The Highland High School Class of 2023 processed out onto the field to the traditional,‘Pomp and Circumstance,’ by Edward Elgar, played by the High School band under the baton of Daniel Shaut. The ceremony opened with the National Anthem, sung by graduating senior Cassandra Acosta.

High School Principal Kevin Murphy welcomed everyone to this year’s Commencement Ceremony.

“Today is a celebration of the accomplishments of 123 of these amazing individuals; Class of 2023, you did it,” he said.

Murphy acknowledged the difficulties this class faced when a once in a lifetime pandemic hit in March 2020, “when life as we know it turned upside down. I, along with your teachers and parents, were very impressed with your resilience and determination and here you are today, as High School graduates and moving on to the next steps of your life.” He urged the graduates to cherish “each moment in time” as they move on in their educational journey, “as it is the moments in time that you will reflect upon when you are older. Graduation is a time to reminisce about the past, yet at the same time to gaze into the future. You should be proud of your achievements and confident about your future.”

In closing, Murphy quoted Persian poet, astronomer and mathematician Omar Khayyan (1048-1131): “Be happy for this moment, this moment is your life.”

Superintendent Joel Freer said he was reminded of a quote by President Abraham Lincoln; “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” adding that these words, “resonate as we honor these graduates, for they embody the spirit of taking control of their destinies and shaping the world they wish to see. We have the power to mold our own paths, to envision possibilities and to take decisive actions that bring about positive change. It calls upon us that the future is not predetermined but rather a canvas waiting to be painted by our own aspirations and efforts.”

Freer urged the graduates to, “envision possibilities; set goals and work tirelessly to bring them to fruition. The world eagerly awaits the contributions you are poised to make. Embrace every challenge as an opportunity for growth, and never lose sight of the extraordinary potential in you.”

Principal Murphy introduced Erica Lynne Angelillo, Salutatorian for the Class of 2023. Erica will be attending SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry and will major in Environmental Biology.

Erica began by saying, “so many of the things we’ve grown used to over the last four years are not going to be there anymore.” She urged any of the younger students to get involved in extra curricular activities and lean on a teacher, coach or faculty member when seeking advice. Lastly, Erica encouraged her fellow graduates to, “not let the fear of others’ perceptions, real or imagined, stop you from doing something and don’t let your own ideas of how something can go wrong stop you from trying.”

In a musical interlude, the band played “Affirmation” by Randall D. Standridge.

In the fall Valedictorian Alisha Zahraa Mokal will be attending SUNY New Paltz to major in Biochemistry. She reminded her class of how much has changed in their lives since entering the Highland School system.

“This is a transformative moment, a moment when the waters of the past blend with the waters of the future in a river that flows both ways, just like the Hudson River,” she said. “We will embark on our own journeys and set sail on indeterminable destinies. This freedom comes with its own power, the ability to choose. A fallow field of possibilities lies before us; think of these choices as seeds we plant in the gardens of our souls. Each seed, with patience and time, will bloom into who you are. My advice is to plant the seeds that require the most labor because it is these that will bear the most fruit...and take care of them each and every day.”

Commencement Speaker Robert Rich is an alumnus of the Highland Class of 1980, a 1984 graduate of SUNY Albany and a 1987 graduate of Albany Law School of Union University.

Rich encouraged the graduates to develop a sense of empathy.

“Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Kindness doesn’t have to be a performance, a grand gesture or a random act. Small acts of kindness can lift the spirit, create hope and sometimes even shine a light, you have no idea,” he said.

Rich quoted the author F. Scott Fitzgerald: “It was only a sunny smile, and little it cost in the giving, but like morning light, it scattered the night and made the day worth living.”

Rich urged the graduates to be open, “don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone and dream. Bobby Kennedy (in homage to playwright George Bernard Shaw) used to say ‘Some people see things as they are and say why, I dream things that never were and say ‘why not.’ Be the person that says ‘why not ‘and be open to new experiences.”

Rich reminded the Class of 2023 that they had a big advantage in life.

“You grew up in this place, this beautiful small town surrounded by apple trees and majestic mountains where people have your back and where you were taught the morals, values and work ethic that will carry you throughout your lives. To the Class of 2023, I say bravo and thank you. I have great faith in the future of our world because you are in it.”

Principal Kevin Murphy and Assistant Principal Brandon Opitz awarded the diplomas.