All day June 26, rain threatened, but the spirits of the Rye Neck High School graduating seniors never dampened for the 119th Commencement.
All day June 26, rain threatened, but the spirits of the Rye Neck High School graduating seniors never dampened for the 119th Commencement. As it happened, the sun shone on graduates, who marched onto the football field to the school band’s rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance.” The field and bleachers were filled with families, faculty, and friends.
After Principal Barbara Ferraro welcomed everyone, Superintendent Peter Mustich encouraged the class to demonstrate kindness above all throughout their lives. Salutatorian Madeline Wong roused school pride when she extolled her class’ diversity and the “unbreakable bond that has been forged from childhood.”
The class also holds the distinction of having the largest group inducted into the National Honor Society.
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This year, Rye Neck initiated an inspiring keynote speaker theme, “Ten Years After,” featuring an alumnus. Matt Manocherian of the Class of 2004 shared his personal journey, including the challenges he overcame as a “scrawny kid” on the football field. Hard work and passion served him well then, as well as at Duke University, and throughout his career in the world of athletics.
“As you spread your wings, take Rye Neck with you and continue to use this community as a resource,” he said. “Work hard, have fun, control the controllable.”
Rye Neck Teachers’ Association Vice President Nora Hanson presented the Maureen Sullivan Scholarship in memory of its namesake, a beloved librarian and teacher. The award was bestowed upon senior Michael Bianco for his motivation, enthusiasm for learning, service, and leadership.
Before the presentation of the diplomas, Valedictorian Fei McMahon left her peers with morale-boosting advice. “We all have the power to create something great and, now, it is our time to do it. If the going gets tough, redouble your efforts. Look back at all you have accomplished and do not forget who you are,” she implored. Quoting novelist Zadie Smith, she added, “You are from Rye Neck, and remember, as you envision the future, ‘The past is always tense, the future perfect.’”
— Janice Llanes Fabry
| Class of 2014 | ||
| Ashley Abbatantono Lorilynn Acompora Daniela Aguilar Briana Andreoli Ryan Aquino Tiffany Aznar Jacob Barach Alyssa Barchetta Bryana Barreto Brandon Bell Charles Bermingham Michael Bianco Samantha Bradley Nicolas Cabrera Jakob Calvini Astrid Carballo Christopher Cascione Donald Caster Nicholas Colantonio Hernan Cortes Sophie Cozine Pedro M. Cueto Jeffrey Daugherty Samantha Davis Maxwell Denenberg Andrew Deshensky Lauren Enes Samantha Espada Luis Ferreira Marysol Finkenberg Matthew Franks Matthew Garcia Tiara Garcia Matthew Gisin Sara Glattstein |
Carla Gonzalez Javier Gonzalez Hannah Greenberg Joshua Greenberg Annabel Gutterman Shelby Hackenburg Leah Haviland Lian Joerss Jordan Julian Taylor Jung Oaklea Kearney Lauren Kim Daniel King Nikkilee Kozminsky Amanda Leira Amanda Lovallo Charles Luzio John Lynch Gordon MacKenzie Elizabeth Maffei Craig Maggio John Mansor Stephen Martino Fei McMahon Sara Melgarejo Jack Meyers Melanie Moore Ryan Morningstar Sylvia Moya Luke Murphy Sameer Naeem Sarah O’Brien Shotaro Oikawa Christopher Pennell Fatima Pérez |
Luke Petrillo Sam Piliero Jessica Pineda Thomas Pipolo Jake Puccella Nancy Rangel Scott Reca Hannah Redding Gabriela Rios Andrea Rodriguez Mark Rosenzweig Elena Ruigomez Kaitlyn Scott Joshua Segovia Luis Servin Mallory Shaner Cameron Shaw Aimee Sheldon Angelo Spedafino Tyler Spinelli Cynthia Stetson Everest Strayer Jelis Temali Carl Tempesta Nino Tripicchio Thomas Tripodi Hanna Uhlfelder Samantha Veltri Nicole Violi Zachary Vollenweider Rachel Williams Madeline Wong Anthony Zhadanov |
| College Choices | |
| American University Auburn University Bard College Bentley University Binghamton University Boston University Case Western Reserve University Cornell University CUNY – Brooklyn College CUNY – City College CUNY – John Jay College of Criminal Justice CUNY – Macaulay Honors Claremont McKenna College Colby College Colgate University Columbia University Fairfield University Fashion Institute of Technology Fordham University George Washington University Georgia Institute of Technology Goucher College Indiana University at Bloomington Lehigh University Los Angeles Harbor College Loyola University, Maryland Marist College Miami University Muhlenberg College New York University Nichols College |
Oberlin College Pace University Pennsylvania State University Pitzer College Rochester Institute of Technology Sacred Heart University Springfield College SUNY – Albany SUNY – Brockport SUNY – Cobleskill SUNY – Cortland SUNY – Geneseo SUNY – Oswego SUNY – Plattsburgh SUNY – Purchase St. Thomas Aquinas College Tufts University Tulane University University of California at Davis University of Delaware University of Maryland, College Park University of Massachusetts, Amherst University of Miami University of Michigan University of North Carolina University of Southern California University of Tampa University of Vermont University of Virginia University of Wisconsin, Madison Westchester Community College |