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.”
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
Zoe Biaggi
Sydney Birkhahn
Eadin M. Block
Hannah Skye Bosshart
Oscar Bowring
Isaiah Boyles
Marco G. Buglione
Andi Bushati
Amani Campbell
Joseph Campos
John Carron
James Cecere
Lila Cerrito
Joshua Chang
Daniel Antonio Cordero Gonzalez
Andrew D’Aiello
Michael D’Alessio
Tess A. Davidowitz
Matthew Davies
Arjan Delija
Joseph DeLuca
Natasha Marina DePaoli
Jabari Domingo
Alexandra E. Downes
Josephine Dring
Brooke Dunefsky
Luke Fante
Tighe Farrell
Thomas Flanagan
Dor Frechter
Walter Fried
Kira Gabriel
Sara Gavagan
Amanda Gilbert
Lucas Gilbert
James Tighe Gilligan
Masaki Goda
Rudolf Gouchoe
Lilian Grados
Mark Grande
Danielle Gray
Sophia Grieder
Briana Hairston
Dylan Harrison
Danielle Heller
Sawyer Hershman
Aliya Huprikar
Lucas Jacoby
Alanna Anelia Sky Jarrett
Karli Johnn
Nicolas Josserand
Emelyn Juenger
Shannon Kelly
Melissa Kim
Clayton Kirgan
Harrison Krieg
Anosuya Kundu
Evan Kuo
Ariel Lau
Katherine LeBuhn
Alexander Lee
Samantha Levin
Zachary Levitan
Mahira Zasha Lewis
Jay Liman
Monica Ljuljdjurovic
Jack Lobel
Liam Lyons
Julian Mack
Eliav Malone
Aviv Markus
Junior A. Martes
Iain Hamilton McGiffin
Kevin McLaughlin
Mitchell Milun
Ryder Mollo
Lucas Monness
Sydney Monness
Domenic Morabito
Adam T. Moskal
Isabella Moyer
Grace Elizabeth Murray
Elianna Nadasi
Jake Ourman
Trinity Pagan
Ethan Pakola
Samantha Pateman
Abigail Polito
Francesca Racanelli
Marcel Ramos-Roux
Ella Rimland
Justin Rodnick
Sophie Rofe
Jenna Ruffler
Nicolas Savino
Liam Sawian
Zachary Schiffman
Mason S. Schimmel
Ditmar Seci
Max Shevrin
Justin Sims
Leanna Khutrina Singh
Mickele Sivere
Trent Snyder
Kaitlyn Sollecito
Rahul Srivastava
Danielle Stassa
Trevor Stern
Rebecca Strauss
Devin Topman
Hannah Tuckett
Lucas Turano
Yamilet Ulerio
Leo Van Osdol
Victor Vyssotski
Eva Waguespack
Daniel Wahnon
Matthew Weidler
Scarlett Whitney
Reinesse Wong
Hannah Emily Ziluck
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