GARDEN CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

On The LineOn The LineGRADUATION 2016 www.gardencity.k12.ny.us Vol. 17 • No. 4

Congratulations & Best Wishes to the Class of 2016!

“Now, this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning,” quoted Superintendent Dr. Robert Feirsen of Winston Churchill as he addressed the Class of 2016 for the final time during the

82nd Annual Garden City High School Commencement held on June 25th. And, for the eighth year in a row, the early summer weather made for a beautiful backdrop as the 310 class members enjoyed an elegant ceremony marking this important

milestone in their lives. Thank you to the parents, teachers, district and high school administration, and the dozens of behind-the-scenes staff who

made this year’s ceremony so successful. Congratulations and best wishes for a bright future to the Class of 2016! To view more images from Commencement 2016, click on the Photo Gallery tab on the high school’s home web page.

Board of Education Applauds the Class of 2016 Co-Valedictorians

Hannah McDonald & Morgan Herrmann with Salutatorian Elizabeth Rieger

The Class of 2016 Processional

High School Principal Nanine McLaughlin Welcomes Commencement Attendees

Salutatorian Elizabeth Rieger Class President Howard Miller

Julia Maloney Scholarship Winner Natalie Garcia

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Robert Feirsen

Co-Valedictorian Morgan Herrmann

Co-Valedictorian Hannah McDonald Keynote Speaker English Teacher Diane DolanCheers of Joy and a Standing Ovation

By Parents for the Class of 2016

www.gardencity.k12.ny.us

Good morning and welcome, Dr. Feirsen, Mrs. McLaughlin, members of the Board of Education, our high school’s administration, faculty, and staff, all who have made our experience at Garden City High School one to remember. I believe that what makes today so special are our differences. From the time we entered middle school, followed by high school, we have all developed different hobbies, different friends, and different interests. Some of us showed our athleticism on the track, or on the field, and some of us showed our talent by performing in the lights of the stage. Some of us began by doodling in the margins and ended up as artists. Others possess an inspiring passion for history, math, writing, or science. And while it might seem that enjoying different things and being part of different clubs and activities could keep us apart, that is not the case. As a class, we have experienced some of the best of times together, and we have also been there for each other when times got tough, whether it was our first few days as freshmen, or the hectic rush to apply for the colleges we dreamed of attending. And even though we have all faced our fair share of challenges and uncertainty, “just because someone stumbles and loses their way, does not mean they are lost forever.” We may all be different, and have our close friends, and those who we never really got the chance to know, but today we stand here united. And that is the biggest feat of them all. You will

also find that challenges will continue to face you in your future. It’s true that the world is tough, but everything happens for a reason. I would like to share a quote with you that proves we are capable of moving with confidence and strength into the future. “I am a leader because I am prepared to take the fall. Leading with certainty into an uncertain future doesn’t require sight - it requires vision. It requires holding on, and no matter what happens, never letting go.” Take those words and remember them. Remember that no matter what it is you wish to pursue, be a leader in doing so. The future can be full of surprises and obstacles, but I know that each and every one of us is ready to take on what the world has to offer. Challenge yourself, set goals and trail blaze your way towards them. You will certainly face challenges, but remember, work hard to chase the life you want and one day, it will definitely be yours. So on that note, we’ve been preparing for this moment since we first started school. We spent weeks on projects, learning for our classes, always striving to do our best. We’ve discovered our talents, and the different qualities we possess that allow each of us to stand out and make a difference. We’ve guided the younger students and have made our own impact, leaving behind organizations, clubs, and other friendships and memories and that will always remain both here and with us. We have all worked so hard to get here, and each and every one of us deserves the chance to celebrate and prepare for the future. I would personally like to thank my Mom, Dad, Oma, and Opa for supporting me through not only high school, but my entire life. And I would also like to thank family, friends, and everyone here today for supporting us through all of our classes, sports, activities, and everything that we love to do, and all of the dreams we fight to chase. We definitely couldn’t have done it without you. So, thank you, God Bless, and congratulations to Garden City High School’s Class of 2016!!!!

CATERINA ABRUZZO The London School of Economics/Political ScienceNICHOLAS AHREM Pace University BRIAN ALCAMO New York UniversityCAROLINE ALLEN Stony Brook University - SUNYJESSICA ALLEN University of DelawarePETER AMBROSINO Adelphi UniversityKELLY ANESER Bucknell UniversityCAROLINE APRIGLIANO College of the Holy CrossJACK ARMSTRONG Binghamton University - SUNY KYLE ASCHER The University of ScrantonTHOMAS ASFAR Mount Saint Mary College MATTEO ATIK The University of EdinburghDOMINICK AVITABILE Marist CollegeREBECCA BALDESSARI Coastal Carolina UniversitySARAH BANAHAN Villanova UniversityNIMISHA BANGALORE University of RichmondKATHLEEN BEATTY Providence CollegeISABELLA BEH LIU PostJENNIFER BEIHOFF Elizabethtown CollegeBRET BELLO University of Maryland TIANNA BISCONE Colgate UniversityAMANDA BLAIR Fairfield UniversityMARY BLUME School of Visual Arts

JOSEPH BONAFEDE Marist CollegeMICHAEL BONOMI SUNY Geneseo CAROLINE BONVISSUTO Siena CollegeROBERT BROSNAN University of PennsylvaniaRYAN BROWN Cornell UniversityMICHAELA BRUNO Georgetown University XAVIER BUCKNOR Conservatory of Recording Arts & SciencesAMANDA BYRNE Fashion Institute of Technology - SUNYCHRISTOPHER CAMANELLI TBDGRACE CAMERON Boston CollegeJENNA CAMMARATA College of the Holy Cross JACK CAPETOLA Elon UniversityJOHN DANIEL CASALE Marist CollegeJOHN CASLER Cornell UniversityMATTHEW CASTELLANO TBDJOSEPH CESTARE Nassau Community CollegeEMILY CHAVEZ Hofstra UniversityEVELYN CHAVEZ New York Institute of TechnologyCASSANDRA CHENG Fordham University SOPHIA CHIARELLO Farmingdale State College - SUNYCATHERINE CHU Barnard College OLIVIA COFFEY University of RichmondMADELINE COLUCCI New Paltz -SUNY

Thanks, Mrs. McLaughlin….and WELCOME everyone to your last STUDENT speech of the day! You’re almost there…I’d like to add my own word of THANKS to the TEACHERS and ADMINISTRATORS of ALL the Garden City schools….YOU are the true “Unsung Heroes” of Garden City. The academic success of this district would not be possible without you constantly CHALLENGING us to reach our potential every day. I’m proud to be the third generation of McDonald to walk the halls of Garden City Schools….and I’d like to mention two people in particular. First, my Uncle Brian.…what are the odds that out of EVERY locker in Garden City High School, mine was placed RIGHT OUTSIDE your math classroom? While you deliberately gave me the space to have my own high school experience, it was also nice to see a friendly face in the halls everyday. I’d also like to acknowledge my grandfather, John McDonald, who started working in the school district in 1955 and spent the next 38 years as assistant principal of the junior high school. For those parents that attended during that time, you may not recognize HIM, but I guarantee that he remembers YOU and probably your class schedule from ninth grade too! Feel free to TEST him out later! THANK YOU GRANDPA for your decades of service to our community. For us seniors, the last few weeks have been busy and nostalgic as we prepared for Graduation, Prom, and moving on to college. I recently looked through my yearbook from Homestead School, in which we were asked the question what do you dream of being when you grow up? It’s funny to think, that if our first grade dreams came true, I’d now be speaking to an audience of professional athletes, veterinarians, and rock stars. Of course, If we were all asked the same question today, I’m sure we’d get a DIFFERENT set of answers. I KNOW that’s definitely the case for me. In first grade, I said I wanted to be an artist—but I was forced to reconsider that career path after creating what I thought was an excellent self-portrait in eighth grade. Unfortunately, when I brought my portrait home and proudly hung it in the kitchen, everyone that came in asked “who drew the picture of Jesus?” However, If you asked me today---WHAT do I want to be when I grow up? Or WHAT do I want to MAJOR in college? My answer is very clear and very definitive: I…………HAVE…….NO…………..IDEA!!! Fortunately, I’ve been told that THIS IS OK. The best piece of advice I received over the past year is to “STAY UNDECIDED and EXPLORE WITH ABANDON.” This was from a college professor whose point was that as high school seniors, IT’s OK to be UNSURE what we want to do. Over the next four years, we should explore things that intrigue us, that challenge us, that inspire us and make us think. In other words, this is the time to TRY EVERYTHING and to figure out WHAT WE LOVE - NOT to blindly follow what other people might expect of us. As Steve Jobs, the founder of Apple said, “Your time is limited. DON’T WASTE IT living someone ELSE’s life.” Steve Jobs also said that every morning he’d look in the mirror and ask himself, if today was going to be my last day on earth, would I want to do what I am about to do today? And whenever the answer was “No” for too many days in a row, he knew he needed to make a change. Steve Jobs was talking about work, but I believe his advice also applies to ALL of the choices we’ll be making over the next few years: picking classes, choosing a major, finding the right group of friends. And of course, ultimately deciding on career and a spouse. And when we run into RESISTANCE - people telling us that we’re on the wrong path, OR that we shouldn’t follow what we love, let’s keep in mind, that being different and standing out, TYPICALLY means you’re doing something RIGHT!!! To paraphrase Henry Ford, “When every THING, and every ONE seem to be going against you, remember this - the AIRPLANE….takes off AGAINST the wind, not WITH it.” Friends and classmates, make sure you’re flying INTO the wind once in a while! And make sure you’re not “FITTING IN” too much! Going forward, let’s EXPLORE WITH ABANDON! And Let’s FIND WHAT WE LOVE! Only then are we likely to discover what we are TRULY GOOD at. And how we can make the best CONTRIBUTION to the world we live in. Thank you….Congratulations….and best of luck in the future.

Hannah McDonaldCo-Valedictorian

Where They Will Be Attending

Morgan HerrmannCo-Valedictorian

MELISSA CONELLI Quinnipiac UniversityDANIEL CONFORT College of the Holy CrossCHRISTIAN COPPOLA Baruch College - CUNY BRITTANY COSTA Adelphi University ISABELLA COSTABILE Fordham University EMMA COSTELLO Sacred Heart UniversityJOHN COTE Nassau Community CollegeSARAH COUTURE School of Visual ArtsCHRISTOPHER CRAFA The Catholic University of America JOHN CRAFA Dickinson CollegeTHOMAS CRAFA Gettysburg CollegeALICIA CRISTOFORO University of Notre DameCRISTIN CROWLEY Georgetown UniversityCOLLIER CURRAN Dartmouth CollegeJAKE CURRY Colgate UniversityHANNA DAEMPFLE Marist CollegeJILLIAN DANE University of VirginiaOLIVIA DECURTIS Stonehill CollegeKERRY DEFLIESE Syracuse UniversityTIMOTHY DEHLER Nassau Community CollegeWILLIAM DEMARIA Cornell UniversityNICOLE DERBY University of MarylandMICHAEL DESIMONE Farmingdale State College - SUNYDANIEL DESIMPLICIIS The University of Alabama JAMES DESOUSA College of the Holy CrossJAMES DICAIRANO New York Institute of TechnologySEAN DILLMEIER Colby CollegeGRACE DIMARIA Saint Joseph’s UniversityDESSIE DIMINO California Institute of TechnologyKATHERINE DIRKS SUNY CantonKELLY DIXON Iona CollegeHOANG KIM DO Community College of PhiladelphiaBRENDAN DOLAN Georgetown UniversityDYLAN DONOHUE Fordham University WILLIAM DONOHUE James Madison UniversityCHRISTOPHER DORIZAS University of MiamiKIERNAN DOUGHERTY SUNY Cortland MARK DOWNEY JR. University of MarylandCATHERINE DURAND University of DelawareLEO DURANTE Marist CollegeEMILY ECONOMOS Queens CollegeCHRISTOPHER EFTHIMIOU Nassau Community CollegeALEXANDRA EVANS Providence CollegeJOHN FANNING James Madison UniversityTONI FASANO Molloy CollegeRILEY JANE FEDELE St. John’s UniversityMITCHELL FEIJOO Quinnipiac UniversityJACK FENTY Marist CollegeCHRISTIAN FERRIS Villanova UniversityPETER FINNICAN TBDYIANNI FLOUSKAKOS Fordham UniversityKATELYN FOCELLA Georgetown UniversityJULIA FORBES The University of ScrantonMICHAEL FRANCO Binghamton University - SUNYDANIELLE FRANZ Adelphi UniversityANDREA FRESSLE Marist CollegeRYAN GALIOTO Villanova UniversityNATALIE GARCIA Dartmouth CollegeNICHOLAS GARDYN Hofstra UniversityRAYMOND GENADRY Iona CollegeSTEPHANIE GERLAND St. John’s UniversityVICTORIA GIANNONE Fairfield UniversityOLIVIA GIARRAPUTO Boston CollegeCHRISTINA GIBBONS Fairfield University KATHRYN GILLAN Bucknell UniversityAILEEN GILLIN Marist CollegeKELLY GORDON Fairfield UniversityJULIANNE GRIFFITH Vanderbilt UniversityLINDSAY GRIPPO Colby College MAXWELL GUARNIERI Vassar CollegeOLIVIA GUARNIERI Vassar College MICHAEL GULLO The University of ScrantonBRIAN HAEFFNER Hobart and William Smith CollegeANDREW HAGGERTY College of the Holy CrossCHRISTOPHER HALKA Siena CollegeTREVOR HANSON Colorado State UniversityHAILEY HARDER College of CharlestonDANA HATCHER Adelphi UniversityANTHONY HAZARIAN Fordham University FINOLA HEANEY Loyola University MarylandGRANT HENNEBERGER SUNY Maritime CollegeMORGAN HERRMANN University of PennsylvaniaLEIGHA HILL Iona College GAVRIELLE HOLLAND Lehigh UniversityKATHERINE HOLOBIGIAN Marist CollegeCATHERINE HONAN Texas Christian UniversityPATRICK HOSFORD Clemson UniversityDYLAN HUGHES Syracuse University

ROBERT HYER Binghamton University - SUNYALESSIO ICCARI University of DelawareCHRISTIAN IRWIN Union CollegeARIELLA IZZO University of South CarolinaLARISSA IZZO Maastricht University, HollandEVAN JAENICHEN Fordham UniversityKEVIN JOHNSON Providence CollegeNICHOLAS JONES University at Buffalo - SUNYSARAH JONES Syracuse UniversityKRISTEN KALLEM Saint Michael’s CollegeDANIEL KAMMER Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute JULIA KAMMER Pratt InstituteJENNIE KEATING TBDDANIELLE KELLY TBDSHANNON KELLY University of Florida CAROLINE KENNY University of South CarolinaJOSEPH KING Villanova UniversityISABEL KLATT Gettysburg CollegeCAROLINE KNECHTGES Miami University, Oxford, OHSEAN KNOWLES Villanova UniversityJULIANA KUBLER College of the Holy CrossCHRISTINA KUTULOS University of Southern CaliforniaMATTHEW LAGRECA Nassau Community CollegeZACHARY LAMBRAIA Georgetown UniversityEMMA LARIVIERE University of Massachusetts - Amherst PETER LARSEN The Catholic University of AmericaDAVID LEARY Iona CollegeBRIAN LEGGETT Xavier UniversityCONOR LEHAN The University of ScrantonJOSEPH LEIGHTON Middlebury CollegeNICOLE LETO Quinnipiac UniversityMATTHEW LISOSKI Fordham University ANASTASIA LITVINOVA TBDYANG LIU Johns Hopkins UniversityKEYIN LU Duke UniversityOWEN LUCANO Binghamton University - SUNYKAITLIN LUCCHESI Fairfield UniversitySAM LUCCHESI Hobart and William Smith CollegeMARK LUGLIO Fordham University JOHN MACKEY Bentley UniversityALANA MACLEOD Boston CollegeELIZABETH MALASZCZYK University of DelawareANDREW MANCINI Adelphi UniversityLEANNA MARCIANO Villanova UniversityROBERT MARINO Nassau Community CollegeGRIFFIN MARRONE The University of ScrantonALINA MARTINEZ Villanova UniversityJOHN MARTINEZ New York UniversityMATTHEW MASTROMATTEO Marist CollegeALANA MCANDREWS University of South CarolinaNATHANIEL MCCABE TBDKAYLA MCCADDEN Gettysburg CollegeKERRY MCCARRAHER Villanova UniversityPETER MCCARTHY College of the Holy CrossBROOKE MCDAID University of Massachusetts - AmherstLUKE MCDAID Furman UniversityHANNAH MCDONALD University of PennsylvaniaKEVIN MCDOUGAL University of DaytonCAROLINE MCELROY Adelphi UniversityELISABETH MCGANNON Fordham UniversityJULIA MCGUIRE Hamilton College MEREDITH MCLAUGHLIN Fordham UniversityAMANDA MEDJID American UniversityKERRI METZLER Sacred Heart UniversityFREDERICK MIGNONE Binghamton University - SUNYHOWIE MILLER Fordham University MICHAEL MILLER SUNY CortlandSABRINA MILONE Trinity CollegeTIERNEY MINION Bucknell UniversityJACK MOLITOR University of ConnecticutCONNOR MOLLOY University of MarylandDOUGLAS MONGIARDO Franklin and Marshall CollegeASHLYN MORAN Pennsylvania State University MATTHEW MORAN Adelphi UniversitySTEPHEN MORAN Tallahassee Community College GARRETT MORGAN Clemson UniversityNICOLE MOTTO University of DelawareKATHERINE MULDOON Harvard CollegeJAMES MURPHY Ithaca CollegeMICHELA MURRAY DePaul UniversityMATTHEW MUSCARELLA Quinnipiac UniversityBREANNE NAEGELE Cabrini/Thomas Jefferson UniversityGABRIELLE NARDI Fashion Institute of Technology - SUNYNICHOLAS NEESER Pennsylvania State UniversityCASEY NEMEROFF SUNY CortlandANTOINETTE NICHOLAS Pratt InstituteERIC NOLAN University at Buffalo - SUNYRILEY NOLAN Northeastern University

www.gardencity.k12.ny.us

Angela HeinemanBoard of Education President

Tom PinouVice President

Robert MartinTrustee

Laura HastingsTrustee

William HolubTrustee

Robert Feirsen, Ed.D.Superintendent of Schools

Catherine Knight, Ed.D.Coordinator of Public Information

Non-Profit OrganizationU. S. Postage

PAIDGarden City, NY 11530

Permit No. 22

ResidentGarden City, NY 11530

Inspiring MindsEmpowering AchievementBuilding Community

DANIELA SCISCENTE University of MarylandPAYTON SELTENREICH Quinnipiac UniversityPIERCE SENKEN United States Merchant Marine AcademyLILY SHANNON University of RichmondBRIDGET SHEA Juniata CollegeJENNA SHIPLEY Adelphi UniversityMARY-KATHERINE SHIRLEY University of MarylandSTEPHANIE SILER University of FloridaJAYNA SILVA Virginia TechJOHN SIMMONS Elon UniversityTARA SKAHILL The Ohio State UniversityCAROLINE SMITH Fordham UniversityMICHAEL SNYDER Cornell UniversityDANIEL SPRUFERO TBDCHLOE STAPLEFORD Boston CollegeJANE STONE Florida Atlantic UniversityBRIDGET STRYSKO Elon UniversityJAMIE SULLIVAN University of DelawareROSS SUTTON University of South CarolinaNICOLE TARICHE Boston CollegeALEXANDER TATEOSIAN Hofstra UniversityCHRISTOPHER TAVERNESE Massachusetts Maritime AcademyLAUREN TEPPER Hofstra UniversityERIK THORSTENN Hofstra UniversityCHRISTOPHER TRABULSI Elon UniversityANDREW TRZECIAK University at Buffalo - SUNYVINCENT VAIANA Providence CollegeTHOMAS VAN NOY Baruch College - CUNYANA VASILJEVIC Baruch College - CUNYKATHLEEN VIERENGEL University of DelawareAMANDA VOLPE James Madison UniversityDANIEL VUOSO Stony Brook University - SUNYMEGAN WALSH University of TennesseeMAX WEBSTER James Madison University TAYLOR WILLIS Sacred Heart UniversityLIAM WILSON Adelphi UniversityBRIAN WOLF University at Albany - SUNYANDREW WOOD Elon UniversityJOHN WOTCZAK Endicott College ANDREW WYKOWSKI Villanova UniversityIRENE YANNIOS Adelphi UniversityMATIAS YIANATOS Hofstra UniversityKATHLEEN YULE The Catholic University of America ELIZABETH ZUPICICH University at Albany - SUNY

KELLY ANNE NORBERTO Marist CollegeMADISON NORTON University of DelawareSARA O’BRIEN University of DelawareEDYTHE OELLRICH Lynn UniversityKAITLYN O’HARE Drexel UniversityOLIVIA O’HARE New York UniversityLAUREN OLEKSIW Adelphi UniversityDESTINY ORANTES Cornell UniversityESTEBAN ORTIZ Harvard CollegeCHARLOTTE OSBORN Case Western Reserve UniversityJAMES OSTROWSKI New York UniversityKIERAN O’SULLIVAN Marist CollegeEMILY PATALANO Binghamton University - SUNYMICHAEL PATALANO Binghamton University - SUNYNICHOLAS PENA University of MarylandHAOZHE PENG Nassau Community CollegeCAROLINE PEPPARD Blair Preparatory/U.S. Naval AcademyANDREAS PETRIDES Northeastern UniversityJOSEPH PHILIPPAS John Jay College of Criminal Justice - CUNYNICOLETTA PHILIPPIDES University of Michigan NATALIE PIRONI Sacred Heart UniversitySTEPHEN PISANO American UniversityJOSEPH PLAUT San Diego State UniversityCAITLIN POWDERLY University of DelawareSOFIA POWERS SUNY Geneseo MARC PREVETE Elon UniversityMATTHEW QUINN Providence CollegeANNIE RANDAZZO Manhattan CollegeJULIANNE REID High Point UniversityJOHN RICEMAN University of MichiganROBERT RICIGLIANO Fordham UniversityELIZABETH RIEGER University of PennsylvaniaANDREW RIPP Gettysburg CollegeJOSEPH ROCCO Marist CollegeTHOMAS RUBIN Nassau Community CollegeKRISTEN RYDZEWSKI Nassau Community CollegeCHLOE SAVINO Stony Brook University - SUNYPETER SCEUSA Bucknell UniversityANNA SCHAUBECK University of MiamiJOHN SCHLICHTE Providence CollegeTIMOTHY SCHMELZINGER Gettysburg CollegeMARYVIVIAN SCHOTT School of Visual ArtsALISON SCHROEDER Adelphi UniversityJANINE SCHWENDEMANN Providence College

Garden City Public Schools56 Cathedral Avenue Garden City, New York 11530www.gardencity.k12.ny.us; GCUFSD