By Rose Weldon
In a night of beginnings and endings, Sewanhaka High School’s class of 2019 graduated on Saturday in a ceremony held at Hofstra University’s David S. Mack Sports Complex in Hempstead.
The two-hour event featured speeches from administration members and students, as well as performances from the school’s musical groups.
Following the entrances of the seniors and their faculty chaperones, the guests and students were welcomed by class President Joel-Anthoney Bossous, who encouraged his classmates to pursue “doable, attainable and realistic change” on the new paths they will take after high school.
“Don’t wait for change,” Bossous said. “Instead, change how long you wait.”
Bossous’ theme of personal change was echoed by salutatorian Sameer Khan, who commented on his class’ development over the past six years.
“We have had many changes to our school,” Khan said. “But the biggest change was not in the building, but in the people inside it.”
Before making her own speech, valedictorian Amrita Shah started what may be a new tradition for commencement exercises.
“I just have one more thing to do,” Shah said.
The valedictorian then pulled out her iPhone, pointed its camera toward herself, her classmates and hundreds of guests, and snapped a selfie, eliciting laughs from the crowd.
Shah also thanked music teacher Christopher Doherty, and joined his band later in the ceremony to perform a medley of music from animated films by Pixar.
Principal Christopher Salinas then presented diplomas to the 287 students to raucous applause from the hundreds of guests, and Bossous led the graduates in hat-tossing and celebration as the school chorus, conducted by music teacher Rachel Daloia, performed the Sewanhaka alma mater.
While the ceremony marked the start of new journeys for the graduates of Sewanhaka High School, it also contained a bittersweet finality as the final commencement for Ralph Ferrie, superintendent of the Sewanhaka school district.
Ferrie, who is due to retire in the summer, was honored by Sewanhaka Principal Christopher Salinas with a plaque created by the school’s art department to commemorate his seven years as superintendent. In his remarks to the class of 2019, Ferrie spoke about his own experiences and imparted his final words of wisdom to the new graduates.
“Have faith in how far you go,” Ferrie said. “And don’t forget to enjoy the journey.”
