Mahopac News Graduation 2020

CClaossnogf r20a2t0ulations

SPECIAL
SUPPLEMENT TO

July 2, 2020

PHOTO: TABITHA PEARSON MARSHALL

PAGE 2 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – JULY 2, 2020

Hats off to the graduates!

PHOTOS: TABITHA
PEARSON MARSHALL

JULY 2, 2020 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 3

Dear Members of the Community,

It is with great sadness and disappointment that we announce that due to the uncertainty
of the restrictions placed on amusement type events as we continue to recover from the
effects of COVID-19, the 2020 Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department Carnival and Dress Parade
have been canceled this year. After much discussion we felt that the safety and well-being
of our members and the members of the community who support us was paramount to our
fundraising from the carnival. Many residents have approached us with the idea of running our
food booth to allow for our famous sausage and peppers to be sold. While we appreciate the
idea we have decided to refrain from this and wish you would offer that support to the local
business within our town who always have and continue to support our department.

We look forward to next year's parade, carnival and raffle

on July 8,9,10,15,16 & 17, 2021

Thank you for your understanding and loyalty.

We hope you remain healthy and safe,

Officers and Members of
the Mahopac Volunteer Fire Department

Congratulations

Class otfo the2020

PAGE 4 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – JULY 2, 2020

A message from the superintendent

To the Class of 2020,
It was an honor to gather with your entire class to celebrate the completion of your education in Ma-

hopac. Looking out on the cars lined up at our one-of-a-kind, drive-in graduation, I was overwhelmed, not
by what you had been asked to sacri ce - sports, concerts, performances, prom, sitting on the turf together
- but in how much you had accomplished in the past 13 years.

Together, we navigated the uncharted territory of the COVID-19 pandemic. Your individual and col-
lective achievements give meaning to my work and that of all the teachers, counselors, coaches, custodians,
administrators, and every sta member in our school district.

In everything we do, Mahopac is committed to the core values of Compassion, Resilience, Problem-Solving,
and Risk-Taking. ese values have guided your journey thus far, and it is my hope that they will continue to
do so. As you enter adulthood, take time to re ect your personal story. Undoubtedly, it is lled with successes

and setbacks, achievements and sacri ces, and challenges met and
conquered on the path to graduation. You have earned this milestone
and you are well-poised to accomplish great things.

Please join me in recognizing the members of our school board
who have pledged to the success of every student in the Mahopac
Central School District, and remember to thank your parents,
caregivers, grandparents, and other family members for their sup-
port during years in Mahopac Schools. ey have been with you
every step of the way.

You are our future. e things you do will make us proud. I am
excited to follow your contributions to the greater good of our
world.

Anthony DiCarlo
Superintendent of Mahopac Schools

Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2020
Every Graduating Class Is Defined By Something Special.
The Class Of 2020 Is Defined By One Word...
COURAGE

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JULY 2, 2020 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 5

IONA PREPCONGRATULATIONS

CLASS OF 2020!

INVEST. INSPIRE. IGNITE.

An Iona Prep education is one of the best investments
you can make for your son’s success.

Even as the spread of Coronavirus + Graduating classes have + Seniors have been accepted
continues to disrupt education, earned more than $130 million to their top choice schools,
Iona Prep remains true to our mission in academic, merit-based including Boston College,
and we are prepared to enagage college scholarships over the Cornell, Fordham, Georgetown,
and instruct students no matter last five years. Johns Hopkins, Notre Dame,
the circumstances. Be strong as we Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute,
continue this journey, together. + Lifelong alumni network that University of Pennsylvania,
enhances college and career Vassar and many others.
trajectories on the strength of
the brotherhood of Iona men.

Begin your IONA PREPARED journey this Fall.

Contact [email protected] or visit IonaPrep.org

#IonaPrepCommunityStrong

PAGE 6 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – JULY 2, 2020

VALEDICTORIAN SALUTATORIAN

Thomas O’Brien Matthew Luongo

BY SHOSH BEDROSIAN MHS,” he said. “Some that stand out ‘It was very exciting that
CONTRIBUTING WRITER are algebra 2, geometry, personal nance, all my hard work in the past
and introduction to engineering,” he
omas O’Brien rst started wear- said. “My parents have inspired me both four years paid o .’
ing University of Notre Dame apparel in my studies and in life to do my best
when he was a young boy, and even dur- and give my best e ort in everything I BY SHOSH BEDROSIAN
ing his eighth grade Moving Up Day, he do. I would like everyone to know that CONTRIBUTING WRITER
remembers wearing a Notre Dame hat. with hard work and dedication, you can
achieve anything you set your mind to. Mahopac High School’s Class of 2020
Four years later, O’Brien graduated I would like to thank all of my family,
as valedictorian of the Mahopac High teachers, friends, coaches, and peers who salutatorian Matthew Luongo is heading to
School Class of 2020 and is getting ready have helped me succeed and have always
to attend the prestigious Catholic uni- been there for me.” the West Coast to study at the University
versity in Indiana this fall. O’Brien will
be majoring in business analytics. O’Brien credits his work ethic and of Southern California in the fall. Luongo
dedication for his high achievements in
“It felt amazing that all this hard work the classroom. said he chose USC because he liked the en-
paid o ,”he said.“I’ve always loved Notre
Dame ever since I was young.” “I was always very organized and a vironment. Luongo will major in mechani-
conscientious student,” he explained. “I
O’Brien nished his high school ca- always tried to do the best in every as- cal engineering.
reer with a 99.8 grade point average and signment. It was never easy to balance
even scored a 34 out of 36 on his ACT everything with how much I had going “Ever since I was a little kid, I really liked to take with him.
exam. He excelled in the classroom, but on.”
was also heavily involved in extracurricu- build, design, and put things together,”he said. “I learned the importance to never take
lar activities, including sports. With his local involvement and high
grade point average, O’Brien managed Luongo also credits the introduction anything for granted,” he said.
In his four years at Mahopac High to earn ve di erent local scholarships
School, O’Brien managed to play la- that will assist in paying for his college to engineering design class for helping to “Matthew Luongo’s focus, con dence,
crosse, basketball, and was the captain of tuition.
the cross-country team his senior year. spark his interest in the engineering eld. and unwavering drive has led him to many
He maintained his high GPA while also O’Brien said he is excited to study
being a member of the National Hon- business analytics at Notre Dame and He also excelled in his math and science accomplishments over the past four years in
ors Society, Math, Spanish, and Science credits his math and science teachers at
Honor Societies, and served as the secre- MHS for pushing him to excel in their classes. Luongo said he never had a mo- both academics and athletics,” high school
tary for student government. courses. He also said his personal nance
and business classes sparked an interest ment of realization that he wanted to major principal Dr. Matthew Lawrence said about
O’Brien excelled in rigorous courses, in the topic.
was awarded Signature Student on mul- in engineering; it was a culmination of in- this year’s salutatorian. “Over the course of
tiple occasions, and is an AP Scholar. He Despite prom, and many end-of-the-
graduated with an Advanced Regents year senior activities being cancelled be- terests and classes that he took at Mahopac his high school career, he has taken the
diploma with honors and mastery in cause of COVID-19, O’Brien is thank-
math and science. ful the Mahopac community was able to that inspired him. most challenging classes o ered at Ma-
get together and celebrate the Class of
“I’ve enjoyed numerous classes at 2020’s accomplishments. His nal grade point average was a 99.6 hopac High School, including eight hon-

“I want to thank the Mahopac School and he scored a 34 out of 36 on the ACT ors classes and eleven AP and college-level
District and the entire community for
going above and beyond to make this rite exam. Luongo said he has worked hard classes, earning high honor roll throughout
of passage so special for our senior class,”
he said. “I am thankful to have grown up since his freshman year to achieve the salu- every semester of high school.”
in such a wonderful town.”
tatorian honors for the Class of 2020. Luongo was captain of both the varsity

“It was very exciting that all my hard cross-country and baseball teams, earning

work in the past four years paid o ,”he said. the NYSPHSAA Student Athlete award ev-

During his time at Mahopac High ery year since he was a freshman. He is also

School, Luongo was involved in several the president of the Italian Club, captain of

extracurricular activities, including cross the math team, member of the Student Ath-

country and varsity baseball. He was a par- letic Council, biology club, National Honors

ticipant on the math team and was also the Society, Science National Honors Society,

senior class vice president. rough those Italian National Honors Society, and Math

experiences and activities, Luongo was able National Honors Society. In addition to his

to be a part of several di erent groups with- participation and leadership in school, Lu-

in the high school and learned how to time ongo has given back to his neighbors and

manage so he could focus on academics. peers by volunteering over 300 hours of com-

“ e collection of all my experiences at munity service through his work as a youth

Mahopac have made me into the person I basketball coach and peer tutor.

am now,” he said. “My parents have inspired me throughout

‘It was never easy to With the closure of Mahopac schools my life, both in and out of the classroom,”
balance everything
with how much I had due to COVID-19, Luongo said it was Luongo said.“ ey’ve always stressed the im-

going on.’ di cult when he found out he was miss- portance of having balance in my life between

ing out on his senior year baseball season, school and fun.I would like to thank my fam-

prom, and other senior year festivities. But ily, my teachers, my coaches, and my friends.

he said these unprecedented times have ey’ve all inspired me in di erent ways and

taught him important lessons that he will have all been a part of my successes.”

JULY 2, 2020 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 7

We Also Congratulate Our Congratulations
Three Scholarship
Winners: To The Graduating

Victoria McKenzie Class Of 2020

Mirka Marga It’s been an honor to watch
you grow up and excel both in
Karla Jimenez
and out of the classroom.

We Wish You All The Best
That Life Has To Offer!

THE SCHNEIDER FAMILY & STAFF
WOULD LIKE TO CONGRATULATE THE

GRADUATING CLASS OF 2020!

Some Succeed Because
They Are Destined To.

Most Succeed Because
They Are Determined To.

PAGE 8 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – JULY 2, 2020

Seniors who performed 300-plus hours
of service learning

Nadia Accurso Collectively, the following students performed more than 24,300 hours of community Allison Paternoster
Nicholas Ahern service, making the schools, the community, and the world a better place: Joseph Pecoraro
Caitlin Andersen Alexandra Pfeifer
Alexandra Baranowski Alyssa DiSilvio Gabrielle Lama Alyssa Pizzola
Joseph Bartholdi Matthew Duran Fabiola Laska
Jonathan Bentivegna Christopher Evangelista Christopher Polloni
Samantha Faeth Chloe Lee Gabriella Ricci
Ariel Berger Joshua Finney Ashley Leftwich Matthew Riley
Sara Bottema Sophia Romero
Nicole Brookhouse Emily Flynn Tyler Levitz Jared Shectman
Christian Campo Matthew Foley Emma Lubbers Fiona Sheeran
John Carey Charlynn Foster Christopher Luongo Ashley Spaeth
Alyssa Catania Matthew Luongo Madelyn Stark
Samantha Chipman Yvonne Fu Ned Maguire Mary Teligades
Megan Citarella Kelsie Gallagher Gabriel Maldonado Casey Tewey
Claire Cli ord Tierney Geoghegan Melanie Manza Karl imm
Olivia Conlin Emily Gualdino Alexis McConville
Marigona Cotaj Seth Gunzburg Michael Tomassio
Violette Haberling James Meyer Nolan Tomassio
Jenna Daly Ryan Hanrahan Amanda Nailor Nicholas Valentin
Andrew Dazi Karla Jimenez Samantha Narcissi Nicholas Varbaro
Daniella DeMealo Sabrina Nogula Vincent Vitanza
Madison DeMeo Isaiah Jones Samantha O’Brien Alexander Watts
Isabella Diaz Jessica Kasper
Lauren Kocinsky omas O’Brien
Zoe O’Brien

JULY 2, 2020 – GRADUATION SECTION – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO MAHOPAC NEWS – PAGE 9

CONGRATULATIONS
to the C L A S S O F

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O. 914.271.5500
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