Rye Neck’s Top 100

Rye Neck’s Top 100:
Class of 2015- Rye Neck HIgh School

On June 25, the Rye Neck School District celebrated its 120th Commencement.

While the school band played “Pomp and Circumstance” filled the football field, families and friends applauded the 100 graduating seniors from the bleachers. Rye Neck High School Principal Barbara Ferraro called the Class of 2015, “a special group that is both community-minded and globally aware.”

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Superintendent Peter Mustich quoted Brené Brown’s “Daring Greatly,” as she iterated the words of Theodore Roosevelt “It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena.” He encouraged the graduates to be strong, focused, and of service to others.

Salutatorian Cassie Chan, who is heading to the Stern School of Business at New York University in the fall, reminded her peers of all the “truly exceptional memories we’ve accumulated.” She was followed by Valedictorian Ekim Buyuk who was proud to report that the seniors accrued 14,000 hours of community service. “When we leave our Rye Neck bubble, we need to make sure not to lose who we already are,” said Buyuk, who is heading to Duke University. “Let’s take our brilliance with us and pay our goodness forward.”

In keeping with the “Ten Years After” theme that was initiated last year, alumna Elizabeth Flynn Meaney, Class of 2005 was the keynote speaker. The successful and inspiring author and artist advised the graduates to take advantage of all that college and life have to offer by “being just a little bit brave.”

Rye Neck Teachers’ Association Vice President Nora Hanson presented the Maureen Sullivan Scholarship to Thomas McCaffery for his motivation, service, and leadership. 

— Janice Llanes Fabry