Columbia High School Seniors Graduate

Columbia High School's Class of 2010, 426 strong, received their diplomas late Thursday afternoon at Essex County College, highlighting a week of graduation festivities that began with the prom on Tuesday and will end with Midnight Madness—the annual CHS tradition where seniors are whisked away on buses to a secret location for an alcohol-free celebration—overnight.

A range of speakers urged students to follow their dreams, starting with Student Council President Joseph Deraville, who made the symbol of the Class of 2010—crossing his wrists in the shape of an X and bumping them together—during his remarks: "As Lil Wayne has said, 'The sky is the limit.'"

Superintendent Brian Osborne also made the 2010 symbol when he was called to speak and told the class, "Don't forget where you came from, don't forget who you are, and don't let anyone stop you from following your dreams." He also reminded them that in 1997, they were in kindergarten, and the world has changed.

Other speakers reminded the graduates of the uniqueness of their soon-to-be alma mater. Senior Class President Justin Heath noted that many seniors had walked out of their classes this spring to protest Gov. Chris Christie's funding cuts to schools despite the threat of disciplinary action against them. "It [CHS] doesn't need a facelift or any fancy remodeling, because the students here are the heart of the school," he said.

Prinicipal Dr. Lovie Lilly told students that she had recently attended graduation at Bloomfield College and encountered CHS '06 alumni, who called out to her. Reflexively, she started chanting "Columbia! Columbia!", and the alumni chanted back. One of them told her that CHS had prepared him for the "rigor of college," that he was headed to Thailand and Ghana for the summer to teach high school students, and that he aspired to be in the CHS Hall of Fame.

Board of Education President Mark Gleason ran through a list of student accomplishments this year—including four National Merit Scholarship finalists and commendations for student publications The Columbian and Guildscript—and praised the graduates for their activism this spring when many walked out of class in protest of the state budget cuts. "Setting aside the politics, the Board applauds your desire to get involved," he said.

Gleason reminded the students that high schools are likely to be very different places when their own children are enrolled and urged them to stay involved—to tutor, take education classes in college even if it's not their major, and to consider joining Teach for America.

Students broke out into loud applause when a video montage recapping the year showed a clip of the CHS football team, which went 8-2 last fall to come out of a long-lasting slump.

Graduate Abisola Kusimo addressed her peers before the diplomas were handed out (with each name carefully enunciated by Assistant Principal Janice McGowan.) "It's this school that changed me, that taught me how much I love to just speak—and perform!" said Kusimo, who received a standing ovation.