Pride and sadness mingle as Sparta graduates

Sparta — The impending rain Friday drove the Class of 2011 and their guests inside for Sparta’s graduation ceremony. But the scene inside the school auditorium was sunny, as teachers and students shared laughs and stories, parents helped with finishing touches, and friends gave goodbye hugs. Each student was allowed to invite five guests — two seated inside the auditorium and three inside the school’s gymnasium, where the ceremony was projected on wide-screen monitors. The reception area, with high ceilings and skylights, was packed with happy seniors and their proud families before and after the ceremony. Pride was the overriding emotion of the day. The question “What’s next?” loomed as the last of the yearbooks were signed. Excited students filed into the auditorium. Students in their commencement speeches talked about the importance of remembering the past and looking forward to the future. They were welcomed by class president Samuel Parker. Salutatorian Allison Fletcher’s address included the poem “Where the Sidewalk Ends” by Shel Silverstein. Erika Veidis, the valedictorian, received the Distinguished Student Award and the Superintendent’s Roundtable Award. Dr. Kathleen Monks, assistant superintendent for Curriculum and Staff Development, gave an inspiring speech marking the milestone before officially certifying the class. Keith Smith, the school board president, called 320 students to the stage to receive their diplomas. The new graduates honored tradition by throwing their hats into the air. The reception area soon filled again with grads, family, and friends. Alison Salmeri’s father, Philip, summed his feelings simply: “Very proud. Very proud.” Mari McInerney rejoiced with siblings Alicia and Brendan, while their mother, Mary Anne, reflected on her family. “She’s the last of four, so it’s sort of sad,” she said. The families of Justin Mattice and Ryan Magid were feeling much the same way. When first expressing their emotions, both mothers exclaimed in unison, “Pride!” Shari Mattice reflected afterward, “I’m a little sad myself, but I’m happy for them — it’s the time of their lives.” Renee Turner, Ryan Magid’s mom, is excited about her son’s future, expressing “gratitude for the good guidance of the school and teachers. I can’t wait to see where they’ll go next!” Steve Gundersen beamed as he talked about his daughter Anna. “I am extraordinarily proud of everything she’s done — her academics, the plays, and the great person she’s turned out to be,” he said. The school’s PTO reportedly organized a class trip for that night, so that the entire graduating class could celebrate this milestone together safely. Buses awaited to skirt the grads away to a health and fitness club for a chaperoned all-night party. For the graduates about to take their first step on the life’s long journey, it was not a night for sleeping. Valedictorian: Erika Magone Veidis Salutatorian: Allison Paige Fletcher Gregory W. Allan Alexander C. Altieri Sarah Anaie Jeffrey Charles Andrews Stephen Antonello John Anthony Appaluccio II Vincent Samuel Aromando Jr. Arsenoi Asfour Hannan Aslam Benjamin P. Averill Jeremy J. Aviles Muhammad Ali Awan Joseph Ayrey Marisa Joy Bacchetta Gaveric A. Bach Jonathan Bachman Nicholas John Bachmann Andrew Baker Marasco Yousef Barkawi Kyle Randall Bay Keith Bellesheim Daniel Lawrence Belli Adam J. Berlin Amanda Bernstein Andrew Bodo Samantha Lynn Brennan Benjamin Morgan Brooks Michael Hogan Brown John Stephen Brucker Jr. Julian Buckey Jessica Butzke Alison Marie Byrnes Ryan Daniel Calhoun Dominick William Capozzi Mackenzie Caruso Samantha Casey Brittany Kathryn Cayan Kelly Elaine Chaney Nicole Allison Chanin Nicholas Choy Frederick R. Clark IV Brian Christopher Clines Michael D. Colvin Jacqueline Elizabeth Conlan Dillon Robert Connolly Heather Elizabeth Conway Alyssa Michelle Cooney Thomas Corbett Paolo Francesco Coticelli James Lynn Crawford II Casey Jean Cresbaugh Marco Andres Cuesta Jennifer Lee Darnsteadt Christopher J. D’Avanzo Joseph Barrett David Nicholas Paul DeAquino Juliana Marie DeBitetto Jonathan DeBlock Gregory DePreker Dillon Tomas Dericks Ashley Desiato Ralphael John DeSordi Bryanna Dickinson Nicholas Thomas DiSomma Megan Marie Dmuchowski Ashley Dombal Nicole Lynn Dooling Jenna Catherine Dowd Jonathan David Dulko Jeffrey Earl Kyle Blake Echemendia Aidan Ehlers Brandon Robert Entwistle Bradley Erickson Sara I. Esterlis Thomas P. Fabrizio Jillian Joyce Fairchild Julian Farinola Leandro Julian Feo Sverko John Frank Figarelli Kerry Lynn Filtz Stephen Finegan Mathew C. Finkle Ashley Fiorito Daniel John Fischer Kristen Joyce Fisher Allison Paige Fletcher Christian Fletcher Ryan Elizabeth Foulds Lana Claire Fox Ryan Christopher Frasco Katharine Ingrid Fredricksen Danielle Freedman Jacob Frieling Julianne Barbara Froehlich Joseph C. Fusco Jeremy Gabilanes Scott A. Gaffney Ayla Marina Gage Mathew Richard Galley Joshuah Thomas Gallo Lawren Duffy Geer Jayne Ellyn Gendreau Erica J. Gerner Joseph Giacobbe Christopher H. Giordano Anthony Girratano Kelly Lynn Glasson Connor Michael Glew Isabel Goncalves Sean Michael Gondek Thomas J. Gonzalez Kailee Alexandra Gori Megan Gorrell Justin Graupe Rachael Marie Greenberg Samantha Greiner Anna Gundersen Nicole Ham Kaitlyn Elizabeth Hambright Benjamin E. Hansen Cameron Hardy Kasey Elizabeth Harkins Kelsey Leigh Harrigan Nicole Gabrielle Hart Jonathan Edwin Hawxhurst Travis Jonathan Helthall Kira Hernandez Harry Clay Hoffman, V Kristen Hoffman Robert Allen Hoffman George Hoffmann III Colin Andrew Holowach Nadia Kristine Hopper Maura Hurley Sean T. Hurley Amanda Iannuzzi Elena Marie Insley John Irwin Colby Isenberg Allison C. Jankowitz Gavin Thomas Jones Kevin Kaczynski Michael Andrew Kane Mark Andrew Kaplan Shannon Karl Jake Sterling Katz Aleksandra Kawicka Jenna Keenan Katherine Kerbel Justin A. Kielty Genevieve Lynn Klimek Mary Elizabeth Kociencki Bradley Koncelik Joshua Koss Tim S. Kramm Lauren Krulikowsky Anya D. Kuzik Larson Kirk LaBeau Cara Angelina Leahy Alan P. Lennox Morgan Rose Litchfield Kate S. Lowery Paige McChesney Lucas Megan Theresa Lucich Shannon Alyssa Mackay Ashley Maggio Ryan J. Magid Julia Major Mariah Nicole Maldonado Tyler Manning Matthew Marakovits Alfred Marcinkowski Adrienne Carol Marcino Sierra A. Mascilak Sarah Rose Matchett Justin Mattice Callum R. McAuley Alexander Nicholas McCaffrey Michael John McCaffrey Megan McGrath Mari Patricia McInerney Katarina McKeever James Mehrkens Amy Rita Miller Donald Jason Milliron Stephen Louis Miseo Amanda R. Moffett Sean Monaghan Brendan G. Monahan Alexis Bianca Mongiello Brittany A. Monroe Dante Montesano Gerard Montesano Matthew Joseph Mortillaro Kristen Lynn Mugele Victoria Ashley Muhs Chelsi Muller Colter Brayden Myers Jessica Helena Nacincik Bradford Austin Newton Matthew Allen Newton Angela Maria Nocerino Ian Gerard Nolan Courtney Anne Noone Jacqueline Jennifer Ochs Joshua S. Oldridge David Osborne Timothy J. Osusky Joseph Parella Samuel Jackson Parker Erica June Parriott Julie Patel Kyle Patrick Perdisatt Mariah Perez Brendan Henry Perkinson Cory Domenico Perna Alexandra Pesso Jeffrey Robert Petescia Kelly Phillips Lindsey Grace Pieschl Amber Nicole Piskunov Olivia Campbell Pittius Michael Platania Delores Ponton Erin Kelly Porter Jordan Elizabeth Pszonek Philip Rada Alec Ragnetti Sana Rahman Jonathan Ramrup Heather Nicole Raquet Amanda J. Reddington Brittany M. Rees Megan Elizabeth Reilly Patrick Everett Reilly Carolyn Elizabeth Rezny Gerard Risoli Robert Anthony Rispoli Erica Anne Roberts Daniel Robinson Thomas Roche Jonathan Rodney Taryn Elizabeth Rogalsky Eric James Romaine Christopher Romero Kimberly Ann Rood Caroline Rose Chelsea Alexandra Rosenkrans Jessica L. Ross Khadija E Rouilli Nicole Marie Katelyn Ruiz Samantha Carroll Rush Tyler Ann Russian Margaret Ellen Ryan Alison Salmeri Donato Daniel Salvatoriello III Jessica Joy Sands Matthew Sangalli Jonathan Santiago Brianna Lee Santos Christopher Sauer Kevin Scales Alyssa Rose Schmidt Rachel Schneider Nicholas Michael Schwerzler Jonathan M. Scott Gianna Regina Seeland LuAnn Marie Sensale Ali Shapiro Emily Kiersten Shoup Krista Lee Shugart Natasha Ann Sica Ryan Lee Hansen Smith Cody Spector Jane Elizabeth Spitnale Hayley Michelle Sprich Sarah Alexis Squillante Emily Elizabeth Squires Zahran Srour Eric A. Stamm Edan Alexa Stanley Chad Steinetz Kyle Stone Leslie Blair Sullivan Kathleen Victoria Sutton Melgarejo Alexander Jacob Tamian Benjamin C. Tarloff Morgan Leigh Terry Phillip Man-Kit Tham Christine Thompson Daniel Jared Thompson Daniel James Thomson Jillian Tracy Christopher Trinh Jeffrey Daniel Triolo Andrew Troast Sarah Rene Trotter Jack Turkington Sara Vandermark Scott VanderVeen Travis VanNatter Chelsea Anna VanOrden Erika Magone Veidis Georgeanne Velella Katy Venizelos Nicole Danielle Verrilli Jake Verwys Steven Christopher Viegas Devin Viggiano Pablo Villavicencio Raquel Brooke Warehime Justin Weed Owen James Whitley Scott Wilcox Alexandra C. Willis Lucas Zahner Alexandra Zaki Kyle Zaleski