John F. Kennedy High School Graduation 2016

Members of John F. Kennedy High School's Class of 2016 are now officially high school graduates.

The 49th commencement ceremony took place on Sunday, June 26 at the NYCB Theater at Westbury.

During the event, the attendees heard from student class President Steven Obadiah as well as Salutatorian Rachel Mashal and Valedictorian Samantha Klein.

Obadiah started off the ceremony with a positive message for his fellow peers.

“We have a class full of winners and I am honored to have worked closely with many of you,” he said.

He was followed by Mashal who gave the following advice to the other graduates: “Remember your passion and never give up on what you love,” she said. “Be a leader and stick up for what you believe in.”

Klein then emphasized that graduates should “remember to focus on joy” in their lives and not rely on status or material things to make themselves happy.

“The next step in our lives may be challenging, but we all have the strong foundation of the Cougar Nation underneath us as a supporting network as we are separated from Long Island – and Town Bagel for the first time,” she joked.

Congratulations to all the graduates!

Photo Captions:

1) Kennedy graduates entered the theater for their commencement ceremony.

2) Valedictorian Samantha Klein, salutatorian Rachel Mashal, class officers Melissa Gurvitz and Ashley Bardhan, Student Class President Steven Obadiah and class officer Cory Epstein and Student Government President Alex Dobosh.

3) Sara Friedman showed off her decorated cap.

4) Kate Azus and Marissa Ellis showed off their decorated caps.

5) Leonard Burger III, Hamlet Cardenas, Cristian Bonanno and Ryan Biggs.

6) Members of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District central administration and board of education.

Photos courtesy of Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District