Verona Graduates Head to the Future

Clad in crimson and white, 149 Verona High School seniors became graduates Thursday night and were given some practical advice from their board of education president.

"Don't think you know everything," warned John Quattrocchi.

The graduates were lauded in speeches for their achievements in the classroom, on the athletic field and in the performing arts.

Senior class president Nicholas Lukas praised graduates, saying, “When times are tough, our true character shows.”

Superintendent of Schools Steven Forte said every year around graduation, he remembers his own graduation from West Orange High School in 1985. He said the community should be proud of this group of seniors.

School salutatorian Filip Babalievsky described Verona as “our little island of stability” and a “safe home for all of us.”

The crowd arrived early, and the district and township were ready. Hydration stations were set up to keep guests comfortable since the ceremony was outside on Sellitto Field.

The district also set up a live video feed in the air-conditioned high school cafeteria for guests who didn’t want to, or couldn’t, stay outside in the heat and the rescue squad was on standby in case it was needed.

“It’s too hot,” said Dolly Brizzi, who came to see her grandson, Joseph Fierro, graduate.