Garden City High School Sends Off The Class Of 2020

Garden City NY

29 July, 2020

3:35 PM

Description

GARDEN CITY, NY — Garden City High School held its 68th annual commencement to celebrate and graduate the class of 2020 on July 21. Two ceremonies were held at Warren King Field, where grads received their diplomas while families watched from a distance or online. For Principal Kevin Steingruebner, who served as the master of ceremonies for the day, it was his first year presiding over commencement as principal. "The class of 2020 has been an amazing group since they entered Garden City High School four years ago," Steingruebner said. "They have celebrated triumphs and met the challenges of our times, and through it all they remained united and determined to continue to grow and be better people. I am very proud of them and will miss having them at GC High School!" The ceremonies opened with Student Council President Jamie Besendorfer's recital of the Pledge of Allegiance and an instrumental of the national anthem. Steingruebner offered welcoming remarks before introducing salutatorian Katherine Staub, who looked back on the past year and the abbreviated time spent with her classmates due to the pandemic. "One positive that came from this temporary pause was the chance to reflect on the past and the future and truly take in and appreciate all that life has to offer," she said. "This has always been a community where I have felt so supported, in good times and in bad. In looking back on my amazing time in this school, the small moments are definitely the memories I will treasure forever." Class President Riley Bauer presented the class gift, a $3,000 donation to the Jamie and Paige Malone Foundation. The nonprofit supports families of disabled and mentally challenged children, as well as families that have experienced traumatic loss, via student scholarships. Senior George Arianas was this year's winner of the Julia Maloney Scholarship, awarded to a graduating senior who writes an essay about a teacher who has had a significant impact on their life. Arianas wrote about his middle school physical education teacher Michael Tullo. During her valedictory address, Mary Foxen recalled that in mid-March, she told friends and family that she missed school. She was reminded of the human connection between her classmates, close friends, teachers and staff, which she missed even more than the thrill of attacking new material in the classroom. She advised her classmates to continue striving for greatness during these unprecedented times. "We cannot allow ourselves to grow passive to our potential in the midst of the hardships that surround us," she urged. "Now more than ever it is evident that we must use this potential to work together towards a better tomorrow." Keynote speaker and English teacher Nancy Fleming, who has been consistently named a favorite teacher by seniors, lauded the class for their support of one another and advised them to guard against complacency. "Many people settle in jobs that they do not fully enjoy," she said, "yet if you follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly, you will live the life you not only want to be living, but ought to be living." After all speakers had shared their sentiments, Riley and Class Vice President Isabella Ottomanelli presented the 302 members of the class of 2020. Once every member had received their diploma, Steingruebner officially declared them graduates and wished them well as they advance to the next great challenge in their lives.