman Dylan James Monaghan Hannah Lyn Szabo
Natalie Faye Babon Taylor Gabrielle D’Amico Alexander Garcia Jr. Jonila Mulaj Evan Benjamin Teplensky
Rian Balbino Luke Andrew Devey Ivan Peter Garville Jenna Nicole Murphy Connor Tolman
Julia Marie Balch Lily Doerr Ethan David Gerstman Kelly Meghan Mytych Kirby Gerald Trageser
Christopher Baum Cody Lear Doherty Jack Noah Gjushi Anastasia Arpi Nardone McCall Maria Valentin
Rowan Hoins Bennett Christopher Michael Dolce Dayna Nicole Gorbutt Emilia Clare Navarro Lauren Patricia Vermette
Cecelia Bersch Grant H. Drachman Amanda Rose Halstead Alexandra O’Sullivan Sean Michael Vincent
Zachary Cole Bertolino Aeneas Lawrence Eaton Melena Marie Halstead Timothy James Outhouse Hannah Waldinger
Camden James Binette Anthony Andrew Elluzzi Scott Robert Harde Victoria Faith Piacentino Austin Je rey Waldron
Michael Evan Bossi Alexander Ely Kasey Harmon Steven Prosperino Jason Charles Walter
John C. Buchanan Shanna Feeney Tracy Lynn Hatch, Jr. Jessica M. Reiner Hailey Ann Wilhelm
Emma Ilyse Cindrich William Jerome Feniger Michael He ernan Gabriel Reyes Benjamin Jerome Winter
Sophia Katherine Cocking Kelsey Ann Finnegan Michael Henshaw Melissa Rodriguez Kavic Wright
Kevin Connolly Edward Martin Fiscella Ethan William Jansz Kara Rollins Haylie Ann Wynne
Jason Signo Cornelio Paul Faris Flayhan Benjamin Wayne Leicht Antonio J. Salinas Wilson Marlowe Yarnall
Zachary Chase Cotter Makenzie Brady Fogle Gabrielle Nicole Marino Ainsley Jean Zimmer
Brandon Edward Cunitz William Paul Fox omas A. Schae er
Grace Elizabeth Curran Isabela B. Fox-Mills omas J. Martabano Alexa Marie Schaub
Colleen Mary McCarthy Trevor Scheuing

CKoEngNraNtsEtDo YtheCGAraTdHuaOteLoIfC Shuqi Zhang of North Salem
graduated from Kennedy Catholic
High School earlier this month.

June 27, 2019 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 3

NJOulRiaTBHalcShALEM HS VALEDICTORIAN

We gave this accomplished student one more piece of homework to complete before the year was up with some questions about her
experience in high school and what she plans to do after. Here’s what she had to say:

What activities are you involved in at high school and in the Motivation Award for our impressive independent work.
the community? • Honor Societies, I am a member of the National Honor

roughout high school I have been involved in: Society (where I serve as the peer tutoring coordinator),
• Fencing, I spend most of my time outside of school World Language Honor Society, National Art Honor Soci-
fencing at Fair eld Fencing Academy where I have become a ety, Math Honor Society, and the English Honor Society.
competitive foil fencer competing at various levels of com-
petition. My fencing accomplishments include a B rating on • Science Research, For the past three years I have been
the USFA rating scale (A being the best), a gold medal at very involved with the school’s scienti c research program
a North America Cup (national circuit) last year, a national under Mr.Rubeo. I conducted research on various breeds
ranking during my time as a cadet (17&U), and First Team of the European Honeybee Apis mellifera as it relates to
High School All-American and All-Academic for the past factors contributing to Colony Collapse Disorder and high
two years. I will be walking on to Yale’s Div1 fencing team honeybee mortality. My work allowed me to compete at
next year where I hope to continue my fencing career. both JHSH and WESEF, my senior year and at WESEF I
• Clubs, I have been involved with many clubs at North won second place in the environmental science category.
Salem High School, but my two main ones are Art Club and
the Robotics Team. I am the former treasurer/current presi- • Volunteer work, I have been volunteering at the Ruth
dent of the Art Club. As for the North Salem robotics team, Keeler Memorial Library on and o for the entirety of high
e Tech Wise Guys, I have been a programmer and this school. I have enjoyed my time working with all of the fan-
year was the captain. Our team had some success while I was tastic librarians at the Keeler Library and I am glad I had
a member, qualifying for the regionals last year and winning this opportunity to give back to the community.

SEE VALEDICTORIAN PAGE 4

CONGRATULATIONS

to the

North Salem High School
Class of 2019!

You’ve made us proud!

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Page 4 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – June 27, 2019

VALEDICTORIAN What is a favorite memory of yours research and compete at
from high school? science fairs this past year.
FROM PAGE 3

What does it feel like to be named My favorite memory from high school

valedictorian? is hard to choose, I have enjoyed all of How has North Salem
High School prepared
It is a true honor to be named Vale- the classes I had the opportunity to take you for the future?

dictorian of the Class of 2019! e other and being able to spend time with all of North Salem High
School taught me all of
members of my graduating class have the wonderful people I met. the basic knowledge that
I will need to further my
accomplished truly incredible things and academic pursuits as well as
many of the soft skills that
I am humbled to receive this honor con- Are there any teachers that had an I will need to be successful
in life. I owe it to the many teachers and
sidering their academic prowess. I think impact on you? If so, who and why? administrators at the North Salem Central
School District who continuously chal-
this class will achieve great things and I Many teachers have had a positive im- lenged me and inspired me to work hard
and strive for accomplishing my dreams.
can’t wait to see where we all end up. pact on me and I couldn’t possibly list all
What are some goals you have for the
of them. Some notable teachers include: future?

Where are you going to college, what Mrs.Vilkas my freshman year English My goals for the future are quite community and ultimately mankind. It
vague. I plan on going to college and may sound a bit grandiose, but I truly
will you major in and how did you teacher who taught me some much- eventually on to graduate school in some just want to be able to follow my pas-
sions in a way that helps others.
decide on the college and major? needed writing skills and instilled in me eld of science, likely biology but per-
haps medicine, where I hope to become What will you miss most about high
I will be attending Yale University a love of literature particularly Shake- an expert in my eld and be able to school and North Salem?
contribute meaningfully to the scienti c
next year where I will be entering as an speare and science ction. e main thing I will miss about
North Salem is all of the beautiful
undecided major. Ultimately I am consid- Mr. Regan my sophomore year AP nature that surrounds us. I love being
able to walk my dog at Baxter Preserve
ering being a potential molecular, cellular, European History teacher whose class and enjoy the picturesque setting of
was the most interesting history class I our town. It will be di cult to adjust to
and developmental biology major, with a have ever taken. is class was my rst living in a city after being spoiled by the
AP course and we became very close, views of North Salem for my entire life.
offpossible double major in any multitude of even just having a reunion with Regan’s
famed baked ziti last week!
topics from humanities to mathematics. I
Mr. Rubeo my science research
20%offdecided on Yale because of its unique bal- teacher who rebuilt the entire program
enabling me to take part in high-level
E2YE0GLA%SSESance of all academic disciplines combined
with a favorable undergraduate living

EYfoErGLASSESexperience and the opportunity to take
part in DCiv1hathafloemtircs.ber
MCehmambberesr
20Me%mberos ff Congratulations
EYEGLASSES to the
See store for details. Discount cannot be North Salem
combined with insurance or any other offer. High School
Offer not valid on Contact Lenses or non-
prescription eyewear. Max discount $100.
Exp. 7.31.19

See store for details. Discount cannot be combined with insurance or Class of 2019
eayneSaeyyneweyeoweotsheatthoear.errr.eMroMoffaoffaxefrxerd.dr.deOisOitsfacfcfifoeloesruru.nnnnDtotoi$st$tc1v1vo0a0aul0l0iindd.. t oocnnanCCnooonntttbaacecttcLLoeemnnsbseiensseodor rwnnoitohnn-ipn-prseursercasrcniprcitepiotoinor n

RRaayymmoonndd OOppttiicciiaannss
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SoSmomeersrsCCoommmmoonnss PPuuttnnaammPPlalazaza ((NNeeaar rCClulbubFitF) it)
(9(1941)46) 2612-17-7770000 ((884455)) 222288--55880000 ((991144))224455--11222222

FinFdindotohtehrelrolcoactaiotionnssaattwwwwww..RRaayymondOpticciiaannss..ccoomm foflloolwlouws!us!

June 27, 2019 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 5

e Class of 2019 was a special group of individuals who set a wonderful tone in our
building all year long. ey were extremely successful in the classroom, on the stage, on the
courts and elds, in the art exhibits, science fairs, and with just about anything they set their
mind to! e Class of 2019 had many individual and team achievements and should be
proud of their work as a group. Students from the Class of 2019 will be attending colleges
from Maine to Massachusetts to Florida, from South Carolina to Colorado to California
and from Michigan to Alabama. ey will be scattered throughout the country and should
remember they will always have a home at North Salem High School.

Our focus as a building this year has been to improve and nourish the emotional state
of our students and the theme of this year’s commencement address was “Students Learn
from People ey Love” from an outstanding article I read by New York Times Opinion
Columnist David Brooks in January 2019. e gist of the article states that one cannot
separate emotions from learning. e best learning happens when we are emotionally con-
nected to the person and passionate about the subject matter. We have many of these types
of teachers at North Salem and I told our graduates to continue to search out and nd those
people that you love to learn from
as there are many out there—they

APmResIsNageCfrIomPAL come in all di erent shapes and
sizes and will enter your life at dif-
ferent times. You will never be too
old to learn.Surround yourself with
these people and reap the bene ts.
It has been a pleasure to watch
you learn and grow this year and on

Vincent DiGrandi behalf of the entire administration,
faculty, and sta we wish the Class
of 2019 the absolute best in their
future endeavors.
Congratulations
2019 G aduatin Senior

Friendly,
Professional
Service Designed
Around You

Kerry, Lesl , Mad

Th Hai Whar

Salon Hours: Tues-Fri: 10-5, Thurs: 10-8, Sat: 9:30-4,
Sun: 10-12 (By Appt. Only), Closed Mon.
914-232-727120 Valley Road | Katonah | NY 10536

Page 6 GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplem

P

ment to North Salem News – June 27, 2019 Page 7

Pomp and circumstance!

Page 8 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – June 27, 2019

NChOrRistTopHheSr ADLolEceM HS SALUTATORIAN

What activities are you involved in at high school had never played before in terms of energy and motiva- How has North Salem High School prepared you for
and in the community? tion. For me, especially with my love of basketball, it the future?
was one of my most memorable moments from high
In high school, I was one of the co-editors and school. North Salem High School has prepared me for the
co-producers of the weekly school news show, TGI future by molding me into the best student and citizen
Tiger News, that played every Friday in homeroom. Are there any teachers that had an impact on you? If that I can be. It might seem rather cliché to say, howev-
TGI was a senior-lead production, and along with my so, who and why? er I truly cannot think of another school where I would
great friends omas Schae er and Jason Walter, we be not only academically challenged and engaged,
put together all of the footage every week after school Going to North Salem, I was lucky enough to never but also so personally connected with my peers and
into a cohesive and entertaining video. Additionally, truly have what I would myself describe as a “bad” teachers. I think that having such a small, competitive
in my junior and senior years, I was a consistent writer teacher. However, the two teachers that I believe graduating class has driven me into the focused student
for Tiger Times, the school newspaper that put out especially had an impact on me are two teachers that I can be, and the relationships that I have formed with
around four issues each year. In terms of honor so- have since retired: Mr. Mittelstadt and Mr. DiGaetano. friends and faculty alike will only serve to help me as I
cieties, I was a part of the math, world language, and I could give such a distinction to any teacher, but these enter the next step of my life and attend a college where
national honor societies, and I was the president of two teachers speci cally had a great impact on me I will likely have many opportunities to succeed if I seek
the school’s English honor society. For awards, I was simply due to how entertaining and engaging their them out.
the recipient of many subject-based awards from the classes—AP US History and Honors Chemistry,
school, but some of the major awards I received were respectively—were to me. ey were among the funni- What are some goals you have for the future?
the Foundation for Learning Social Studies scholar- est of teachers that I’ve ever had, and I enjoyed nearly I’ve never been one to set many explicit goals for
ship and the O ce of the New York State Comptroller every moment of their classes, even if they were rather
Achievement Award. I also played varsity basketball challenging and required a lot of work. However, these myself, however one goal that has always been one I
and varsity baseball for the high school my junior and two teachers made the classes so engaging that I’m look to ful l is to gure out what exactly I want to do
senior years, and I continue to play baseball on the so glad that I took their classes, especially since I was in my future. is rather ambiguous goal has meant
town’s summer travel team. a part of some of the last classes they ever taught at many things to me over the years, but right now such a
North Salem. goal refers to me guring out what I want to major in
What does it feel like to be named salutatorian? in college. I’ve always been indecisive when asked by
It is a tremendous honor to be named salutatorian, friends and relatives what I want to be in life, and so I
hope that this goal that I will likely achieve within the
especially given how academically gifted North Salem’s next couple years will set me on the right path for the
class of 2019 is. ere are numerous students from next few years of my life and subsequently push back
my grade going to some of the best universities in the the goal of my future. Other than this simple yet per-
country, and my class as a whole has been involved in haps confusing goal, I currently have no other true goals
countless academic and service projects that make me that I’ve set for my future—I will continue to just keep
being named salutatorian an incredible privilege to me. focusing on the present.

Where are you going to college, what will you major What will you miss most about high school and
in and how did you decide on the college and major? North Salem?

Come this autumn, I will be attending Harvard What I will miss most about high school will cer-
University. I am still undecided as to what I will major tainly be not being able to be around my close friends
in, but I decided on the college primarily due to the so often. Moments such as going to edit TGI Tiger
incredible academic reputation it possesses. Out of the News with my closest friends after basketball or baseball
schools I got into, it certainly was the most prestigious practice—while initially not being something I explic-
and accredited one, and that coupled with the nancial itly enjoyed—will be among the moments that I will
aid I received it made it near-impossible for me to turn remember fondly and certainly miss. e sta and stu-
down their gracious o er to me. dents of North Salem High School were enjoyable to be
around and ultimately made my high school experience
What is a favorite memory of yours from high something I will likely miss in the near future. Regard-
school? ing the town of North Salem, I will probably miss most
the cool autumn days and going to the various orchards
A favorite memory of mine from high school was of the town, as I cannot imagine living in a di erent
the senior night game for varsity basketball. Despite environment or community to the one in which I’ve
being a game that we lost, it was really fun being able grown up in. It were these simple days when school had
to play one last time with the people that I have grown just begun that I probably enjoyed the most growing up
up with. Additionally, the last few minutes of the in North Salem, and I will certainly miss the school and
game contained some of the most enjoyable basketball community that enabled these moments to occur.
that I’ve ever played, as all of the seniors played like we

June 27, 2019 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 9

PThRaAnONksUDmDomFFRanAIdEMdNadID!L"ISES

Page 10 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – June 27, 2019

OClHa , oTf H20E19 cPolLlegAeCpiEckSs YOU’LL GO!

Students from the North Salem High School Class of 2019 will continue their education at the following institutions:

e University of Alabama SUNY College at Oneonta Virginia Tech Northeastern University
Rochester Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University University of Florida Nova Southeastern University
American University SUNY College of Technology at Canton University of Virginia Pace University, Westchester Campus
Rutgers University -New Brunswick Clemson University Hamilton College - NY University of Pittsburgh (University
Baruch College of the CUNY SUNY Oswego Wagner College Honors College)
Saint Joseph’s University Colby College Harvard College Post University
Becker College SUNY Plattsburgh University of Washington Providence College
Savannah College of Art and Design Conservatory of Recording Arts & Sciences Indiana University at Bloomington Quinnipiac University
Berklee College of Music Westchester Community College University of Richmond
e University of Tampa Iona College
e University of Scranton Cornell University Western Connecticut State University
Binghamton University Temple University James Madison University
Siena College Dean College Yale University
Boston University Ohio State University (College of Business) University of Kansas
Spring eld College University of Delaware Loyola University Maryland
Brandeis University Tufts University Manhattanville College
St. Lawrence University Drexel University Marist College
Bryant University United States Air Force Academy University of Maryland, College Park
SUNY Albany Fair eld University University of Massachusetts, Amherst
University of California, Berkeley University at Bu alo e State University University of Michigan
SUNY College at Cortland of New York Mount Saint Mary College
Capital University Florida State University

Congratulations CONGRATULATIONS
to all the Graduates & BEST WISHES

TO ALL OF THE

2019 HIGH SCHOOL
GRADUATES!

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June 27, 2019 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – Page 11

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Page 12 – GRADUATION SECTION – Special Supplement to North Salem News – June 27, 2019

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