Kaynor Tech Class of 2014 Graduates at the Palace Theater

The Warren Fox Kaynor Technical High School Class of 2104 graduated  on Thursday, June 19 at the Palace Theater in Waterbury. One hundred eighty one very excited seniors dressed in black and gold caps and gowns filled a good portion of the front orchestra seats of the magnificent venue and parents and friends filled the rest of the orchestra level and the entire mezzanine.

After the traditional processional to "Pomp and Circumstance," Class Co-president and Culinary Arts student Justin Cipriano welcomed everyone and led the Pledge to the Flag. Eight students in the Kaynor Tech Chorus under the direction of Music Instructor Brittany Rondeau then assembled around the flag to sing the National Anthem.

Kaynor Principal David Telesca completed his first year at the technical high school as this academic year ends. Before he began his welcome address, he congratulated the class of 2014 on how well they all sat down together. "That took hours," he quipped. He said "Hello youngsters" to them for probably the last time. He spoke of how he is proud to be the principal of Kaynor Tech, facetiously added that "I don't like to talk" and then proceeded to give a speech that was one of the highlights of the evening.

"Mr. T" described how as a brand new principal he went to every single classroom in the building to introduce himself and allow the teens to ask him any question they liked. Some of the questions were very funny and obviously true. He reminded the students how he had dressed up as Ironman for Halloween, authorized a Senior Lock In, and quoted his favorite philosopher Dr. Who. He told the soon to be graduates how proud he was that they had worked hard, had fun and had been nice to each other. As the young people go out and live their lives, he invited them to "come back to tell us all about it because you know where we are."

This dedicated principal maintains a Facebook page (essentially for the parents) and a Twitter feed for the Kaynor community and if you ask a question, he gets back to you right away. When snow days began to pile up around Feb. 14, he posted a YouTube video which featured his wife in the background that made this parent smile.

Salutatorian Joseph Andrew Davino, a student in the Carpentry Department, then addressed his fellow students. In his speech, he acknowledge the effort put in by the parents of his classmates in getting them to this day. He encouraged his peers that it was time to "grow up" after this small stepping stone in their lives that is high school. "We are now young adults with the skills to make our dreams a reality," said Mr. Davino. This young man received a full scholarship to UCONN.

There was a moment of silence in memory of Mr. John Maida, a beloved plumbing instructor who passed away as a result of an automobile accident last December. Members of the teacher's family were in attendance.

Molly Mackenzie Fitzgerald was a student in the Fashion Merchandising and Entrepreneurship and graduated at the top of her class. Her Valedictory Address also mentioned growing up and not being afraid to mess up.

Mr. T then presented the Class of 2014 and began the presentation of the diplomas. Patricia Keavney-Maruca, a member of the State Board of Education, Raymond Mencio, Education Consultant, as well as Michele Lomma and Paula Paccadolmi, the class advisors, assisted with the awarding.

The students were seated by how many members of the shop were graduating, so the smallest groups went first. Department heads read the name of each student, shook their hand and/or hugged them. Theodore Panasci, the department head of Carpentry, had nine students graduate, including Mr. Davino and National Honor Society member ToiVon Alexander Maia. Edward Drapatin sent out nine Manufacturing Technology graduates, including National Honor Society member Amanda Nichole Kling. Vincent DeStasio, the head of the Computer Aided Drafting & Design Department, hugged every single one of his graduating students, including NHS members David Gordon Maciel and Ryan Louis Plourde, and even the next department head that he introduced, Eduardo Rosado.

Mr. Rosado, Collision Repair and Refinishing Department Head, sent a dozen students on their way, and Jonathan Wallace Hailstones took an onstage selfie after her grabbed his diploma. Electronics Technology Department Head Lee Pelletier named 15 students, including Honor Society members Damar C. Britto, Alex A. Monsky and Alexander Robert Zabbara.

Health Technology graduated 16 seniors and 13 of them were in the National Honor Society; Gail Sirko read their names and hugged them all. David Emmons read the names of the 17 Automotive Technology graduates, which included Naugatuck resident Brandon David Priest. Next up were the 17 Fashion Tech students and Maryellen Gilmartin read their names and hugged each one. They sported some of the best shoes and Honor Society members included Ms. Fitzgerald, Karina Diaz, Jacqueline Ann Monroe, Cassandra Jean Nichols and Pamela Del Carmen Robles Vasquez.

Electrical graduates were named by Department Head Richard Miller and included Honor Society members Marcus Aaron Frank and Igor Dmitrievich Panchenko, as well as (proud mom alert!) Adam William Janis.

Big shops included Hairdressing and Barbering, led by Kim Cerra, with 17 graduates including Diamond K. Ford, Mabelitza Guzman-Cordero, Sharese Maya Harris and Johanna Priscila Toledo. Plumbing and Heating graduated 17 students, who's names were read by Henry Wheelahan, and included Honor Society member Marie Lillian Campoli and Tyler T. Thill and Jared Anthony Tintone who chest bumped as the exited.

The final shop was comprised of 24 seniors who focused on Culinary Arts. James Motasky all read their names, which included Honor Society members Justin Matthew Cipriano, Sarah Katherine Sagendorf, Ana Maria Urquijo and Erin Irene Virag.

After the tassel turn, Hairdressing graduate and Class Co-President Mabelitza Guzman-Cordero gave a fine farewell address. She began by taking a selfie with her classmates in the background. She called Kaynor the "best school in the world" and quoted her "homeboy Dr. Seuss." She reminded us that the teachers cover the curriculum in half the time (the other half taken up by shop cycles.)

The strains of the recessional "March of Aida" could be heard as the graduates headed out of the theater and into the (very crowded) street.