Ossining High School's Seniors Graduate

More than 300 students are taking their next step in life. They graduated from Ossining High School Fri., June 24 and will either attend college, search for employment or join the military.

“You have the ability to make the world a better place,” said Joshua Mandel, the principal of OHS. “Do not make the mistake of waiting for someone else to change the world for you.”

As it got closer to the ceremony, the darkening skies concerned some families, but most were focused on their children completing a milestone.

“I’ve been looking forward to it but dreading it because he’s my last one,” said the mother of Phillip Garrett who will be attending a seven-year Ph.D. program in physical therapy at the University of Hartford next fall.

“I thought he’d stay a little boy forever,” she said.

At 6 p.m., the class of 2011 filed out of the school building behind OHS administrators and faculty. Students were dressed in school colors: girls in white robes, boys in maroon.

Families were cheering, screaming and applauding the graduates as they took their seats.

After the senior chorus opened the 81^st OHS graduation ceremony, singing the national anthem, the top students in the class were recognized for their high honors and hard work.

Many students in the senior class will be going to some of the nation’s most selective colleges—Georgetown University, Duke University and Harvard University, to name a few.

Others are taking the high school diplomas and pursuing something they love. Scott Gallery’s son Tyler is going to pursue a career as an electrician.

“I’m really proud of him. I wish him the best of luck,” Gallery said.

Students and families listened to several speeches made by administrators and students.

Phyllis Glassman, Superintendent of the Ossining School district, made “Search for Meaning” her speech’s theme.

“What would make my life unequivocally worthwhile? What would make you proud to be alive? What would make you proud to be you?” Glassman rhetorically asked the seniors.

Glassman then mentioned several things that set the bar high including contributing to a greener, sustainable world; eradicating poverty and hunger; discovering a cure to a disease; and creating world peace.

As soon as the student speakers took to the stage, the graduates below burst into applause and threw beach balls into the air.

“High school has been a time of learning and experimenting to gain skills to use for the rest of our lives,” said Madeline Nocera, the class salutatorian—a title she earned for the second highest grade point average.

Nocera said both happiness and tragedy had united them. Their classmate, Miguel Herrera, committed suicide in May 2010.

Hayley Zullow, the valedictorian spoke and then Kate Saxton, the class president.

Saxton announced the senior class is donating $500 for speakers to put in the school cafeteria so underclassmen can plug in their iPods.

Finally, Ossining’s Board of Education President Cindy Winter declared them graduates, officially.

When the ceremony ended, a few teachers stayed behind to meet families and say goodbye to their students. Barry Jaffess teaches economics and personal finance at OHS. He said their class was very diverse and had a lot of spirit.

Students were saying goodbye to their friends, too. Jennifer Molde will be attending SUNY Cortland for business economics next year. She had mixed feelings about graduating.

“It feels really good,” she said. “But I’m going to miss my friends I’m really close with.”