Bellmore JFK Seniors Celebrate Graduation Day

BELLMORE, NY — Graduation was celebrated over the weekend for the Kennedy High School Class of 2025.

Ahead of the Sunday's ceremony, members of the U.S. Marine Corp. Color Guard presented the
flags, followed by senior chorus members serenading the crowd, under the direction of
Rachel Shapiro.

Valedictorian Mark Prainito and salutatorian Jayden Simon addressed the crowd.

“Some of us found meaning in art, in sports, in volunteering, or in quiet moments of
self-discovery,” Prainito said. “Because the real lesson, I think, isn’t just about what we were
taught. It’s about the fact that we learned to make meaning for ourselves. We learned to pay
attention when something felt interesting or personal to us."

Simon recanted on his time at Kennedy.

“We are a community, cemented forever through the care, kindness and fun we have
had during our time together. We are a community of helpers, thinkers, innovators and
collaborators,” Simon said.