392 Graduate from Clarkstown North High School

Members of the Clarkstown High School North class of 2011 have endured some tragedies during their four years together. But Friday was an evening to celebrate as the 392-member class gathered for graduation in a ceremony at Rockland Community College in Ramapo.

The event was moved to RCC because of the threat of rain.

Two members of the Class of 2011 have passed away in the last three years. In June 2008, Alex Bonanno committed suicide toward the end of his freshman year. Then this past December, Dana Sassano was killed in a car accident in Orange County.

“It’s sad [to graduate without Alex and Dana], but I’m looking forward to the future at the same time,” said graduate Amanda Lugo, who will be attending SUNY Buffalo in the fall. “So yeah it’s pretty bittersweet.”

The two deceased remained at the ceremony in spirit, as chairs with their names and photos were set up in the front row of the graduates. Bonanno and Sassano were also listed among the graduates in the program, and their names were read aloud to great applause during the awarding of the diplomas.

Memories of these two will continue on for years to come as well, thanks to both the Senior Class Student Council and the class of 2010’s senior gift. The gift, which was finished by the class of 2011’s student council, includes 12 picnics tables that will be placed near the annex cafeteria. Next to the tables will also be three benches, two of which are dedicated to Bonanno and Sassano. The third bench is dedicated to Adina Berkowitz, who died of leukemia shortly after her graduation in 2010.

But even with these sad reminders of the past, the night was also about hopeful looking into the future for the graduates. This started with the speech by North principal Harry Leonardatos, who began by discussing the 2010 film Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps and a speech from character Gordon Gekko, played by Michael Douglas. According to Leonardatos, Gekko tells students at a college that they are part of what he calls the “NINJA” generation, meaning “No Income, No Jobs, No Assets”.

Leonardatos, however, found these comments “pessimistic and cynical” and went on to discuss the great achievements of prior generations, such as the gender and racial barriers broken by the baby boomers and the human rights violations fought by members of his generation, Generation X.

“The question and challenge for you the graduates this evening is what call you will take to fulfill your service to your community, country, and global village,” he continued. “What will distinguish your generation?”

The next speaker was the class salutatorian Antony Conte. He discussed the journey he and his classmates will go on upon entering college.

“The move to college is more than a physical change,” he said in his speech. “The atmosphere of college, the experiences that we have there, may alter each of us beyond recognition.  … As for right now let’s enjoy the time we have left here at home.”

Conte will be attending SUNY Binghamton in the fall.

After Conte’s speech the crowd was treated to a performance from the members of the class of 2011 in the Clarkstown High School North Chamber Choir. They performed the song “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) by Green Day, which includes the lyrics:

 “It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right.

I hope you had the time of your life.”

The singers were accompanied  by ASL signers who were also members of the class of 2011. The group also signed the national anthem and the pledge of allegiance at the beginning of the ceremony.

The song was followed by a speech from the class valedictorian, Dan Simpelo, who will be attending Dominican College in the fall. He started out discussing the difficulties he had coming up with advice to give to his fellow students, particularly because he was impressed by much of what they had accomplished in the past four years. Simpelo specifically mentioned the students’ participation in a 2007 walkout to protest unsanitary conditions at the school, and their recent presentations about the dangers of cyberbullying. Eventually though he realized that the best advice he could give involved the true meaning of success.

 “North has taught me that although it is important to meet our academic responsibilities and live up to society’s standards, that’s not what life should be all about,” he said. “Life is also about dancing and playing guitar with our friends after school. And it’s about exploring what we are truly passionate about and enjoying that world with people who share the same interests. …  I ask you to look around and contemplate: What are you truly alive for? What is your purpose? Listen to what your heart tells you, and if we follow each of own unique purposes with passion instead of blindly obeying society’s standards, I believe we will be living more meaningful lives and that the growth that we are searching for will come with it almost effortlessly.”

The evening was special for all the graduates along with their families and friends. This included Julie Calingo, sister of class of 2011 member and future McGill University student Frances Calingo. The elder Colingo, a member of the Clarkstown North class of 2000, just returned from a tour of duty in Afghanistan in November and was thus able to attend her sister’s graduation.

“It brought back a lot of good memories, so I’m really proud of her, and I’m glad I could be with my family today,” said Julie Calingo.

The students themselves have had good memories at Clarkstown North, but nothing tops their graduation, as graduate and future SUNY Binghamton student Mike Parrella noted.

“Obviously college is going to be better, but [this is] probably the greatest time in my life right now.”