Dear Community Members,

I hope you are all having a wonderful summer! Welcome to the latest edition of On the Line. In keeping with tradition, we dedicate this to our graduating class. On behalf of the Board of Education, the entire administration, and faculty, congratulations to the Garden City High School Class of 2019, as well as our students who are moving up to new schools this fall.

The Class of 2019 is filled with so many wonderful, high-achieving scholars who have made us all very proud by their many accomplishments – whether academic, athletic, extracurricular or community-service oriented in nature. What makes me even more proud of our graduates is the high caliber of character they have demonstrated throughout their career in Garden City.

This group has been accepted to and will be attending a wide variety of prestigious universities and colleges. You can refer to the inside of this newsletter to learn more about where members of the Class of 2019 will be attending.

As the summer winds down, please be assured that much work is being done so that we can continue to provide the best learning opportunities for our students and ensure another successful school year. I look forward to seeing you all very soon. Sincerely,

Kusum

Kusum Sinha, Ed.D.

Garden City High School’s 85th graduating class proudly marched out to the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” and the applause of proud family, friends, faculty and school leaders to kick off the 2019 commencement ceremony at Warren King Field.

High School Principal and keynote speaker Nanine McLaughlin presided over her final ceremony before moving into her new position as the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources and leadership development. Co-valedictorians Cassidy Go and Elsie Schaubeck

and salutatorian Aidan Padala each gave inspiring addresses of reflection on their years in the district and confidence in their classmates for the years ahead.

Class President Aidan Pfaff and Vice President Isabella Herrera introduced the graduation candidates. One by one, each stepped up to receive their diplomas and congratulations from Board of Education members, who wore smiles of gratitude for this class of high achievers and solid citizens that is moving on to make a positive difference in the world.

Garden City Public Schools Summer 2019, Vol. 20, No. 4On The Line

Celebrating the Class of 2019

“I would like to first start off by saying thank you to the school administration, Dr. Sinha, Ms. McLaughlin, Mr. Steingruebner, Mr. Perrotta and my guidance counselor, Ms. Whiston as well as all the teachers and staff who have made Garden City High School so memorable and who are always there for their students. I would also like to thank my parents, my sisters, my relatives and my friends for being there for me all these years.

“Six years ago, I was here for my sister’s graduation, and then two years prior, I was here for my other sister’s graduation. That

was almost eight years ago! Eight years ago, my biggest concern was most likely, when is lunch?

“I cannot help but wonder where those eight years have gone. Times were much simpler back then. One thing I have learned is that growing up is tough, so we should savor the time we get to spend together. We have had the extraordinary opportunity to explore a wide range of fields and hobbies at this school. Over the course of four years, I have gotten to know talented people not just in academics, but also in the arts,

“I never in my wildest dreams imagined that I would be standing here, and I am so honored to be with all of you on this wonderful day. However, I didn’t get here on my own. I’d like to thank the administration, my guidance counselor, Ms. Khan, my teachers, my fellow students, my family, my sisters, and, most importantly, my mothers, Beth and Margaret, for providing me the resources, support and experiences that have molded me into the person I am today. I know that sounds cliché, but it’s the truth. When we were younger, a lot of the decisions in our lives were made for us– which elementary school we went to (shout out to Stratford), what activities we participated in, and even what we wore. As we grew older, we, for the most part, gained more independence and responsibility. We all chose to go to the

high school, rather than a private school; we chose for the most part the classes we took; and we chose to take the next, and often scary, step onward from high school. But now it is truly our turn to make decisions, as well as to further grow and develop our individual characters.

“However, luck and chance often play a role in our lives, as well. Who knows what my fate would have been had I remained in China. But I am sure the opportunities I have had in America, and certainly in Garden City, are abundantly greater. Ironically, my family knew the Go family before I was adopted. And here I am today standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Cassidy Go, my co-valedictorian. We are all so lucky to have grown up in Garden City, to have lived in a district with such a great public

Cassidy GoCo-Valedictorian Commencement Speech

At the Top of their Class

Elsie SchaubeckCo-Valedictorian Commencement Speech

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continued on page 6...

Kara Acinapuro Boston College

Alexandra Adams Pratt Institute

Christian Ahrem Fordham University

Jennifer Alden University of Scranton

Thomas Allen University of Delaware

Lucy Ambach Middlebury College

Bridget Anderson Fashion Institute of Technology

Sydney Antic Cornell University

Cameron Aries Elon University

Owen Ascher University of Scranton

Vincent Aversa Hofstra University

Jenna Aversano University of North Carolina at Wilmington

William Bahlke Lehigh University

Jared Baker Ithaca College

Rudolph Baldeo CUNY Hunter College

Yuexuan Ban University of Rochester

Ninfa Baron The University of Alabama

Nicoletta Barton SUNY Stony Brook University

Robert Baschnagel University of South Carolina

James Basile University of Vermont

Kishan Batra Cuny Baruch College

Stephen Baymack University of Maryland

Grace Belt James Madison University

Christina Bennett SUNY Stony Brook University

Alex Bensen Texas A&M University

John Bensen Purdue University

Gabriella Bevil Villanova University

Travis Bharucha SUNY Geneseo

Ryan Bice University of Miami

Bryant Bily Hofstra University

Trent Biscone St. John’s University

John Blume Drexel University

Daniel Boccafola Cornell University

Raj Brahmbhatt Merrimack College

Abigail Brita University of Notre Dame

Gregory Buckman SUNY Binghamton University

Jolie Buggy University of Richmond

Gunnar Burpee Pace University

Jeanne Butler Adelphi University

Donald Byrne Cornell University

Gianni Canaletich College of Charleston

James Cashwell Villanova University

Claire Castellano Rice University

Amanda Cerrato Providence College

Andrew Cheng Rochester Institute of Technology

Charles Cody Nassau Community College

Allison Colameo Pennsylvania State University

Matthew Conelli University of Delaware

John Connolly Pace University

Lauren Conway Molloy College

Caitlin Cook University of Pennsylvania

Justin Coppola Villanova University

Georgios Cosmas St. John’s University

Kaitlin Costello Wake Forest University

Julie Couture University of Delaware

Abigail Cox Virginia Tech

Andrew Coyle Ithaca College

Aidan Coyne University of Notre Dame

Matthew Critelli Nassau Community College

William Crowley Boston College

Michael Cuomo Molloy College

Rebecca Curran Wagner College

Timothy Curran SUNY Albany

Alex D’Aloisio Northeastern University

Anthony D’Antone Virginia Tech

Kelly D’Antonio University of California, Los Angeles

Connor Dane SUNY Albany

Meghan Dealy Fairfield University

Angelo Demiris SUNY Albany

Armen Demirjian Adelphi University

Jason Derby Byrant University

Jamie Derkasch University of Georgia

Margaret Digan Sacred Heart University

Jillian Dilemme University of Richmond

Joseph Dilemme SUNY Maritime College

Mary Kate Dolan Fairfield University

Aidan Dougherty SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

William Duff Stonehill College

Christian Durante Rice University

Thomas Efthimiou SUNY Farmingdale State College

Gregory Elmokian High Point University

Heather Fanning University of Miami

Stefanie Farkas Syracuse University

Lauren Feijoo Fashion Institute of Technology

Lucas Feingold University of Maryland

Tara Fenty Marist College

Ciara Feron Iona College

Daniel Ferreira SUNY Binghamton University

Theodore Ferzola The Culinary Institute of America

Elizabeth Fetherston Loyola University

Catherine Flood Sacred Heart University

Maria Flouskakos University of Delaware

Kiera Foley Cornell University

Michael Fontanetta SUNY Delhi

Kayla Fosbeck Loyola University

Jake Fraher Catholic University of America

Kevin Freddo Adelphi University

Eva Gaberlavage Lafayette College

Liam Gaffney SUNY Binghamton University

Lindsey Gambino Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Emily Gaven Georgetown University

Lauren George Fairfield University

Madison George Fairfield University

Mary Gibbons University of Florida

Leigh Gillan College of Charleston

Chase Gladd SUNY Binghamton University

Cassidy Go SUNY Binghamton University

Spencer Gorman SUNY Albany

Michael Greco The George Washington University

Michael Greene Fairfield University

Miranda Griffith University of Southern California

William Griffith University of Miami

Julia Grimes High Point University

Connor Gunn Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Steven Haass Stevens Institute of Technology

Miles Hanson University of New Haven

Joselyn Harris Whittier College

Colin Hart Brown University

Erin Healy University of Scranton

Ella Heaney University of Southern California

Zoe Heath Washington University in St. Louis

Patrick Heavey Fordham University

Alexandra Heber Fashion Institute of Technology

Julianne Hegarty Georgetown University

Isabel Henke University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Isabella Herrera Villanova University

Justin Hessler Molloy College

Lauren Hill University of South Carolina

Kelly Hollis Loyola University

Nicole Hughes Molloy College

Theresa Hughes Boston University

Diana Humbert Purdue University

Hannah Hwang Parsons The New School of Design

Elizabeth Iraj Georgetown University

Sean Jaeger Fordham University

Chloe Janicke Elon University

Hope Janicke High Point University

Nicholas Katos Sacred Heart University

Michaela Keating University of South Carolina

Grace Kelly University of Tennessee

Caitlin Kenna Fairfield University

John Kenny SUNY Binghamton University

Stephanie Knechtges Molloy College

Alexandra Kopcak Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Matthew Koslo SUNY Geneseo

Nicholas Krawiec Fairfield University

Jennifer Kubler University of Massachusetts - Amherst

Cyrus Lalehzar Temple University

Lukas Lambraia SUNY Stony Brook University

Alexandra Larocca University of Michigan

Jenna Lavinio Marist College

Brooke Lawson Rollins College

Daniel Leary Nassau Community College

Robert Lehan Nassau Community College

Daniel Leiter University of Wisconsin

Nicholas Leopizzi University of Dayton

Christina Levi Marist College

Alexa Lodato College of Charleston

Andrew Luglio University of Miami

Rose Lynch Vassar College

Sarah Ma The Juilliard School Pre-College Program

Sarah Mackey University of Florida

Kelsey Macri University of Delaware

Antonio Magnotta Fairfield University

Olivia Manettas The Ohio State University

Ryan Manley Roanoke College

Margaret Manning Fairfield University

Matthew Marooney American University

Hope Mauceri University of Scranton

Samantha Mauceri University of Scranton

Timothy MCauliffe Roger Williams University

Veronica McCann Adelphi University

Kelly McDonald Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Liana McDonnell Stanford University

Brendan McEvoy Syracuse University

Christian McGannon College of the Holy Cross

Matthew McGovern University of South Carolina

Daniel McLeod Manhattan College

Gracie McManus Wake Forest University

Amanda Melkonian Wake Forest University

Kyle Merritts University of Pittsburgh

Kara Metzler College of the Holy Cross

Alexandra Michael Fordham University

Christopher Michel Siena College

Morgan Miller Fairfield University

Alexa Molloy University of Wisconsin

Priscilla Mongelli SUNY Fredonia

Emily Moody Vanderbilt University

Matthew Moody Loyola University

Abigail Moran University of Maryland

Hunter Morgan Virginia Tech

John Morris University of Tennessee

Iain Morrison Northeastern University

Steven Moscatiello High Point University

Kristen Motto University of Delaware

Eric Mueller Franklin & Marshall College

John Muldoon Fairfield University

Grace Mullahey Pennsylvania State University

Kathleen Mullins Fairfield University

Harry Murphy Providence College

Lisa Murphy Wake Forest University

Maria Neuhedel Nassau Community College

Catherine O’Connor Lafayette College

Emily Olenik Union College

Aidan Padala University of Pennsylvania

Zara Pahlavi Lafayette College

Anna Paisley Santa Clara University

Jeffrey Papazian Villanova University

Stephen Pappacena SUNY Canton

Gavin Pappas Denison University

Julia Peppard Fordham University

Aidan Pfaff University of Notre Dame

Alexis Philippides Bentley University

Angelica Pietromonaco SUNY Albany

Collin Plunkett SUNY Binghamton University

Jessica Price University of Massachusetts - Amherst

John Protano Carnegie Mellon University

William Puccio Trinity College

Gilbert Puentes Sacred Heart University

Emily Quinn College of the Holy Cross

Olivia Ragusa SUNY Binghamton University

Michael Rasquin SUNY Plattsburgh

Thomas Reifler SUNY Binghamton University

Patrick Reilly University of South Carolina

Julia Remick Boston College

Daniel Rocha Nassau Community College

Chloe Rogers Dartmouth College

Erika Rooney High Point University

Nicholas Rosato University of Richmond

Helena Roukis Hofstra University

Emma Rubino University of Maryland

Lara Salsberg University of South Carolina

Shania Sanasie Boston University

Lelia Santos Fashion Institute of Technology

Matthew Savino University of Notre Dame

Danielle Sbeglia University of Scranton

Joseph Scattareggia Bucknell University

Elsie Schaubeck Tufts University

Timothy Schmitt Boston College

Mariyam Shami Hofstra University

Michael Shirley Loyola University

Thomas Siler University of Pittsburgh

Amy Smith University of Richmond

Christian Smith University of Southern California

George Spanos Northern Vermont University

Pasquale Sperduto SUNY Farmingdale State College

Ashley Sproul Fairfield University

Megan Stabile SUNY Cortland

Alexandra Stefanik Rhode Island School of Design

Erin Studdert Pennsylvania State University

Anne Sullivan University of Delaware

Brady Sullivan SUNY Geneseo

Sydney Sutherland Salisbury University

Rose Sweeney Fordham University

Cathryn Tateosian James Madison University

Grace Taylor Villanova University

Connor Tierney College of Charleston

Garrett Treanor Indiana University

Charles Tynan Vassar College

Alexandra Valdes Lafayette College

Emma Van Dyke Villanova University

Paul Varano Bentley University

Joseph Villapol Pennsylvania State University

William Von Heill Manhattan College

Madeleine Walsh Clemson University

Jenna Ward Nassau Community College

Katharine Mary Ward Clemson University

Caitlin Wellbrock The College of New Jersey

William Willis Saint Michael’s College

Yasmine Worrell SUNY Baruch College

Emily Wykowski Loyola University

Nicole Yaghdjian St. John’s University

Trevor Yeboah-Kodie Brown University

Garrett Zander Purdue University

Andrew Zupicich SUNY University at Buffalo

the Journey Continues: Class of 2019 College Attendance

Class of 2019!Congratulations,

Salutatorian Aidan Padala with co-valedictorians Elsie Schaubeck and Cassidy Go.

Student Council President

Grace Mullahey leads the

Pledge of Allegiance.

Salutatorian Aidan Padala gives

the welcoming address.

Class President Aidan Pfaff introduces the Class of 2019.

Graduated! The culmination of years of hard work is encapsulated in this smile.

Board of Education trustee Stefanie Granville

awards a graduating senior his diploma.

ResidentGarden City, NY 11530

Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage

PAIDGarden City, N.Y. 11530

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Garden City Public Schools56 Cathedral AvenueGarden City, NY 11530

Board of EducationAngela Heineman, PresidentTom Pinou, Vice PresidentWilliam Holub, TrusteeStefanie Granville, TrusteeMichael Cassaro, Trustee

Dr. Kusum Sinha,Superintendent of Schools

athletics and music. We got here to graduation through hard work, patience and lots of determination. What is important is that we continue these habits. We are all off to start a new adventure. We will certainly face new challenges. We will learn, cry, make mistakes, love, and maybe even change our perspective on the world. However, what will be constant will be the qualities that shaped us from our experiences in this

high school. These defining qualities will guide us to make decisions in our lives that will allow us to do what we love.

“Class of 2019, through laughter and tears, we have gotten through it all, and I know we are ready to move on to greater things. The future is bright, and I don’t know about you, but I am excited to see what is in store for us. Congratulations, Class of 2019! See you later!”

school system, and to have had teachers, counselors, and administrators who have cared for and supported us for so many years.

“We all live in what we call the ‘Garden City bubble.’ However, as we leave Garden City High School behind and enter whole new environments as young adults, we step out of our comfort zones. It is time for us to take risks, challenge ourselves and make new memories. It’s OK to not know what you’re doing, it’s OK to make mistakes as long as you can bounce back and fall forward. Our lives are like a game of Jenga. Sometimes we play it safe by removing that middle piece towards the top. But sometimes we need to be daring enough to take out that piece on the side and to risk the tower falling down in order to progress. The difference between playing it safe and taking chances is simply making a decision. It may not be an easy one, but it rests solely on our willingness to accept the possibility of failure and to learn from our experiences. And if the tower does happen to collapse, it’s our responsibility

alone to make the choice to build it back up again. “When I look out at all of you, I see so much potential. I see

doctors and nurses, lawyers and athletes, artists and musicians, writers and engineers, and so many strong individuals who will carve their own paths. But mostly I see our future. For all I know, someone out here might be the one to cure cancer. But think of the endless opportunities open to us when we take full advantage of our strengths and our minds. Whether traveling the world or staying close to home, we can always make a difference. Some of us may save lives in the medical field or make scientific advances through research. Some may write books or music or create magnificent pieces of art. But all of us will make new memories, have new experiences, and form new friendships. As we go off on our own journeys, I dare you all to do something new, do something different, but mostly do something that you love and that matters to you. We are always learning and growing from our experiences, so let’s go out into the world with an open mind and an open heart. Thank you.”

Cassidy GoCo-Valedictorian Commencement Speech

At the Top of Their Class

Elsie SchaubeckCo-Valedictorian Commencement Speech

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