By Ella Connors
Tassels were moved from right to left as students crossed the threshold and opened new doors into their futures at Pine Bush High School’s graduation ceremony Thursday evening.
All 422 students made a long procession onto the field to begin the commencement, which started at 7 p.m. After the national anthem was performed by the high school concert band and senior select choir members, opening remarks were given by senior class president Julius Carrillo, who reflected upon the memories the class of 2024 made throughout the course of their last four years together. Then, acting superintendent Amy Brockner and assistant superintendent for business Joseph Lenz addressed the class.
“Your belief has fueled ambitions, shaped aspirations and propelled you through challenges,” Brockner said. “Your presence here today is proof of your belief in yourselves and your potential. You refuse to let temporary defeats define you because you knew that every challenge was an opportunity to grow stronger, wiser and more resilient.”
Pine Bush High School principal Aaron Hopmayer invoked a metaphor involving navigation, comparing a compass and a map — a map which includes a fixed route, mirroring the world only as it was when the map was drawn, as opposed to a compass, which provides a sense of direction and allows one to chart their own paths. He then went on to introduce the 30 honor graduates.
As part of his directional analogy, Hopmayer emphasized the tools the students have obtained throughout their time in school including critical thinking and the ability to ask questions.
“The lessons you have learned within these walls are not just routes to memorize but skills to navigate life’s unpredictable waters,” Hopmayer said. “As you stand on the threshold of your future, remember that a compass requires a steady hand. You must be resolute in your values, unwavering in your integrity and steadfast in your pursuit of excellence. The true measure of success is not reaching a destination but in the journey itself and the person you become along the way.”
The first honor graduate address was given by Angela Hilgenfeldt, the class salutatorian. Following the speech, Hopmaer gave out his principal awards, consisting of four awards given to one member of the community, one staff member and two members of the senior class. Alayne Eisloeffel — from the Tri-county Prevention Coalition who works to bring prevention education to students in the district — received the community award, while Kelly Cooke, English department chair and senior class faculty advisor, was given the faculty acknowledgement. Salutatorian and valedictorian Hilgenfeldt and Saige Valentino respectively, were awarded the two student honors for achieving the highest grade point averages in the class.
Expressing gratitude for the support and guidance provided to the graduates throughout their academic journeys by their families, teachers and fellow classmates, Hilgenfeldt gave many thanks during her speech.
“As we prepare for the next years of our lives, we should carry with us the lessons learned, the memories shared and the friendships we have made,” Hilgenfeldt said. “Congratulations, class of 2024. Our futures are filled with endless opportunities and possibilities. I am excited to see the incredible impact we will make in these coming years.”
After the principal awards were distributed, Valentino gave the valedictorian address, sharing an anecdote about an assignment they had to complete in health class where everyone was instructed to to construct a timeline of their life including what they wanted to do and what they had already accomplished. But by the end of the period, despite how much she had already done, she had only finished a quarter of her timeline.
At the conclusion of her talk, the class of 2024 was presented to the superintendent of schools and then the Pine Bush board of education. Names were read and the class slowly made their way up to the podium one by one, to obtain their well-earned diplomas.
Once everybody had their name called, the concert band led them in the recessional playing “Grand March,” as the graduates took the last steps of their high school careers to greet their emotional friends and family in the stands. Valentino professed that this was the “last day of the beginning and the first day of the rest of [their] lives.”
“When you are surrounded with love and encouragement, you yourself become full of it,” Valentino said. “There are so many teachers and faculty that have made such a profound impact on me and the rest of my fellow students that I simply can’t list all the names. But I do want to take a second to appreciate these heroes that have helped shape our lives in a plethora of different ways. Without them, we would not be where we are today.”