Wantagh High School Class of 2015 Graduates

Pride and excitement wafted over Wantagh High School’s Lawrence Field as 278 seniors celebrated a long-awaited milestone during the district’s 60th annual commencement exercises on June 25.

The Board of Education, administration and faculty led the black and gold clad seniors down the track and to their seats as the high school band played “Pomp and Circumstance,” under the direction of Mindy Dragovich.

After a salute to the flag led by General Organization co-presidents Meghan Daly and Kaitlyn von Runnen, drum major Mark Sales was invited to conduct the high school band for the last time during the playing of the national anthem.

High School Principal Carolyn Breivogel extended a warm welcome to the Class of 2015 and their guests, remarking to the graduates that they have all left their mark on Wantagh. “Work hard, be kind and amazing things will happen,” she said. Superintendent of Schools Maureen Goldberg, using the metaphor of a ball of yarn, explained that there will be many milestones and twists. “The greatest twist is the unraveling of the line into the real world,” she said. Board of Education President Tony Greco encouraged the students to always be prepared, believe in yourself, be a lifetime learner, give of yourself, and live a balanced life. “We will always be here to celebrate your success,” Greco stated. The Honorable U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer also made an appearance, encouraging the students to reach for their dreams. His piece of advice for the graduates was, “Go for it.”

The ceremony was punctuated with a comedic and proverbial trip down memory lane by senior class co-presidents John Casella and Zachary Diaks. Ralph Spagnolo, president of the Wantagh Foundation for Educational Excellence, and Gerald McCrink, president of Wantagh Dollars for Scholars then presented select seniors with scholarships, thus continuing the tradition of honoring educational achievement.

Salutatorian Julia Lantier then took the podium and posed the question about how education has best served her. “Education symbolizes the invaluable lessons and experiences that have shaped the people we are,” Lantier stated. Valedictorian Julia Laibach, using a metaphor of an ocean tide, encouraged her classmates to “paddle out toward the horizon and the unknown.”

After Mr. Goldberg and Mr. Greco certified that the seniors had met the standards for graduation, the graduates were then called one by one to receive their diplomas and become the district’s newest alumni. The Board of Education and administration extended its best wishes of happiness and success to the Class of 2015.

Photos courtesy of Wantagh School District

Congrats to the Wantagh High School Class of 2015:

1 Alina Zehra Abidi 32 Max Ceppos 2 Kyle Akley 33 Brendon Phillip Chan 3 Jonathan M. Alter 34 Nicole Charkowick 4 Blake Alexander Andreou 35 Valerie M. Chin 5 Brendan Arnold 36 Jade Lin Chu 6 Alyssa Anne Ayala 37 Angelica Church 7 Lucy Sky Bailey 38 Gina Marie Ciappina 8 Amy Baker 39 ToniAnne Compono 9 Parker C. Balduf 40 Alexis Ruth Conway 10 Angelica E. Balitsos 41 Robert Coopersmith 11 Drew R. Banschback 42 Richard J. Corso 12 Emily Ann Bauer 43 Jaimee Coscia 13 Alec Joseph Beard 44 Taylor James Costello 14 Danielle Becht 45 Lukas John Culen 15 Steven Robert Becker 46 Carly M. Cullen 16 Kelly Paige Bender 47 Hannah Q. Cullen 17 Marc J. Benedetto 48 Meghan Elizabeth Daly 18 Tylar E. Benedetto 49 Michael Laurence Daniels 19 Meryl Patricia Berger 50 Christopher A. DaSilva 20 Erik Beuttenmuller 51 Laura Ashley DeLorenzo 21 William S. Bilello 52 Tyler Dema 22 Zachary H. Bindell 53 Salvatore R. DeMaggio 23 Erin M. Bortell 54 Lyric Raine DeMaio 24 Austin J. Bouchard 55 Alexander R. DeSalvo 25 Patrick Breen 56 Zachary Ryan Diaks 26 Bianca N. Buffamonte 57 Gina DiFazio 27 John R. Burke 58 Lindsey Morgan DiIorio 28 Alexandra Burruano 59 Michael Dean DiRienzo 29 Anthony Cafiso 60 Lauren Michelle Ditzel 30 Kristen Taylor Calautti 61 Avery Montana Doliner 31 John Flynn Casella 62 Rebecca L. Don 63 Amanda Beth Drantch 91 Anthony James Greco III 64 James Patrick Draude 92 Timothy C. Hack 65 Cassandra Lee Drucker 93 Shayna Ilona Held 66 Jazmyn A. Duartes 94 Clifford M. Heney 67 Melissa N. Ehl 95 Joseph Peter Heney 68 John Anthony Eletto 96 Donald Joseph Hession 69 Andrea Esposito 97 Arianna Marie Hill 70 Mathew John Ezegelian 98 Dylan Scott Hirsh 71 Eric Daniel Factor 99 Eliah N. Hixson 72 Antonio V. Fanizzi 100 Shannon Nicole Hogarty 73 Alexa M. Federlin 101 Bettina Michelle Honan 74 Kaitlin Nicole Fehling 102 Melissa Samantha Horn 75 Emily Ann Fenter 103 Jack Ryan Hotaling 76 Nicole M. Ferruggio 104 Shannon Rose Hupert 77 Emily Justina Fillizola 105 Keith P. Hurley 78 Tori Flaherty 106 Theresa Sydney Iadevaio 79 James M. Frank 107 Michael F. Impieri 80 Heather Arlene Friedfertig 108 Aniello G. Infante 81 Jessica Marie Friscia 109 Gabrielle Marie Interrante 82 Gene Salvatore Gaffney 110 Shannon E. Jaeger 83 John Paul Gallo 111 Tyler Robert Jaros 84 Kurt Anthony Gambitsky 112 Devyn Felipe Jiminian 85 Olivia Jane Gauck 113 Jake Johnson 86 Thomas Andrew Gifford 114 Vasu D. Joshi 87 Ian Paul Goldstein 115 Thomas Sarkis Kalenderian 88 Nicolette Goldstein 116 Brent Edward Kavaler 89 Emily Victoria Gray 117 Blaise Garrison Kavanagh 90 Samuel J. Greaker 118 Ryan Marley Keane 119 Robert Peter Kemp 149 Sara McCaffrey 120 Christina M. Kennedy 150 Amber Morgan McCarthy 121 Rebecca Kindler 151 Cole J. McClancy 122 Shannon Lee Kingston 152 Joseph McGarrigle 123 Melanie Grace Kirk 153 Ryan McLaughlin 124 Patrick John Kissane 154 Brittany Marisa McNally 125 Jordyn Brooke Klapper 155 Olivia Shea Melaniff 126 Kayla Lianne Knight 156 Mason Joseph Merone 127 Lindsay Anne Kramer 157 Kenneth Mintz 128 Kyle S. Kuchynsky 158 Danielle Sophia Mirabella 129 Sakshi Kumar 159 Brian C. Monahan 130 Bridget Faye LaCova 160 Gehrig Anthony Montoro 131 Kathryn A. LaFaye 161 Sabrina Moreno 132 Julia Nicole Laibach 162 Ashley Lynn Mortimer 133 Julia K. Lantier 163 Nikoleta P. Mountanos 134 Jake William LaPadula 164 James Charles Murphy 135 Tessa A. Leibrock 165 James M. Murphy 136 Laura Ann Linekin 166 Shannon Nicole Murphy 137 Matthew John Lipski 167 Patricia Marie Myers 138 Julianne Marie Loney 168 Kristin Nicole Nelson 139 Benjamin Lawrence Lubman 169 Julianna Marie Nerone 140 Salvatore Patrick Macchia 170 Lily Rebecca Newland 141 Olivia M. MacGregor 171 Catherine I. Norbury 142 Gerard R. Macklin 172 Michelle Angela Nuszer 143 Laura Elizabeth Mallon 173 Thomas J. O’Connell 144 Christopher James Marsman 174 Michael S. O’Connor 145 Daniel J. Masi 175 Christine Noel O’Donnell 146 Alex W. Massa 176 Brendan M. O’Hara 147 Kelly Ann Mateer 177 Vincent Adam Olive 148 Jack Ryan McAleese 178 Victoria Rose Olsen 179 Lauren Marie O’Mara 207 Salvatore Renda 180 Daniel Vincent Palazzolo 208 Nicholas George Repetti 181 Kalani Mary Pannasch-Heineman 209 Kyle William Rhodehouse 182 William George Pappas 210 Michael G. Riis 183 Michael Paradiso 211 Frederick Roberts 184 Alexandria Parlato 212 Emily Rose Robertson 185 Christine Westerlid Parola 213 John A. Rocco 186 Diego Pastrana 214 Joseph C. Rocco 187 Christina Marie Peden 215 Kaitlyn L. Rodesk 188 Megan Elizabeth Pennino 216 Matthew Rodesk 189 Kristina Mary Perez 217 Samantha Farrand Roemer 190 Julia Michelle Petrini 218 Nicholas M. Rogers 191 Christopher M. Pieri 219 Jordan Hunter Sabinsky 192 Dominic Anthony Piscopo 220 Mark Sales 193 Stephanie Lauren Pissi 221 Ariana N. Salomon 194 Marissa N. Polack 222 Matthew D. Saltzman 195 George Potts 223 Dylan Steven Samperi 196 Valerie Powell 224 Zachary Samudio 197 James Andrew Preble 225 Samantha Ryan Sanpietro 198 Amanda Rose Profera 226 Gillian Leigh Scherer 199 Kevin Matthew Pugh 227 Lauren Danielle Schroeder 200 Angelo Putrino, Jr. 228 Adam Michael Schwartz 201 Brian Thomas Quigley 229 Samantha Lynn Scibelli 202 Kyle D. Quinn 230 Cathryn Semendinger 203 Ryan Quinn 231 Andrew L. Semler 204 Kiernan Elizabeth Rathgaber 232 Isabella Marie Shelfo 205 Frank Nicholas Reilly 233 Jared Sheridan 206 Michael Charles Reilly 234 Alyssa Sidoti 235 Katherine Siegel 258 Isabella Vivian Turturello 236 Diane Elizabeth Sigler 259 Vincent Vasheo 237 Anthony Jeffrey Sinacori 260 Sofia Grace Velazquez 239 Jeremy Benjamin Small 261 Kaitlyn Marie von Runnen 240 Danielle N. Smith 262 Jonathan M. Wald 241 Liam Patrick Smith 263 Kyle Walpole 242 Alyssa Marie Soethout 264 Alexander J. Wason 243 Ralph M. Sommer 265 Tyler J. Watts 244 Christopher Robinson Soto 266 Shea C. Weber 245 Anthony Sottile 267 Stefanie Michele Weiner 246 Michael J. Stahley 268 Raquel Jade Weinstein 247 Melissa Steen 269 Sean Michael Whiteman 248 Michele Jamie Steinberg 270 George H. Williams 249 Dylan Stelling 271 Kristen Wilson 250 Matthew Joseph Stewart 272 Keegan John Wozniak 251 Caitlyn Anne Storer 273 Daniel T. Wynn 252 Ravin Sukhai 274 Stefanie Nicole Zerner 253 Morgan Julia Sullivan 275 Victoria Ashley Zozzaro 254 Christopher Taibi 276 Matthew Scott Zuelch 255 Saher Fatima Teepu 256 Kelsey Marie Terrel 257 Anthony Vincent Testa