Schools
Superintendent: Class of 2013 is 'KP Strong'
Graduates honored for achievements and resilience through challenges.
The 2012-13 school year was marked with a superstorm, blizzard and rain for three of its senior events, but on graduation day Thursday, the sun was shining and blue skies were a symbol of the students' strength as they move onto the next chapter in their lives.
"We know you have the resilience and the fortitude to face any storm ahead. Don’t cower from the thunder, for you are KP strong," Superintendent Susan Agruso, told the class.
Fortitude is something the students will need as they face a world of uncertain economic times, Prinicpal Lino Bracco pointed out.
"It looks like we’ve left you with an overwhelming job of fixing up, cleaning up and paying up. In a sense, we are sending you off, asking you to do the things that we could not do," he said speaking of the national deficit and joblessness.
However, he told the students that it is their background of excellence and personal perseverance that has proven to be the key to their success, despite possible difficulties.
"The way you get meaning out of life is to devote yourself to others, to devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning," he said.
"May you not be concerned with material matters, but instead place inmeasurable value on the goodness in your heart," he added.
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The students stayed strong when classmate Lauren Lenardi lost her ongoing battle with cancer this year. The class is also already showing promise in their academic success, as 95-percent of those who graduated Thursday will be attending college.
The students also earned $11 million in scholarship monies.
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