Calhoun High School Graduation 2016

Members of Sanford H. Calhoun High School's Class of 2016 are now officially high school graduates.

The 57th commencement ceremony took place on Sunday, June 26 at the NYCB Theater at Westbury.

During the event, the attendees heard from Principal Nicole Hollings as well as Board trustee, Calhoun alumna and parent of a graduate Wendy Gargiulo and Valedictorian Kristi Chan.

Hollings starting off the ceremony by belting out a few verses of the song “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield before telling the graduates: “You are the future. You have the power to put aside hate and intolerance and to instead love, accept and welcome in. You have the power to ask an important question – ‘how can I help?’”

She was followed by Gargiulo who told students their graduation is a rewarding moment for their parents, teachers.

“It’s a common thread that binds all of these people to your life,” she said.

Chan then went on to tell her peers to hold on tightly to the genuine interest that emerged when they were younger.

“I hope that all of us do not lose the very simple reason we chose to pursue our individual journeys in the first place,” she said.

Congratulations to all the graduates!

Photo Captions:

1) Valedictorian Kristi Chan, class officers Jacob Miller, Bianca Liriano, Rachel November, Blake Fisher, Rachel Leiner and salutatorian Haley Ryan.

2) Andrea Cordova, Sanjida Chowdhury, Meghan Corona and Justine Costiera.

3) James Forte and James Fritz.

4) Joseph Francavilla, Jordan Drasin and Stephen Dobre.

Photos courtesy of Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District