Babylon High's Class of 2015 Graduates

It was a day of pride and celebration as 147 students from the Class of 2015 were led onto Coach Williams Memorial Field by the American Celtic Band and color guard from the New York (LPD-21) Division of the United States Naval Sea Cadets out of the Northport VA Hospital during the annual Babylon Junior-Senior High School commencement exercise.

After words of reflection by senior class president Kathryn O’Sullivan and student council president Emma Rende, principal Al Cirone welcomed the community and graduates to this joyous occasion. Cirone encouraged the graduates not to follow the crowd, but rather “be a voice, not an echo.” Superintendent of Schools Richard Rozakis then imparted sound advice to “be the hero of your own life.”

In addition to musical selections by the band and concert chorus, the senior class’ singing of the Babylon Alma Mater and the traditional release of white dove, valedictorian Mohankumar Chintariapalli and salutatorian Ronald Pashen addressed their peers with sage advise. “You all have gifts and need to figure out how to use them,” Mohankumar said. Ronald also noted that the common thread between all of the graduates is that they have overcome obstacles and are now leaving a familiar, safe place that has prepared them to enter a world of challenges.

In a farewell address by junior class advisor Frank Mancuso, he urged the graduates to “be a good person” and to “act in the interest of others.” The graduates were then called one by one to the podium to receive their diplomas and to become the newest alumni of the Babylon School District.

Photos courtesy of the Babylon School District