UAIS graduates urged to follow their dreams through action

Utica Academy for International Studies graduates have shown are uniquely positioned for a successful future through action, speakers told graduates Tuesday night.

“Tweeting a hashtag and going back to binge watching a TV show on Netflix does nothing to help further any cause,” said student commencement speaker, Zofia Pietrowicz. “If we want to make any of our dreams come true our actions must reflect that and we as a class are primed for doing that.”

Student speaker Victoria Wystepek reminded her fellow graduates that they should head into their future with confidence, given everything they have tried and achieved at UAIS.

“Don’t be afraid to take risks; even if you fail, at least you’ve learned something, or at least have a great story to tell,” she said.

In addressing the Class of 2015, Superintendent Dr. Christine Johns congratulated graduates on excelling in a program that met their unique learning styles.

She compared the graduates to a Phoenix, which was chosen this year as the school’s official mascot.

“The Phoenix is a symbol of rebirth and strength – which is what your UAIS experience provided: The opportunity to be reborn through knowledge and global awareness and the academic strength for college and career success,” Dr. Johns said.

Board of Education Vice President Gene Klida told graduates they “will need to rely on what you have been taught and what you have been given.”

She said: “You have demonstrated that you are uniquely ready for the choices you have before you.”

UAIS Program director Justin Spear recognized students for several achievements: $7.4 million in scholarships, an average GPA of 3.8, an average ACT of 27.9 and more than $50,000 raised for local and international charities.

The school also had 32 valedictorians and three salutatorians, out of a graduating class of 76.

“You owned every second of what the world gave you, and you did it all,” Spear said.

The UAIS graduates in the Class of 2015 are:

Dominic Salvatore Aluia 1 3 4 SCL
Sumitpal Singh Barn 4 MCL
Bailey Beatrice Benoot 2 3 4 SCL
Maria Josa Shenica Angobung Bernal 1 3 4 SCL
Lejla Borovina 3 4 SCL
Molly Christine Brys 3 4 MCL
Alexandru Daniel Calburean 1 4 SCL
Umama Wadud Chowdhury 3 4 MCL
Alyssa Jailee Cinder 1 3 4 SCL
Claudia Elizabeth Colin 4
Colleen Noel Curtis 1 3 4 SCL
Dylon Lewis Daoud 1 3 4 SCL
Jessica Rose DiGiovanni 1 3 4 SCL
Christian Gabriel Roque Dondonan 1 3 4 SCL
Sydney Raechel Elliott 4 MCL
Katherine Dru Emrich 4 MCL
Sydney Danyelle Essix 4 MCL
Michael Paul Everix 4
Evelyn Issam Fadel 1 3 4 SCL
Paul Michael Garbarino 3 4 SCL
Asim Syed Ghani 3 4 SCL
Emily Ann Gildersleeve 2 3 4 SCL
Gabrielle Ann Guglielmetti 1 4 SCL
Valerie Paulina Hallberg 1 3 4 SCL
Jeanette Kathleen Handy 1 3 4 SCL
Mohammad Ahmed Hassan 3 4 MCL
Andrew Allen Herppich 1 4 SCL
Marisa Lynne Hocking 1 3 4 SCL
Cassidy Ann Huneau 1 3 4 SCL
Shannon Lee Huneau 3 4 SCL
Breeah Iman Jackson 3 4 SCL
Jeremiah Jaber Jean 1 3 4 SCL
Zechariah Kenneth Jean 1 3 4 SCL
Meghan Marie Kattula 4
Eric Johnathon Kehrig
Henry Ryan Kennedy-Cobb
Andrew Dean Kirkum 1 3 4 SCL
Adrianna Maria Kusmierczyk 1 3 4 SCL
Savannah Rachelle Lancaster 1 3 4 SCL
Hannah Victoria Lanfear 3 4 CL
Lindsay Virginia Lundquist 3 4 SCL
Courtney Mansor 4 SCL
Samantha Louise Miller 1 4 SCL
Tania Molnar 3 4 MCL
Andrew Paul Murray 4
Perry Stella Margaret O’Toole 4 SCL
Manali Diviesh Patel 3 4 MCL
Jasmine Marion An Ming Paul 1 3 4 SCL
Zofia Pietrowicz 1 3 4 SCL
Harvey Ver Muli Puri 2 4 SCL
Desirée Lee Ann Quinn 3 4 MCL
Madeleine Elizabeth Reardon 4
Shelby Leigh Richardson 1 4 SCL
Kyle Edward Rudisill 4 CL
Peter Sam 1 3 4 SCL
Jennifer Robert Semaan 3 4 MCL
Samantha Grace Sesi 4 MCL
Eric Thomas Simmons 1 3 4 SCL
Katherine Ann Stangis 4 CL
Lark Amer Steafo 1 3 4 SCL
Cassandra Nicole Steele 4 CL
Megan Ashley Stroup 1 3 4 SCL
Lindsay Nicole Tactac 3 4 MCL
Vanessa Tiffanie Tan 3 4 MCL
Erika Lynn Taukert 3 4 CL
Christa Mariam Thomas 3 4 MCL
Erik Thomas Traub 4 MCL
Ashley Elizabeth Trojniak 1 3 4 SCL
Reagan Kemal Turedi 4 CL
Leena Ramzi Twal 3 4 SCL
Alina Anna Varghese 1 3 4 SCL
Amber Lee Vasile 4 CL
Kourtnie Marie Woodcox 1 3 4 SCL
John Jacob Wyrzykowski 4 MCL
Victoria Elizabeth Wystepek 1 3 4 SCL
Joseph Michael Zollner 4

1 Valedictorian
2 Salutatorian
3 National Honor Society
4 International Baccalaureate Full Diploma Candidate
Graduation Honors:
Summa Cum Laude (SCL) GPA 3.9 and above
Magna Cum Laude (MCL) GPA 3.7 – 3.89
Cum Laude (CL) GPA 3.5 – 3.69