A hard speech to write

Outgoing principal Dr. Carol Burris spoke to the graduates at her last commencement ceremony.

Susan Grieco/Herald

Kieran McCarthy shared a fist bump with his friend as he made his way to the stage to receive the Dr. Richard S. Byers School and Community Service Award.

Susan Greico/Herald

Superintendent Dr. William Johnson and outgoing SSHS Principal Dr. Carol Burris reacted as incoming principal John Murphy announced Burris’s diploma.

Susan Greico/Herald

Valedictorian Alexander Boss noted some of the accomplishments that the class of 2015 had achieved in its four years at South Side.

Susan Greico/Herald

Board of Education Trustee John O’Shea told students to make sure they did what they loved.

Susan Greico/Herald

Senator Charles Schumer concludes his address to the graduates.

Susan Greico/Herald

Salutatorian Mark Behar described his class as an “eclectic and eccentric group.”

Susan Greico/Herald

Valedictorian Alexander Boss and salutatorian Mark Behar led the procession into Hofstra’s David Mack Sports Complex.

Susan Grieco/Herald

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Along with departing Principal Carol Burris, the students of South Side High School’s class of 2015 spent their last hours together smiling, cheering and laughing at their graduation at Hofstra University last Friday.

After the graduates entered in their blue gowns to “Pomp and Circumstance,” Student Government President Phoebe Dacek led the Pledge of Allegiance. “I know you all will do such amazing things in the years to come, and this is just the beginning,” she said. “Congratulations to the class of 2015, and let us all enjoy our last moments together as South Side students.”

Salutatorian Mark Behar joked that instead of a 10-minute speech with advice to his fellow graduates, he would take five minutes to tell stories. (His speech lasted about eight minutes.) He spoke of his memories of field trips at the Hewitt School, making new friends at South Side Middle School and becoming more outspoken at South Side High.

Behar also noted the diversity of the yearbook’s senior quotes, which ranged from Henry David Thoreau to Kanye West to John F. Kennedy to “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” “Our grade is one eclectic and eccentric group,” he said. “Our grade really is amazing. We’re smart, hardworking, funny and unforgettable.”

U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer also spoke to the graduates, sharing stories from his own life to encourage them to pursue their dreams.

Bobbi Edelson, of the Alumni Association, presented the Centennial Award to Caitlin Dunn and Christopher Panatier. Kieran McCarthy received the Richard S. Byers Award from Burris, and Superintendent William Johnson gave the Laurel Awards to Benjamin Rubenfeld and Anna Petrocelli.

Burris, who was set to retire on June 30, received a South Side High diploma from incoming Principal John Murphy. “The diploma will offer her a reminder that she will always have a home and a place here,” Murphy said. “And she will be with us in spirit for a long, long time.”

In his speech, valedictorian Alexander Boss also honored Burris, as well as retiring physics teacher Thomas Hennessey. Boss spoke about the achievements of his classmates, from sports championships to Centre Stage. “Not even a three-hour award ceremony is enough to cover all of our accomplishments,” he said.