Garden City HS Celebrates Class Of 2022 At 88th Commencement Ceremony

GARDEN CITY, NY — On June 25, Garden City High School’s class of 2022 celebrated its graduation during the school's 88th annual commencement ceremony. Students marched through rows of flags onto the Warren King Field, as the high school band played “Pomp and Circumstance” and friends and family cheered from the stands.

The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by student council president Emily Besendorfer, followed by a performance of the national anthem from the Senior Chorale and a welcome address from principal Kevin Steingruebner.

A number of student speakers stepped up to the podium, including salutatorian Aidan Wu. He reflected on his time going through Garden City schools, recalling many shared experiences of the class of 2022. He noted the resiliency of the class, triumphing through challenges.

“That leads us here today, where we stand united, despite all of our struggles that we’ve endured as the graduating class of 2022,” he said. “We were lucky enough to return fully in person to share one last year, one last sports season, one last conversation, one last laugh and one last memory with the same people we’ve known since kindergarten.”

Following his remarks, Class President Daniel Frankenberry presented Garden City High School with a class gift – a portable, custom Trojans tent to be used during outdoor events. Additionally, the winner of the Julia Maloney Scholarship, William Bonvissuto, read his award-winning essay to the crowd. Bonvissuto’s essay focused on a teacher who has had an impact on his life – high school psychology teacher William Highfill.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha expressed her close connection to the class of 2022, as she started in Garden City the same year the graduates started high school. She described the past few years as ambiguous with uncertainties, but admired the class’ steadfast strength.

“The challenges of the past few years have also accelerated the ways we work, how we learn and how we live today. But at the same time, it has created opportunities,” Sinha said. “This has made you resilient; you worked through this. You will take these learnings and really do great things and make Garden City proud.”

Valedictorian Emma Nagler addressed her fellow graduates. She thanked the Garden City community, while looking ahead to the next chapter in life. Nagler encouraged her peers to try new things and enter into the unknown with confidence.

“We are lucky enough to live in a community that gave us the security to work toward our goals and the resources to help us achieve them. But now, as we prepare to leave the bubble for the first time, we face a wide-open future with unlimited possibilities,” she said. “It’s okay if we still don’t know exactly what we want from life when we are 22, as long as we spend these next four years continually learning and experiencing.”

After a keynote speech from social studies teacher Kevin O’Hagan, the Board of Education presented diplomas as each senior walked across the field. Following the chorale’s final performance, the class of 2022 took part in a recession, officially designating them as alumni of Garden City High School.