The 480 graduates of the Great Neck Public School system’s two high schools pledged to remain “forever young” last week during the district’s annual commencement ceremonies.
Graduates from the Great Neck North and South high schools’ class of 2012 officially ended their tutelage in the district last Thursday during back-to-back ceremonies at the Tilles Center on Long Island University’s C.W. Post campus, which centered around the day’s “forever young” theme.
“We do not wait to see what happens. We make it happen,” Great Neck Public Schools Superintendent Thomas Dolan said in his address to both groups of graduates. “We do not just ask questions. We provide answers. We do not read the news. We make the news. We do not wish to be ‘forever young.’ You stay ‘forever young.’”
“That is our mutual expectation for the class of 2012,” Dolan added. “We all look forward to seeing you make a difference in this world that is so much in need of your contributions.”
Last week’s ceremonies included 340 graduating students from Great Neck South and 240 from Great Neck North. The district also graduated 15 students from its Village School earlier this month.
“None of us knows what the future holds, but to our graduates, your education here … will prove to be worthwhile based upon your ability to cope with the challenges that are inevitably heading your way,” Dolan said. “It is not a question as to whether or not you will be confronted with the test of your ability and character, but rather when that will occur.”
Great Neck North opened up last Thursday’s graduation ceremonies as members of the school’s symphonic band played a selection of songs including Edward Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance” and Giacomo Meyerbeer’s “Coronation March.”
Symphonic band conductor Joseph Rutkowski’s students later played Johann Strauss Jr.’s “Overture to Die Fledermaus” and a medley of songs by The Beatles.
Great Neck North’s STAGES and Select Singers Class of 2012 performed a musical selection as well, which was arranged by Roger Ames.
But the ceremony’s musical thunder was certainly stolen by Great Neck North High School Principal Bernard Kaplan.
During his address to the school’s departing seniors, Kaplan brandished a guitar and played a portion of “Call Me Maybe” by Carly Rae Jepsen before finishing with a song he wrote and dedicated to the class of 2012 called “Dance I.”
“I wrote a song, this is from your parents to you about giving them a call,” Kaplan joked before breaking into his rendition of “Call Me Maybe.”
Great Neck North High School valedictorian Matthew Peterson, who finished atop his class with a 98.4 GPA, then delivered his commencement address.
Peterson’s speech focused on ways that he and his graduates could better cope with success and failure in college and beyond.
“Throughout high school, I tried to abide by the saying ‘people are not broken by the dreams they attempt and fail, but by those they never attempt,’” he said. “Life is full of choice and Great Neck students are fortunate enough to face an abundance of opportunities.”
Following Peterson’s speech, the senior class honored Great Neck North High School’s retiring faculty members. Then the senior awards were presented by Great Neck North assistant principals Patricia Hugo, Ronald Levine and Daniel Krauz.
Graduating senior student speaker Claire Leibowicz also made an address about her experience at Great Neck North, which she said was put into perspective through the use of the social media Web site Facebook.
“As we go our separate ways, I like to think of social networks as more than just sources of procrastination, but as reassurance that we will always be united,” Leibowicz said.
Before receiving their diplomas, Great Neck North senior class advisor Jeffrey Gilden made one final speech to the class of 2012.
In his speech, Gilden urged the students to make full use of the advantages they have received from matriculating through the Great Neck School District.
“All you can do is make full use of it as you move through your lives,” Gilden said of the student’s high school education. “It may be unfair that not everyone has had the same advantages you have had, but it’s sinful not to take full advantage of them. Wasted opportunity may be the only thing in the world worse than a lack of opportunity.”
Like Great Neck North’s graduation ceremony, Great Neck South’s commencement included a series of selections by the school’s various musical groups.
After the Great Neck South High School band played Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance,” the “Theme from March No. 1” and “The Star Spangled Banner” and the school’s jazz ensemble played “How High the Moon” by Morgan Lewis.
A Great Neck South choral group later performed “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. A group of violin, viola and cello performers also played “Hornpipe from Water Music,” which was composed by George Frideric Handel.
The first student speaker of the ceremony was Great Neck South salutatorian Joshua Rosenfeld.
“Growing up is a good thing,” he said during his address. “I’ve learned patience, tolerance and empathy. I’ve learned to cooperate, not complain, when I’m inconvenienced.”
Not to be outdone, Great Neck South valedictorian Brian Rosenfeld also gave a speech during the graduation ceremony.
The twin brother of Joshua Rosenfeld, Brian finished atop Great Neck South’s class of 2012 98.0 GPA and will next year attend Princeton University. Joshua Rosenfeld will attend Yale.
“I’d also like to thank my brother Josh,” Brian Rosenfeld said to open his valedictorian speech. “You may be a minute older, but today I get the last word.”
Brian Rosenfeld’s speech centered around the them of the day of “forever young.”
“Use the next four years to build memories that you can cherish and share, but don’t forget about high school,” Brian Rosenfeld said. “Our experiences at South have provided us with lasting friendships, a sense of community and a foundation for academic excellence.”
Student speakers Matthew Chian, Nicole Vee, Alexandra Horn and Zak Malamed also gave speeches during the ceremony.
“I hope that we … all adopt a little bit of this young at heart mentality,” Vee said in her address. “I hope that hardships are limited, but if they do arise we can all take them head on with determination, poise and a smile.”
In addition to honoring Great Neck South’s retiring faculty, the school’s principal Susan Elliott made an address before the diplomas were dispensed.
Elliott said it was “amazing” to watch the class of 2012 graduate because it was the freshmen class she inherited upon becoming Great Neck South’s principal four years ago. She spoke to the departing senior class about the importance of “failures” in life.
“Don’t let your desire for safety keep you from taking risks because as nice as it is to succeed, it is our failures that let us grow – that lead up to the next step, that allows us to figure out what needs to happen,” Elliott said.
“Ultimately try to live your life,” the principal added, “without regret of what might have been.”
