The school's 82nd graduation was marked by speeches from Chappaqua school officials and students that either looked back to memories or looked forward to what the graduates face next.
“Class of 2013, you don't need to get ready for the world. The world needs to get ready for you.” said valedictorian Sasha Zemsky, as she applied orange face paint, which with her blue attire matched the school's colors.
Zemsky's act was one of several in which props were used. Principal Robert Rhodes used props not once but twice, with the first time being a change in a orange and blue Nike shoes, and with the second time holding up and everything bagel, which he compared the graduating class to.
“You are a mix of so many flavors, that they only make sense when all in the same place," Rhodes, who gave his first Greeley graduation speech, said.
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Tim Bloom, the student council president, brought up a Greeley Class of 2013 pillow that he got as a ninth grader and had the names of classmates, describing it as being linked with his memories. Bloom then pulled out a second pillow, one with the logo of the where he is attending, the University of Pennsylvania.
Several speakers noted the connections that students have.
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“No matter where we each choose to go in life, we will always be bonded by our experiences here as a part of this incredible community," said salutatorian Julianna Posen.
“These people who we've seen everyday for the past 13 years are gone forever," said Jackie Seltzer, the class president.
Superintendent Lyn McKay emphasized taking self reflection, while school board President Victoria Tipp noted the various skills that the students learned in Chappaqua.
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