Mount Vernon High School Graduates 283

From Focus Media: 283 graduating seniors accepted their diplomas from Mount Vernon City School District Superintendent Dr. Kenneth R. Hamilton at the The Mount Vernon High School (MVHS) commencement ceremony at the Westchester County Center.

MVHS Principal Ronald Gonzalez encouraged the graduates to stay positive in the face of adversity.

“Use your mistakes as stepping stones toward solutions,” Gonzalez told them. “Don’t let your mistakes define you.”

Valedictorian Victoria Gomez-Small and Salutatorian Messiah Brown addressed their classmates and attendees, reflecting on their four years at MVHS and looking forward to the future.

“We have to give one hundred percent and not put our talents to waste,” said Gomez-Small. “We need to come back to our community and bring positivity. If we forsake it, who will build it up?”

“You have to keep pushing,” added Brown who said she’s overcome many obstacles including depression. “If you fall down in a race, you have to get back up or not only won’t you win, you won’t have a chance to make it to the end.”

Dr. Hamilton presented the Superintendent’s Most Improved and Academic Achievement Awards to Jayvon Bramble and Michelle Osorio.

He also addressed the graduating Class of 2019.

“Never let someone count you out,” Dr. Hamilton told the graduates. “Remember how valuable you are and always take the high road and be a message of hope for those less fortunate. What counts is the difference you make in the lives of others.”

About Mount Vernon City School District

With more than 8,000 students in 16 schools, and students returning from private schools, the Mount Vernon City School District is committed to providing a quality education to its children as well as developing programs that meet the diverse academic and social needs of its students.