Briarcliff High School Class of 2018 Celebrates Graduation

The 134 members of Briarcliff High School's class of 2018 thanked their teachers, hugged their classmates, and celebrated with their families for the last time as high schoolers during the school's 95th commencement ceremony, held on June 15 at Pace University in Pleasantville.

The evening began with Fanfare Flourish for Wind Band by Ralph Vaughan Williams performed by the BHS band.

Briarcliff High School Student Council Co-presidents for 2018-19 Kelly O’Donnell and Charlotte Sendak introduced the evening and welcomed guests to stand for the Academic Procession. The BHS Symphonic Orchestra performed Pomp and Circumstance by Edward Elgar (J. Whitney) as administration, teachers, and the Class of 2018 entered. The BHS band then played the Star-Spangled Banner and the 2017-18 Student Council Co-Presidents Cynthia Contsantinou and Lindsay Mitzner welcomed the crowd and introduced BHS Principal Deborah French.

Mrs. French proclaimed it “a spectacular evening for an incredibly spectacular class” and she praised them for being “hard-working, accomplished, enthusiastic, and most importantly up-standers.” She went on to recognize their stage, field, and classroom achievements. Her remarks were followed by another performance by the BHS Symphonic Orchestra, Eagles Among Us (Brian Balmadge). Valedictorian Matthew Tu and Co-Saludatorians Farhaanah Mohideen and Sajan Bar then delighted their classmates and the crowd with speeches that were nostalgic, inspirational, and funny.

The guest speaker, chosen by the graduating class, was retiring teacher Jeanne Claire Cotnoir who recognized the class for its social awareness and dedication to hard work and each other and reminded them to “be true to yourself, be honest, and remember to practice human dignity.” Much to the students’ delight, her alter ego “The Witch” also made a guest appearance and among other things reminded them to “go easy on the caffeine, don’t wash your whites and reds together and study sober.”

Her speech was followed by the BHS Orchestra rendition of Yesterday (Lennon & McCarthy) and then Superintendent Dr. James Kaishian took the stage and acknowledged two retirees: teacher Jeanne Claire Cotnoir and security guard Ken Aune with fun anecdotes and beautiful floral arrangements. He complimented the class on their accomplishments and shared with them advice for the future including that success is tethered to one’s willingness to try and fail and closed by saying “steer for deep waters, may luck be with you, and God bless.”

The BHS Chorus then sang Bridge Over Troubled Water (Paul Simon/Kirby Shaw) and finally the Class of 2018 Co-presidents Derian Dominguez and Aleen Hussain recited the name of each graduate while Mrs. French and Dr. Kaishian presented the diplomas. Mrs. French then officially introduced the Class of 2018 to the audience and the ceremony ended with the traditional tossing of the graduation caps before the students took their first steps as BHS alumni.

For the recessional, the BHS band played March of the Olympians (Tommy Walker and Robert Linn/J. Bocook).