Colts Neck High School Class of 2013 Celebrates Graduation

As lightening struck in the distance moments before the outdoor ceremony's start, more than 200 Colts Neck High School seniors took their last lap around the high school track as they filed into neatly lined rows in the middle of the field.

Dressed in silver and green caps and gowns, students listened as salutatorian Roshni Bhat and valedictorian Daniel Banks spoke about reflecting on their past four years at Colts Neck High School.

 “Class of 2013, let’s get weird,” Banks, who also celebrated his birthday on Tuesday, said as he addressed his peers atop a turned over milk crate at the podium. “Weird differs from the status quo…We have the responsibility to make change.”

Senior class officers Alexandra Calderaro, president; Jacob Feigenbaum, vice president; Ariana Christina Giannopoulos, vice president, and Anna Catherine Powell, secretary congratulated their classmates in a short speech and helped distribute diplomas.

Principal Keith Land celebrated his last graduation after six years of service at Colts Neck High School. Land said the senior class was awarded more than $16 million in scholarship.  Students were accepted into four ivy league schools including Cornell, Yale, Harvard and John Hopkins University and more than 90% of graduating class will be attending a two or four year college. Three students from the class will be joining the service upon graduation – one U.S. Marine, two U.S. Navy.

 Senior Class Advisor Glenn Jensen led the graduates in the turning of the tassel ceremony before they processed off field and into the bleachers to meet their awaiting parents.