Great Neck graduation shows different paths to pave the future

Janelle Clausen
North High School Valedictorian Zachary Lee speaks before his classmates and a large crowd of parents, as the Board of Educations and others look on. (Photo by Janelle Clausen)

Maya Mualem and Victoria Liu’s road to graduation together began in the seventh grade with an intense game of catch.

“She nearly killed me with a ball,” Mualem recalled jokingly. “And after that day, I knew we’d be good friends.”

The two bonded through track, building memories together as the time raced by. And for now they, like much of their class, are running down separate paths.

“[I’m] sad, but happy. It’s like bittersweet,” Liu described herself as feeling just after graduating. “I feel like that because you know, we’re all leaving each other, we’ve known each other for a long time, and it’s happy because we’re starting a new chapter in our lives.”

Indeed, many now Great Neck High School alumni described graduation as a bit “bittersweet” on Thursday afternoon – but also the start of their next chapter. 286 students graduated North High School early Thursday afternoon, while 302 students graduated South High School in a later ceremony. 15 also graduated from The Village School earlier this month.

The events also marked the “graduation” of many familiar faces and mentors like retiring North High School Principal Bernard Kaplan, who played guitar at graduation, and South High School Principal Susan Elliot.

“Today is a very special day. I usually keep myself and my own feelings out of my graduation speech, because it’s supposed to be all about the kids,” Elliot said. “But it turns out, that today is my graduation as well.”

Elliot paused. The audience then rose in loud applause.

But at the same time, she and many other speakers struck an optimistic tone. They fondly recalled their high school memories and pushed the students to pursue their passion, be kind and keep an open mind.

North High School Valedictorian Zachary Lee focused on the future, encouraging his classmates to try new things, look for the good in life and to leave their mark on the world.

“Rather than dwell on things we can’t control, we should look to the good and meaning in our lives, see the beauty and wonder we find in the world, take advantage of every opportunity, be unafraid to explore new things,” Lee said. “And when we discover what’s most meaningful to us, pour our passion and our hearts into it.”

Melody Yang, one of two valedictorians at South High School, noted various times their school came together and said to “never underestimate the power of collaboration” in changing the world.

“We, as a student body, have enormous cleft and influence, but we must use that power to achieve something positive,” Yang said.

Superintendent of Schools Teresa Prendergast, speaking before both graduation crowds, expressed pride in this year’s graduating classes and wished them well.

“They don’t just represent the future,” Prendergast said before the massive crowd of students’ family and friends filling the Tilles Center auditorium at LIU Post. “They’re actually making it.”

The valedictorian and salutatorian at North High School were Zachary Lee and Joseph Taied. Benjamin Newman and Melody Yang were the valedictorians at South High School, while Rachel Brenner and Joshua Putter were their salutatorians.

The vast majority of them are attending Ivy League schools in the fall.

About 97 percent of graduates intend to pursue higher education at two- or four-year colleges, according to the Great Neck Public Schools, while the remainder typically seek employment, vocational training, or enlist in the military.

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