West Orange High Graduates Class of 2016: Photos, Video

West Orange, NJ – Congratulations, West Orange High Class of 2016.

Last week, 512 seniors donned caps and gowns for their graduation from West Orange High School, held at Codey Arena.

Watch a video of the graduation ceremony here.

Graduates walked out to the Graduation Band’s rendition of “Pomp and Circumstance,” with juniors from the school Honor Guard standing in attendance.

Class President Siena Stanislaus led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance before a series of musical performances kicked off, including a five-part harmony version of The Star Spangled Banner performed by Victoria Estoque, Henry Gardner, Jasmine Jones, Caleigh Molner, and Daniel Querques, followed by a performance of “The Impossible Dream” by the Honors Chambers Choir accompanied by Jubilee Choir Director William Farley.

Salutatorian Mythili Kanagala and Valedictorian Brianna Attamonte then addressed their peers.

Kanagala reflected on the journey they had taken to get to where they stood today, and encouraged students to take advantage of their futures. She closed her speech by thanking her family and paying homage to her grandmother “who has traveled from India to be here at my graduation.”

Attamonte noted that she had prepared words but decided to change them after recent incidents in the news moved her to change direction.

“Do not take your life for granted… Do not take West Orange for granted,” she noted, speaking of the town’s diversity and tolerance.

“And do not take your education for granted,” she added, encouraging her peers to “take chances, even if you fail…you can’t succeed without failure.”

“Your voices are more important than you think,” Attamonte concluded.

According to a school news release, 22 students compromising the top five percent (academic) of the class received special Academic Honor Medallions to signify their accomplishments.

Board of Education member Ron Charles, whose son Anthony was among the graduates, presented the Board of Education tribute, urging students not to fear failure.

“Failure is just life trying to move you in a different direction," Charles said.“You’ll find true success with one goal: to fulfill the highest and most genuine expression of yourself.”

Referencing the Aerosmith song, Charles concluded by encouraging students to “Dream On.”

Superintendent Jeff Rutzky exhorted students to follow the advice his own grandmother had given him, to make choices by imagining that the person they cared most about in the world was there to see them make that decision.

“What would that person think about your choices?” he asked. “Each of you have the ability to change the world in a special way. Don’t let anyone or anything stand in the way of your journey to success.”

Following the presentation of diplomas, the graduating class of 2016 departed the arena to prepare for Project Graduation, held at Funplex in East Hanover.

“Project Graduation provides a safe, alcohol and drug-free celebration of a last evening spent together,” school administrators stated. “Funds are raised by the PTA and students pay a portion of the cost.”

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Photos/video courtesy of the West Orange School District / Cynthia Cumming and Bridget Cunningham