Seaford Vikings ready to sail away

Exactly 182 students, clad in their green and white caps and gowns, became the 60th class to graduate from Seaford High School on June 24. School District officials, locally elected leaders, family and friends bid the high-achieving class farewell. 

Before the commencement began at 11 a.m., students lined up outside of the Nassau Community College physical education complex, taking selfies and admiring their classmates’ decorated caps. Family and friends cheered as they processed into the building. 

District leaders said that members of the class of 2017 excelled. They were accepted to colleges like Cornell University, The Citadel, CUNY Macaulay Honors College, University of Delaware, Fordham University, Northeastern University, Northwestern University, Villanova University and University of Miami. 

Valedictorian Sarah Umstadt and Salutatorian Evan Groder addressed the class, as well as Principal Scott Bersin and Superintendent Brian Conboy. Commencement was emotional for Conboy, who is retiring in July. 

Elected officials also took the stage, including two Seaford residents: U.S. Rep. Peter King and State Sen. John Brooks. Brooks, a Seaford alumnus and former Board of Education trustee, said that he was honored to speak to the graduates. 

“Seaford High School’s theme,  ‘Education is not received, it is achieved,’ was evident in all of [their] accomplishments,” Brooks said.