Irvington High School Celebrates Class of 2022

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June 22, 2022

Irvington High School celebrated its Class of 2022 during a commencement ceremony at Matthiessen Park on June 18.

Acting Principal Michelleann DeFilippis welcomed the guests and honorees. In her speech, she reminded the graduates that what they do matters.

“All the learning in the world is meaningless unless it’s put into action,” DeFilippis said. “Action that makes our world a better place for all. Take a deep breath, look around and find a way to be of service to another person. Take action when you see injustice, no matter how big or small. Never stop caring no matter how bleak the news of the world may seem.”

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Students were also addressed by class president Thomas Flanagan and co-valedictorians Joshua Chang and Alexander Lee.

In his remarks, Chang expressed his fascination for weather and its unpredictability and compared it to life in general. He encouraged his classmates to have the power to revel in the uncertainty.

“Despite the routines, [life] is endlessly complex and difficult to predict,” he said. “But that is what makes it fun; that is what makes it exhilarating. We are going to remember the times when things didn’t go as planned, when we tried something new or met someone new or went somewhere new and didn’t know what to expect. Those moments – they are what we live for. They are the moments that make us happy and fulfilled and help us learn and grow.”

In his address, Lee celebrated his peers’ accomplishments from art to athletics, from music to science research. As they embark on their journey, he encouraged them to explore new terrains, get out of their comfort zones and to never suppress their curiosity out of fear.

“Our diverse accomplishments prove that we are inquisitive thinkers by nature, curious about the world around us,” Lee said. “As we turn the page and begin to write the next chapter of our lives, I hope that that curiosity continues to guide our narrative. Replace judgment with curiosity, and there will be no limit to what we may learn. And if there is no limit to what we may learn, there certainly is no limit to what we may become.”

The following is a list of all the graduates in the Class of 2022:

Lauren Patricia Allan

Rezart Baliaj

Chloe Banino

Gabriela Nicolau Barreto

Maria Teresa Bazdekis

Marta Bazdekis

Claudia Beasley

Nasir Becerril

Amanda Berg

Samantha Berg

Marcus Berichi