What Was Your Favorite Moment at John Jay's Graduation?

The ceremony at John Jay's Caramoor graduation held memorable moments. 

Remarks given by school officials, faculty and students included humor, reflections on school experiences and visions of the future.

Student speakers Andrew Blum, Christina Fields, Meryl Honig and Jessica Sheptin remembered their classmate Kyla Rae Tillem, who died last year, as someone who inspired them to take obstacles and allow them to shape "who we are to become."

Superintendent of Schools Paul Kreutzer spoke about the technological advances seen by this generation of students, noting they were connected globally and had the ability to leverage those connections for "the collaborative power of our humanity." 

Kreutzer noted recent events that connected the class to each other.

"They know mother nature is an awesome force, but they also know that 9 days without power brings families closer together," he said. "They know the cure to cancer is not simply found in the lab, but on a high school track in the middle of the night. They’re a pretty knowledgeable group, smart, talented…. with a lot going for them."

Faculty member Alexander Smith, a social studies teacher, told the graduating seniors that he was confident the class was ready to meet future challenges and "face the naysayers head on," because of the great moments they had achieved to date, including three state final four appearances in athletics, science research awards and winning arts performances.

"But don't be satisfied with the trophies already earned," he cautioned, noting that the most important challenge they could take on was that of helping others.

What was your favorite moment? 

Click through the video clips posted here of student speakers Angelo Angelino, salutatorian; Daniel Fulop, valedictorian; Yanni Metaxas, who provided the senior class address and Mark Lipton, school board president.