POINT PLEASANT — Point Pleasant Borough High School’s 59th commencement ceremony was held earlier than expected Friday, as impeding rain storms caused the graduation to start at 2 p.m.
Despite the earlier start time, the stands of Al Saner Football Field were packed to the brim with friends and families eagerly awaiting for the arrival of the graduates.
Principal Kurt Karcich opened the ceremonies as the more than 200 seniors took their seats on the field. He said, “Welcome to the 59th commencement ceremony of our proud high school, where we honor and recognize the class of 2024. Diplomas have been earned and will be handed out in a short time from now, truly one of life’s memorable moments.”
“The students here in front of me are a special group of young adults. They have upheld the tradition of excellence in their small town of Point Borough. I am proud of these seniors for making the most of their high school experience and challenging themselves in the classroom.” said Karcich. “In fact, an outstanding 95% of the seniors here today have completed at least one college level class, 15 seniors were recognized by College Board as AP Scholars for their success on advanced placement exams in 2023 and I am quite certain this number will increase when the 2024 results come out in July.”
“While their academic accolades are impressive, the Class of 2024 is about much more than just academic prowess. They are not your stereotypical teenagers. They are kind, compassionate and hardworking,” said Karcich.
Karcich then asked all the students who will be going into the armed forces and have served on the volunteer first aid squad to stand up, which received a standing ovation from many members of the community.
He further said, “When thinking about what I would say to the 208 graduates here today, I kept thinking about all the hope and promise I see for these young adults, after all this class has everything. Scholars, accomplished writers, talented musicians, skilled artists, amazing actors, superior athletes and savvy entrepreneurs.”
Salutatorian Huckleberry Oakes, who will be attending New York University, said during his speech, “I proudly stand before you today at number two. I would joke that I was the first loser, but there are no losers here today.”
“After three schools, over 50 teachers and a whole lot of extraordinary memories, here we are. We made it to the finish line. Today is the end of an amazing chapter in our lives, the conclusion of a great run,” said Oakes.
“Today, our graduation brings independence and opportunity as we continue our success to become the heroes of our own stories. Each of us has our own vision of our story and what the hero in it looks like,” Oakes further said. “For some, it may be competing in the Olympics or publishing a book. For others, it may be as personal as mastering a new recipe or traveling to a new place. Yet for all, the road to get there may be difficult…sometimes you may fail, but failure does not mean you should stop, rather it should be a learning opportunity and a source of inspiration.”
Valedictorian Colby Johnston, who will attend Boston University this fall, said in his speech, “As we leave Al Saner field, some of us may reflect on how it all started. For me, my high school career started in my basement. The COVID pandemic had a huge impact on our early high school days, especially the start of our freshman year. Some of us were home the first day, while some of us, arguably the luckier ones, got to attend school in person. Either way, it certainly wasn’t a typical start to our time here.”
Johnston further said, “This class had an unwavering ability to keep moving forward, despite the unprecedented difficulties laid before us. We didn’t just survive the challenges of COVID, we thrived…The hard times are what made these rewards all the much sweeter. We did all this, and we all got to go home at noon our freshman year, which we all liked.”
“While I think we all hope COVID was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, life will always bring obstacles. As we move through these obstacles, we must remember the resilience demonstrated during those first couple years of high school. We already know we can adapt, we can survive, we can thrive in the face of adversity and still be ok,” said Johnston. “My soon-to-be graduates, if there is one thing I can say to you, it’s that the future is bright. You have built the necessary armor to endure any challenge that life will throw your way.”
GRADUATE LIST
Ryan Acquisto, Ava Piper Aiello, Sarah Lucia Argiropoulos, Caroline Clare Bader, Jayson Louis Bennett, Kylie Jane Berg, Anna Gail Bergen, Violet Billy, Ava Sophia Blasi, Brianna Makay Boczkus, Julie Marie Bono, Emilee Joan Bravin, Ryan William Brennan, Connor Evan Brown, Emily Marie Burns, Anna Heverle Calvin, Nicolas Camacho, Ava Grace Candelmo, Paige Eleanor Cannon, Hayden Kenneth Carter, Elizabeth Rose Cassidy, Sofia Bella Castronova, Joey Elizabeth Cawley, Danny Chen, Morgan A. Chirichello, Kyleigh Paige Cilento, Mia April Cisneros, Owen Aidan Clearwaters, Sean Michael Cleveland, Colin Thomas Coan, Colin Michael Cole, Emma Rylee Colwell, Mary Margaret Cook, Sebastian Gabriel Cortes, Donovan Joseph Costagliola, Micah Patrick Cotton, Justin M. Cottone, Gus Samuel Crist, Jake Anthony Croce and Ryann Elizabeth Curry.
Leah Dadas, Sarina Danko, Lola Bee Darcy, Jordan Grace Davidson, Charles Albert Davison, Isabella De Rosa, Mahlia Hart Decker, Matthew John Decker, Caroline May DeKenipp, Gianna Nicole DelPrete, Owen Robert Dewysockie, Wyatt James Dewysockie, Christopher Robert Disbrow, Paige Maureen Dohan, Kelly Maren Doles, Jared Marc Drewes, Nicholas Franklin Duino, Brady Valentine Durkac, Kylee Ann Durso, Shane Patrick Egan, Emily Anne Ehrmann, Faith Leanne Elliott, Sofia Rose Elliott, Peter Garin Evertz, Catherine Feliz, Emily Elizabeth Fierst, Alana Katherine Ford, Brayden Russell Forfar and Ben Patrick Fritz.
Linsay Jareli Garcia, Logan Richard Gaudette, Abigail Louise Gerdes, Brayden Jesse Girkesh, Dennis William Glynn, Steven Gonzalez Vargas, Eric Thomas Greeley, Gabrielle Jean Greffen, Brooke Jacquelyn Gronau, Alyssa Gutierrez, Johann Peter Hagemeyer, Natalia Hanzelyova, Ethan Timothy Harrison, Isabel Rose Harrison, Sky Aubrey Hartman, Ryan Frederick Hauser, Tyler Douglas Hendrickson, Liam A. Henry, Dennise Guadalupe Hernández-Zúñiga, Kaylee Nicole Hidalgo, Harper Elizabeth Hill, Ryan Edwin Hill, Andrew Steven Holper, Abigail Elizabeth Howard, Madison Hudanish, Justin C. Hurley, Ethan Kennedy Jacobson, Ryan Patrick Jankowski, Joshua Raul Jimenez, Colby Joseph Johnston and Austin James Jones.
Benjamin Kabbel, Robyn Elise Kajewski, Ryan Burke Kanarkowski, Cal Kedves, Bryson Tate Kirby, Marley Louise Korb, David Michael LaBue, Jr., Chase Richard LaCour, Rowan Mae Lapp, Zachary Donavin Larr, Milo E. Leitner, Logan Letts, Ava Rose Little, Makayla Marie LoBianco, Sydney Loretta Lubischer, Lindsey Patricia Ludwig, Jack Macaluso, Jake Tyler MacCormack, Paige Ashlee Maiorana, David Michael Mammano, Kaleb Emir Martinez, Abbey Rose Matarazzo, Natalie Ann McGoff, Kylie McLaughlin, Nicolas Mejia, Matthew Winston Michallis, Kiera Linnea Michigan, John Patrick Milon, Jr., Riley Eve Minnig, Matthew J. Modrzecki, Colin Patrick Moore, Katherine Lynn Moran, Evelyn Marie Mormino, Dylan Matthew Munyan, Aidan James Neill, Canyon Jack Newitts, Riley Gale Newitts and Chase Brian Norling.
Huckleberry O’Donnell Oakes, James Joseph O’Donnell, Zachary Ryan O’Donnell, Matthew Jeremiah Oliphant, Graysen Joseph Pagan, Angela Mae Paulin, Gavin Matthew Petrosky, Gavino Rocco Pezzella, Joseph Mark Pillsbury, Anthony Mark Piperi, Nicholas Stelios Pistolakis, Emilee Rose Poley, Richard Joseph Pristas, Ava Ann Proto, Teofil Ross Rapach II, Mia Katherine Rauffer, Gavin C. Reid, Manuel Agustin Reyes, Kimberly Nuriet Reyes Pacheco, Nathan Drew Riello, Ava Marie Rios, Derek John Rios, Greyson Michael Ritter, Joselyn Carolina Roller and Juliette Danielle Ryan.
Devin Joseph Sachkowsky, Daniel Enrique Sanchez, Jessica Santiago-Sanchez, Jayna Camille Sass, Julia Marie Savage, Madeline Grace Scalabrini, Erica Jane Schaeffer, Jin Tak Jayden Shin, Michael Joseph Silvestri, Brian Cooper Simoes, Parker James Smith, Alaina Ann Sollas, John Paul Spencer, Logan Stalker, Timothy Andrew Stamm, Sean Michael Sweeney, Makayla Marie Thibodeaux, Julia Adriana Thompson, Rylee Rachel Thrunk, James Robert Tiroly, Daniel Torres, Zsofia Carlyn Toth, Robert Joseph Trapanese IV, Caroline Elizabeth Trost, Georgia Summer Tym, Ava Rose Van Nest, Evan Vincent Veenboer, Alexander Vincent Venturoso, Jake Richard Venturoso, Marisa Margaret Venturoso, Adelaide Helen Videon-Perino, Samantha Vigliotti, Nicholas George Vitale and Landon Vogt.
John Patrick Ward, Jalia Bell Watson, Ava Catherine Weiland, Kate Carol Willis, Anna Claire Willmot, Ella Rose Willmot, John Henry Witkowski, MacKenzie Rae Woit, Matthew Christopher Woit, Isaiah J. Wood and Lexi Noel Young.
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