WALL TOWNSHIP — Wall High School community members gathered in the stands at the Wall High School football field to celebrate the 62nd graduation in the school’s history on June 17.
The theme for this year’s graduation was based on a famous saying from the Chinese philosopher Confucius; “Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” Throughout the night many of the students and faculty speaking reflected on how this quote applied to their lives within WHS.
Micah Rubin was named the Valedictorian, he was a member of the National Honor Society and the first-place winner in the 2021 NJ Technology Student Association state high school conference. Mr. Rubin will continue his academic career at the University of Michigan, where he will study Computer Science.
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“The COVID era impacted everyone in some way, whether that was struggling with hybrid classes or struggling to defeat the boredom and isolation of quarantine. And even after COVID, we continued to face adversity, and things happened. And again, we are confronted with many hardships, however, even after everything that has happened to us, we are here. We are here today, moving ahead with our lives, having accomplished much and well, and that is proof; proof that our hearts remain resolute and determined; proof that no matter what the struggle, we continue to move forward,” said Mr. Rubin.
The Salutatorian of Wall High School, Isabelle Donofrio, echoed Mr. Rubin’s sentiment looking back on the Gudrun classes and other challenges the pandemic threw at the class of 2022.
Ms. Donofrio is a high honor roll student, a member of the Pre-Engineering academy, serves as a tutoring coordinator for the National Honor Society, part of the National Music Honor Society, a four-year member of the WHS marching band, environmental club, math club and science competition team.
“What a journey; our class faced its share of challenges; effects from the global pandemic and life in general. But what makes us so special is that we are distinguished by our perseverance. We had virtual sports practices, learned calculus at home, practiced music over Zoom and learned foreign languages without being able to see our teacher’s lips move. It wasn’t easy, but we did it. We made it through the tough journey of high school and even had some fun,” said Ms. Donofrio.
Wall Township graduate Grace Reinhard and a member of the National Thespian Honor Society, sang the 2022 class song, “The Climb” by Miley Cirus. Ms. Reinhard was joined by members of the high school band, conducted by Ellen Hollander.
The class of 2022’s top 10 academic performers were announced: Hudson O’Reilly, Kyle Rotante, Leah Kegel, Kristin Williamson, Brianna Dudley, Joseph Buono, Megan Lovasz, Brian Hammond, Isabelle Donofrio and Micah Rubin.
Each year, the graduating class presents our school with a gift. This gift signifies the appreciation and gratitude that the students feel toward the Wall Township School District and, more specifically, WHS. Senior class officers Grace Black and Katherine Nueffer came to the podium to announce this year’s senior class gift.
“Over the past four years, wall high school has presented us with every possible opportunity to succeed, whether it is in the classroom, on the playing field or in one of the countless clubs and activities going on around school, we all have experience so much in preparation for the road ahead,” said Ms. Black.
“Our senior class of 2022 would like to present the school with the gift of water filling stations in the hallways with a plaque at each station that reads wall high school class of 2022.”
Graduating senior Joseph Buono gave the welcome address. Mr. Buono was a student in the high school’s pre-engineering academy, the honors wind ensemble and other band groups, as well as a varsity athlete and member of the National Honor Society and National Music Honor Society.
“No matter where we end up, we must go there with all of our hearts, be the person that the kid at the start of the road, be proud of. Follow your heart along a new path and put everything you have into it. You have the power to make your own turns, but whichever direction you go, be confident, be brave and be true to yourself,” said Mr. Buono.
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