PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO Congratulations to the Class of 2024! SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO JULY 3, 2024
PAGE 2 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024 Michael Robert Aiello Hayden Allen Eric Amante Lucas Arbelaez Alina Aronoff Kylie Ashfield Angelina Ayoubi Lia Babon James Balancia Dalton Baloy Connor Baran Mia Barlanti Taylor Bassi Enesa Berisha Alexander Bian Emma Bianchimano Emma Bitton Christian Brooks Joshua Burkart Ethan Burns Phillip Burwell Thomas Byrne Alberto Cacho Garcia Katie Calloway Alexandra Camardella Lindsay Canavan Pasquale Carino Gemma Carr Grayden Carr Charlotte Carroll Kayla Castillo Keith Cheatham Kyle Cheatham Seth Cheung Julian Chidester Alexa Chimes Farah Cicogna John Clark Ian Cohen Khyla Cohen Nathaniel Cohen Noah Cohen Ryan Cole Jake Combs Matthew Connelly Caroline Conti Nicholas Conti Kathryn Coschigano Meghan Coughlin Nicholas Crecco Luke Cukaj Justin Daniyan Kavya Dave Anabella Del Duco Jordan Della Vecchia Sienna DeMarinis Isabella Denaro Sofia DiMella Matthew D’Ippolito Robert Donaldson Maya Donnelly Christian Dotto Aidan Duffy Jack Dwyer Liam Dwyer Nathan Ehrmann Ruby Ellison Mason Elwell John Engel Conner Entenberg Andrew Fasone Jason Ferrara Liam Ferretti Molly Fink Ailinn Finn Anastasia Fiorella Jackson Forsberg Lucas Fry Arya Frye Anthony Fusco Chloe Gabriele Christopher Gardner Gentrina Gecaj Erik Gersfeld Joseph Gherardi Chiara Ginty Giuseppe Gioffre Angjelina Gojani Somers High School Class of 2024 PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO SEE CLASS PAGE 11 CONGRATULATIONS SOMERS CLASS OF 2024! Best Wishes for a Healthy, Bright and Successful Future! ~Town of Somers
JULY 3, 2024 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 3 Congratulates the Somers High School Class of 2024 and their families! We wish you the best in all of your future endeavors. So, I suppose this is the part where I’m supposed to share post-high school wisdom and life lessons to an audience of people who have learned far more. And so, given the irony of that impossible task, my purpose here is most certainly not to teach— that’s the job of time—but to remind. Today, I’m reminded of a three-line poem: She thought she could fly She chose to dive into the water spring into the sky Six years ago, I wrote this short poem about my mother, who’s here today, sitting beside my sister, who’s probably timing my speech. And now, I can say that maybe it could someday be about me. I’m going to be honest, I don’t really like poetry that much anymore, but I can appreciate it. I stopped writing poetry a while ago. I also stopped playing piano a while ago. Then, I stopped basketball a while ago, and—a while ago—I stopped everything. (for a while.) Obviously, priorities change, and interests change, and we have to make sacrifices so that in the end, we can’t say we didn’t try. The thing is, I’m not really good with balance. Yet. In the past, my balance has been the long-run average of unsustainable extremes. It’s taken me 4 years to realize that I am not a machine. That I cannot do it all—but I can do a lot. That I will never, ever, be good at everything— not even half-decent— but I have the liberty of choosing and trying and seeing whether I could be… at anything. It has taken me four years to realize that it is in the friendships we make, the challenges we face, and our silly mistakes, that we find our humanity is a perfection far beyond machinery. So, to Angie from four years ago, and everyone today: Fortunately, you are not a robot. Fortunately, you are not as productive as one, either. Fortunately, you make silly mistakes that a robot wouldn’t dare make. Fortunately, you may spend what seems like one third of your life overthinking, and then an actual third of your life sleeping. To Angie from four years ago: There will always be someone smarter, and faster, and stronger. You must be willing to sprint when the distance is unknown, but know that, no matter how hard you work, a robot may just do it better. But, Angie from four years ago, Find me a robot that can write poetry about its mother. Or a robot that gets distracted looking at the infinite shades of green outside and the reflections of rainbows in sunshine. Or a robot that—ah. You get the point. Thank you to the people who helped me get to that point. To me, you have gifted memories. Peers, family, friends, and faculty, today’s graduation ceremony will be a memory. So, I want this speech to be a memory of memories: Thank you to the first friend who found out that I was accepted to college, who pulled into my driveway, got out of her car, and hugged me after baking cheesecake for a Spanish project. To the friends who called, asking me to pull up to Chili’s to celebrate after the Westchester Science & Engineering Fair. To the friends on the tennis team, and the swim team, and the friend who stayed at the tennis courts with me to practice my strange-looking serves in PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO VALEDICTORIAN Angelina Ayoubi SEE VALEDICTORIAN PAGE 14
Good evening graduates, families, faculty, and pop-sensation Josh Groban, who I’m hoping is watching from home. During speeches like this, the common trend among speakers is to remove themselves from “bestowing profound knowledge” or “imparting wisdom.” I also find that most speeches don’t have a clear thesis. They’re difficult to follow, and sometimes it can sound like the speaker doesn’t even know the point they’re making. So, here is my formal declaration that I will not be speaking from a place of omniscience and that I will let you all in on a problem that I find to be particularly significant: Chewing gum irks me. I seriously can’t think of a more disgusting thing than being in the proximity of someone chewing gum. I mean, it’s worse than listening to my dad slobber over a spoonful of peanut butter first thing in the morning, and that’s already pretty awful. But it’s not even the act of chewing that’s the most intolerable, no, it’s the smacking and the wetness. You would not believe the kinds of sounds I’ve heard people create with their mouths. So, this begs the question: Why does gum exist if not for the sole reason of making my skin crawl? Of course, people have their reasons for defending gum’s existence—most notably to cure bad breath. Whatever happened to brushing your teeth? I digress. I can’t help but view gum chewing as a constant obstacle and annoyance. Listen, I’ve tried different things to lessen my irritability with gum. When nearby chewers lurk, I try to ignore the sounds, but to no avail. Okay, how about forcing myself to listen? By concentrating on the noise, I can— Nope, that’s actually unbearable. I can’t help but visualize the gum’s pathway as its tossed around via tongue. Or when I’m in the driver’s seat and my passenger insists on freshening their palette during a 30-minute car ride. Side note, who normalized keeping packs of gum in cars? How am I supposed to focus on the road when my brain is preoccupied with the ecosystem developing in your mouth? All this is to say: Sometimes, problems don’t have solutions— it’s just a matter of growing to accept that they exist and employing new strategies to ameliorate them. While I couldn’t possibly understand the societal fascination with chewing gum, I recognize that it’s something I’ll have to tolerate, one way or another. And, while gum gnawing may not bother anyone else nearly as much as it pesters me, little annoyances will always show up, little habits that never seem to get any less maddening. Part of maturing is realizing that, no matter how much you try to avoid it, people are going to chew gum. That is, there are going to be annoyances you’ll have to put up with for the rest of your life. But, with each unbearable situation, you are presented with a choice: Suffer through it, or reframe it. Instead of focusing on how absolutely dreadful the familiar gum smacking is, I can think about when the chewing will stop. The sigh of relief I’ll take, the peace that will wash over me, knowing my ears will be spared from the gross sucking. In these infuriating moments, as trivial as they may appear, I implore you all to focus on the positive. Because the truth is, whether it’s slow drivers, loud chewers, or even frenzied people yelling for seemingly no reason, we can’t run from these aggravating experiences. What we can do, however, is recognize that we have the power to choose how we react. We can hyperfocus on every disgusting squish and chomp, fueling our frustration. Or, we can relish in the fact that this annoyance will pass. So, while chewing gum will always be an obstacle as I navigate my daily life, at the end of the day, it’s really nothing more than a 3-gram stick of plasticizers, resins, and polymers. Thank you, and congratulations to the Class of 2024. PAGE 4 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024 Anthony Fusco SALUTATORIAN The Congratulates the Somers High School Class of 2024! We are proud of your accomplishments and we wish you success! Congratulations and here's to your next adventure! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU. Wishing you all the best at Cornell. WILKINSON Love, Mom, Dad, Jay & Coco JULIA Anthony Melillo You are not just a part of my world! You are my entire world. You are so special, I hope you know, with every day that passes by, so loving, so giving, a heart of gold, always my baby, I love you with all my heart your are a fighter, and I love the way you never give up no matter how hard the fight gets. You're my little warrior. Words cannot express the pride, joy and love I have for you! WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOU ... Can't wait to see what the future holds, Dad & Mom and Anthony
To the Class of 2024, it is now my turn to say a few words and I have to admit, I have been agonizing over this moment for weeks as I’ve thought about how to adequately deliver my very last commencement speech as your principal in a way that honors this amazing class. I’m not sure the task before me is even possible, but I decided to give it my best shot, so here goes. Twelve years ago on this very stage – well, actually it was 11 years ago since this is technically my 12th year at Somers, and it wasn’t this stage – it was a different one when graduation was held on the field at Primose – but I digress – as I addressed the then seniors of the class of 2013 – my very first class of seniors at Somers High School – I questioned what I, a lowly old freshman, could offer a much older and wiser group of seniors. At that very same time, our current group of seniors was just about to end its year as 1st graders. Suffice it to say that neither of us knew all that much about Somers and had a lot to learn. Well, in the 12 years since I delivered that very first commencement speech (and many songs later), I am pretty sure I now know more about Somers than I did back then, so I’d like to share some of what I have come to learn over the years being your high school principal. First, I can honestly say that this high school has an incredible sense of school spirit. Just look at our stands at a Friday night football game, our auditorium during one of our amazing theater productions, our spirit weeks with our halls full of zany and fun costumes, or the myriad events that you all participated in this year to help celebrate your senior year – from apple picking, to the ice skating trip that SOME of us got to go on….(too soon?), to Senior 70’s day, senior sunrise, senior sunset, and the prom – this school has given you every opportunity to make the most of your time here, and you as a class, did just that. It’s been said that one of the most primal feeling human beings experience is the desire to belong, to feel connected to other beings, and to be part of a tribe. For the past four years, you have built friendships with one another that will last a lifetime. As you move on to the next chapter of your lives, cherish those that helped you along the way. The next thing that I have learned, and have come to experience first-hand, is the tremendous sense of community that makes Somers a very special town. And, along with that sense of community is a spirit of resiliency and strength that helps any individual or family get through even the toughest of times. As a community, we have had our mettle tested time and time again, yet our resolve and determination have always made us stronger. Having lost both my parents during my tenure here in Somers, I have personally felt the love and support of so many of you and I know that I’m not the only one. Whether it’s a family who has been stricken with illness, the loss of a loved one, or a natural disaster, this community comes out in droves to support one another and THAT is something we should always be proud of. Speaking of my parents – who did all they could to talk me out of becoming a teacher back when I was in college – side bar – I had just come out of the closet and they didn’t think that I would be accepted as a gay educator – what I have also come to learn is that Somers is a town that places value on each individual, and that each and every one of you who calls this place home can be your authentic selves AND be happy and successful. To my students, our families, and the entire Somers community, thank you for accepting me and thank you for helping me prove my parents wrong! And as I look out tonight among you right now, all looking exactly the same with the exact same red robes and matching mortarboards, the same Class of 2024 stole draped around your neck, it is your differences that make you unique and which have added to the fabric of this school. And while you all might look the same, and your common experiences will bind you inextricably to this place, the truth is that each of you is special in your own way with your own talents or skills that you have shared with us over the past four years. And each JULY 3, 2024 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 5 Mark Bayer PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO PRINCIPAL SEE PRINCIPAL PAGE 14 PAID FOR BY LAWLER FOR CONGRESS, INC.; PAID FOR BY FRIENDS OF MATT SLATER, 334 UNDERHILL AVE., SUITE 4B, YORKTOWN HEIGHTS, NY 10598 www.lawlerforcongress.com Lawler4NY // www.SlaterforNY.com @SlaterforNY “ Congratulations to the Class of 2024 – you did it! Together, we wish you good health, much happiness, and a future that is filled with opportunity and success! CONGRESSMAN MIKE LAWLER // ASSEMBLYMAN MAT T SLATER ” Lawler-Slater News Ad_2024.indd 1 6/14/24 1:26 PM
PAGE 6 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024 SOMERS TUSKERS BOOSTER CLUB BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL! would like to congratulate the following student athletes who will be playing a sport in college 24-25. Lucas Arbelaez Soccer SUNY Pla3sburgh Charlo3e Carroll Field Hockey Manha3anville University Seth Cheung Tennis SUNY Oneonta Nathaniel Cohen Basketball SUNY Canton Ryan Cole Football Carnegie Mellon Sienna DeMarinis Track & Field Wesleyan University Ma3hew D'Ippolito Soccer SUNY Pla3sburgh Liam Dwyer Wrestling Agoge Wrestling Program Mason Elwell Track & Field SUNY Oneonta Molly Fink Lacrosse College of the Holy Cross Jackson Forsberg Lacrosse SUNY Oneonta Erik Gersfeld Baseball SUNY Brockport Ma3hew Hirsch Track & Field The University of Scranton Bridget Kossow Soccer SUNY Buffalo Ella Lassen Lacrosse University of Rochester Brady Leitner Soccer Hobart College Annie Maguire Soccer Fordham University Mario Mancini Football St. John Fisher College Antonio Mastellone Baseball Susquehanna University Jessica Masterson Track & Field SUNY Stony Brook Isabella Milojevic Track & Field Marist College Chloe Monachelli Tennis Ryder University Nicholas Newman Lacrosse Iona University Arjun Ojha Track & Field SUNY Geneseo Natalia Sanchez Soccer Manha3anville University Olivia Sherman Track & Field University of HarVord Jacob Solimine Lacrosse Western ConnecWcut State University William Sullivan Lacrosse Towson University Andrew Violante Basketball St. John Fisher College Julia Wilkinson Swimming and Diving Cornell University ChrisWan Wissa Track & Field SUNY Cortland As your Class President, I am honored to be giving the final speech today. We are almost there! I’m going to keep this short because I am the last thing standing between you and actually graduating and becoming adults (Or, maybe I should slow it down then). As I look around at all my Somers friends and classmates, I realize that we have come a long way together! It all started on that practice bus ride to Primrose, with our parents barely letting go of the tight grip on our hands. And what an adventure we have had since then! The Primrose building seemed massive and the hardest part of the day was dragging our names across the smart board to choose our lunch! And we thought that was a struggle! But we didn’t know then that we had nothing to fear, because the faculty and staff were so kind and supportive. Any nervousness we had, soon disappeared, and we began to enjoy events like field days, library visits, and Holiday Happiness! I will personally never forget Mrs Gardenear and Mrs Donavin for giving me the best times of my life! The memories were great, the friendships blossoming, and the growth was only starting. Before we knew it, we were in SIS. Instead of comparing grades, the most important measure was who had the fastest 50-yard dash time at Field Day. We went back in time for Colonial Day and became scientists at the Science Fair. The ultimate reward came when we made it to 5th grade and we could go into the dark, loud, and exciting dance room at the Birthday Party! Now we are in the big leagues! We were finally grown up (or so we thought)! That all came crashing down when we entered middle school, and we realized we had so much more to learn! Figuring out our locker combinations and walking from class to class was a major step. But we did it together and we had fun! Who could forget Mr. Savs science class. Or Mrs. Schettinos Hammaruabi code debate? Then Covid hit and it put a damper on our Washington D.C. trip and our graduation. Still, we made the best of it, with our Graduation Parade and Zoom ceremonies. We couldn’t be together, but we still laughed together. The fun continued in high school. It was a bumpy start with the hybrid schedule and not being able to attend football games. But we made up for it! Winning the football State Championship. Twice. Boys soccer winning states, girls soccer going to state semifinals, and the inauguration of bowling teams, boys volleyball, and girls flag football. There was no end to all the activities and fun we had! We also all put in hard work with all our projects, exams, IB, AP, And Honors Classes. We not only laughed together, but we also studied together to get to this moment! Mr. Bayer, we don’t want you to ever leave, but if you have to, we are so happy you are leaving with us. We didn’t know how lucky we were to have you all four years. You greeted us every morning with a smile and a wave. You made us feel like we were the most important to you. Thank you for all you’ve done, we will never forget you. I’m lucky enough to be a triplet and always have my brothers beside me, but I can truly say that being in Somers High School is like being part of one big family. In class, on the field, on the stage, or where we spent most of our time, waiting on the endless line at King Kone or grabbing something to eat at Bobo’s, (Is there really nothing else to eat in Somers), we always had good times with friends surrounding us. Alexander Wissa PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO CLASS PRESIDENT SEE PRESIDENT PAGE 7
JULY 3, 2024 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 7 Elder Law & Estate Planning • Personal Injury Small Business • Real Estate • Matrimonial • Criminal Commercial • Wills, Trusts & Estates 909 Midland Avenue, Yonkers, New York 10704 ~ (914) 964-6806 ~ Toll-free: (800) 381-7856 marralaw.com • Email: [email protected] CONTACT US — WE CAN HELP! Evening Appointments & Home Visits Congratulations Graduates of 2024! There is one thing I know for sure. The support and guidance we received from the whole Somers community has given us the knowledge and the tools to change the world! We are ready for our next adventure! And, of course, we can’t forget the most important people, our parents. You may think we have not been listening, but we really have! And we are grateful for all of your love and support. I may have said that this is the end, but truly, we are just at the beginning! PRESIDENT FROM PAGE 6 I’m very honored to be standing before you today, to represent the Somers Board of Education as we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Class of 2024. Today marks a significant milestone in your lives as you stand on the brink of endless possibilities. I know I speak on behalf of the entire Board as I say we are filled with pride to witness your achievements and celebrate your hard work and dedication to reach this day. Whatever next chapter each of you has chosen, I ask you to consider a few key principles that can guide you on your journey. First, follow your passions with unwavering determination. Embrace your interests, pursue your goals with enthusiasm, and never underestimate the power of your passions in shaping your future. Secondly, define your own success. Success transcends the conventional measures of wealth, status and fame. It is about finding happiness, fulfilment and contentment in the path you choose to walk. Do not let society’s expectations overshadow your unique vision of success. Strive to create a life that reflects your values, beliefs and aspirations, for that is the true essence of success. Lastly, remember that learning is a lifelong journey. Education does not end with a diploma, it is a continuous process that enriches your mind, broadens your horizons and empowers you to navigate the complexities of the world. Embrace every opportunity to learn, grow and evolve as individuals. Stay curious, stay hungry for knowledge, and embrace the challenges that come your way as stepping stones towards personal and professional growth. As you embark on your next chosen path, remember that all of the faculty and staff of Somers Central School District stand behind you, cheering you on and believing in your potential to create a bright and promising future. Congratulations graduates, go forth with courage, passion, and a thirst for knowledge. Take chances, get messy, make mistakes and most importantly, make your mark on the world. Amanda Kandel PHOTO: ROB DISTASIO BOARD OF EDUCATION ‘Never underestimate the power of your passions in shaping your future.’
PAGE 8 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SPOMP AND CIRSomers High School Grad
SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024 PAGE 9 RCUMSTANCE! PHOTOS: ROB DISTASIO duation - June 24, 2024
PAGE 10 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024 The Somers High School Class of 2024 will be attending 111 different colleges in 27 states! ALABAMA The University of Alabama ARIZONA University of Arizona CALIFORNIA University of California San Diego State University CONNECTICUT University of Connecticut Fairfield University University of Hartford University of New Haven Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Sacred Heart University Wesleyan University Western Connecticut State University DELAWARE University of Delaware FLORIDA Florida Atlantic University Florida State University University of Florida Lynn University University of Tampa GEORGIA Savannah College of Art and Design University of Georgia INDIANA Indiana University-Bloomington Purdue University LOUISIANA Tulane University of Louisiana MAINE University of Maine MARYLAND Loyola University Maryland University of Maryland-College Park Towson University MASSACHUSETTS Boston College Boston University College of the Holy Cross Massachusetts Institute of Technology Massachusetts Maritime Academy Oh, the places you’ll go! SEE PLACES PAGE 15 845-628-0174 • 153 Route 6, Mahopac in Mahopac Village Plaza (next to Acme) Fraser’s Hardware Congratulations to the Class of 2024! You Did It!
JULY 3, 2024 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 11 Roberto Gonzalez Samuel Gorton Kevin Grant Michael Graziano Marissa Grippo Phillip Gurney Sean Gutierrez Tristan Hamilton Mikayla Haran Micaela Hartman Jacob Hauser Thomas Hauser Eamon Hayashi Alexis Herbert Nicole Hershfield Margaret Higgins Matthew Hirsch Luke Hoppe Ariana Horafios James Hurley Caitlin Ife Cecilia Infanti Amber Jacob Caitlin Janecka Hudson Karian Bryce Kenney Anabelle Kimmel Kyle Kirchmann Zachary Kirchmann Cassandra Klang Matthew Klee Matthew Klein Bridget Kossow Besjana Krasniqi Ella Lassen Brady Leitner Peter Lewis Chelsea Lewitt Lili Libertella Paul Lienau Isaac Like Peyton Linares Anthony Lopano Nicola Lopez Taylor Luks Ava Lulgjuraj Christopher Lux Drew Maciulewicz Nicole Mack Neha Madhwesh Annie Maguire Michael Maguire Connor Maher Mario Mancini Sophia Mancuso Jesse Manginelli Jordan Markowski Siara Martinez Antonio Mastellone Jessica Masterson EvaMarie Mastrantoni Matteo, Annaliese Lindsay McCullough Trevor McDonnell Theodore McGrane Jordan McMorrow Joseph Melillo Harrison Mellor Gordon Mescain Archer Connor Meyers Aiden Meza Andrew Milani Eliana Miller Scarlet Mills Isabella Milojevic Theodore Mitchell Chloe Monachelli Vince Mooren Gilberto Mora Patrick Mullins Christopher Navatta Kody Nestor Nicholas Newman Allison O’Connor Thomas O’Connor Brigid O’Dwyer Arjun Ojha Emmanuel Olivares Perez Bridget Olsen Daniel Ostapovich Sofia Palazzetti Caylie Panetta Mia Parisi Ryan Paucar Landon Pepe Luca Perez Dennis Persico Chloe Pietrangolare Lena Pietri Jason Pinto Max Pirone Bridget Pittman Reilly Pittman Luca Ploger Andre Possante Michael Pugni John Raducanu Yelena Ramirez Lopez Emily Robinson John Robinson Jayden Rodriguez Yolanda Rodriguez Jessica Rosenberg Kayla Rossetti Daniel Roth Angelica Salinas Alexander Samuel Natalia Sanchez Samuel Sanz Aryan Sath Jadon Schantz Sibora Selimaj Shreeram Shanthan James Shea Eleanor Sheridan Emma Sherman Olivia Sherman Daniel Sherry Susan Signorile Jacob Solimine John Spatola Claire Sposito Sidra Sreedhar Campbell Sternberg Parker Stoecker Kade Suarez Maria Suaza Trejos William Sullivan Alexander Susca Elizabeth Svoboda Erin Svoboda Thomas Svoboda Eric Syso Celeste Taday Victoria Tompkins Sophia Trantos Jack Tremblay Sophie Tuncoglu William Underkoffler Tess Varcasia Aj Vasquez Nicole Vassallo Julia Vecciarelli Bryce Vera Andrew Violante Noah Volkman Elizabeth Walsh Alexandra Wawrzyniak Evangeline Weinberg Julia Wilkinson Alexander Wissa Christian Wissa Sebastian Wissa Max Yates Matthew Zabatta Zack Zampaglione Phillip Ziegler Information provided by Somers Central School District. CLASS FROM PAGE 2 Congratulations to the Class of GuidED Consulting College, Career and Academic Counseling www.guidedconsult.com • (845) 628-0726 New address as of August 1st: 880 South Lake Boulevard, Suite 206, Mahopac NY 10541 from your GuidED Team.
PAGE 12 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024 914-277-4424 • 440 Rt 22 North Salem, NY • www.theblazerpub.com They colored their world— It’s time for the next chapter. Congratulations to the class of 2024! Lincolndale Wine & Liquor All Varieties Of Wines & Liquors Free Local Delivery (On Purchases Of $75 Or More) 155 Rt 202, Village Plaza, Lincolndale (Next to J’s Quik Stop) 845-475-7574 • 914-248-6000 Hours: Mon-Fri 10AM-9:30PM • Sat 10AM-10PM • Sun 12PM-8PM Be a Champion, Drink Responsibly Congratulations Somers High School Class of 2024! Oh, the places you will go! A Day for Friends Ella Lassen, Caitlin Janecka and Molly Fink Pasquale Carino and Hudson Karian PHOTOS: ROB DISTASIO
JULY 3, 2024 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 13 Ethan Burns Jake Combs Lucas Arbelaez A Day for Family C&A Auto Service 845.628.8472 • 845.628.0808 www.caautoservice.com 287 Route 6 Mahopac, N.Y. 10541 - SINCE 1964 - Service At Its Best Nationwide Warranty Tireman’s Congratulations Grads of 2024! of you is ready to start the next step of your journey – a path that is distinctively your own and which no two of you share. And while there is so much more about Somers that I have learned and have come to cherish, I’ll end with this - that someone with little to no theatrical and vocal talent can go on stage and participate in shows like Spelling Bee (#viceprincipalpanch) while being supported by our amazing actors and crew. And, if they put their heart and soul into it, and mix in a little courage and humility, they can stand in front of you, year after year, and sing their graduation speech, even though they couldn’t sing their way out of a paper bag. (Yup, that’s my cheesy way of transitioning to my final act!) So, at this point, I’d like to call a few of our seniors up to the stage to help in my final graduation song as I honor the Class of 2024 on their S-H-S Graduation Day. They have given me the courage to do what I’m about to do next – the moment you’ve all been waiting for (or dreading), so will Seth Cohen, Gordon Mescain-Archer, Allie O’Connor, Anthony Fusco, Parker Stoecker, Sam Sanz, Sebastian Wissa, Allie O’Connor, Lindsay Canavan, Dan Roth, Alex Bian, Chloe Pietrangolare, and Andrew Possante please make your way to the stage. “S-H-S Graduation Day” – Sung to the tune of Mylie Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” You hopped off the bus at SHS Freshman year was under way Walked the halls with nervousness Am I gonna fit in? High school, here you are for the first time In the Commons and you see all the seniors This is all so crazy 4 years seems so hazy. Off to college and you’re gonna get homesick Lots of pressure makes you nervous That’s when the principal got to the microphone And a Mylie song he sang And a Mylie song he sang And a Mylie song he sang Let’s put our hands up He’s playing your song, the butterflies fly away Nodding your head like yeah Moving your hips like yeah I got my hands up, I’m singing this song PRINCIPAL FROM PAGE 5 SEE PRINCIPAL PAGE 14
I know you’re gonna be ok. Yeah, S-H-S Graduation Day Yeah, S-H-S Graduation Day Got to the prom in a big white bus Everybody looking oh so fine On the dance floor rocking kicks It was your night to shine Sunset with your friends all around you Time to go out there and make your debut All I see is red and white We’re all here, it’s graduation night Off to college and you’re gonna get homesick Lots of pressure makes you nervous But then your principal stepped to the microphone And a Bayer song was on And a Bayer song was on And a Bayer song was on Let’s put our hands up He’s playing your song, the butterflies fly away Nodding your head like yeah Moving your hips like yeah I got my hands up, I’m singing this song I know you’re gonna be ok. Yeah, S-H-S Graduation Day Yeah, S-H-S Graduation Day Your journey starts, ready to thrive (ready to thrive) With courage and strength, you will survive (will survive) Give yourselves a big high five (big high five) ‘Cause now it’s time for us all to say goodbye Let’s put our hands up Let’s sing them this song, Tuskers gonna fly away Crossing the stage like yeah Caps in the air like yeah I got my hands up, I’m singing this song Gonna miss you more than I can say Yeah, S-H-S Graduation Day Yeah, S-H-S Graduation Day Let’s put our hands up Let’s sing them this song, Tuskers gonna fly away Crossing the stage like yeah Caps in the air like yeah We got our hands up, we’re singing this song Gonna miss you even more Yeah, S-H-S Class of ‘24 Yeah, S-H-S Class of ‘24 Congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2024! PAGE 14 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024 sweltering heat. Thank you to the friend who drove me around in circles through the school parking lot to save me from embarrassment. To the friend who welcomes me to her library table to debate movie rankings, even though I steal all her pens. To the friend who gives me keychains to grow the five-pound collection decorating my backpack. To the friend who tried to help me learn how to drive, because I am “impressively bad” (in his opinion… and perhaps the DMV’s). To the friend who stuck with me for a week in LA, listening to my presentation over and over again, while preparing for an international science research competition. Thank you to the team of dedicated individuals in science research. You are the highlight of my high school experience. And, to my teachers: I can’t promise you that I remember every single second of every single lesson—a robot can do that. But I can promise you that I remember the time you gave me, solving problems four different ways to find my mistakes, and analyzing my projects, my presentations, my essays. From you I have learned, and I will continue to learn. I will remember the stories from history, language and its intricacy, and the global culture and perspective that molds me and that I will forever feed. I will remember the puzzling science of chance, modeled by mathematics and physics, even though I will never understand, how I got so lucky. And, finally, I will remember today. Class of 2024, and everyone today, my purpose here is not to teach, but to remind. To remind you, that if you choose To dive into the water Spring into the sky You can, and you will, fly. Congratulations. And thank you. VALEDICTORIAN FROM PAGE 3 PRINCIPAL FROM PAGE 13 AUTO • HOME • UMBRELLA • LIFE • BUSINESS Call Us for MULTIPLE QUOTES So You Can Get The Best Buy! fifffflffifl fl fflfffffifl • Savings • Service • Satisfaction Don’t Call an 800 # SHOP LOCAL! Are your rates going up? 421 ROUTE 6, MAHOPAC, NY • 845.208.3707 Stay Safe. Stay Healthy. Aardvark Insurance Congratulations to the Mahopac Class of 2024! On to the next adventure! SERVICES • Car Washes • Oil Change • Interior Service 914-245-1912 1700 Front St, Yorktown Heights, NY www.thewonderwash.com 2024 CONGRATULATIONS & BEST WISHES
JULY 3, 2024 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – PAGE 15 Northeastern University Tufts University University of Massachusetts-Amherst MICHIGAN Grand Valley State University University of Michigan-Ann Arbor MISSISSIPPI Mississippi State University NEW HAMPSHIRE University of New Hampshire NEW JERSEY Ramapo College of New Jersey Rider University Rutgers University NEW YORK Bard College Binghamton University CUNY City College Culinary Institute of America Colgate University Cornell University CUNY Macaulay Honors College Dutchess Community College Fashion Institute of Technology Fordham University Hartwick College Hobart William Smith Colleges Iona University Ithaca College Manhattan College Manhattanville University Marist College Marymount Manhattan College Mercy University New York University Pace University St Bonaventure University St. John Fisher University St. John’s University-New York Stony Brook University SUNY Albany SUNY Brockport SUNY Buffalo State SUNY College of Technology at Canton SUNY College of Technology at Delhi SUNY Cortland SUNY Fredonia SUNY Geneseo SUNY Maritime College SUNY New Paltz SUNY Oneonta SUNY Plattsburgh SUNY Westchester Community College Syracuse University Tompkins Cortland Community College United States Military Academy University at Buffalo University of Mount Saint Vincent University of Rochester NORTH CAROLINA North Carolina State University at Raleigh OHIO University of Akron Ohio State University PENNSYLVANIA Bucknell University Carnegie Mellon University Franklin and Marshall College Lehigh University Pennsylvania State University Susquehanna University University of Scranton Villanova University RHODE ISLAND Brown University University of Rhode Island Salve Regina University SOUTH CAROLINA College of Charleston Clemson University Coastal Carolina University University of South Carolina TENNESSEE University of Tennessee TEXAS University of Texas at Austin VERMONT University of Vermont VIRGINIA James Madison University University of Richmond Virginia Tech WISCONSIN University of Wisconsin Information provided by Somers Central School District. PLACES FROM PAGE 10 Congratulations on your high school graduation and all you've accomplished! We could not be more proud of the beautiful person you've become so far!!! Keep working hard and living in the moment. We can't wait to see what the next four years bring to you. Work hard, play hard! WE LOVE YOU FOREVER AND A DAY! Love, Mom, Dad, Hannah, and Dempsey SOMERS HIGH SCHOOL AnnieLaurel Maguire Hannah Noreika love, We are so proud of you and your accomplishments! As you head off to Clemson in the fall, remember this is only the beginning and you still have so many great things ahead and memories to make! Mom, Dad, & Jack JOHN F. KENNEDY CATHOLIC PREPARATORY SCHOOL Class of 2024
862 Route 6 • GOODROW BUILDING Mahopac NY 10541 (845) 208-0963 SOUTHEAST EXECUTIVE PARK 185 NY-312 • Suite 301B Brewster NY 10509 (845) 279-9288 MILL POND OFFICES 293 Route 100 • Suite 107 Somers, NY 10589 (914) 276-2520 www.aonpt.com The Road To Recovery Starts Here CONGRATULATIONS to all the 2024 High School Graduates! “A Journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” PAGE 16 – SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOMERS RECORD – JULY 3, 2024