Principal Taylor Proudly Presents a Lucky Class of 2013

Rye High School principal Patricia Taylor presented an impressive Class of 2013 at the graduation ceremony on Saturday, June 15. See her full presentation here. 

Presentation of the class

I would like to invite   Board of Education President,   Mrs. Laura Slack to stand   by me at the podium   as I present Rye’s graduating class of 2013.  Mrs. Slack, it is my privilege to present this exceptional group of young men and women to you today. 

This year in particular the education field has been abuzz with the discussion   of data and   what data represents in student learning and achievement.    While I promise not to offer a   commentary on my philosophy of the   use of data,   I would like to boast   of some of the achievements of the Class of 2013.

We are graduating 219 students today. 

4   students are National Merit Finalists.

9   students were named as Commended Students in the National Merit Competition.

2  students   have been  honored as National Hispanic Scholars

1 student was recognized as a National Achievement Scholar

110   were inducted into the National Honor Society.  These students have all achieved a 90 average or better in their first three years of High School.

38   students are members of the National Music Honor Society.

1    Student has been honored with the prestigious Con Edison   Award   for her athletic   contributions as well   as her   community service involvements.

Our seniors have   been members of   23 interscholastic   teams who have received    Scholar-Athlete  recognition  for 2012-2013

Students have been recruited    by colleges    for Football, Field Hockey,    Golf,    Lacrosse,    Sailing,    Swimming, and   Soccer to name a few.

25 members of the class   have been   members of the Parson Street Players, our   high school   theater company

This is the    first class   to have    participated in   a Senior Internship program   designed to    encourage   and   support   students   in their exploration    of interests and career paths.  The final   presentations were    exhilarating as we heard from the seniors of opportunities that have changed their career perspectives.   Some of the students worked in hospitals, in finance   in NYC and in a variety  of  other locations.  One of the seniors, Maddie Bianchi, wrote a published article for Westchester Magazine   as part of her internship.  Congratulations on representing all of the senior interns,  Maddie. Please stand and be recognized.

212   or 97%  of the seniors  will be attending  colleges    in   35  different states    

One Student will be attending the US Naval Academy

2 of our seniors are pursuing careers in the Military

This sounds   truly amazing,    but the   truly phenomenal   qualities   of the class   can be found   from their personal achievements and acts of compassion toward others.

Aesop the ancient Greek story teller is quoted as saying “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted”.

The Class of 2013 has demonstrated   many opportunities in which they   have  shown    kindness   as they have   put the welfare of   others before   themselves.  The Class is symbolized by being a compassionate class. 

The Class of 2013 lost a member of their class,   Jarid Amico, and I am proud of their   efforts to  continue to  honor his memory.

One member of this class has committed countless hours to the Adaptive Sports Foundation, a non-profit organization that works   with adults and     children   with physical and cognitive disabilities.  Jason Chen, a highly accomplished   and medal winning skier,   has spent days  during the last two years,    teaching    skiing through the    Adaptive Sports program.     One of   Jason’s charges,    a 9 year old autistic   boy,   went    from barely making it down the hill to skiing independently   thanks to Jason.     Will Jason Chen please     stand and be   recognized. 

Two of the seniors discovered that through their new club, Friends of Prajwala,   they were able    to bring   the hidden topic of    human   trafficking to         the    attention of others.  The group presented    programs    to members of the   high school   and the community regarding the atrocities    associated with human trafficking and preventive measures.  Thank you to Natalie   Amstutz and Heather Schindler for their actions towards enlightening the rest  of us to this   travesty.  Will Heather and Natalie please stand and    be recognized. 

Many students have   participated in clubs    helping those   in need in various   foreign countries.  In addition       to those commitments,    one young man   recognized that    we have acute need in our own local communities.           Aid for America   has offered assistance and gift cards    during the    holiday  season  to the Carver Center   in Port Chester.  Michael Beveridge,   please stand and be recognized.

Another new initiative founded   by members of    the Class of 2013   was the    participation   in the   Sav-A-Suit project.    Students    collected   men and   women’s   suits  to provide veterans with   appropriate attire as    they   are interviewing to re-enter   the work force.  Thank you         Ryan Ackert,,         Jack Acosta,  Michael Beveridge,   Jason Chen,    Michael D’Antoni,  Jack Durkee,    Will Frolich,   Richard Hardis ,    Nikko Herrara,     Tilemahos Koutsogeorgas,     Ross Mulkerrin,     Anna Norman,  Rory O’Gallagher,      Holly Secon,    Matt Sherman,   Chet Sternlicht,  and   John Tuttle.   Please stand and be congratulated for your efforts on behalf of our veterans.   

Senior year for the class of 2013 presented many challenges.  Our community was devastated by   Hurricane Sandy.  Seniors were in the    midst of         their college applications and yet   they   unselfishly shared time   and energy to reach   out to others.         

The seniors demonstrated selfless behavior as they   led    others in the school   for     the Holiday Toy Drive for youngsters in the distressed Breezy Point area.

They participated in making   Snowflakes for the   new elementary  school that opened in Sandy Hook, CT. 

Members of this class began a peer tutoring program during finals to assist underclassmen as they prepared for their end of the year exams.

Members of the   Class of 2013   have    accumulated 35,210 hours of    community service.  That represents an average   of 161   hours per senior.

The Class of 2013    wore  tee shirts  with the   quote         “ Who Says 13 is unlucky?”    Students were  often   heard   commenting   that  they were not   as  intellectual   as other classes  ……………….   That they were not as well liked as other classes……..   That the weather would purposely not cooperate  (that might not be so farfetched)    But also    That they were not as organized as other classes.       Well,    it seems to me that    this has    been a lucky  class. 

They might have struggled with aborted senior pranks, and for that I am personally grateful. 

It wasn’t that   they didn’t   want a senior cut day,     I like to   believe they couldn’t tear themselves   away   from their  educational and extracurricular   commitments.

No,  this is    not an   unlucky class.   This  is a   very special group of   young men  and women   that have   touched the   hearts    and souls of many.    They   have achieved through   their   confidence   and commitment.

Every aspect of the    greater Rye community has    been touched and    enriched by   the Class of 2013.

Congratulations to the parents for their   admirable task of raising such     talented,   courteous,   compassionate and civic minded   young men and women.

    I am fortunate and   proud to have   shared the last two  years   with the Class of 2013.

Mrs. Slack,    it is with respect and admiration for this class that   on behalf of the faculty  and fellow administrators    I attest to the fact   that these young men and women have   met   all the requirements for graduation from Rye High School.

It is with   enormous   pride that I    present the lucky  Class of 2013.